There are still some responsible people

[tigrpal]

On Monday, my pickup was parked at work in an out of the way place, some distance from the building. Waste hauler driver backed into the right front fender. Here's the damage:

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He could have easily driven away without anyone knowing. There are other trucks that drive through the lot and I wouldn't know or be able to find out which one hit my pickup. Instead, he did the right thing and came to the office to report what had happened and to find the owner of the pickup. He offered to pay the damage without reporting to the insurance company. He's afraid of losing his job. I was leery of that but times are tough. I don't want people to get fired. Accidents happen. I told him I have to get estimates. I took his address, phone number, license number, and number on the truck for just in case and he offered to sign a statement admitting responsibility.

I get three estimates, $1100, $1400, $1400. I called the driver on Thursday to say I have to get at least $1300, the average of the three, knowing I can get the work done for $1100 and get some extra for the lost use of my pickup. He agreed on $1300 without an argument. He didn't give me a sob story about how much this will set him back nor did he doubt the estimates. By Thursday evening, I had $1300 in hand. This was much easier than any time I have ever dealt with insurance companies. I'll have my pickup repaired by the middle of next week and I didn't have to put up any of my own money waiting to get it back from the insurance company.

 

[TooManyWheels]

I would think seriously about sending him a Thank You note. Yes, it was something he caused, but the way he took care of it was exemplary.

 

[Johnny]

Ouch!

 

[Oldmoparguy1]

Well done. Had something similar happen in 07 when my wife GC was read ended by a Jeep. Father of the driver paid cash, got the car fixed and no harm done to both insurance rates.

 

[aaxb970]

nice to see a honest person

 

[addyguy]

Wow. Rare to hear these days. You both acted about as civilly as anyone could ever ask for.

 

[outrun]

I think you could have screwed up. You know what supplemental damage is? It is repair work needed after they take it apart and find further necessary repair after the fact. This may not apply to you but when dealing with frame and mechanical damage ... you never know the true extent until you take it apart. I hope he is ready to pay if need be. He may argue I shook on 1300 and that is that? Technically your also owed rental car disbursement. You were nice, but chances are I would have filed a comprehensive claim and had my insurance collect from him via a monthly settlement directly. Involving the cops just for a report would have been pain and gotten him a citation etc ... and if the cop was in a bad mood he would give you a technical citation just for the quota (ie headlamp, registration, etc)

 

[Oldmoparguy1]

That's all true, and it takes some good personal judgement to decide how to handle these things. YMMV......

 

[PandaBear]

Originally Posted By: outrun
I think you could have screwed up. You know what supplemental damage is? It is repair work needed after they take it apart and find further necessary repair after the fact. This may not apply to you but when dealing with frame and mechanical damage ... you never know the true extent until you take it apart. I hope he is ready to pay if need be. He may argue I shook on 1300 and that is that? Technically your also owed rental car disbursement. You were nice, but chances are I would have filed a comprehensive claim and had my insurance collect from him via a monthly settlement directly. Involving the cops just for a report would have been pain and gotten him a citation etc ... and if the cop was in a bad mood he would give you a technical citation just for the quota (ie headlamp, registration, etc)


All 3 shops give you the similar amounts and misses the potential damages? A competent mechanic should be able to observe frame damage by lifting it and checking from below.

By your account, every traffic accident should involve the cop and cause a heck of pain for max damage.

The guy was nice and honest, giving him a break would be the right thing to do, not using it as an opportunity to extract the maximum.

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: TooManyWheels
I would think seriously about sending him a Thank You note. Yes, it was something he caused, but the way he took care of it was exemplary.


I agree. Hand it to him nexttime he's at your building.

Becoming friends with your trashman can lend you some help if need be. I spotted my trashman $20 bucks to take a [censored] ton of stuff from my parents house one time. Would have cost probably a $100 bucks from a private hauler and another $50 or so at the landfill.

 

[tigrpal]

The body shops I used checked for frame damage. They like to have as accurate of an estimate as possible. My pickup was actually pushed into the car next to it and moved the car about 6 inches. Not a scratch on the car or on the left side of my pickup. Probably the snow and ice on the parking lot surface helped.

No cop that I know would write a citation for this in a private lot. I was parked. The waste haul driver was backing up and caught my fender.

All my lights work and headlights are perfectly aimed. Even the headlight near the damaged fender wasn't damaged. I keep my registration and license with me at all times. Not sure how a cop could write me up.

 

[rjundi]

Glad it worked out. I have heard of people getting pretty stiffed on the payment once they realize what it really costs and no report exists.

I did get a smaller hit on my wife's car bumper last year and the driver did want to report it(unsure if no license or suspended). My assumption was $500 but asked the driver to give me $1000 cash right away at a nearby atm which they did grudgingly. Why should I trust them for payment, they can trust me to pay them back which I did give the difference.

 

[outrun]

you think i am trying to milk him? no i have bad enough claims to know the insurance-repair process works. competent mechanic? the body shop i use is a guy nationally known for his custom work .... like the hot rods you see in tv and in magazines. he is done estimates only to need supplementals on occasion. he is no cheat and a hip shooter for facts. i am not discounting your niceness. however when it comes to insurance and liabilities do not play around. it is good he paid you as agreed. this could have been much worse. i speak from experience. my last hand shake agreement collision was worth 1500$ and 2 years of state farm litigating the cheats. i stand, i am no fool, my insurance is there to cover my tail.

"not sure how a cop could write me up."

they can charge you with whatever they want, this dependent also on jurisdictions, like where I live they are nationally notorious to be ticket happy to the tune that 10-25% of the population has been criminalized with outstanding traffic warrants.

Again your lucky. What type of parts and paint will they shop use?

 

[tigrpal]

I understand and appreciate your concern. I knew the risks all along. I was prepared in case he wouldn't come through. But I had a chance to help a seemingly stand up guy not lose his job over a simple mistake. I thought he should be rewarded for admitting his mistake. I knew it could cost me money and it still may cost me some money, but one doesn't get too many chances in life to help others. I get satisfaction from doing so. That's worth more to me than the cost of a repair to a fender.

As far as involving insurance...every time I've involved insurance, it has cost me money. I've never been able to get all of my deductible back.

As far as involving the police...as long as the other gentleman admitted responsibility, they would say, "Why did you call us?" We have days here in the Chicago area when they announce on the radio that if you are involved in an accident on the highway, do not call the police unless there are injuries. Doesn't matter how much damage there is to vehicles. Just exchange information.

 

[mechtech2]

I don't think he could have gotten away easily. Or, at least he was not sure of it.
Cameras are everywhere, as are possible witnesses.
Also, forensics would piece together what happened rather easily.
{But good luck having the police act like they do on TV!]

 

[TooManyWheels]

Originally Posted By: tigrpal
But I had a chance to help a seemingly stand up guy not lose his job over a simple mistake. I thought he should be rewarded for admitting his mistake. I knew it could cost me money and it still may cost me some money, but one doesn't get too many chances in life to help others. I get satisfaction from doing so. That's worth more to me than the cost of a repair to a fender.


What a great attitude!

 

[Camu Mahubah]

Originally Posted By: rjundi
Glad it worked out. I have heard of people getting pretty stiffed on the payment once they realize what it really costs and no report exists.

I did get a smaller hit on my wife's car bumper last year and the driver did want to report it(unsure if no license or suspended). My assumption was $500 but asked the driver to give me $1000 cash right away at a nearby atm which they did grudgingly. Why should I trust them for payment, they can trust me to pay them back which I did give the difference.


Jeez man! I had no idea one could get this kind of cash from an ATM! I hate even getting a twenty out when I have to go to a "cash only" joint.

 

[GMGuy]

Quote:
He's afraid of losing his job. I was leery of that but times are tough.


From what I've gathered, those in the hauling buisness do essentially face the axe when they report any accidents no matter how trivial, or fault assessment. He's probably seen others in the company get let go for similar occurances.

Alex.