Car Accident Advice Needed

[markgm]

Originally posted by: 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.

Ah, so she'll give the ~$62 extra you'll pay her to the government for taxes. She isn't being shady after all, she's obeying the law... Yeah, right.

Your Pay Check Results
Bi-weekly Gross Pay
$3,116.58
Federal Withholding
$641.97
Social Security
$193.23
Medicare
$45.19
California
$202.53
CA SDI/VDI
$33.66

Net Pay
$2,000.00

So working 50 weeks, she makes $77900 a year or she's a liar.

 

[Patt]

Yeah, don't do it. Threaten her with having to pay her $500-1000 deductible, and she might ease off a bit.

 

[waggy]

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.

well lets see. if he would have been paying attention he wouldnt have hit her. wich would not have caused her to have to get estimites on the car etc.

he should pay for whatever she is out of pocket.

 

[DainBramaged]

Originally posted by: FoBoT
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

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: 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.

I think he was referring to take-home pay, as it's unlikely she's going to claim the $200 she gets from him on her tax returns.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: markgm

Originally posted by: 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.

Ah, so she'll give the ~$62 extra you'll pay her to the government for taxes. She isn't being shady after all, she's obeying the law... Yeah, right.

Your Pay Check Results
Bi-weekly Gross Pay
$3,116.58
Federal Withholding
$641.97
Social Security
$193.23
Medicare
$45.19
California
$202.53
CA SDI/VDI
$33.66

Net Pay
$2,000.00

So working 50 weeks, she makes $77900 a year or she's a liar.

Law has nothing to do with this. Technically, all parties involved are violating the law by not reporting the accident to the DMV.
Net and gross pay vary widely per person depending on withholding and deductions, so I don't see your point there. Nor does the car a person drives determine their income. I make more than enough money to buy a BMW or big SUV, but drive a Subaru. OTOH, I have seen 2nd-year school teachers who own BMW's and big SUV's (the price of which easily exceeds their annual income). Depends on the person's willingness to take on debt, I guess.

The point here is that the OP is at fault. Paying outside insurance is entirely for his benefit, and is of VERY questionable legality. If he thinks the other person's settlement request is unfair, then he should take it to his insurance, have them handle, and deal with that cost. Otherwise, he should shut up and pay.

 

[markgm]

Originally posted by: Vic

Originally posted by: markgm

Originally posted by: 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.

Ah, so she'll give the ~$62 extra you'll pay her to the government for taxes. She isn't being shady after all, she's obeying the law... Yeah, right.

Your Pay Check Results
Bi-weekly Gross Pay
$3,116.58
Federal Withholding
$641.97
Social Security
$193.23
Medicare
$45.19
California
$202.53
CA SDI/VDI
$33.66

Net Pay
$2,000.00

So working 50 weeks, she makes $77900 a year or she's a liar.

Law has nothing to do with this. Technically, all parties involved are violating the law by not reporting the accident to the DMV.
Net and gross pay vary widely per person depending on withholding and deductions, so I don't see your point there. Nor does the car a person drives determine their income. I make more than enough money to buy a BMW or big SUV, but drive a Subaru. OTOH, I have seen 2nd-year school teachers who own BMW's and big SUV's (the price of which easily exceeds their annual income). Depends on the person's willingness to take on debt, I guess.

The point here is that the OP is at fault. Paying outside insurance is entirely for his benefit, and is of VERY questionable legality. If he thinks the other person's settlement request is unfair, then he should take it to his insurance, have them handle, and deal with that cost. Otherwise, he should shut up and pay.

"Law has nothing to do with this, all parties involved are violating the law..." Um, okay.

Net and gross pay may differ, but if she is taking home 200 a day, based on a normal work day I'm just saying what it is most likely she makes. I'd say everyone but you would agree I am being reasonable with the calculations. What kind of car a person drives doesn't determine a person's income, I never said it did. The person telling you what they make at a day of work however, does.

In my state, you don't have to report accidents to the DMV if both parties agree not to, so no law is being violated there.

The only thing being violated is human compassion. That's my point, and I am showing examples of how she is lying to back it up. He hit her, he wants to pay what is right, he feels that she is taking advantage. I was in a similar situation 7 years ago. I was headed straight on a road that was about to turn into 2 lanes in each direction from one lane each way when the car behind me passed me and struck my side mirror. When the cops arrived, we were already in the 2 lanes so it appeared to be my fault in the cops eyes. I offered to pay what his mirror would cost. He worked at a car dealership up the street so he said he could fix it. He wanted cash, I said credit card only. He said no deal, I said we can take it to insurance, we did. Turns out he was joy riding in another customers car. It didn't change who was right or wrong, but it made me feel better that I went through my insurance and the crook didn't get away with anything.

"Paying outside insurance is entirely for his benefit, and is of VERY questionable legality." No it isn't, people are encouraged to do this all the time. Going for an AIDS test? You'd be an idiot to have your insurance cover it. Minor damage from a storm? You're much better off paying to get things repaired on your own.

My problem isn't with the OP or with you, it's with someone trying to take advantage of a situation and profit from it. This is the same crap that leads to class action lawsuits.

 

[Vic]

Originally posted by: markgm
"Law has nothing to do with this, all parties involved are violating the law..." Um, okay.

Net and gross pay may differ, but if she is taking home 200 a day, based on a normal work day I'm just saying what it is most likely she makes. I'd say everyone but you would agree I am being reasonable with the calculations. What kind of car a person drives doesn't determine a person's income, I never said it did. The person telling you what they make at a day of work however, does.

In my state, you don't have to report accidents to the DMV if both parties agree not to, so no law is being violated there.

The only thing being violated is human compassion. That's my point, and I am showing examples of how she is lying to back it up. He hit her, he wants to pay what is right, he feels that she is taking advantage. I was in a similar situation 7 years ago. I was headed straight on a road that was about to turn into 2 lanes in each direction from one lane each way when the car behind me passed me and struck my side mirror. When the cops arrived, we were already in the 2 lanes so it appeared to be my fault in the cops eyes. I offered to pay what his mirror would cost. He worked at a car dealership up the street so he said he could fix it. He wanted cash, I said credit card only. He said no deal, I said we can take it to insurance, we did. Turns out he was joy riding in another customers car. It didn't change who was right or wrong, but it made me feel better that I went through my insurance and the crook didn't get away with anything.

"Paying outside insurance is entirely for his benefit, and is of VERY questionable legality." No it isn't, people are encouraged to do this all the time. Going for an AIDS test? You'd be an idiot to have your insurance cover it. Minor damage from a storm? You're much better off paying to get things repaired on your own.

My problem isn't with the OP or with you, it's with someone trying to take advantage of a situation and profit from it. This is the same crap that leads to class action lawsuits.

1. I don't think your anecdote has anything to do with the OP's situation.

2. Different states, different laws. In most states (like mine), all car accidents with damages over a certain (and typically low) dollar amount must be reported to the DMV. Drivers who don't report accidents face a suspended license.

3. Car insurance is not similar to health insurance. When a person goes out their car insurance to settle a claim on their own, they do so for the same reason as the OP is done here -- to keep their insurance company from knowing about it and jacking their premiums. In some states (like mine), this is fraudulent.

I can't speak for California, but in the eyes of my state law, the person who is trying to take advantage is the OP. And he's bitching about it. The $200 he'll pay the girl is nothing compared to the additional $2,880 he'll pay his insurance company over the next 3 years by way of increased premiums.

 

[markgm]

Originally posted by: Vic
1. I don't think your anecdote has anything to do with the OP's situation.

2. Different states, different laws. In most states (like mine), all car accidents with damages over a certain (and typically low) dollar amount must be reported to the DMV. Drivers who don't report accidents face a suspended license.

3. Car insurance is not similar to health insurance. When a person goes out their car insurance to settle a claim on their own, they do so for the same reason as the OP is done here -- to keep their insurance company from knowing about it and jacking their premiums. In some states (like mine), this is fraudulent.

I can't speak for California, but in the eyes of my state law, the person who is trying to take advantage is the OP. And he's bitching about it. The $200 he'll pay the girl is nothing compared to the additional $2,880 he'll pay his insurance company over the next 3 years by way of increased premiums.

1. You might not think it does, but it was more intended for the OP.

2. With my insurance, your rate will not go up as much if you have an accident that they don't pay anything out for. Nor does every state require you to report accidents to your insurance company under a certain amount. A quick Google check seems to have $500 as a magic number for some states.

3. Different types of insurance operate differently, but the effects can be similar financially.

4. (Bonus bullet) Her insurance may go up as well if reported. I know if I am in an accident where I am not at fault, I'll still lose my good driver discount.

I feel like we're playing ATOT pong.

. |

Time to hit the gym.

 

[Vic]

You need to read the thread, markgm.

 

[Ns1]

i think you should offer her 300.

detail job shouldn't be more than 100, car rental 60, and 140 for her troubles.

she doesn't have to take a day off, just like an hour out of her day for the car exchanges

 

[markgm]

Originally posted by: Vic
You need to read the thread, markgm.

I was going to recommend the same thing to you.

Car accident at low speed ("didn't even hit the gas"), no dents or major damage ("there was a small circular scratch"), and no one was injured ("I ask her if she's okay, and she says "yeah,"").

I'm not sure what you're seeing that I'm not.

Cliffs seem to confirm that she wants more money then just fixing something "that'll just buff right out", but also wants money for a rental car and money for missing a full day of work. The OP asked for advice.

 

[Otaking]

You made it off better than me.

Person had hit me while I was backing up (I wasn't moving btw), and she apologized and even accepted fault. We both agreed not to get insurance involved cuz the body work wasn't that bad on either of our cars.

Then a few weeks later, I get a letter from her insurance company saying that I was at total fault and that I owe $1500. WTF!!

So anyways, I told my insurance company that:

1) I was a non-moving object.
2) She was on the wrong side of the road.

We'll see where this goes, but bottom line is:

If there's body damage, assume thousands, no matter the damage.

 

[markgm]

Originally posted by: Otaking
You made it off better than me.

Person had hit me while I was backing up (I wasn't moving btw), and she apologized and even accepted fault. We both agreed not to get insurance involved cuz the body work wasn't that bad on either of our cars.

Then a few weeks later, I get a letter from her insurance company saying that I was at total fault and that I owe $1500. WTF!!

So anyways, I told my insurance company that:

1) I was a non-moving object.
2) She was on the wrong side of the road.

We'll see where this goes, but bottom line is:

If there's body damage, assume thousands, no matter the damage.

That's very good advice. If you need further proof, I think it's Consumer Reports that reports what the total cost to fix a car is after a low speed crash into a pole or something similar (it could even be another car, it's been awhile since I've read it). Things get even worse when it is a car vs. SUV or truck, even at low speeds.

 

[KarenMarie]

why in the world would you want to agree to pay her a days pay?

tell her to go thru the insurance... they will not doubt giive her the money to fix the car and tell her to go scratch for the rest.

 

[PetunZ]

Thanks for all the advice and situational experience. It really helps knowing that I'm taking the safer route with the insurance co's. I just brought it up because I thought it was a little unreasonable for her demands regarding the extent of the accident.

I was told by about four different people to report it as her bumping into me (since we both left the scene), but I wouldn't feel right about that.

Again, thanks again for all your advice and input. It is much appreciated and has calmed my nerves/frustration/anger.

 

[Zee]

claim she reversed into you.

 

[KLin]

Originally posted by: Zee
claim she reversed into you.

yea that'll hold up :roll: