Okay here is what happened. Around the first of July I came home to find a car parked illegally in a spot BETWEEN my parking spot and the next, while trying to inch into my spot ( i had no where else to park) I accidently nicked the back bumper of the vehicle. I got out and looked and saw a small scrape on it - no damage to mine. So I immediatly went to my neighbors door and told her "I'm sorry but whoever's car this is I just nicked the back bumper of it" she looked out and said, oh it's just my mom's, it's just a nick, don't worry about it." "are you SURE" I say and she says "yeah, forget about it".
Well of course hindsight is always 20/20 and i see now several things I should have done immediatly but i didn't. So that brings us to now...
It's been well over a month and now I get a call from this lady wanting me to fix her car and claiming between $1000-$2000 of damage. She said tonight on the phone when she called she will give me until Monday to make up my mind on what I'm going to do about it.
What would you do??
2006-09-07 11:57:11 · 11 answers · asked by xlpaws 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Insurance & Registration
First, call your insurance agent. Tell him what happened. Tell him everything.
Second, tell the lady that she needs to get in touch with your insurance agent.
Third, don't worry about it. If it was truly a scratch, your insurance agent will be able to tell what's old damage and what's new damage. If it was a thousand dollar ding, he'll settle with the lady and pay her something to make her happy.
Fourth, DO NOT EVER walk away from a liability situation (one where you could have to pay someone for something) without a statement signed by them saying that they absolve you of all responsibility for damages.
2006-09-07 12:03:50 · answer #1 · answered by Stuart 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
1
2016-09-25 19:01:59 · answer #2 · answered by Peggy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't worry about it. No report, no proof. She can't sue you without something more than your word against hers. If she was really worried about it, she should have called police at the time of the accident and had it documented. Sounds like she is trying to get something for nothing at your expense, the problem is, she has no proof. If she was honest, she would have covered her bases at the time of the incident. Since she didn't, her loss. Don't worry about it. If you think you may actually be responsible, ask for a copy of the estimate, review it, and if you think it's legit, pay for it out of pocket, or offer to help her pay the deductable on her insurance. Just depends. Get more informed, like find out what damage she is claiming, and make a decision from there. I suppose it probably is possible that a scratch could turn into $1000 or even $2000. If the bumper is scratched deep enough to cut it or crack it, it may have to be replaced, which would mean the shop would have to blend into the quarters, remove and install all trim, even possibly the back glass and reclear the roof. Get more info.
2006-09-07 13:01:02 · answer #3 · answered by Justin M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have admitted to causing the damage, but not to that severity. If you don't want to settle it out of pocket, then you need to contact your insurance carrier and report a claim. Suggestion next time. Take a photo of the damages so that you will have valid proof of what you are responsible for. You need to make sure your insurance company understands that extent of the damages you saw that night. And since she was illegally parked you may or may not have a case...but it wasn't reported to the authorities so it goes back to word against word. and since she waited a well over a month to report it. the damages must not have been that severe. so don't worry about her threat. just let her know that you will have your attorney or insurance carrier contact her and get her contact information. Hope this helps!!
2006-09-07 13:04:56 · answer #4 · answered by da devil 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Report it to your insurance company. They will handle it under your liability coverage, but most importantly they will see her vehicle and they will pay only based off of their estimate. It will most likely be much less than hers. That's what I'd tell her. I'd also make sure to tell the insurance company it was just a nick.
Here's something you need to be prepared for- due to the late notice to your carrier, they will most likely indicate that they'll investigate, but that your late notice is a violation of your contract and may affect coverage. It's a pretty standard thing. But as long as they can still handle the claim, the late notice probably wont' be an issue.
If you decide to pay out of pocket, beware. Make sure to get a legal release signed so no other claims come back from her. That's a real shame, but all too common.
2006-09-07 12:48:17 · answer #5 · answered by Chris 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The statement you made to her is called a Party Admission, and is therefore admissible as a hearsay exception. However, if only she heard it, it is your word vs. hers, and up to the trier of fact to determine. Since the damage is de minimis, I would refer the matter to your insurance company and be done with it. Chances are she is inflating the damage estimate...
2006-09-07 12:11:15 · answer #6 · answered by TurboLover 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you not covered for this type of accident? Did she show you an estimate from a legit auto body shop? Get busy, and do your homework! Almost sounds as if you are about to be taken for a ride if you don't.
2006-09-07 13:28:17 · answer #7 · answered by knownothing 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Contact your ins co. at once. Tell them EXACTLY what happened; a good company will throw a bucket of ice water on this situation for you. After you report this do NOT converse with the other party -- refer them to your ins.
2006-09-07 14:01:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it's been over a month, how can she prove that you did the damage? She was the moron that parked illegally, I would fight it any way possible.
2006-09-07 12:01:58 · answer #9 · answered by briansbutterflygirl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you hit her. call your insurance company. let them fight.
if you settle privately, the insurance company is off the hook and you are not covered for the incident.
2006-09-07 12:04:47 · answer #10 · answered by pops 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋