Soooo stupid!

[spacebug]

I came to work this morning and parked. I saw the car that I bumped, and I looked at it more closely.

There's a barely noticeable indentation, not more than an square inch or so by the wheel, and there's a flake of paint chipped off.

I'd be really surprised if he were planning on getting anything on his car replaced, and I doubt it would cost more than my insurance deductible, but these things are weird, so who knows.

Blargh.

Comments

[kittekaat.livejournal.com]

The guy is an idiot to log a claim for soemthing like that. Even with "hit and run" as he's claiming, it will still go on his insurance record that he was involved in an accident. It only takes a few of those until they won't even cover him anymore, no matter who's at fault.

I strongly recommend that you take a picture of the "damage", for your own records. Photograph both the car you hit him with and your car. Since it was your accident, the onus of proof will be upon you and you should be well armed for your defense.

[spacebug.livejournal.com]

It's dumb. I'm hoping to deal with it without going through insurance if possible- it's what my parents want to do (it's their car) and it's also what a lawyer friend advised. Insurance gets tricky, 'cause this guy's from Wisconsin where insurance is fault-based (MN is no-fault so blame and cost are divided evenly.) Anyway. Lawyer friend said I'm not required to report it if the damage is under $500 and that the guy should send me an estimate before anything else happens. So, that's what I'll do. I think he's just trying to get money out of me. Sucks to be him- if I'm giving anyone any money, it's to a body shop for his "damage", and not to him personally.

[vaxjo.livejournal.com]

I already told spacebug my opinion on this matter, and while she's probably sick of hearing about it (and I'm sick of talking about it), I hate to see my friends get potentially taken advantage of. So a few short comments:

The onus of proof is on the shoulders of the accuser. But since s.bug believes and admits she caused the damage, that's not really relevant.

If this is handled through "official" channels, then it is classified as a collision and liability insurance would cover the damage- for which there is no deductable.

No court would classify this as "hit and run". If the owner is calling it that, then she's deluding herself.

If the repair is a simple buff out the bill would probably be under $150, but if it requires replacement of body panels then it can exceed $500. And in any case I don't believe s.bug should have to front any of her own coveted cash.

If this is run through insurance (as I recommend) then the insurance companies will do their little dance. The other woman's co. might just pay it for her (which is what I think would happen)(*) or they might go after bug's co. At that point, bug's co. would say "we don't believe you, prove it" and then some more dancing happens. If they do, then bug's co. pays out the damage and, here's the negative part, demerits her insurance policy which may result in a rate increase. If this rate increase is more expensive than just paying it out of pocket, then it's best not to use this strategy. To determine which is the better route, I'd suggest asking the insurance agent what they think.
They should be helpful and have some good suggestions (which would be better than mine). If they're not helpful, I know a guy who I've been quite happy with for several years now. ;>

*: something just occurred to me. This woman probably knows that the damage would not exceed her deductable so if she wanted it fixed, it would be entirely out of pocket for her. She's probably trying to offset that by intimidating spacebug into paying it. Which is maybe fair because bug admits fault.
But on the other hand: it's a little fucking scratch on her motor vehicle. They get scratched, that's what happens. You push the thing along at several thousand feet per minute for a couple hours every day (if you live in Wisconsin) just a few inches above an asphalt and concrete roadway through rain, hail, snow and various flotsam. I think you're an idiot to expect to maintain your vehicle in prestine condition.

Okay, sorry, that turned into a bit of a rant.
But it's like I said, I hate seeing my friends be taken advantage of.

[kittekaat.livejournal.com]

My thinking behind the photos is that this person might well try to induce more damage to make the cost of the repairs higher, or something equally devious, so she'll want a photo of the minor damage for her own protection.

[frigidsiberia.livejournal.com]

you should take pictures just to cover your butt

[vaxjo.livejournal.com]

No, she should takes pictures of her butt!!!

[hexagonalcarbon.livejournal.com]

How do people notice that kind of thing? Somebody could drive a motorcycle up and down my car and it'd take me at least a few days to notice the damage.