This person reversed into my car leaving a small scratch and a little dint. They left their contact details with a neighbour, but the neighbour said the person was really worried about it and extremely apologetic and really scared of what I might say.
I'd feel awful to demand this person pay up for something that was a total accident. Do I phone them and demand they pay for a repair or just live with the damage - it's not a huge scratch.
I'd feel a bit evil to ask this person to pay up when they were good enough to leave their details. I don't want to seem mean, but at the same time, I don't really want to have a scratched/dinted car. How do I handle this sensitively?
2006-06-11 08:45:46 · 16 answers · asked by jimbie 4 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
Contact your insurance company, make a claim and give them his details. Most likely you'll never see him again. He might have to pay a small excess but don't forget you didn't ask him to damage our car. Be thankful he left his details. He could have just driven off. If you do see him again thank him for his honesty. Or send him a thank you when the damage is repaired if it makes you feel better.
2006-06-11 08:52:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Get the repairs done as cheaply as possible and offer to let her pay privately as opposed to going through her insurance. Sure, it was an accident, but at the same time, you've now got a scratch that wasn't there before, and if you don't fix a scratch, you may get rust.
Edit: funny how I assumed this person was female and everyone else assumes male. Shows I listen to stereotypes. Actually no - its the apologetic and scared that got me thinking female - because thats exactly what I'd be like ;)
2006-06-11 08:56:27 · answer #2 · answered by Quackles 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call the person and find out if they have insurance. They won't be paying the insurance company will. If they don't and you can work out a financial arrangement so they can pay you back then fine. If they can't, keep in mind that they were nice enough to leave their information - something a lot of folks don't do - I've been hit like that twice and nobody left a thing....
You can also report it to your insurance provided your deductible isn't that high. Or you can live with it. I hate the dings in my car but you know, it still runs and gets me from point A to point B.
2006-06-11 08:50:24 · answer #3 · answered by nquizzitiv 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Contact them and have a chat - If they left their details they evidently felt sufficiently bad about the whole thing to want to be contacted. I did the same thing a while back - accidentally knocked a wing mirror off some guy's parked car. I left a note with my details and, becsue the repairs to his car were minimal (£15) he called me back to say don't worry about it. I think you should find out how much it will cost (ie, a spot of turtle wax and sucker thingy to pull the dent out, or a whole new wing/bumper/whatever), then contact them and take it from there. Fair play to you for asking that question by the way - thousands wouldn't have!
2006-06-16 01:01:34 · answer #4 · answered by SilverSongster 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, if the person didn't mean it, and if the scratch/dent was small, then I think that you should just drop it. Just about everyone will get a bump/scratch/dent sooner or later, and, eventually, you will most likely sell that car in the future. Anyways, a car's main purpose is to get you from point a to point b. As long as the dent is not glaringly obvious, then just let the guy alone. I'm sure he didn't mean it.
2006-06-11 08:50:03 · answer #5 · answered by smart guy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if you can touch up the scratch and not have to persue this person then do that, as you may get the lucky break given back sometime. If you can't touch it up then you'll have to get your insurance company to contact them or get a quote and contact them. Just be really honest and it will come back good.
2006-06-11 08:57:24 · answer #6 · answered by minerva 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds to me like they didn't have insurance. I would let my insurance company know right away. But, I would see if they would work a deal out with me first and if they didn't come through then I would turn it in.
2006-06-11 08:54:18 · answer #7 · answered by jack_black_91 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Live with it! It's just a car! It'll have a ton of dents in it before long and you ain't gonna keep it for the rest of your life.
2006-06-11 08:48:49 · answer #8 · answered by Iron Rider 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you didn't try to start the engine, then the fuel system doesn't need cleaning, only the tank has to be drained. If you even put the key into the "ON" position and it kicked in the fuel pump then the system up to the fuel rail has to be cleaned. If you tried to start it, then everything needs cleaning.
2016-03-27 00:41:00 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
ask the person if he will handle the repair without yr involvement
2006-06-11 08:52:29 · answer #10 · answered by cucunder cilindretto 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋