Daughter in Fender Bender Today

[buickman50401]

I was rear ended quite few years ago in my Grand Am by a doddering old fool. We pulled into the nearest parking lot while waiting for the cops. I pointed out the damage and he says, "That was there before" - no the two chunks of missing bumper cover that align perfectly with the bumper on your S-10 were not sir.

Then goes on about "I'll just pay you for it. That's not going to cost more than $50." I told him its going to be at least $250 for a repaint and that is if there is no internal damage to the bumper. He started ranting and raving about me trying to con him.

Best part was we were in a bodyshop's parking lot waiting for the cops. The owner walked out and asked what was up since the old fool was yelling at this point. I told him and he takes one look at it and then looks at the guy who hit me and says, "Well that's about a $275 to fill the chips in and repaint the entire cover. Of course that's assuming there's no damage to the bumper mounts or other internal stuff."

I thought the old man was going to have a heart attack as he started sputtering and yelling at the bodyshop guy about being a thief while the bodyshop owner just laughed in his face.

Needless to say, insurance quickly became involved and the bill was around $400 since it needed a new bumper cover as the original was not just chipped in 2 spots but also cracked.

 

[Tim]

Thanks for all the advice.

The twit never showed up this morning...despite my daughter telling him I would be in town between 0830 and 0900. I arrived at the "scene of the crime" about 0850 and waited for him until 1015 (and texted and called him while waiting).

Around noon he calls my daughter and claims he was at a job interview (ha!...obvious lie...nobody is hiring

).

Anyway, daughter called his insurance agent last night and left a message. She is calling them again today. I am not going to trust this kid....he had a chance to make me comfortable with him, and he blew it.

Damage is not bad. I could have it roadworthy for $35 (DS front turn signal housing). To get it cosmetically fixed will probably be more like $500 to $750. We'll see what the insurance adjuster says.

So glad she is ok, and it was his fault!

Thanks again,

Tim

Edit: Of course, I just spent $1,000 on the car for timing belt, water pump, motor mounts, trans mount, A-arm bushings, new pusher fan, new radiator....another reason to be glad the collision was minor. I would obviously never get this money out of the car if it had been totaled. My daughter said this was the biggest pickup she'd ever seen...and that is saying something coming from a Texas girl! Had a Ranch Hand bumper too! A little different angle or a little more speed and OUCH!

 

[Cutehumor]

Tim, make sure the trans shifts fine. after getting rearended from a stop, my trans didn't shift good after that. their insurance said it was a preexisting condition in my 15 yr old car. what a joke.

 

[Trajan]

Always involve the cops. especially if there is any balking presenting license/insurance. (Take pics too.)

One time, I was backing out of a space and hit a moving car. Guy didn't have his license, so I called the cops. (Meanwhile he tried to get me to fight him.)

Cops showed up. He told his story. And he was found at fault. and cited.

Why, you ask? He was backing down a one way street.

I was also the only witness to a head one. Again, an idiot was speeding the wrong way. His car was totaled. The car he hit was pushed back 4 car lenghts back into the intersection. Also totaled. and eight other parked cars suffered various degrees of damage.

Lucky me was still at the intersection when that all went down.

I was there about three hours. Drawing diagrams. Going over it with a few officers. Found out later the police report ran for 20 pages.

(My 94 Camaro was totaled by some clown who ran a red light. Plenty of witnesses till the cops showed up. I resolved to stick around if I ever saw something like that.)

 

[Ursae_Majoris]

Tim, if it was a University parking lot, report it to the University PD. If twerp is giving you ANY guff at all and is a student, file a complaint with the Dean of students. They have leverage.

 

[Rand]

I've done the witness thing.
I was driving down a major 4 lane road (2 each direction)

stupid 40year old black woman driving a mid-90's caddy with temp tags on it ..

Light turns red.. I said I dont think shes stopping..

BAM.. rearended someone at the light they hit the car in front of them..x4
5 car pileup.

She bailed out of the car and ran to a hotel.

I called police. She had to be found and retrieved.. was drunk and said she was rearended and the person left the scene...


I had to goto court on that one...


I always do the insurance thing now.. people are too shady.

IF it was cosmetic only.. ie busted bumper at 5mph.. I MIGHT consider private payout. Thats the only time.

 

[jcwit]

One more thing to add, I protect myself and mine first, the other guy sure isn't looking out for you.

 

[Tim]

Just to close this out.

Left front turn signal busted. Bought a new one for $30 from IPD.

Fender and hood pushed back a bit (mostly the fender). Hood still opens and closes fine.

I accepted $1,500 in certified funds as payment for the damage.

Given it is a 21 year old car with a market value of about $3,000, I will just clean and seal the little bit of compromised paint and roll on. The left over $1,470 will go into the car fund to help with the next purchase.


Tim

 

[Tim]

Update:

Yellow cab runs stop sign 100 yards from my daughter's parking garage. He clips the Volvo and pushes it over a curb in into a tree.

Waiting on official word from perp #2 insurance company, but 99.99% sure it is going to be totaled. RF door, RF fender, hood, bumper, grill, LF fender all have damage.

Despite both accidents being primarily the other guys fault, I think my dear daughter will be riding mass transit for a while...like until she gets out of Law School and can afford her own car!


Tim

 

[andyd]

Buy it back from the ins co for 200$ Hammer out the dents enough so everything works sorta. Let her keep driving it until she is out of school I did this with the 86 528e after it was totaled at U Mass. Both of my sons had the Grape as a first car. It was ugly, but reliable.

 

[Tim]

Originally Posted By: andyd
Buy it back from the ins co for 200$ Hammer out the dents enough so everything works sorta. Let her keep driving it until she is out of school I did this with the 86 528e after it was totaled at U Mass. Both of my sons had the Grape as a first car. It was ugly, but reliable.



Ah, if it were only that simple.

RF wheel was hit hard. Suspension and steering are jacked. I drove it 100 feet and parked it.

This car is going to need more than cosmetics. And getting it past the Texas inspection Nazis will be fun.

The car is 250 miles from home, too. Not looking good for the 240.

 

[daves87rs]

That just sucks....