Russ Smith

Last night a friend was rear ended on the way home. She said the acted like he was tipsy(just after 6pm) and was in a real hurry to leave, she was ok, minor damage so she got his license and insurance and number and didn't call the police. He wants to settle without insurance, I'm pushing her to file a DMV accident report and take pics and go get an estimate right now to see if she should call her own insurance. She says she was a bit shocked and didn't really think clearly and now wishes she'd called the cops.

This morning another friends sister was rearended on the same freeway in the other direction. Rental car hit her, lady wsa going to SJ airport and refused to wait for police, exchanged information even signed a statement that she caused the accident and would be liable. Same thing I pushed the friend to get her sister to file a report and call her insurance.

I've been in 2 accidents where I had damage and they were at fault. Both times I didn't call police. First time I was going to airport so when I got home I filed a report. The person who rearended me caused quite a bit of damage including breaking the tailpipe on my jeep which took 3 tries to repair(Leaked exhaust into the vehicle). She also gave me a fake license # and insurance so my uninsured motorist had to pay for it, they went after her because she gave her real name and phone number, so I assume they got something from her later.

Other time damage was so minor I just figured I'd get it fixed and she'd pay for it. got 2 estimates, when I called and left a message I got no reply. Her friend lived in my apartment complex(she hit me in the parking lot) so I asked her if I had the right number and she said yes she's not calling you back because you're ripping her off. So I showed her both quotes she called the friend and of course the friend refused to do anything. So I got one of those mobile ding remover places to do the repairs(not perfect but passable) and showed the friend that bill. She called again and still wouldn't pay. The friend apologized to me and later told me she no longer was friends with that person but I never got reimbursed.

Call me a cynic but I now assume that everyone who hits me is going to do this so the next time I get hit, I will call the police and report it.

I think in both friends cases now they made a mistake especially the first one she has no leverage now the guy is not drunk anymore so fear of a DUI is no longer in play. The more time he has to think about it the more likely he tries to avoid paying.

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“Your expectations always exceed outside expectations. I feel like you just can’t stop working, can’t stop getting better, because I’ll be a failure in my eyes before I’m a failure in someone else’s eyes.” -- Arron Afflalo

krepitch

LOL...there's a bright one.

Russ Smith

Ouch. Friend who got rear ended last night left to get an estimate.

$995 to replace the rear bumper, or $800 IF they are able to repair the original bumper but they are recommending she just replace the bumper.

__________________
“Your expectations always exceed outside expectations. I feel like you just can’t stop working, can’t stop getting better, because I’ll be a failure in my eyes before I’m a failure in someone else’s eyes.” -- Arron Afflalo

SuperSpck

I think the cost of replacement is just astounding (although not unexpected). Living in rural areas, sometimes you just find wild animals charging into you (we have to figure it's Gaia's revenge right?). What cost me $50 and a trip to the junk yard on an older vehicle now costs $300 and some professional work.

I get the whys and hows, but if we assume linear progression, what will our children pay when they're in accidents?

thirty-two

people freaking suck.

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Rest in peace, Skkorp. We'll never forget you.

Russ Smith

I'm guessing the $995 is some threshold thing where if the amount is over $1000 they can't do the work without reporting it to insurance or if she does report it to insurance over $1000 triggers her rates go up(if uninsured motorist has to pay it)? I don't know that for a fact but this doesn't seem like a situation where having a price just under a 1000 is a marketing tool. I suspect that it's pretty common for people to get repairs done without insurance for the reasons stated in this thread and body shops probably figured a way to make a bit more profit on it since I'm sure insurance companies barter over costs the way they do with medical costs?

Last I heard yesterday it had been 4 hours since she emailed the quote and the guy hadn't responded. He works close enough to her that I told her to drive to his work and take pics of of his car while the front license plate is still bent so that if he decides to flake she has more evidence that he hit her.

__________________
“Your expectations always exceed outside expectations. I feel like you just can’t stop working, can’t stop getting better, because I’ll be a failure in my eyes before I’m a failure in someone else’s eyes.” -- Arron Afflalo

Jersey Girl

I ALWAYS make a report, even if it looks like just minor damage. I don't care if the person doesn't want to wait for the police to arrive. Fine. Then leave the scene of an accident. I'll give the officer your tag number when he arrives.

Russ Smith

Yep, looks like my suspicion was dead on. No reply to email, and his work phone rings straight to voicemail when she calls, hasn't returned her message.

I think I've convinced her to call her insurance right now while they're open for today and tell them what happened.

__________________
“Your expectations always exceed outside expectations. I feel like you just can’t stop working, can’t stop getting better, because I’ll be a failure in my eyes before I’m a failure in someone else’s eyes.” -- Arron Afflalo

Hollywood

What is wrong with people. If you don't want to pay to repair someone elses car pay attention when you are driving. If you DO hit someone flippen pay up.

KloD

This morning I ran up to the Plaid Pantry (like a 7-11) and the whole front where the double doors are was smashed in. It seems some guy jumped the curb and his car ran into the store. They said he backed up and tore out of there. After that I went to the grocery store that sits across the street and while inside the cops came in and arrested an employee. Some 40 something year old guy who's worked there forever. It turns out it was him that hit the store across the street. Now because he ran and was arrested at his work, he's going to get fired AND have to answer for the accident. What an idiot! If he had just dealt with the accident they may never have known, and even if they did find out he wouldn't get fired.

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Mulli is smarter than KloD.

Russ Smith

To update, still no reply from the guy, she filed a claim and her insurance agent told her today that his insurance company is now involved and a bit disturbed that he never notified them of the accident.

I know rates typically go up if you're at fault but in this situation would his insurance company possibly drop him for not reporting it?

__________________
“Your expectations always exceed outside expectations. I feel like you just can’t stop working, can’t stop getting better, because I’ll be a failure in my eyes before I’m a failure in someone else’s eyes.” -- Arron Afflalo

Hollywood

So here I am put to the test on my own words. Yesterday a guy hit me. He was blocking the intersection and while I was trying to squeeze through his truck and the sidewalk, I decided I wasn't going to make it and stopped. Before I had a chance to back up the truck started to back up and cliped my front fender/bumper.

I believe that he was in the wrong but I wouldn't say I am blame free either. The thing is that he was driving a company truck and I was in my own. So do we file a claim with the insurance companies or just take care of our own cars and go along our merry little way. Also of note. I took the brunt of the damage...and it isn't even close.

Linderbee

I say let the insurance companies hash it out. good luck.

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dreamcastrocks--My Hero!!

Skratchy_Seal

I received a gift that attaches to the rear view mirror and records onto an SD card what's happening on the road.

I haven't used it yet, but it's going to be very helpful if I ever get into an accident. My only accident happened almost two years ago. Her story put me at fault and vice versa. Luckily, one witness stuck around and waited for the police to tell his account which agreed with mine.

cardsfanmd

3 years ago I was t-boned by a 16 year old in my 2week old truck. My head went through my driver's side window , but there was little other damage to my truck as the other car was a honda civic.

When i got out of my car and went over to kill the other driver I saw it was one of my childhood frien's little brother. The kid's dad was also my basketball and football coach for years. He was crying and bitching that he was gonna lose his license and whatnot so I said lets take care of this on our own. His car was totaled and I had him call his father up there to get him. After i got a quote done on my car (scratched fender and rear driver-side tire, his dad told me they were gonna let the courts decide whose fault the accident was. Luckily, the guy was too stupid to comprehend that his son's car was destroyed from the front bumber back, while all of my damage was on the side, thus negating the possibilty of me being at fault.

Then I proceeded to sue him.

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"Your job is not to talk in the media or have an opinion. It's your job to go out there and produce and do what you're asked to do. We play receiver. If it comes hard, we've got to catch it. If it comes soft, we've got to catch it. If it's high, we've got to catch it. If it's low, we've got to catch it. It's part of our job description. As long the ball's coming my way, you're never going to hear me complain."

-Larry Fitzgerald