[iREZ]

Got into a small fender bender today while on my lunch break. Basically we were both stopped waiting to make a right on a red light. He went off as if he was going to make the turn, and then he just stopped (short stopped) while I let go of the brake and was creeping forward. I ran into him because I had just got my 1098-t form that I was going to give to my tax guy to finally start them, and I saw it catch air and was about to fly out the window so I took my eye off the road for a split second when all I hear is BAM!!! I'm a poor student and finally got my insurance rates to a reasonable rate (they consider me a new driver till I drive for a solid 5 years). I can't let the insurance people know about this, cuz if they take care of it my rates will go through the roof. I was thinking about calling the other guy and seeing if I could pay for the repair, but I don't want him to ok that and go get an outrageous estimate for me to pay so he could pocket the rest. I haven't talked to him yet, but I don't know if I should call him and offer the payment, should I wait to see if he does anything, or should I just let the insurance guys handle all this? Here are the pictures, he's the Blazer and I'm the Altima with the broken license plate.

[AKcrab]

There is damage on the blazer?

If it was my blazer, I wouldn't even think twice about that little damage. That's what bumpers are for.

I would call him, ask to not involve insurance, explain you're a college student, and see what he wants to do. Unfortunately, you're at fault, so the ball's in his court so to speak.

[d4nth3m4n]

wow, that's really nothing at all. that one literally WILL buff right out.

call the guy and pray he's going to be reasonable.

[ManOfSteal]

I could sneeze and cause more damage than that on the Blazer...hopefully he doesn't want to pursue getting the "damages" buffed out.

[MacNStein]

Pfftt. I would have just patted you on the shoulder and told you to forget about it. Sh*t happens, and as AKcrab said, that's what bumpers are for... might have even improved the bumper on my `71 Bronco. Even if it were my M3 I would have just waved it off.

Talk to him and see if he'll go for an easy fix, some touch-up paint and a little buffing.

[OpenStep]

Damn, I was expecting to see pics of cars flipped over and on fire... anyway I wouldn't worry cause I doubt you could even file an insurance claim on the damaged Blazer. Good idea though taking pictures of both cars, if it does go to the insurance or court and something goes bad you have very good evidence.

[iREZ]

I talked to the guy and just now and he says he's willing to go and get 4-5 different estimates. He sounds like a cool guy, I'm waiting to see what the costs of the repair might be and I'll take it from there. Do you guys really think something that small can't be claimed under insurance.

[d4nth3m4n]

dude, he's pulling your chain. tell him to **** off. except, you know, nicely.

[Xeo]

All the estimates he comes back with will be for a new bumper, and those ain't cheap. Hopefully he doesn't expect you to cough up that much.

When I was 16, I was at a red light and looking at a map to figure out where to go next. I saw out of the corner of my eye the light go green, so I let up on the gas. Well, I was something like number 6 in the queue to go, and as you know, it takes a few seconds to get everyone going. So BAM, I hit the lady in front of me. We pulled over and looked. My license plate holder (didn't have a plate) was cracked. her bumper had a couple scuffs of black from my car. Her bumper already had lots of other scuffs, too. We exchanged insurance info, she was kind enough to tell me how to get out of the city and on my way. I never heard from her again.

That was the only time I've hit a (moving) car while driving.

[discotronic]

A few years ago on Christmas Day I was sitting at a red light waiting to turn left. I was the first car in line. Out of nowhere my car jumps a couple feet forward. Good thing my foot was only on the brake lightly. I got out and looked at my back bumper. No damage at all. The car that hit me had some damage but nothing a little touch up paint wouldn't take care of. The 2 kids in the car looked scared to death. They couldn't have been more than 16 or 17. I looked at them and asked if they where hurt and fortunately they where okay. I just told them "Merry Christmas" and that was that.

Hopefully this guy won't give you any problems. It doesn't even look like it would be worth his trouble to get the estimates. Good luck.

[MaxPower2k3]

A few months ago, my brother was waiting in the left turn lane at a light that had just turned green. He was waiting for a gap in the left lane so he could turn. A Ford Econoline van drove into the intersection completely oblivious of my brother and rear-ended his 1991 Honda Civic at 35mph. Miraculously, my brother was fine. He was wearing his seat belt, but the car has no airbags. He complained about neck pains for a few days after that, but I don't think it amounted to anything. After the guy rear-ended him, he tried to drive away. About a block away, though, he stopped and came back. Even if he had left, there were several witnesses who stayed and called the cops.

The Civic's rear end was pretty crumpled, from what I heard (I haven't seen the car yet), but my brother managed to make it back to his apartment in it. I don't think he drives it anymore. He has yet to pursue legal action against the guy; I don't know if he plans to or not.

[bradoesch]

Is there an Ontario in California?

[Apple Pro Underwear]

Originally posted by MaxPower2k3:
A few months ago, my brother was waiting in the left turn lane at a light that had just turned green. He was waiting for a gap in the left lane so he could turn. A Ford Econoline van drove into the intersection completely oblivious of my brother and rear-ended his 1991 Honda Civic at 35mph. Miraculously, my brother was fine. He was wearing his seat belt, but the car has no airbags. He complained about neck pains for a few days after that, but I don't think it amounted to anything. After the guy rear-ended him, he tried to drive away. About a block away, though, he stopped and came back. Even if he had left, there were several witnesses who stayed and called the cops.

The Civic's rear end was pretty crumpled, from what I heard (I haven't seen the car yet), but my brother managed to make it back to his apartment in it. I don't think he drives it anymore. He has yet to pursue legal action against the guy; I don't know if he plans to or not.

he should, that guy is a dangerous driver and needs to be disiplined

that guy could have ran over a pregnant mom instead of your brother's civiv

[wdlove]

I truly hope that you can work this out amicably for both of you. Good luck iREZ.

[sugar_coated]

If it can be broken it can be fixed.

[turtle777]

Originally posted by sugar_coated:
If it can be broken it can be fixed.

I think I have to start reporting your asinine comments as abuse. It just freakin hurts.

-t

[bstone]

I got a letter from an insurance company (not mine) the other day. Said I was being investigated for causing an accident to one of their insurees. I called them and had to laugh.

"You see," I told them "I simply don't drive my car for weeks at a time. I go to school a mile away and ride my bike there as there is no parking there. The day which your insuree says I hit her was yet another day my car was not driven."

Upon inspection my car didn't even have any (new) scuffs, paint marks, etc. I'll be willing to bet that this lady hit her car elsewhere and is looking for someone to blame it on. That, or she is upset that I park for weeks at a time without moving and is somehow trying for revenge. Parking where I live is very difficult so I can somewhat understand the anger to the guy who never moves his car.

[hart]

I'd be embarassed to pursue you over that pathetic little scratch. But then, I live in Brooklyn where bumpers of the cars in front and back are considered a navigation device during parallel parking. Living in a city in which parallel parking is a necessity means bumpers take a lot of damage. I've just had to say having no paint on the left and right rear corners of my car is a feature, not a problem.

[Eriamjh]

Being in a fender-bender requires ACTUALLY bending a fender!

Try this one of when my wife was rear-ended:
$8000 in damage baby! (See more here)

You were not in an accident. You bumped somebody. Some people would call it a "love-tap".

As for your insurance, you should be more concerned about the damage to the car you hit than your own (which looks like just a scratch or a displacement of some dirt). Be a nice guy and pay for the damage (out of your pocket if you have to). If your insurance company is not involved and no ticket was issued, then your rates will not go up as there will be no record of it.

[d4nth3m4n]

do you have the only pictures of this event?

were you the only one who thought to stop and document this event?

is there more to what really happened?? because i'm on the verge of telling you to tell him to bugger off. that's really nothing, and from what i have gathered in this thread, it seems like he's trying to rip you off.

if you're the only one with pics, and the only one that really stopped to think about doing anything about this, what can he do? try to sue you? but then what? he can't show any damage to his car?

i don't know, i just can't shake the feeling that you might have planted the idea in his head that he can sucker you out of money for really doing nothing to his blazer.

be careful out there.

[IFLY2HIGH]

When it comes to my truck, I don't care how insificant anyone tags my bumpers cause you better be ready to pay. I take super good care of my truck, keep it clean and shiny, take care of it, the works. Last thing I want is someone messing it up. Now if it was an old car that aready had scratches and dings already on it, I probbly wouldn't care, it depends on the person. I had some guy back into my truck in a parking lot, I was even off the pavement way the heck out of the way, and he plowed right into it. Better yet he even drove off, but several people chased him down and got his tag. Needless to say, after 800$ worth of damage, damn right it's gona be fixed.



Can you spot the damage? It's there lol...

[d4nth3m4n]

all i see is nasty jpg compression.

seriously though irez, let him call you.

[d4nth3m4n]

Originally posted by IFLY2HIGH:
When it comes to my truck, I don't care how insificant anyone tags my bumpers cause you better be ready to pay. I take super good care of my truck, keep it clean and shiny, take care of it, the works. Last thing I want is someone messing it up. Now if it was an old car that aready had scratches and dings already on it, I probbly wouldn't care, it depends on the person. I had some guy back into my truck in a parking lot, I was even off the pavement way the heck out of the way, and he plowed right into it. Better yet he even drove off, but several people chased him down and got his tag. Needless to say, after 800$ worth of damage, damn right it's gona be fixed.



Can you spot the damage? It's there lol...

god, you're an a**hole. if everyone was like you, nobody would drive, we'd just sit in out houses and look out the window at our shiny, perfect auotmobiles. no way in hell would i drive around knowing that every other car i even touch would be $800. do you charge for door dings too?

[andreas_g4]

Live with it. It can come heavier…

[nerd]

Originally posted by d4nth3m4n:
god, you're an a**hole. if everyone was like you, nobody would drive, we'd just sit in out houses and look out the window at our shiny, perfect auotmobiles. no way in hell would i drive around knowing that every other car i even touch would be $800. do you charge for door dings too?

So if you come and open your car door and hit it against my brand new car in the parking lot then I can key your car in return? That's what it sounds like to me.

Treat others the way you want to be treated and that includes their property. People work hard for their stuff. Even if it doesn't mean anything to you it does to them no matter the value.

Brad

[d4nth3m4n]

i'm not saying i actively bump cars and ding doors, but things happen. and people on both sides of the fence should know that. to be anal enough to hit someone up for $800 for bumping a BUMPer seems a little unfair.

don't want your car to show use? don't drive it. things happen. seldom intentionally.

[SSharon]

The first time I was ever in an accident while I was driving was last year or so and I was driving my girlfriend's sister's car. I was on an exit ramp (not moving because of traffic) in Jersey and saw a 2004 Trailblazer coming up way too fast behind me. I put the Camry in neutral and waited with my foot over the brakes. He hit me and then I hit my brakes to avoid the car in front of me.
Being an EMT I got out to see if the 4 people in the other car were ok and they all were. The guy driving was 17 I think (I was 19/20 at the time). He knew he was at fault and was scared, but I didn't really want police involvement on a car that wasn't mine when I have an out of state drivers license. I knew I would win, but I was leaving Jersey the next day and didn't want to deal with anything so I told the guy, let me call the owner of the car and see if he will be happy with cash.
In the meantime the police came since someone passing called them, but I got them to leave saying the damage to my car was under $500 and I did not want a report. So the kid is happy and agrees to pay me in cash, but he has none.
I follow him to his house and after learning that my girlfriends family knows his parents, we took a check for $125 and signed a contract agreeing that they would pay more if needed. In the end $125 was more than we needed and he had about $900 damage, but no ticket.