OT: I got in a car accident. Going to get an estimate. What else should I do?

Bennyshoe · Oct 25, 2006

A girl rear ended me as I was stopped at a red light. She stopped initially but for some reason hit the gas and hit me.

We pulled over to look at the damage. Surprisingly my bumper wasn't all crushed. It had some nicks and chips in it. Her front bumper appeared to be fine.

Later her mom called me (the girl is 17) and told me she'd rather not go through the insurance company to keep her daughter's rates down. She'll pay for whatever the estimate is to get my bumper fixed. I said I understand. I wasn't in a horribly bad mood when I got hit.

Tomorrow I'm taking it to the BMW dealership to get an estimate on the rear bumper. Is there anything I need to ask them while I'm there? Do I need to get the estimate in writing? Anything else I should do?

This is my first accident, luckily, so I'd like to make sure I'm doing everything I need to.

Thanks guys.

Rawpimple · Oct 25, 2006

Should have told the daughter once you saw your car ok.

Ok, this could cost a lot. I have a BMW. Your parents will probably be furious, ground you, make you get a job, and God knows what else. Come on over to my house (or if you have a wife, to the local Holiday Inn) and we can settle this in about 10 minutes.

Other than that the written estimate seems like a good idea. Nothing else I can think of.

VIEJODINOSAUR · Oct 25, 2006

Let her Mom pay and be sure to get a couple estimates....probably the best way to go without insurance agents getting involved....and after all is done, then hit on her or the Mom.

quantumleap · Oct 25, 2006

Maybe you can work out an "arrangement" for a mother-daughter tag-team to pay for the damages.

Rawpimple · Oct 25, 2006

quantumleap said:
Maybe you can work out an "arrangement" for a mother-daughter tag-team to pay for the damages.

even better idea.

If she has a younger sister you can include her too. :dancefool

This is setting up like a great porn plot. Mika you around and listening? Take notes! I'd like to be your actor i.e. the guy that gets rear ended by you.

VIEJODINOSAUR · Oct 25, 2006

Kind of knew where this was heading....LOL

Presto · Oct 25, 2006

If you ever get in an accident, call the police and have them take a report. What's to stop this broad from just saying piss off I don't owe you jack. You could then file a small claims lawsuit and after weeks and weeks and jumping through all sorts of hoops, you get a judgement. Then you have to find a way to get paid.

Rawpimple · Oct 25, 2006

Presto said:
If you ever get in an accident, call the police and have them take a report. What's to stop this broad from just saying piss off I don't owe you jack. You could then file a small claims lawsuit and after weeks and weeks and jumping through all sorts of hoops, you get a judgement. Then you have to find a way to get paid.

Exactly. Thats what I was going to say but I am a pessimist when it comes to human nature. I would have called the police got a report. That is unless this is not that important to you or worth your time and effort.

Anonymous1 · Oct 25, 2006

Each insurance company will have a limit of somewhere between $750.00 and $1,000.00 in which they will payout to the damaged party. The claim will not go onto record for either driver...insurance companies just blow-off these minor spats...how do I know...going through it myself as I write...ask your agent...he/she maybe reluctant to tell you because once they know of the crash they are suppose to file...

Ruffneck · Oct 25, 2006

Bennyshoe said:
A girl rear ended me as I was stopped at a red light. She stopped initially but for some reason hit the gas and hit me.

We pulled over to look at the damage. Surprisingly my bumper wasn't all crushed. It had some nicks and chips in it. Her front bumper appeared to be fine.

Later her mom called me (the girl is 17) and told me she'd rather not go through the insurance company to keep her daughter's rates down. She'll pay for whatever the estimate is to get my bumper fixed. I said I understand. I wasn't in a horribly bad mood when I got hit.

Tomorrow I'm taking it to the BMW dealership to get an estimate on the rear bumper. Is there anything I need to ask them while I'm there? Do I need to get the estimate in writing? Anything else I should do?

This is my first accident, luckily, so I'd like to make sure I'm doing everything I need to.

Thanks guys.

You just have to hope she is true to her word. Since you did not call the police and file a report she does not have to pay you jack. Been through this before. Hope for the best.

SportSavant · Oct 25, 2006

sometimes even a light impact can make the frame of the car crooked

Bennyshoe · Oct 25, 2006

Thanks for the feedback so far guys. Yeah I didn't call the police because the damage wasn't as horrific as I thought, The girl was sorry, she was young, and I know how I would feel if I was 17 and just hit someone for the 1st time. If it was a worse crash or I was stopped and she plowed into me w/o stopping, cops would have been there right away.

People told me she is lucky I didn't call the police cause she would have gotten a ticket for sure and gotten points on her license.

I drive a BMW M3 so I think it's going to cost a lot. I will get an estimate in writing tomorrow.

If anyone wants her number I'll give you to you. Then I'll see you on Dateline's "To Catch Predator"

Salain · Oct 25, 2006

cheapseats said:
Each insurance company will have a limit of somewhere between $750.00 and $1,000.00 in which they will payout to the damaged party. The claim will not go onto record for either driver...insurance companies just blow-off these minor spats...how do I know...going through it myself as I write...ask your agent...he/she maybe reluctant to tell you because once they know of the crash they are suppose to file...

cheapseats is right - you really should just call the insurance company, so long as the damage is under ~1K they are no permitted to raise her rates. You're also covered in this case if anything surprising comes up.

scottw · Oct 25, 2006

I am an insurance adjustor and have been for 10 years. I handle claims exactly like this.

Yes, you were wrong not to get a police report. That girl could deny she was even there, or say that you put it in reverse and hit her. You just gotta hope she stays honest.

I have almost never had it work where the at-fault party says they will take care of the damages. Problem is, the average person has NO IDEA how much car repairs cost. You will get her estimates and it will be 2-3 times what she was expecting, and she will refuse to pay, and then you have no choice but to go through your carrier or her carrier (yours if you have collision and can afford the deductible, then your carrier will go after her or her carrier for the money back).

Yes, get the estimate in writing. Get 2 or 3 so she will see that you are not just picking the highest place in town. Still, expect her to say "HOW CAN IT BE THAT MUCH?" It will happen.

I hope it works out, but don't expect it to.

And about that "under 1K the rates won't go up," not with my company. Threshold is $400. If we pay out over that, and you are at fault, rates go up. All it takes is a hard sneeze on a car these days to cause $400 in damage.

Matt · Oct 25, 2006

Bennyshoe said:
If anyone wants her number I'll give you to you. quote]

How about a picture too..lol

steaktartar · Oct 25, 2006

ditto what VD SAID

HinesWard86 · Oct 25, 2006

Bennyshoe said:
If anyone wants her number I'll give you to you. Then I'll see you on Dateline's "To Catch Predator"

I'll take her number.......you can go 24 to 16 in Florida.

Also, where in Jax did she hit you? Ponte Vedra? OP?

Presto · Oct 25, 2006

Benny, the girl and her family are probably stand up people and they will pay. That was considerate of you to not be a hard ass about the whole thing. I might have done the same thing before I became a jaded old man.

If there was no damage on her bumper and yours just had some scratches, she probably hit you going less than 10mph. A little paint and it will look like new.

An alternative to calling the police for minor situations like this is to carry a camera. I know cell phones have a cam, but they are crap for the most part. Get one of those disposable cameras and carry it in the glove box.

Bennyshoe · Oct 25, 2006

Presto said:
Benny, the girl and her family are probably stand up people and they will pay. That was considerate of you to not be a hard ass about the whole thing. I might have done the same thing before I became a jaded old man.

If there was no damage on her bumper and yours just had some scratches, she probably hit you going less than 10mph. A little paint and it will look like new.

An alternative to calling the police for minor situations like this is to carry a camera. I know cell phones have a cam, but they are crap for the most part. Get one of those disposable cameras and carry it in the glove box.

I talked to the mom and she sounded like a nice lady. The girl was nice. Not some snobby, spoiled, bitchy girl. So that made me a bit more understanding. If she was like any girl on "My Super Sweet 16", I'm calling a police report.

Yeah she hit me going less than 10mph probably. She was pretty close behind me as we were both stopped. Then she hit the gas, maybe thinking the light was green, and hit me.

I have a camera on my cell phone but I didn't take pictures of it. I will in the morning with my digital camera just to have it.

Bennyshoe · Oct 26, 2006

scott w said:
I am an insurance adjustor and have been for 10 years. I handle claims exactly like this.

Yes, you were wrong not to get a police report. That girl could deny she was even there, or say that you put it in reverse and hit her. You just gotta hope she stays honest.

I have almost never had it work where the at-fault party says they will take care of the damages. Problem is, the average person has NO IDEA how much car repairs cost. You will get her estimates and it will be 2-3 times what she was expecting, and she will refuse to pay, and then you have no choice but to go through your carrier or her carrier (yours if you have collision and can afford the deductible, then your carrier will go after her or her carrier for the money back).

Yes, get the estimate in writing. Get 2 or 3 so she will see that you are not just picking the highest place in town. Still, expect her to say "HOW CAN IT BE THAT MUCH?" It will happen.

I hope it works out, but don't expect it to.

And about that "under 1K the rates won't go up," not with my company. Threshold is $400. If we pay out over that, and you are at fault, rates go up. All it takes is a hard sneeze on a car these days to cause $400 in damage.

Thanks Scott. Again, this was my first time so I didn't know how to handle the situation. I hope it goes well and whatever happens I'll definitely learn what to do next time.