Should I pay?

[eddiefmb]

Back in 1987 I was driving a Ford Mustang on Estero Blvd. on Fort Myers Beach, Fl.
It was during the busy part of tourist season and the traffic was
stop and go. Anyway, I bumped a van in front of me. I was traveling less
than 10mph. The van did get some minor bumper damage but my Mustang
was not damaged. At the time of the impact the driver of the van jumped
out with intentions of physically confronting me. I got out of the car wearing
a capains uniform (I was a bartender at a waterfront restaurant) and he had
second thoughts.
Due to traffic at that time of the year it took quite a while for the deputy
to arrive, at least a half hour and then we had to wait for the state trooper
for some reason.
To make a long story short, when the deputy asked if anyone was injured
we both told him no. After a private conversation with the deputy an ambulance
arrived not to long afterwards and the van driver was put on
a gurney and taken to the hospital.
During the wait for the deputy we exchanged insurance info, etc. and I also
discovered that this person worked for an insurance company.
Some time later I returned to my hometown on Long Island to work for a
while. When I returned to Florida a past landlord of mine said she had a
letter that looked important. It was a summons to appear in court about
the fender bender. The court date was a couple of months before I arrived
back in Florida.
A couple of years later I got mail from a law firm saying I defaulted on
an accident case and I owed their client $17,000. and if I didn't pay I'd
lose my driving privledges. I didn't pay and my drivers license was suspended.
I made payment arrangements and I did get my license back. However, later
that year I went to work on a fishing boat and for a time I was just working
for food and shelter. I stopped sending payments, this was 1992 or '93.
I never heard another thing from this law firm. I was expecting to lose my
license again but it never happened.
A couple of days ago I recieved a letter from this same lawfirm stating that
they reviewed their records and discovered that I had not made a payment
in a while and if I did not do so immediately it could affect my driving privledges.
The last payment I made was 14 years ago. Should I start sending payments
again? Is there a statute of limitations? Am I opening an old wound if I do make
payments? If for one moment I thought that the driver was hurt I would
feel morally responsible but this was b.s.
PLEASE HELP!!
Eddie S.

eddiefmb@earthlink.net

See debts and judgments: http://www.worldlawdirect.com/article.php?id=1758