2008 Versa...

[Woody64]

So last Thursday I picked up my 2008 Nissan Versa SL 6-Speed Mag. Grey. As posted before, I had a hell of a time finding this car, and when I did I was ecstatic. I picked it up around 4pm, drove it home, did some detailing to it, and then went and met some friends at Applebees for dinner. Around 10pm as we were leaving, the manager of Applebees announced over the PA system that they needed the owner of a Nissan Versa to the front. I went up, and of course, someone had backed into my car 6-hours after I had picked it up. passenger side tail light, and fender. I was a little angry.

I have attatched the link to some pics of the car from its good side, and the damage. I have obviously lost value on the car, has anyone had a similiar situation who can offer come advice or insight?

The driver had a suspended license, had been drinking, and was borrowing the truck. Not to mention, he sprinted from the accident. So, the owner of the vehicle is unwilling to claim liability, and my insurance will not pay the body shop until someone claims liability.

Insurance companies are worthless....

http://community.webshots.com/...unity

[frankoV]

Condolences.

Stinking idiots around.

And agree about insurance companies. Coupla years ago our family vacationed in the US; coming home outside Washington DC some guy bangs into me and keeps driving, swerving and weaving in and out of traffic.

A 911 call about the driver hitting us [and driving like the idiot he was] yielded this response: "you too?". Seems he had hit a couple of other people as well. We tried to keep him in view as we talked (police had been dispatched); he drove the wrong way off the highway onto an entrance ramp and hit a taxi coming up, jumped out of the car and ran (into the arms of a policeman).

Talked to our insurance guys: the problem wasn't that it was an out-of-country collision but that the guy was driving drunk, suspended, and without insurance. I thought that my insurance covered such things with all the extra premiums they tack on. Fat chance!

Looks like small claims court for you (in Canada, the owner of the vehicle would be liable and his insurance would be forced to cover).

[keanucosmo]

I had problems with the responsible person's insurance when I was in a wreck last year. I turned it into my insurance company and took the hit on my deductible. I got that back after my insurance company settled up with his insurance.

Do you have uninsured motorist coverage?

Also here in GA the insurance company has to pay for diminished value on top of all other money paid.

Good Luck

[DejaWiz]

Heartbreaking, man. I can't stand dishonest bastards that do s#!t like this. And, after the damaged-in-transit fiasco, you worked your azz off to find this car, too!

I'm pretty sure the owner of the truck is liable if he willingly let an unlicensed and uninsured driver with a history of DUI infringements borrow his vehicle. Seek legal advice if you have to.

I feel for you, as I've got a nice door ding and paint scrape on my driver door because some a$$ opened a door against mine in a parking lot about 1 month after I got my V.... and of course, they bailed from the scene.

[bikeman]

New York is a no fault state. Someone will pay. How much will probably be in dispute. After all, it was a "used car."

David

[RobsPages]

Wow that sucks.

Which insurance company do you have?

IANAL and YMMV, but they're your advocates in this and should be attacking the truck's owner. He can go on and sue his drunk and stupid friend for what that's worth but your fight (and your insurance company's) is with the owner/owner's insurance.

Good luck and if all else fails, lawyer up.

[BlueMango]

I had a situation where a guy rear-ended me at a stop light driving a his fiancee's car back to the lot after the financing didn't go through. He gave me his fiancee's insurance information because it was her car and he didn't have insurance. Come to find out he wasn't covered and her insurance wasn't going to pay anything. My insurance (Mercury) had me pay my deductible to get it fixed and then reimbursed me a couple of months later when they had tracked the guy down and gotten him to pay up. It kind of sucked but they were really great about getting it handled.

The driver of the car is responsible but the truck owner is second because it's his vehicle. You can go after him & his insurance and/or the driver. Can you track the driver down somehow? Maybe the truck owner will give him up?

[brainguyus]

Wow! That sucks!

You're not alone. I've had two cars that were hit while they still had less than under 1,000 miles on them, and in the only accident I ever had that was my fault I rear ended a 5 day old Audi. New cars are accident magnets.....It seems almost supernatural

Funny, nobody ever came close to hitting one of my winter beaters??

Did you file a police report and get any witnesses? I'm not a lawyer but I would think the vehicle is insured as well as the driver. Even if the owner wasn't driving it's still their vehicle that caused the damage.

[Woody64]

I have the police report and the info on all who are involved. The owner of the truck was nice to my face, but then switched his story as soon as he had to pay something. Geico, my insurance company, called me a few hours ago and said as soon as they get a fax of the police report they will cut me a two-party check for the damages, minus the deductible ($500). Then they will get the "liable party" to pay them back, and they will reimburse me. So i guess there is a light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how slim and yellow it may be....

Now I just have to come up with an extra $500....

Thanks for all the responses and advice, it had definately been a trying week, and I just want my V....

[Woody64]

Another question, the body shop called me to tell me a detailed account of how the repairs will go. They suggested cutting the panel out and replacing it, welding in a new one. But I had heard from an uncle who used to work in a body shop, that doing this will lessen the vehicles anti-corrisive ability, as they come from the factory. Does anyone have any knowledge on this. because i guess the other option, that involves no cutting is the pound it out and use bondo, though this seems to be a cheaper (in quality) fix to me. Any advice? Thanks

[bikeman]

Another question, the body shop called me to tell me a detailed account of how the repairs will go. They suggested cutting the panel out and replacing it, welding in a new one.

this should not be a problem if the shop knows what they're doing and most do.

David

[bikeman]

The driver of the car is responsible but the truck owner is second because it's his vehicle. You can go after him & his insurance and/or the driver. Can you track the driver down somehow? Maybe the truck owner will give him up?

I don't know about California but in New York and most other states, it's the vehicle that's insured and not the driver. In most instances, it wouldn't matter whose behind the wheel.

David

[Slither]

Sorry it happened

been there had that

but grin & bear it

each of us has a 1 in 85 chance of being killed in an auto accident.

Don't work-up about the idiots there will be more and worse for them.