Car Accident Advice Needed

[PetunZ]

Keep in mind, I have a 2002 Toyota Corolla.

So I was pulling out of Costco today, and was about to turn right onto the main street. There is a white Honda Civic in front of me. Traffic eased, and I saw her brake lights turn off and her speed up slightly. I falsely thought she had gone, so I let off the brake and kept looking left, watching for oncoming cars. I rear ended her car.

Next, I get out of my car and proceed to see if she was okay. She sounds pretty shaken up (mind you-- I hadn't even hit the gas), and that took me by surprise. So I apologize and we both pull to the side of the road, out of the parking lot (there was a pretty big bike lane). We both get out, exchange information and proceed to look at the damage. There was a small circular scratch; the size of scratch where you have to bend down and look about 4 feet away before actually seeing it.

I ask her if she's okay, and she says "yeah, I'm not sure if I'm going to report it, we'll see. It seems minor."

So we both leave and now I'm at work, and I get a phone call from her, asking if I want to go around the insurance companies. I said sure. She tells me that she is going to get the bumper detailed to get the scratch out, and I responded by asking her to get an estimate from two car shops. She says that it is out of the question, because 1) she works and doesn't have the time, 2) is going to have to borrow her mom's car while this is in the shop, and 3) she doesn't want to waste more time going to another shop. If we do circumvent the insurance companies, she wants me to pay her a full day's work(~$200), to pay for her rental car while it is being worked on, and also the car costs.

I thought that it was normal to pay the repair costs on a car if we were to handle things w/out the insurance company, but to have to pay her a day's work because of a tiny scratch?? Is the best course of action to go through the insurance companies now?

Cliffs:

1. My corolla rear ends white honda civic (~5mph)
2. Exchange of insurance info
3. See a small circular scratch (small dot)
4. We leave.
5. We talk about going around insurance.
6. She wants me to pay 1) Bumper detailing 2) 1 day's work 3) Her car rental
7. Advice please?

 

[FoBoT]

"My corolla rear ends white honda civic" , you sound like you are blaming the car and not taking resposibility for the accident

your car can't drive itself


j/k'ing dude

if she wants to be an @ss for such a minor problem, then let your ins. company deal with her stupid demands. she wants way too much from you, tell her to piss off

 

[tami]

agree to pay for #1 and #3.

otherwise, don't circumvent the insurance.

 

[Uppsala9496]

She is scaming you. Tell her that you want to go through the insurance then. I bet she backs off.

Oh, and more than likely, she won't get the damage fixed and will just pocket the money. Go through the insurance. It will be more of a hassle for her that way.

 

[akubi]

wow what a btch... screw her, go through insurance and sacrifice the hit. her car will devalue just as much.

 

[stan394]

i bet someone told her to give you so much trouble, given your description of "she's pretty shaken up"

 

[Injury]

Tell her you hit her car, you will pay to have it repaired. You did not make her take the day off of work, you did not require her to have a rental car, whatever.

If she needs a rental car for one whole day, tell her to piss off. If she needs her wages for a day, tell her to piss off.

If she disagrees, tell her you are just going to call insurance and let them deal with it because she's clearly not to bright.

She's an idiot trying to milk you for money because she thinks you're scared of insurance companies. Don't fall for it.

 

[Aquila76]

Just tell her you need to consult with your attorney first.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

what a joke

the bumpers are designed for 5mph, how does that little ding, scratch even mean she gets a day off work, it cant be that expensive to fix and i certainly dont think she'll need a rental car, bumper jobs are done in hours, not days

she's trying to have your eyes out....use the insurance, thats what its there for.

 

[Vegito]

she probably have like a 500 or 1000 deductable... which means for that damage its out of her pocket also.. so if thats what she wants, tell her it's too much and we'll let insurance.. hope u had picture phone before she took hammer to the car..

 

[tami]

Originally posted by: forcesho
she probably have like a 500 or 1000 deductable... which means for that damage its out of her pocket also.. so if thats what she wants, tell her it's too much and we'll let insurance.. hope u had picture phone before she took hammer to the car..

that's what i would have said, but any rear-ending puts the driver who did the rear-ending at fault, and he'd probably be forced to pay the deductable, right?

 

[MrDudeMan]

dont fall for this. you are an idiot if you pay her all of that. tell her you are not willing to pay for a days work and you would like to take it through insurance. you should have taken a photograph of it so she doesnt make it worse...ive known people that have done that or had that done to them.

 

[NuroMancer]

Tell her that you need 2 quotes anyway now that you have to go through insurance and make sure to note that her now "2" days off work will not be covered by you or the insurance company.

From the increased amount of time it will take and the increased hassle I'll bet she folds.

OR

Start saying that she hit your car, backed right into you... You honked and everything. The accident was her fault not yours and that she is responsible for all damages.

As well if you DO do it on your own make sure she signs something that releases you from al liability!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't care if it's ~5miles per hour, people still go for soft tissue dmg.

 

[Vic]

IIRC, California is an at-fault state. That means that, as the OP was at fault, his insurance will pay for the damage to both cars, only he will have to pay a deductible, and only his driving record and premiums will be affected. She will pay NOTHING and has nothing to lose from contacting the insurance companies. Except, that she won't be able to push around the insurance company like she is the OP, and probably will get a very small insurance settlement. OTOH, if this goes to insurance, the OP will have to pay a deductible that might be more than what the girl wants for damages, and his driving record and premiums will be affected.

You decide.

I recommend going the insurance route because it covers the OP's ass. By going outside insurance, there is nothing to prevent the girl from being even more spiteful in the future, claiming additional damages (i.e. perviously undiagnosed "whiplash") and suing him personally. OP: call your agent.

 

[HN]

go through insurance.

 

[PetunZ]

Thanks for the advice.

I talked to an agent and she told me that my insurance is going to go up by about $80/month (after their good driver discount) for 6 months if I report it as my own fault. Of course, this is on top of the actual damage to the car. Plus, I'll get a point for 3 years. :/

We'll see how much the estimate is...

 

[Hammer]

you hit her car on private property, and there's no police report. remind her of that if she is being a b1tch.

 

[Tifababy]

When I was rear ended by a semi-truck their insurance required 3 estimates. So he she wants to go thru insurance, she might have to miss even more work. Definitely remind her that she's being a b1tch.

 

[jtvang125]

She makes $200/day and drives an econo car?

She is obviously trying to screw you over here. And what's going to keep her from renting a premium car @ $50 or more a day? This is a very minor accident and reporting it to the insurance should not hurt you that much.

 

[chambersc]

Originally posted by: PetunZ
Thanks for the advice.

I talked to an agent and she told me that my insurance is going to go up by about $80/month (after their good driver discount) for 6 months if I report it as my own fault. Of course, this is on top of the actual damage to the car. Plus, I'll get a point for 3 years. :/

We'll see how much the estimate is...

OUCH. An extra $480 for your insurance is a pain, unless you have the money. Sorry to hear about your situation but not going the insurance route would have been MUCH worse.

EDIT: So what happened with the rental and day off of work. What did your insurance say about that?

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

insurance.

She takes your money and then she goes to report. You get double owned.

Vic: Well said. Californians know =)

 

[PetunZ]

EDIT: So what happened with the rental and day off of work. What did your insurance say about that?

My insurance company said that I'd be liable for both; but, it seems kinda unreasonable for her to both take out a rental car AND have to pay for her work. The car rental is so that she can get to and from work, right? Bah.

Edit -- I told my agent my concerns of this issue, and she agreed with me on this. Hopefully nothing more comes out of it.

 

[markgm]

She makes around $72k a year and wants you to pay for a day of work? Tell her to claim a sick day.

 

[KC5AV]

Go the insurance route. Pay the rental on a compact car, and tell her to stuff it.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: markgm
She makes around $72k a year and wants you to pay for a day of work? Tell her to claim a sick day.

$200/day = ~$50k/yr. There are only ~20 workdays/month.