Did I make the right decision?

[Bumrush99]

I was pulling out of a gas station and hit the side door of vehicle that was right besides me. I was probably traveling 3MPH and my bumper dented the lower/mid side of his passenger door.

Rather than getting my insurance company involved, we settled on a price of $300 which I immediately withdrew and gave to him.

What have you guys done when faced with a similar predicament? Settle before getting the insurance company involved or filing a police report?

 

[50cent1228]

i would have wanted more than $300 if you didn't want to involve the insurence company...that guys is a dumb@ss...well he can't really do anything 2 u now b/c he already agreed for the $300 payment...i say u did great...that guy is pretty dumb though

 

[MrPickins]

Did either of you sign anything?

Always C.Y.A.

 

[George P Burdell]

:thumbsup: I think $300 was a great deal.

 

[SmoochyTX]

Year make and model of vehicles involved?

 

[iamaelephant]

You handled it very well in my opinion. No need to get insurance involved for something so minor. Well done.

 

[Bumrush99]

Originally posted by: MrPickins
Did either of you sign anything?

Always C.Y.A.

He was in a rush to get home.. Brain fart on my end, nothing was signed.. He was not confrontational at all about it, he seemed more concerned with how his wife was going to deal with it and was in a rush to get home.. Without my DL number or phone number, can he still file a claim with just the license plate?? I'm 99% sure he wouldn't, he had a big Jesus bumper sticker on his car and wished me a happy thanksgiving when he left..

 

[Bumrush99]

Originally posted by: SmoochyTX
Year make and model of vehicles involved?

2003 Ford Focus on my end, Explorer on his end, probably 2003-2004 model.

 

[SmoochyTX]

Originally posted by: Bumrush99

Originally posted by: SmoochyTX
Year make and model of vehicles involved?

2003 Ford Focus on my end, Explorer on his end, probably 2003-2004 model.

Sounds like a bad deal on his end (assuming both of your vehicles were in decent shape).

And just so you know, if he has your plate # then yes he can track you down. He can either do it himself and file a small claims suit against you for damages OR he can report your plate # to his insurance company and they will pursue you or your insurance company.

Since nothing was signed concerning the $300 cash you gave him to 'reconcile matters' he can claim that either he never received it from you OR he can pursue you for damages if it costs him more than $300 to repair.

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Originally posted by: SmoochyTX

Originally posted by: Bumrush99

Originally posted by: SmoochyTX
Year make and model of vehicles involved?

2003 Ford Focus on my end, Explorer on his end, probably 2003-2004 model.

Sounds like a bad deal on his end (assuming both of your vehicles were in decent shape).

And just so you know, if he has your plate # then yes he can track you down. He can either do it himself and file a small claims suit against you for damages OR he can report your plate # to his insurance company and they will pursue you or your insurance company.

Since nothing was signed concerning the $300 cash you gave him to 'reconcile matters' he can claim that either he never received it from you OR he can pursue you for damages if it costs him more than $300 to repair.

That's what I was going to say. Even worse still, he could file it as a hit and run with the cops. Then you're out $300 AND you have the cops to deal with.

Always, always, always have the cops come and make a report. It sucks and it will cost you more than the $300 you gave up but it covers your butt against a guy who changes his mind about the original "settlement."

 

[SonnyDaze]

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy

Originally posted by: SmoochyTX

Originally posted by: Bumrush99

Originally posted by: SmoochyTX
Year make and model of vehicles involved?

2003 Ford Focus on my end, Explorer on his end, probably 2003-2004 model.

Sounds like a bad deal on his end (assuming both of your vehicles were in decent shape).

And just so you know, if he has your plate # then yes he can track you down. He can either do it himself and file a small claims suit against you for damages OR he can report your plate # to his insurance company and they will pursue you or your insurance company.

Since nothing was signed concerning the $300 cash you gave him to 'reconcile matters' he can claim that either he never received it from you OR he can pursue you for damages if it costs him more than $300 to repair.

That's what I was going to say. Even worse still, he could file it as a hit and run with the cops. Then you're out $300 AND you have the cops to deal with.

Always, always, always have the cops come and make a report. It sucks and it will cost you more than the $300 you gave up but it covers your butt against a guy who changes his mind about the original "settlement."

Agreed. Always get a police report even if you don't use your insurance. You're just covering your six.

 

[Semidevil]

he can take your 300 dollar and then call the cops on you, or search you up using your plate number and call your insurance company.

it would have been better if you paid by check, so you have proof you paid, but oh well.

 

[funboy6942]

By the sound of it he got the better end and prolly knew he could use his $20 dent puller and pop the dent out in 10 minutes or so and made $300 for 10 minutes worth of work.