Wife had a mishap today.

[Number_35]

On a windy day a year ago I came out from the gym and found a huge dent on our Honda's drivers door, and the mirror broken off and hanging by the wires. Our Honda is old, but is clean, shiny and rust free. Obviously cared for.
Probably a minivan or large SUV door did the damage. I sure would have appreciated a note with contact info. I was almost more upset with some jerk's total lack of consideration or accountability, than the damage itself.
I would have accepted cash, or paid cash if the situation was reversed, with some kind of signed receipt acknowledging the payment.

My wife was stopped a light around four years ago, and our van was rear-ended. No significant damage, but the plastic bumper cover was deformed (though not cracked) and the paint was damaged.

The driver who hit her asked that she not go through our public insurer - he would prefer to pay the repair costs himself.

I agreed to this. I removed the bumper cover, and took it to a fellow who works out of his garage. He did a good job, straightening and repainting it for C$300.

The bumper cover had a few scars on it from a previous owner, so I asked the fellow who had caused the accident to pay half.

He showed up with $150 in cash.

I suppose I took a risk, but it worked out fine.

 

[eljefino]

I would have accepted cash, or paid cash if the situation was reversed, with some kind of signed receipt acknowledging the payment.

If I pay a guy off with cash (or accept cash, I guess), there would be no receipt in this situation, and no record of it happening. No license plate numbers, no names, nothing. If you want any of that then we're going through insurance.

 

[BHopkins]

I've told my wife & 3 daughters to never give someone money over a vehicle accident/damage.

To many people on the road with no drivers license & no insurance....Meaning they shouldn't be driving but have the audacity to ask for a cash payout!

Regardless of whether the person whos car was damaged has insurance or license, or not, does not have anything to do with your responsibility for any damage incurred while operating a motor vehicle. Any person who is intelligent enough to safely operate a motor vehicle, should also be able to reason whether any damage is their responsibility, or that of the other party.

The other party should not be obligated to file a claim with their insurance, when you are responsible. I have always carried insurance. But if I were in that same situation, I also would want the party responsible to pay for damages, instead of having to file a claim.

I suspect many here have a $500 deductible, or greater. So what was paid just covers the gap, if the damages are greater than that.

 

[carviewsonic]

If I pay a guy off with cash (or accept cash, I guess), there would be no receipt in this situation, and no record of it happening. No license plate numbers, no names, nothing. If you want any of that then we're going through insurance.

Several years ago at Home Depot a young lady backed her boyfriend's pickup truck into the front of our parked '83 Lincoln, causing nearly $3000 damage. She waited for me until I came out of the store, apologized, and we exchanged information.

I got a couple of estimates, her boyfriend and her paid me in cash for the damage. He didn't want to go through insurance because as a young (under 25) driver his premium would have become unaffordable. It worked out for both of us, the Lincoln was repaired and he could still afford to drive. In this situation the car was parked; had I been driving and there was a possibility of a chronic injury I would have insisted on going through insurance.

 

[doitmyself]

Note to self: attempting to park in idiot proof, less convenient locations is still sensible.

EDIT per below: But neither fool proof or 100% effective/doable. I, too, empathize with your misfortune and wish you the best moving forward.

 

[Chris142]

Note to self: attempting to park in idiot proof, less convenient locations is still sensible.

I always do and don't mind walking. The courthouse Park lot is pretty small so you get what you get.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Every parking space in existence seems to be too small for every increasing car size.

I agree likely not great idea to pay - but you were not there, so is what it is.

 

[2005jettatdi]

A few years ago, at the grocery store, the wind grabbed my wife's door and slammed it into the mirror of the car next to her. They were nice about it and only wanted us to pay for the mirror. She wrote a check. End of story.

Your wife handled it correctly.

 

[SilentType]

My wife was rear ended at a stop sign, the guy was driving his company truck so their insurance covered all the repairs including a new OEM bumper, paint and frame correction.

Had our car back less than a week and she backed up into the driveway gate, putting a nice spiderweb on the freshly painted bumper

 

[ATex7239]

Only time will tell of this is was the right move or not. If it stays gone then good deal. If it comes back later then maybe not so much. I’ve paid off petty little accidents such as this before successfully. But it’s a risk. Never can tell how it will play out.

 

[eljefino]

Only time will tell of this is was the right move or not. If it stays gone then good deal. If it comes back later then maybe not so much. I’ve paid off petty little accidents such as this before successfully. But it’s a risk. Never can tell how it will play out.

If they come back later I give Chris license to fink out. "It wasn't me-- prove it was me-- where's the video footage-- I wasn't there, I was at work." Just make it hard.

 

[Donald]

That's why you marry a lawyer so you have in-house counsel to handle things like this.

 

[John105]

If they come back later I give Chris license to fink out. "It wasn't me-- prove it was me-- where's the video footage-- I wasn't there, I was at work." Just make it hard.

That seems to be the opposite "in spirit" of the reason in the first place to pay. At any rate, it would be pretty foolish for the party receiving the money to 1. Not take a pic of the payment 2. Not take a pic of the driver 3. Not take a pic of both vehicles including the plates

If one were to say, well, both parties were so shy, they felt bashful and didn't take any pics, then I think what you say might work. But it's lying.

I think the key in life is to tell the truth, but, also be cognizant of the reality in doing so. Insurance called my wife regarding an incident at which we were not at fault. She handled it better than I did. Told the caller look, I am at work, I only have 5 minutes to talk to you, and the person respected that. I was always told with insurance and many other scenarios that are basically depositions on recorded lines. Tell the truth, but keep it yes, or no. Don't interject subjective observations or opinions--understand they may be your carrier, THEY ARE NOT ON YOUR SIDE. You're not in a tv commercial where someone is looking out for you.

 

[Donald]

That seems to be the opposite "in spirit" of the reason in the first place to pay. At any rate, it would be pretty foolish for the party receiving the money to 1. Not take a pic of the payment 2. Not take a pic of the driver 3. Not take a pic of both vehicles including the plates

If one were to say, well, both parties were so shy, they felt bashful and didn't take any pics, then I think what you say might work. But it's lying.

I think the key in life is to tell the truth, but, also be cognizant of the reality in doing so. Insurance called my wife regarding an incident at which we were not at fault. She handled it better than I did. Told the caller look, I am at work, I only have 5 minutes to talk to you, and the person respected that. I was always told with insurance and many other scenarios that are basically depositions on recorded lines. Tell the truth, but keep it yes, or no. Don't interject subjective observations or opinions--understand they may be your carrier, THEY ARE NOT ON YOUR SIDE. You're not in a tv commercial where someone is looking out for you.

While you should tell the truth you should not admit any fault during an accident investigation. Your insurance company will tell you that.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Since were on this topic - a theoretical.

If I park perfectly square inside the lines, with no one around - and I come out and someone is wedged right against me over there line - who would be at fault for a door ding? I assume me because I am opening the door, but if thats true it really irks me because they were also negligent.

 

[John105]

While you should tell the truth you should not admit any fault during an accident investigation. Your insurance company will tell you that.

This is where we likely disagree. One's own insurance co will not say to not admit fault. If you have counsel outside of the insurance co. yes they will. A common mistake folks make is maybe perpetuated by all the commercials. Believing that one's own insurance co's interest is aligned with their own. A liability claim will demonstrate what insurance is really all about.

 

[John105]

Since were on this topic - a theoretical.

If I park perfectly square inside the lines, with no one around - and I come out and someone is wedged right against me over there line - who would be at fault for a door ding? I assume me because I am opening the door, but if thats true it really irks me because they were also negligent.

btw I care about such a scenario as I always park as far away as humanly possible, and curbed on one side. Not as often as ticked off Vic in the YouTube, but I occasionally find someone parked right next to me upon return. Because they are spoilers. My boss said she does this (why?).

At any rate I would think whomever dented someone's car, is at fault, although impossible to prove unless there is a cam? I do know this is regarded as a nuisance even by law enforcement.

I once had someone dent my car and I got out and confronted her. The person told me to get an education? So I played along and said I've spent so much time in school I don't want to spend any more, what does that have to do with anything? She kept on and on and saying please so you're a saint and you don't do this to others....I glanced over and saw rosary beads on her mirror. Told me to call the cops, which I didn't, because I knew they would be annoyed.

I did look it up before and a dent on a door is collision, not comp. If comp I wouldn't worry about claiming it. Although I wouldn't want a car repainted over that, maybe PDR.