Teeny Tiny Accident with suspicious damage - WWYD?

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I picked my son up in a loaner car today. A large GMC Terrain. I was parked in the parking spot and a small red car was behind me blocking a driveway.

The GMC has the back up camera and also the noise maker when you get close. As I was backing up, I was stopping because of the beeping but the gentleman said I still had a little room (hand gesture to keep coming back). I had two kids in the car and both were watching.

I tapped his car. MY FAULT. I am not disputing that at all. I was at fault, but the damage is suspicious.

My vehicle is very high up. Around 24 inches before you have any vehicle and that would have bumped the car in mid grill. His car was damaged around 8 inches off the ground. A piece of plastic needs to be pushed back in and maybe a clip replaced. Really not major damage. There is NO sign of contact on my vehicle, on the back and underneath.

I gave him my phone number and license and told him to call me when he got he the estimate and we would talk about it. He did not ask for insurance and since it was a loaner with no damage I was not going to go through it either.

My problem is the car had previously been in an accident and we noted that. He agreed. DS took a picture of the car where he said the damage was and of my vehicle that had no damage. The other young man also told this guy what he saw and looked at both vehicles for damage.

What would you do? Pay the amount he asks for or try to fight it? I am on the fence. I know my mechanic would pop it back in and say have a nice day. I am concerned this man is going to try and get more than is required. (Both boys got that feeling from him also). I do have other students who saw this man keep telling me to back up, but again, I do know it is my fault.

Thoughts??

 

[Coconut36]

I picked my son up in a loaner car today. A large GMC Terrain. I was parked in the parking spot and a small red car was behind me blocking a driveway.

The GMC has the back up camera and also the noise maker when you get close. As I was backing up, I was stopping because of the beeping but the gentleman said I still had a little room (hand gesture to keep coming back). I had two kids in the car and both were watching.

I tapped his car. MY FAULT. I am not disputing that at all. I was at fault, but the damage is suspicious.

My vehicle is very high up. Around 24 inches before you have any vehicle and that would have bumped the car in mid grill. His car was damaged around 8 inches off the ground. A piece of plastic needs to be pushed back in and maybe a clip replaced. Really not major damage. There is NO sign of contact on my vehicle, on the back and underneath.

I gave him my phone number and license and told him to call me when he got he the estimate and we would talk about it. He did not ask for insurance and since it was a loaner with no damage I was not going to go through it either.

My problem is the car had previously been in an accident and we noted that. He agreed. DS took a picture of the car where he said the damage was and of my vehicle that had no damage. The other young man also told this guy what he saw and looked at both vehicles for damage.

What would you do. Pay the amount he asks for or try to fight it? I am on the fence. I know my mechanic would pop it back in and say have a nice day. I am concerned this man is going to try and get more than is required. (Both boys got that feeling from him also). I do have other students who saw this man keep telling me to back up, but again, I do know it is my fault.

Thoughts??

Are you not doing this through insurance? If you choose to bypass insurance then you are taking a risk in regards to the damage being attributed to you and the cost associated with repairing it. Even in a loaner your car insurance generally covers any incident that occurs. An adjuster would be able to determine if you caused the damage in question and determine a reasonable cost for repair.

 

[HFred]

I say you call insurance in on this. Was a police report filed? Stop "admitting" it is your fault as it will be "open and close" if you claim any sort of responsibility. It sounds like a professional needs to determine the extent of damage if any! I had a similar issue once where a women tried to claim an entire side panel was caused by my car. It was not and I did not have to pay b/c insurance and the police confirmed it was not possible. Good luck.

 

[happygirl]

I picked my son up in a loaner car today. A large GMC Terrain. I was parked in the parking spot and a small red car was behind me blocking a driveway.

The GMC has the back up camera and also the noise maker when you get close. As I was backing up, I was stopping because of the beeping but the gentleman said I still had a little room (hand gesture to keep coming back). I had two kids in the car and both were watching.

I tapped his car. MY FAULT. I am not disputing that at all. I was at fault, but the damage is suspicious.

My vehicle is very high up. Around 24 inches before you have any vehicle and that would have bumped the car in mid grill. His car was damaged around 8 inches off the ground. A piece of plastic needs to be pushed back in and maybe a clip replaced. Really not major damage. There is NO sign of contact on my vehicle, on the back and underneath.

I gave him my phone number and license and told him to call me when he got he the estimate and we would talk about it. He did not ask for insurance and since it was a loaner with no damage I was not going to go through it either.

My problem is the car had previously been in an accident and we noted that. He agreed. DS took a picture of the car where he said the damage was and of my vehicle that had no damage. The other young man also told this guy what he saw and looked at both vehicles for damage.

What would you do? Pay the amount he asks for or try to fight it? I am on the fence. I know my mechanic would pop it back in and say have a nice day. I am concerned this man is going to try and get more than is required. (Both boys got that feeling from him also). I do have other students who saw this man keep telling me to back up, but again, I do know it is my fault.

Thoughts??

Why weren't the cops called, esp you being in a loaner car.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Are you not doing this through insurance? I would think any decent insurance adjuster would be able to determine if your vehicle could possibly have caused that damage and the general cost to repair it.

I wasn't going to. It only happened about 30 minutes ago, so I still have time to report it if that is what everyone thinks should be done. I was thinking, no matter what since I was backing up I would be deemed in the wrong and my insurance would go up. I have a clean record. This has me just all jumbled in my thoughts.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I say you call insurance in on this. Was a police report filed? Stop "admitting" it is your fault as it will be "open and close" if you claim any sort of responsibility. It sounds like a professional needs to determine the extent of damage if any! I had a similar issue once where a women tried to claim an entire side panel was caused by my car. It was not and I did not have to pay b/c insurance and the police confirmed it was not possible. Good luck.

No police report. I know each area is different, here you go down and file a report, they do not come out.

I can call my insurance and I can go file the report. I have time to still do this.

I'll change my wording in reference to fault.

 

[Coconut36]

I wasn't going to. It only happened about 30 minutes ago, so I still have time to report it if that is what everyone thinks should be done. I was thinking, no matter what since I was backing up I would be deemed in the wrong and my insurance would go up. I have a clean record. This has me just all jumbled in my thoughts.

I saw after my initial post (and edited) that you were initially bypassing insurance..I probably wouldn't do it simply because of the risks involved in regards to cost and damage that they attribute to you. I would have an adjuster take a look at it and go from there...that way it protects you in regards to what reasonably could have been damaged and the cost to fix it.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I saw after my initial post (and edited) that you were initially bypassing insurance..I probably wouldn't do it simply because of the risks involved in regards to cost and damage that they attribute to you. I would have an adjuster take a look at it and go from there...that way it protects you in regards to what reasonably could have been damaged and the cost to fix it.

I am still a bit upset so I am having a hard time understanding. Should I bypass the insurance and contact the other driver and have him meet me at a neutral adjuster to determine what could have happened or if I could have caused that damage?

I also live in a no-fault state. DH is on his way home to look at the vehicle and the pictures. Ugh, I am so upset with myself. I am usually so careful.

 

[Coconut36]

I am still a bit upset so I am having a hard time understanding. Should I bypass the insurance and contact the other driver and have him meet me at a neutral adjuster to determine what could have happened or if I could have caused that damage?

I also live in a no-fault state. DH is on his way home to look at the vehicle and the pictures. Ugh, I am so upset with myself. I am usually so careful.

If it was me..I would call my insurance company and report what occurred. They will send someone out to look at the car you were driving, the car you hit, take statements..etc. They will know if you could have reasonably caused the damage to the vehicle and they will work with that persons insurance in regards to repairs (so you know they will be monitored/kept in check). If you do not go through insurance you run the risk of them claiming damage you didn't cause or asking for more money than is necessary to make the repair.

 

[holycow]

I really think you need to go through the insurance most of all just to protect yourself.

I had a accident years ago. Left a statement with the ins. Almost a YEAR later this guy was coming back claiming injuries etc. Dirty lying scumbag. He didn't have ins. at the time, he wasn't driving his own car, he didn't have a license and there wasn't even ANY DAMAGE done to the car!

I was beyond livid but the ins. company took care of it all since I had made a statement when it happened.

Good luck!

 

[Coconut36]

I really think you need to go through the insurance most of all just to protect yourself.

I had a accident years ago. Left a statement with the ins. Almost a YEAR later this guy was coming back claiming injuries etc. Dirty lying scumbag. He didn't have ins. at the time, he wasn't driving his own car, he didn't have a license and there wasn't even ANY DAMAGE done to the car!

I was beyond livid but the ins. company took care of it all since I had made a statement when it happened.

Good luck!

Something similar happened to my MIL. The person was pursuing a lawsuit but because there was a solid record with her insurance company nothing ever came of it because everything was well documented and proved his claims false.

 

[Ciao Mickey]

Damage to the other car was below where your loaner car could cause it.

No damage to your car.

Other driver admitted his car was in a previous accident.

I would bring a tape measure to court and fight it.

 

[Kellydelly]

It seems too late, but I certainly would not have exchanged information with the person if I didn't feel I had caused any damage. I would have called the police if the other person insisted on a report or your contact info.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I really think you need to go through the insurance most of all just to protect yourself.

I had a accident years ago. Left a statement with the ins. Almost a YEAR later this guy was coming back claiming injuries etc. Dirty lying scumbag. He didn't have ins. at the time, he wasn't driving his own car, he didn't have a license and there wasn't even ANY DAMAGE done to the car!

I was beyond livid but the ins. company took care of it all since I had made a statement when it happened.

Good luck!

Luckily this guy was out of his guy directing me. (okay I have calmed a bit so now I can use this guy , yeah right directing me). But you are correct. He could come back with other damage.

I am waiting on my DH to come home and go through this with me. I tend to get overly upset and he tends to keep me calm. I did look, I have 10 days to file the claim so I am okay there.

Thanks everyone for being so nice. Even though it was really a small little thing it has me pretty upset with myself, and knowing everyone was nice on this thread made it better.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

It seems too late, but I certainly would not have exchanged information with the person if I didn't feel I had caused any damage. I would have called the police if the other person insisted on a report or your contact info.

Yes too late, but probably this would have put an end to it the situation the quickest. I know now but I was the ride for the other young gentleman to work and I was more worried about him being late.

Both the boys (17yo's) were great. One kept giving me chocolate and the other kept telling horrible jokes.

 

[Mrs.Malone]

It seems too late, but I certainly would not have exchanged information with the person if I didn't feel I had caused any damage. I would have called the police if the other person insisted on a report or your contact info.

NO to not exchanging info--because then you have the possibility of being accused of a hit-and-run. Not likely, but it's a scary possibility if the guy really is out to get money.

You have to go through the insurance. If you have a decent insurance company, they will know exactly what to do and will take care of you. I had a very minor accident like this recently (someone rear-ended me at very low speed, very minimal damage) and the insurance company did a great job of handling things and making sure everything was properly documented.

 

[Kellydelly]

I don't understand if the other car's owner admitted previous damage and it was obvious you didn't hurt his car, why he even expected your name and number? I've tapped people/been tapped before, we inspect, then if nothing looks damaged you just go your seperate ways.

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

Yes too late, but probably this would have put an end to it the situation the quickest. I know now but I was the ride for the other young gentleman to work and I was more worried about him being late.

Both the boys (17yo's) were great. One kept giving me chocolate and the other kept telling horrible jokes.

Wow, those boys are GOOD! Someone is raising them right!

As far as the accident, one piece of advice, take pictures. Both of your loaner, close up and far away, and also of the other car if you can find it. ASAP, documentation is great.

 

[DVC-Don]

You'd have to report this to the insurance company that insures the loaner car, not yours should you wish to use insurance.

 

[DMickey28]

Since its a loaner car I would take a measuring stick, hold it up along various points in the back of the car and take good close up and full view pictures. If this comes back you won't have the loaner anymore and that might make things more difficult to prove you didn't to any damage to his car.

I used to work as an adjuster and we have dealt with many instances in which people claimed damage that wasn't physical possible.