• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

I'm screwed..hit a car today

S

Syringer

Lifer
Okay so I was finding a parking spot at school today..a community college.. where they have the absolute smallest spots you can imagine..even in my car, an Integra it's a really tight squeeze...usually I park farther just for this reason but it was raining today and I decided to park closer.

Well, today I learned what a horrible parker I am..as I hit the rear fender of a Corolla, a 2000 model I believe. I didn't even notice it then but the owner was actually right there and pointed it out to me. I was like, omg, holy sh!t I can't believe I did that.

We went on to do the usual stuff, with the insurance and all, and at the end I offered her to just pay for it myself..she approved of the idea and took it to a body shop today. I was kind of relieved at this..as it can essentially be described as a semi-deep scratch, in fact you can hardly tell on my car that I had hit something--my car being white even, and her car being gray. The scratch on her car is pretty long though, but it's pretty minor...

So then I came home somewhat calm at it all, as I didn't think it'd cost anymore than a hundred, maybe two hundred at most..which is steep, but better than getting the insurance company invovled.

I just got a call from her though, and she told me the estimate.

$1100.

When I heard that I just about fainted, as that's like half my bank account right there. Does this seem accurate to anyone else? That seems awfully high for such a small ding.

I'm really distressed now at this..as my parents will be...quite unhappy to say the least to hear of all this..anyone know how much my insurance would go up by? Would it be better in the long run to get them involved, or try to pay it off myself. Do you guys think another body shop could cut the price of repair by say..five fold?

🙁
 
Body shops are notoriously expensive, but I'd call around. Find out who your insurance company typically works with, and give some of those places a call.

Rob
 
That doesn't sound unreasonable, you're likely looking at a new body panel + paint for it (they come bare).

Is it only one panel, or did you take out two?

Viper GTS
 
$1100 sounds fair. I was trying to find pictures of my dented door (that the ins. co. gave me $1110 for) but couldn't find any. But, you could barely even see it in the pictures.

Anyway, typically your insuarnce won't go up with your first accident if you have a decent ins. co. Don't get a second one though, or you'll be paying a lot more!
 
Originally posted by: Viper GTS
That doesn't sound unreasonable, you're likely looking at a new body panel + paint for it (they come bare).

Is it only one panel, or did you take out two?

Viper GTS
Click to expand...

What do you mean? I only hit the rear left fender..at 3mph max. I mean I essentially could've taken my key and made a deeper scratch than that..

AHHHH!!!!
 
Originally posted by: notfred
$1100 sounds fair. I was trying to find pictures of my dented door (that the ins. co. gave me $1110 for) but couldn't find any. But, you could barely even see it in the pictures.

Anyway, typically your insuarnce won't go up with your first accident if you have a decent ins. co. Don't get a second one though, or you'll be paying a lot more!
Click to expand...

We have Triple A..any idea how they work??
 
Feces occurs. That's what your insurance is for. Use it. As long as no one was injured, one hit on your record probably won't raise your rate, but it mayl make you a little more aware of what's going on around you when you're driving.

Good luck. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: Syringer
Originally posted by: Viper GTS
That doesn't sound unreasonable, you're likely looking at a new body panel + paint for it (they come bare).

Is it only one panel, or did you take out two?

Viper GTS
Click to expand...

What do you mean? I only hit the rear left fender..at 3mph max. I mean I essentially could've taken my key and made a deeper scratch than that..

AHHHH!!!!
Click to expand...

I mean that sounds about right.

If you scratch into the metal of the body panel it has to be replaced, you can't simply repaint it. If you did that to two panels, you're looking at two panels + paint.

Body work is NOT cheap.

Viper GTS
 
Originally posted by: John
Ask for at least 3 estimates.
Click to expand...

He doesn't get to ask for estimates. It's her car. She can get it fixed wherever she wants. He broke it, and she can fix it anywhere she likes or trusts the most.

If it was your lightning, would you take it to the cheapest body shop because the person who hit you didn't want thier insurance to go up?
 
$1100 sounds steep. Tough deal though,as, it's pretty much up to her what to do and where to bring it. She might also hit you up for rental while it's in the shop. If she's willing you can ask her to bring it to a second shop but if it were my car I'd only go places I trust.

It's not too late to call your insurance company. You can explain you thought the damage was very minor but can't afford the repairs. Then you'll only be out your deductible, which, hopefully isn't $1000. :Q
 
I hot a focus 2 years ago, similar to your incident, it was a minor scratch. Anyway, I told the couple that I'd pay for it and to let me know of the quote. Days later, received the phone call and the price was $1200 or so also. I'm positive you can find better deals, but there's some hassle involved and hey, if you piss em off, they'll report you to the insurance company, which is not what you wanted in the first place.
 
In todays world you should almost always get the police involved and file a report. You never know when the other party will claim "whip lash" and twist the story at your expense. Your best bet is to let your insurance cover the claim.
 
Originally posted by: notfred
Originally posted by: John
Ask for at least 3 estimates.
Click to expand...

He doesn't get to ask for estimates. It's her car. She can get it fixed wherever she wants. He broke it, and she can fix it anywhere she likes or trusts the most.

If it was your lightning, would you take it to the cheapest body shop because the person who hit you didn't want thier insurance to go up?
Click to expand...

Read my followup post above.

Also, to answer your questions:

1) It's her car, his money. There is nothing wrong with requestiiing multiple estimates. For all you know her uncle that owns the body shop is doing the work for 500+ over face value.

2) If someone hit my lightning there would be no "let's settle this off the record". I would call the police and file a report, then take it to the 3 most reputable body shops in town for an estimate if needed.
 
Originally posted by: John
Originally posted by: notfred
Originally posted by: John
Ask for at least 3 estimates.
Click to expand...

He doesn't get to ask for estimates. It's her car. She can get it fixed wherever she wants. He broke it, and she can fix it anywhere she likes or trusts the most.

If it was your lightning, would you take it to the cheapest body shop because the person who hit you didn't want thier insurance to go up?
Click to expand...

Read my followup post above.

Also, to answer your questions:

1) It's her car, his money. There is nothing wrong with requesting multiple estimates. For all you know her uncle that owns the body shop is doing the work for 500+ over face value.

2) If someone hit my lightning there would be no "let's settle this off the record". I would call the police and file a report, then take it to the 3 most reputable body shops in town for an estimate if needed.
Click to expand...

Yeah, and you'd get it fixed at the best place in town. Even if your uncle owned it 🙂

And she has every right to do the same thing.

Anyway, this is the whole reason you pay for insurance, so that you DON'T have to pay if you damage someone else's car.
 
Body work ain't cheap. Call your insurance and have them pay it. They will also protect you if the other person decides to do anything frivilous. Yeah, yeah, you'll take a little hit on your premiums. Count it as a lesson learned.
 
Yeah, and you'd get it fixed at the best place in town. Even if your uncle owned it

And she has every right to do the same thing.
Click to expand...

Regardless of what I may do does not justify someone else doing the same thing. Syringer has every right to request multiple estimates, and if the Corolla owner does not agree to do so he has the right to find another plan of attack, which should include contacting his insurance co. in this case.
 
1100 is steep.
I just replaced a whole front bumper, yes the whole thing, paint and everything including a turn signal .. 1000 CND!!!
This on a 99 maxima!
I bumped a lady in a fvcking renault medallion, biggest POS ever!!! (1988 model no less) three days after getting my licence. Her husband called me that night asking for 1200 dollars. I was like WTF!!! Not a scratch on my car, her bumper had a little dingy in it.
We went to a lawyer and he made up a letter, we ended up paying him 600 bucks and a 100 for the lawyer.
Insurance companies aren't there to help you, they're there to rip you off. The whole idea of raising rates if you get into an accident is ludicrous because you've been fvcking paying for insurance for however long just to have your ass covered in the case of an accident. Bastards!

edit: the bumper thing wasn't me, someone hit my sister or something like that, or she hit something .. I don't even remember.

edit edit: people see a young guy and KNOW that he'll pay up because he'd rather not go through insurance. It's too bad that people are so quick to take advantage of sh!t like this. I was in the car with my sister (a van) when she rammed into the back of someone. I was so surprised that their car was okay, maybe a bit of paint .. the lady came out, looked at and goes .. "no problem, have a nice day" .. I wish I had that kind of luck. She's hit numerous things, even taken out a tree, yet I'm the one who's stricken from the insurance policy, all because my licence expired without me knowing. They accuse me of driving without my licence during that time, yet they have no proof that I was driving, just paying my damn bills.
 
It's her car, but he has no way of knowing if she's not screwing him. I'd ask for the multiple estimates. If she wants to say "sorry take it or leave it", I'd consider just going through insurance. Insurance will make sure that it is paid appropriately...if she is reasonably she'll get more estimates. Nobody is saying she has to go to greasy bob's car repair in the bad end of town, but only one estimate from the pricest place she could find is silly.
 
You can ask for all the estimates you want. If I was the car owner, I would tell you to go screw yourself. Why should I, the person who got hit, have to go to any trouble for you? Once you said you would pay for it she is in the drivers seat. She has no responsibility to do anything past what she has done already.
 
Originally posted by: Antisocial-Virge
You can ask for all the estimates you want. If I was the car owner, I would tell you to go screw yourself. Why should I, the person who got hit, have to go to any trouble for you? Once you said you would pay for it she is in the drivers seat. She has no responsibility to do anything past what she has done already.
Click to expand...

I agree.. it sucks, but it's the truth.
 
Originally posted by: Antisocial-Virge
You can ask for all the estimates you want. If I was the car owner, I would tell you to go screw yourself. Why should I, the person who got hit, have to go to any trouble for you? Once you said you would pay for it she is in the drivers seat. She has no responsibility to do anything past what she has done already.
Click to expand...
Yes, but the thing is as mentioned below nobody knows if it's not just her uncle and he's overcharging by $500. It's a bad situation to be in where you say you'll pay, and it's bad where you're relying on another person to pay so that they don't tlel you to go to the dinigest part of town to fix your car!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top