Any body repair experts in here?

[semaj281]

So I recently got myself into some financial burden.
Some of my acquaintances and I were at a racetrack, and I ended up sliding into the infield retaining wall. The section of the wall that I hit had a stray plastic/rubber barrel sitting against the wall, which flew into the line of parked cars and ended up hitting my acquaintance's car.

He didn't tell me about this until after we all went home, and he claims there is a baseball-sized dent behind his door. I circled the area that he's talking about in the picture that I attached.

My question is, what would be the ballpark estimate to get this fixed? Would paintless dent repair work if the paint is cracked?

 

[oggb]

Even the cost to have it repaired correctly should be fairly low ($500-$1000). I wouldn't even mess with paintless dent removal unless shops start throwing super high estimates out.

 

[semaj281]

Originally Posted By: JRed
Even the cost to have it repaired correctly should be fairly low ($500-$1000). I wouldn't even mess with paintless dent removal unless shops start throwing super high estimates out.

I guess his estimates are on the money then. He went to 3 different places and the average is at about $650.

 

[94MaxGXE]

Why is this your financial burden? Tells you after you went home?
That’s what his insurance is for.

 

[semaj281]

Originally Posted By: 94MaxGXE
Why is this your financial burden? Tells you after you went home?
That’s what his insurance is for.

I wish I could wash my hands and walk away. But I doubt he would want to get insurance involved because that could possibly raise his rates. And there were witnesses so he could sue.
And yes, he told me after I went home because he "knew I was already having a bad day and didn't want to say anything."
I almost think it should be the responsibility of the track for leaving a stray barrel in the open.

 

[pzev]

How was the car parked? I find it really unlikely that a flying object would hit a parked car (in a row of parked cars) that low on the body. The hood or the roof yes, but behind the door on the lower quarter panel?
Also, who left the piece of debris on the track? I'm sure there was a waiver signed when entering the track, removing any responsibility from them, but I still don't see how this is your fault. Tell him to call his insurance and be done with it...he knew the risks when he drove onto track property.

 

[Bluestream]

I had a similar dent years ago, and got 3 repair estimates of $500 to $700 to fix it. I ended up taking a toilet plunger and just pulled the dent out myself. Cost $0 and was fixed 98% as new...

 

[abycat]

yeah i agree with the other guys. Thats exactly what insurance is for. And you said aquaintance not friend.

 

[bdcardinal]

Sounds like the track is really bad as far as safety is concerned. Any road course I have been to has massive catch fencing in-between the track and the pit areas or else massive amounts of space like at Buttonwillow.

 

[semaj281]

Originally Posted By: pzev
How was the car parked? I find it really unlikely that a flying object would hit a parked car (in a row of parked cars) that low on the body. The hood or the roof yes, but behind the door on the lower quarter panel?
Also, who left the piece of debris on the track? I'm sure there was a waiver signed when entering the track, removing any responsibility from them, but I still don't see how this is your fault. Tell him to call his insurance and be done with it...he knew the risks when he drove onto track property.

I drew this up real quick on Paint to help visualize things.
Let's say I was traveling clockwise on this track. I was coming out of "turn 2" and did a 180 into the inside retaining wall. The wall had an opening for spectators wanting to cross the track surface, and in that opening was an empty barrel. I hit that barrel as I slid into the wall and the barrel flew into his car (marked red in the line of blue "cars").
I don't recall hitting a barrel, but I was busy trying to regain control of the car at the time and I don't remember much of anything besides the fact that my car was wrecked. However there are witnesses who said I did indeed propel the barrel that hit his car. And the witnesses happen to be his friends..

 

[semaj281]

Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Sounds like the track is really bad as far as safety is concerned. Any road course I have been to has massive catch fencing in-between the track and the pit areas or else massive amounts of space like at Buttonwillow.

It's a NASCAR type oval (or should I say circle) that is maybe a 1/4 mile in diameter. And yes, I wish they would have at least blasted away the stray chunks of rubber on the surface before the event.

Originally Posted By: abycat
yeah i agree with the other guys. Thats exactly what insurance is for. And you said aquaintance not friend.

So you guys don't think he has grounds to sue? And yes he's definitely an acquaintance not a friend.

 

[hooligan24]

every time I have been to a track, I have to sign a waiver that says I cant hold the track, participants, or spectators liable for damages. basically participate and/or park at your own risk. him asking you to pay for damages is like me asking someone in a walmart parking lot to fix my car because after they went into the store, a cart that was sitting next to their car rolled into my car and left a dent.

it wasnt your debrie that hit his car.

 

[Lead Shoes]

He has no grounds to expect any payment from you, it's not your fault they didn't clear the track properly, or remove a barrel, tell him to take it up with his insurance, or the track itself.

I sincerely doubt that a 55 gallon barrel flew up in the air after you hit it, and put a dent that low on his car... Sounds like he wants you to pay for something that happened elsewhere, and the fact that his friends are the only witnesses makes it even fishier...

If he doesn't want to take it to his insurance company, and still wants you to pay for it, tell him see you in court if he wants to take it further.

Remember, You gotta have money to sue someone.

 

[abycat]

I still cant see any of your guys post i disagree with and I also agree with a waiver or a sign around that says at your own risk being posted somewhere. And for a lawsuit if the try's the judge would say he knew the risks and was there at his own risk. And the judge would say thats what insurance is for. Just make sure if he did try to sue you counter sue for lost wages at least cause you would get those. I hate how some or most people think they are in the right when they are in the wrong and their way of thinking is just out to lunch. If all else fails tell him you will not talk to him and want to do this the legal way because you dont think you are in the wrong. which you are not. that is when you call your insurance company and tell them what happened. You should have called yours right after this happened but what can you do.

 

[semaj281]

Originally Posted By: abycat
that is when you call your insurance company and tell them what happened. You should have called yours right after this happened but what can you do.

Would insurance companies cover accidents that occurred "off-road"?

 

[Lead Shoes]

Generally no, but this is technically a parking lot incident, either his insurance, or the tracks insurance has it.

 

[CharBaby]

Ya know, I don't understand how this is Semaj281's problem! Just because this is the car of an aquaintance, and your car hit the debris that went flying into the crowed or vehciles. Semaj281 was driving a car on the frigin racetrack and hit obstructions that went flying into the parked car area. How is this your responsibity that debris hit your friends/aquaintenances parked car while you were racing?

Was this an actual race or was the OP driving the car alone on the track? Still, it ain't your fault!

 

[semaj281]

Originally Posted By: Char Baby
Ya know, I don't understand how this is Semaj281's problem! Just because this is the car of an aquaintance, and your car hit the debris that went flying into the crowed or vehciles. Semaj281 was driving a car on the frigin racetrack and hit obstructions that went flying into the parked car area. How is this your responsibity that debris hit your friends/aquaintenances parked car while you were racing?

Was this an actual race or was the OP driving the car alone on the track? Still, it ain't your fault!

Well that's good to know. You guys saved me $650 with your replies. I'll contact lawyers just in case the guy tries to sue me.

And no, this was not a timed event and only one car was allowed on the track at a time. Kind of like a autocross event without the stopwatch.