OMG An Amazing Turn of Events

Today I went to the police station to get a copy of the accident report on my hubbys drunk driver accident of this past Sunday night. Mistakenly I called the mother of the young man who hit my hubby and was arrested for drunk driving. We talked for a bit and she gave me the number of their insurance agency. I thanked her and asked if her son was ok. I don't wish the young man any ill will. He is only 25 years old. He made a bad decision. So I called the insurance agency and told them I needed a rental car until I get paid for the totaling of my car. He told me he would call me back.  Within 10 minutes he called and asked would I be willing to settle without the insurance being involved and I told him if the young man who hit my car gave me a fair amount. He said he would get back to me after speaking with the young man. About an hour later the mother of the young man called my home and asked would I be willing to settle without the insurance being involved. I told her the same thing I told the insurance man, if the offer was reasonable and fair to me. My car is a 1993 Ford Escort that didn't look the best but was in great running condition. I looked up my car in the Kelly Blue Book and the retail value of one in excellent condition was worth 2600 bucks. Mine is not in excellent condition.  The mother of the young man offered me 3000 bucks. And I would have to sign a paper stating I would not come back at a later date and sue for more. No problem. I took the deal. Then I told her I wished no ill will towards her son he just made a bad decision. She acknowledged that, saying she has told him not to drink and drive. She said since he was arrested he has been so repentant and sick about what occurred. I told her that I was also very sorry for her son's problems. I also stated that my husband and I are not vengeful people and we would not sue them after receiving the money for our damages. And that I hoped every thing would work out for her son, and most importantly that he had learned a valuable lesson. Then she said something to me that was not necessary but nonetheless very very nice. She said she could tell from the tone of my voice and me asking in the first phone call if her son was ok, that my husband and I were good people. She told me when she got off the phone with me the first time that she cried because I had shown concern for her son. Now I still think this country has to have much stricter drunk driving laws, but it does sound like he is sorry for what he has done and the bad decisions he has made. He does have to pay a penalty for his actions, but I do hope if this is his first offense and it sounds like it is, that some how some way he will have learned his lesson and never ever put innocent people in jeopardy because he wants a drink and then gets behind the wheel. I'm just very glad no one was hurt because of his actions.  So hubby and I are now leaving to go car shopping.