Someone Hit My Car!!! This is small though.

[woaface]

I was sitting at a stop-light yesterday afternoon in downtown Greenville after a fine day of photography. I was looking at a land rover that was rocking back and forth violently in a parking space because the driver didn't engage the parking brake. Suddenly my car started to do the same thing. I thought "Ok, car is , that was odd..." I look, all the gauges are fine, and then I think "NO PLEASE NOT ME!" I look behind me and the guy behind me isn't too close but the guy pulling out of a parking space! Now that's a different story.

Downtown the parking spaces are right there on the road, so you pull right in. He is up against my car and I am not happy. It'd be funny if it were a Honda, but it was a Montana minivan, so it wasn't funny. There is a parking space in front of me, I pull in, get out (with camera) guy steps up to me, about 50-65 years of age, and we just kind of look at it. It's a fist sized dent with a nice clean scratch. I said "Well, maybe I'll take your insurance information" I walk over to my car, put the camera away and get my cell out. He comes back and has some money in his hand. "How about I just give you $50" I said "No, I think I'll just take your insurance police number and license plate number, have a pen and paper?". "Ok" Well, after we did all that, I went to get an estimate this morning. $397 from the Ford body shop. They wanted to repaint the car and everything. I didn't want them to take my car all day maybe even two for this so I went down to my sister's work at Acura and asked her about it. "Let me get Craig on the horn" and she calls a guy, I go down the street to their body shop and he says "I'll have it too you in an hour in a half for $75-95. WHOO! If the Acura/Honda/Infiniti place trusts him with all of their cars, he's OK with me. I'll go in tomorrow or two weeks from now depending. :up: :up: :up:

[woaface]

Here's a pic!

[Haggis]

James if you did not have bad luck you would have no luck at all.

If we want to be a "jerk" get the estimate from the Ford body shop and turn it into his insurance company. Then take your car to the Acura dealer to have them fix the dent and pocket the difference. You could end up making almost $300. Hey money for Indy.

[duhtroll]

Good going, James. ALWAYS, ALWAYS get their information, and license number and pay attention to their description in case they falsify it. It might not be a bad idea to ask for a driver's license.

In 1993 one day was sitting in the middle of a block between two gas station entrances (had chosen to enter the far entrance of a large gas station - took the whole block), and some kid literally floored his 80s monte carlo out of the first one in my direction. I saw him coming in the mirror and he had his head turned completely behind him. I don't remember much after that. He hit me what I would estimate about 35 MPH.

I remember him standing over me and asking me if I was OK, and someone from the gas station helped me out of my car. As I was sitting in the gas station, someone pulled my car into the parking area (the fuel shutoff did NOT work despite a rear-end collision on my '88 Tempo. :mad: )

I remember him trying to convince the attendants not to call the police, but the guy saying "too late - already on their way." I found out he tried to give a fake name and address, and the license plate was the only thing they could trace on him since he said he didn't have any ID on him. Of course he had no insurance, and the damage to my car was $3500 (that's a lot for this car)

Always get information, and more than you think you need.

-A

[woaface]

James if you did not have bad luck you would have no luck at all.

If we want to be a "jerk" get the estimate from the Ford body shop and turn it into his insurance company. Then take your car to the Acura dealer to have them fix the dent and pocket the difference. You could end up making almost $300. Hey money for Indy.
I could, but what's may happen is if there is any change from the $100 he's sending me, I'll keep it because I didn't need to drive 40 minutes all over town for this today and suck up a bunch of gas. So I'm hoping the original estimate of $75-95 stays around $75!

I wouldn't rip him off too bad I had a nice day taking pictures so I'm in a better mood:up:

[BillyGman]

To my knowledge, if there's no police officer called on the scene, and therefore no accident report, then the insurance company of the perpetrator does NOT have to pay. That's what I've always heard. Perhaps some police officers who are members here can correct me if I'm wrong on that, or shed some light on the issue in some other way.


I hit another car w/my car many years ago. Ethically, it was his fault since he didn't give his turn signal, and swept way over into the right part of the lane in order to take a lefthand turn as if though he was driving an 18 wheeler( don't you hate when people drive like that?). So thinking that he was taking a righhand turn, I went to pass him on the left, and he suddenly turned into my path, and I hit his car. But from a legal standpoint, I was to blame since I did hit him from behind.

He did the same as you did Jim. He took my name, address, plate # and License #. The following week, his insurance writes to me demanding $600 for the scratch I put on his car. I ignored the notice,and they called me the following week. I saud to them over the phone flat out "Ya know what? There was no accident report filled out, and we both know that you cannot collect a dime from me because of that. Furthermore, if it was my fault from an ethical standpoint, I would pay you anyway even though I know that you cannot collect from me. But sincd your client didn't use his turn signal, and because the damge on his car will not cost anywhere near what you're asking of me, I'm not paying you anything. Take me to court. I know that you won't since you know that you will lose w/out an accident report".

After saying that, the lady had nothing to say, and that was that, and I never heard from them again. I hope for youe sake that there's something different about scenarious like this now since that was about 12 years ago.

[Jeff]

Here's a pic!
:eek: :bigcry:

[BruteForce]

Here's a pic!

Aww man that's totaled. Part it out and get an MM. :lol:

[Silver_04]

Always, always call the police and don't let them pretend they are claims adjusters. They just need to write their damn report when there is an accident.

Some idiot lady hit me on the highway a while back and put a good dent in my car and cracked the bumper. I called the cops and he tried telling me I didn't have enough damage to warrant a report...and he didn't even cite the lady for the accident. Long story short, I had almost $900 worth of damage to the car and a report had to be filed after much trouble. Fortunately I was armed with a lot of info and the willingness to call all parties involved daily until the matter was resolved. But I wish I had that report from the get go.

Good luck.

[jgc61sr2002]

James - Sorry about your misfortune. You are a gentleman for not trying to overcharge the other party. A few dollars extra for your trouble is due.

[MarauderMark]

if there's no police officer called on the scene, and therefore no accident report, then the insurance company of the perpetrator does NOT have to pay. .



ohh so very true! My son got out of a big 30k suit because the police were called to his scene but there comps were down that day therefor no accident ever occured..Allways !ALLWAY!!! call the police no matter what the damage is..
as for you and gordon take the money and run who who whoo.go on take the money and run ..steve miller band :lol:
Good luck james...
maybe put another dent on the other side to match and say it's custom body work :rolleyes:

[woaface]

Good luck james...
maybe put another dent on the other side to match and say it's custom body work :rolleyes:
Then I'd need the backwards hat and there's no way in hell I'll spray paint my car!:puke::puke::puke: