Someone backed into me last night

[rdsworks]

So I am laying in bed last night, when suddenly my alarm starts going off. I look through the window to see some idiot in an SUV attempting to drive a way. So I run outside in my underwear to grab his license plate... He stops I guess the idea of a hit and run when I have his license plate doesn't seem like such a good idea..

So I get his information, and then he goers to say hoiw it is hardly a scrach... Broken tail light, bumper is smashed in. So I laugh... ofcourse no damage to his SUV.

He then goes on telling me he would rather not go through insurence and he knows a shop where I could get it fixed.

Well monday I call autopac to get my stuff fixed.

[teenbean]

Woww. Is it bad?I rolled into my friends car in January and the right corner of my rear bumper crumbled I've yet to get it fixed cause I refuse to pay a grand to fix my damn bumper.

[Ever Victorious]

He then goes on telling me he would rather not go through insurence and he knows a shop where I could get it fixed.

I'd send it through his insurance anyway just to spite him, because he tried running off.

But I am a bit sadistic...

[deaftosociety]

man i woulda probably beat him

[rdsworks]

It bad in the sense that I can add another issue to the cars ive owned..

my last car (2001 alero) got stolen. then they fixed that, 3 weeks later got rear ended, then 5 days later got rear ended again!

the bumber is crumpled in a tiny bit, the clamps holding the bumper on the right side buckled, and my tail light is done.

[aleckz]

That blows man :/ I would definitely send it through his insurance just to spite him as well. At least you caught him in the act. Did you file a police report?

[KimberKenobi]

I'd send it through his insurance to spite him as well... for 2 reasons: 1 - trying to run, 2 - stating that it was just a scratch.

jack @$$!

[hiimjered]

A couple of things:

1. You should have called the police and filed a police report. Partly just because he tried to drive off without dealing with it, and partly because you never know whether or not the guy will actually pay to have it repaired the way you want.

2. You should go to a shop of YOUR choice. By law he is require to pay for repars at a shop of your choice a long as the price is reasonable. This means that as long as the price is somewhere between the cheapest and most expensive, it is his responsibility to pay.

3. If he doesn't want to personally foot the bill at your bodyshop, then you file through his insurance. By following step #1 above you will have both the contact info and policy number for his insurance company (part of the accident report) and you'll have a police accident report showing who was involved and indicating fault. This makes it easier to force his insurance company to pay for the repairs. This also gives you the ammo you'd need if he wasn't insured and you had to take him to small claims court to cover the cost for the repairs.

It is a little late for that now, so I hope he takes care of the repairs. Make sure everything is as good as new when it is all said and done. In the future make sure you ALWAYS file a police report. It may be a little more hassle, but it will pay off.

[KimberKenobi]

1. Police reports are useful

2. What he said.

3. I believe you said you got all his information so you can still file it through his insurance and their adjuster will determine the cost of the repairs and should write you a check to take wherever you wish. (If he gave you his current insurance and if he was currently insured ... that part the police report really helps with) In some states, the police aren't allowed/supposed to indicate fault, just report what they see at the time of the incident. In these states, insurance companies default to vehicle that is listed first in the report, regardless of any painfully obvious details or witness statements not made at the time of the incident (grrr)

Surprisingly, it may not be too late for a police report... you can still report damage to your vehicle, the time and date it happened, and the information from the other driver. You can get a police report after the fact as long as the officer can inspect the vehicle.

[frankoV]

He's in Mantiba. Government insurance (yes, government) -- everybody has the same insurance company. It can be a blessing or a bust, depending on your adjuster (and their mood of the day).

When the car goes to the shop all particulars will be taken, and probably made available tot he police (who will do diddly). The other guys rates will probably go up.

[Ever Victorious]

Although without a police report, it CAN be a "he said, he said" with respect to the insurance. ALWAYS get a police report. Period.

[rdsworks]

I ended up going through insurence.

930$ worth of damage. If the don't have to replace the bumper.

[Peachey]

Pretty sure in Ontario, if the damage is less than 700 dollars the police won't come, but if it's above that, you have to call the police.

The law might have changed tho.

[frankoV]

The magic number in Ontario is $1,000, but if there are no injuries it's like triage in emergency: they'll get to you when they get to you.

My damage was $1,600 plus -- rear fender and bumper -- and I had more to do than sit around for hours waiting in a parking lot (if it's a main road that's a little different). Exchanged info and immediately called my insurance company . . . all was fine.

[superskunk]

well i guess the good thing is that you were wearing underwear to sleep.... because if you hadnt, you wouldnt have made it outside in time to catch him.... lol.....

[Avidshifty]

well i guess the good thing is that you were wearing underwear to sleep.... because if you hadnt, you wouldnt have made it outside in time to catch him.... lol.....

he probly would have made it, but he might have gotten a few cops called on him for some public nudity charges

[frankoV]

while they were there the cops could have filed the accident report.

[KimberKenobi]

hahahahahaha!!!