OT - I backed into my neighbor's car

[Friendly Frog]

Melissa-

Remember to keep breathing -

If she leases her car, she has to return in without any scratches or dings or she has to pay for them when she surrenders it.

I just wanted to mention this since some PPs are noting that she may be willing to forget about it. She might, but there might be a perfectly good reason why she deson't feel like she can.

Also, I would be pretty frustrated if the person who had hit my car earlier in the day asked me to park it somehow or somewhere else. Honestly, I'm not sure that this is the best time to bring it up -

I was thinking the same things as I read the thread. I would really wait until later to bring up moving the car! I would recommend waiting till her car is repaired then stop by to ask if everything is ok, tell her again that you are sorry that it happened, and tell her that you are so worried about it happening again that you want to ask if she would mind moving it down just a little.


Also, you do need to give her your insurance information, however you can ASK her if should would please not turn it in to insurance until you have the opportunity to see if you can just pay it yourself.

Good luck.

 

[Friendly Frog]

Our house backs up to a very tiny street - really a lane, since even though it's a 2 way street, only one car can fit. Although the neighors across the tiny street are nice, they have teens, whose friends insist on parking their cars right across from our driveway. DH has hit 2 so far, and had to pay damages. Drives me nuts, since the house is on a corner, and theres tons of parking in the front - they like to park next to the side door.

Don't know if you would want to go this far...but sounds almost like you might want to park across the street from your driveway, just so that you can get out more easily? Who knows, maybe after a few weeks it will break the teens habit and they will get start parking out front?

 

[branv]

Just keep breathing, this is what insurance is for DH and I, oh ironies of ironies, were at a car dealership checking out a car. While doing so, a lady had parked her car along a curb behind the designated parking spots (don't ask me why she didn't just park in one of the many available spots). As we were walking back to the car, we were distracted by...get this for omens...a black cat running across the lot, so we didn't even realize there was now a car across from our parking space. DH backed up...and CRUNCH -- smallish dent in the door. It still cost the insurance company $800 to fix her door, but they didn't even raise our insurance rates (and this is in spite of the fact that DH did have an accident on his record and was only about 22 at the time).

I would be careful about approaching where she parks. If you want to, you could blend it in with your way of apologizing for what happened. "Again, I am so sorry for what happened. Our truck is just too big, it's hard to see how close I am to your car when I back out of my driveway. With such a narrow space for turning between your car and our mailbox, I have to watch for them both, but I sure wish I'd hit our mail box instead of your car! ha..ha...ha " Maybe she'll get the hint.

 

[surfergirl602]

I was thinking about not mentioning moving her car at this time as well. It's just frustrating, because I knew that one of these days something was going to happen. I just wish it wasn't today. So much has gone wrong since DH left. Our checking account was hacked into, my midd DD almost broke three ribs falling off the you box... my youngest got very sick and was tested for whooping cough... oy. The stress is just tearingme apart. I don't like being a single parent. I always complained that DH didn't do enough around the house and to help out, but you never know just how much they DO do until they're gone.

I think I'm going to give her my insurance information but ask her to get some estimates first so maybe I can pay it out of pocket before it goes to insurance. I'll let her decide what to do - who knows, maybe she doesn't even care.

 

[surfergirl602]

Melissa-

Remember to keep breathing - in, out, in out while your day goes on. In the end, it really is what insurance is for! USAA will take very good care of you - they are famous for their customer service for good reason!

Two things:

If she leases her car, she has to return in without any scratches or dings or she has to pay for them when she surrenders it. She might need to have the car repaired in order to save her from having to pay for it at the end of the lease. I just wanted to mention this since some PPs are noting that she may be willing to forget about it. She might, but there might be a perfectly good reason why she deson't feel like she can.

Also, I would be pretty frustrated if the person who had hit my car earlier in the day asked me to park it somehow or somewhere else. Honestly, I'm not sure that this is the best time to bring it up - it might make her defensive or make her feel like you are blaming her for your having hit her car. No matter how hard it is, I'd try to leave your opinions about her parking out of the conversation tonight.

Good luck - and thank you to your family!

I don't think she leases her car. It's an older model, in the 90's at least, of like, a honda or something. Completely plastic (no offiense to anyone) but a tennis ball would leave a mark on this thing.
I'm def. leaving my opinion out of the conversation tonight.

 

[KAMLEM]

The insurance company will have to have a police report before anything can be filed.

Maybe it depends on what state you live in, but you don't need a police report here to file a claim.

My FIL did the same thing when we moved into our house years ago. He backed into my neighbor's car, that's how we met them! Ever since then they haven't parked their car there.

 

[dakcp2001]

I have a "make you feel better" story. A rotted tree fell on my boyfriends jeep. The adjuster came to inspect the tree and jeep etc and we went in to go over some paperwork. BF realized it was time to go get the kids at school and offered to take my jeep and go. A minute later we hear a "CRUNCH", yup he backed MY jeep into the adjusters car ... I did not want to make that call to the insurance company...

 

[jedijill]

I think I saw that you have USAA. Go ahead and call them and ask for advice. They are not evil like a lot of other companies. A few years ago someone ran into the door of my car. Luckily they left a note but I called USAA anyway to find out what to do. They made a note but did nothing since the other person's inusrance paid. My rates never increased just because I called USAA. I have had USAA for about 10 years now and they have fantastic customer service.

HTH

Jill in CO
(and thanks to your husband for serving!)

 

[branv]

Maybe it depends on what state you live in, but you don't need a police report here to file a claim.

I was thinking the same thing -- we've had a few fender benders over the years, and have never had to get a police report. The only time one was ever taken at all was when a man ran a red light and slammed into DH, completely disabling both of their cars in the middle of the intersection.

 

[Praying Colonel]

I was thinking about not mentioning moving her car at this time as well. It's just frustrating, because I knew that one of these days something was going to happen. I just wish it wasn't today. So much has gone wrong since DH left. Our checking account was hacked into, my midd DD almost broke three ribs falling off the you box... my youngest got very sick and was tested for whooping cough... oy. The stress is just tearingme apart. I don't like being a single parent. I always complained that DH didn't do enough around the house and to help out, but you never know just how much they DO do until they're gone.

I think I'm going to give her my insurance information but ask her to get some estimates first so maybe I can pay it out of pocket before it goes to insurance. I'll let her decide what to do - who knows, maybe she doesn't even care.

I agree with the idea of paying OOP if you can, in order to keep your premium low.

Also want to say, remember that you should have a Family Readiness Group leader that you can turn to when you have issues while your husband is deployed. Sometimes it's good to just have someone to share with.

Also remember that you have access to military legal assistance where you can schedule an appointment with a Legal Assistance attorney to discuss legal issues.

 

[ZachnElli]

I too backed into my friend's car and we paid out of pocket to have it fixed. Don't call your insurance company unless absolutely forced to, the act of calling will be the same on their records as making a claim. There are no "innocent questions" in insurance according to the Clark Howard website. Just ask her if you can pay her directly. And if you get a chance, explain how hard it is to back out of your driveway and ask if she can park down farther or in her own driveway instead. Your other option is to back in at night, making it easier to get out in the morning. Good luck, hope it works out.

That's not true. I work in an insurance office and there isn't anywhere to add "innocent questions" and turn it into claims. In fact, you can make a claim and withdraw it if it is under your deductible. I just had that happen last Friday. Claims called and said they could withdraw the whole claim since the cost was $450 and the deductible was $500 and it wouldn't be on the insured's record. You also don't have to file a police report to file it as someone else reported. In some areas if an accident happens on private property, police will not file a report.

 

[rluey29]

I haven't read all of these posts so excuse me if this has already been said, but if she intentionally parked in the road then you shouldn't be liable at all! Fill out a police report and let your insurance know how she parked.

 

[4greatboys]

Thanks everyone. I drive a big truck with a cap on the back. It's not like she doesn't have a driveway. She chooses to park on the side of the street. I mean... she park directly behind me. It's very difficult to get out. This morning I was inching my way out because I couldn't see her, and my mailbox is right at the corner of my driveway, and I didn't want to hit that, and I bumped into her car. I wish I had hit the mailbox - easier to fix! if she wants to get it fixed, I'll ask her to get a quote so I can see how much it is, whether to just give her the money for it, or go through insurance. Will my deductable come into play? That part is collision, right? I've never been in an accident. I've never even been pulled over before.

That sucks. My neighbors across the street have a large driveway and plenty of room in front of their house to park and instead many times park at the end of my driveway I drive a suburban and it's almost impossible to get out sometimes.

Good Luck!

 

[dakcp2001]

I haven't read all of these posts so excuse me if this has already been said, but if she intentionally parked in the road then you shouldn't be liable at all! Fill out a police report and let your insurance know how she parked.

Parking on the street is not a crime! I dont think its a good idea to blame the person whose car got hit for where she was parked. Not a good strategy!

To the Original Poster, Try not to stress! It was just an accident, Im sure they will be reasonable and understand. This is a neighbor, you do not want to have a bad relationship with a neighbor over a small scratch on the car. Don't worry, I am sure that once you talk to her you will feel a lot better. People have accidents, and it was just a little one, no one was hurt. It will be fine once you talk to her I am sure!

Id save any parking requests for later on.

 

[mickeymaker2003]

Once you get all this straightened out and later ask her if she can park somewhere else, if she refuses, you could park on the street so you don't have to back out at all. It would be inconvenient for you, but at least you wouldn't have to worry about hitting her car or your mailbox. As far as I know, as long as a street isn't marked as a no-parking zone, it is perfectly legal and proper for people to park along the side of the street as long as they are close enough to the curb (I think it is 6" here).

Good luck!

 

[dis-happy]

That's not true. I work in an insurance office and there isn't anywhere to add "innocent questions" and turn it into claims. In fact, you can make a claim and withdraw it if it is under your deductible. I just had that happen last Friday. Claims called and said they could withdraw the whole claim since the cost was $450 and the deductible was $500 and it wouldn't be on the insured's record. You also don't have to file a police report to file it as someone else reported. In some areas if an accident happens on private property, police will not file a report.

I was just going but what I've read on the Clark Howard website, but there's a chance it referred more to homeowner's insurance and I want to be clear if I was mistaken. However, if this small accident costs less (or even a tad more) than her deductible she is much better paying it directly and not filing a claim. Most insurance companies start raising your rates after a second at-fault accident, and who knows what could happen to the OP next month. Also, with USAA, you get a yearly dividend back from the company, but only if you haven't filed any claims during the year. And finally, too many claims in your life in general can filter into your credit rating. Or cause you to be unable to get other kinds of insurance (including homeowner's). Save the filings for the big and important events.

Also, while you mention you work in an insurance office, it sounds like it may be an independant office. Since USAA is a national company with only one way to contact them via the 800 number, every call you make is logged and noted. A question about an accident and deductible doesn't just "disappear" but becomes part of your permanent record.

 

[famofsix]

I haven't read all of these posts so excuse me if this has already been said, but if she intentionally parked in the road then you shouldn't be liable at all! Fill out a police report and let your insurance know how she parked.

in my town it is illegal to block a driveway and they will ticket the person.

 

[allyphoe]

in my town it is illegal to block a driveway and they will ticket the person.

Same here. My parents have called the sheriff when people park across from their driveway (because they can't get out with a car parked there) and the sheriff's told the vehicle owner it was illegal to park there. Same with being parked on the wrong side of the street (on the left when facing the same direction as the car).

 

[kellyg403]

Hope all went well when you spoke to the lady across the road. We actually have the same problem in our neighborhood. The gentleman across the street owns a car dealership. He has a few kids who drive different cars and parks them in front of the house which in turn is right behind my driveway and my neighbors to the right. Neighbor to the right had a yard sale recently and someone who showed up, back up and right into the one car. It was a pretty bad hit too. TWO DAYS later, dsd drops off her sister, waves goodbye and hits the other car. Right in the passenger door. She was scared to death also that her insurance rates were going up. She was able to pay for damages as opposed to her insurance co. Also, here because it was in a neighborhood, not a main road, she was not actually ticketed and neither was the neighbor for parking in the street. Not two feet in front of his car is a sign.."DO NOT PARK ON STREET". They have not learned their lessons. Both kids have new cars. Guess where they are parked.

OP..breath and take it easy on yourself. I remember once when ex was deployed. I was 8 months pregnant with our 5th, all 4 other kids had the chicken pox, my washer broke down..couple days later the dryer broke down. I was driving to the hospital with dd8 because she was so sick with the c/pox, turned out she and other dd had scarlet fever on top of c/pox the cat had 13 kittens in the middle of the night, and well..thats all I remember. That was in the first few weeks of a 3 month deployment. If its gonna happen it will happen then. Do what you can, laugh at the rest. Believe me you will be a stronger woman from all this.

Kelly
BTW..USAA is the best insurance to deal with! They will help you if you need them too.

 

[Aliceacc]

in my town it is illegal to block a driveway and they will ticket the person.

As someone who lives on an incredibly narrow street, with a constant number of cars parked directely across from my driveay:

Parking across the street from a driveway isn't the same as blocking it. Blocking it means that access to the driveway is blocked. Parking across the street may mean you've got to be incredibly careful.

This has become a real problem on my block as well. I wish people would just use their driveways!!!