What would you do?: A good friend just backed into my car!!

[Laugh O. Grams]

So she hits your brand new car and YOU are paying the $1000 cost to repair.
I don't get it...unless you are rich and the $1000 is a drop in the ocean.
You are obviously a very nice man but I can't help feeling that if I was your friends there is no way on earth I would take the $1000 from my best friends for something that was totally my fault.
I would be mortified if I crashed their brand new merc and even if i was stumped for cash i would find someway to pay it back.

Like I said before, the situation was an honest mistake and I don't feel that $1000 is worth going after a good friend for. That being said, I wouldn't consider ponying up $1000 a "drop in the ocean", but let's just say that it doesn't hurt either.

 

[Galahad]

My brother is constantly backing into one or another family member's car. Really. Several times over the years. We have his insurance company on speed dial.

 

[cinmell]

\Did anybody else see the episode of King of Queens last night when Doug and Deacon were looking into the strip club and rear ended Carrie and Deacon's wife??

This episode was the first thing that popped into my head when I read the OP. It was on 2 nights ago and I laugh every time I see it!

 

[Buckalew11]

Like I said before, the situation was an honest mistake and I don't feel that $1000 is worth going after a good friend for. That being said, I wouldn't consider ponying up $1000 a "drop in the ocean", but let's just say that it doesn't hurt either.

Well, like I said, I've known some men like you and I think it is wonderful of you. I am sure that you have touched your friend in a way you will never know. I'm also betting that she'll pass that unique kind of niceness on in the future if she is ever in the position to be able to do it. I can't tell you what reading your post has meant to me.

And Cool Beans, when you come over, don't park behind me. Really.

 

[believe]

Been there...both my sister and her husband have backed into my car. My sister twice. My car wasn't even new. They paid for the damage without turning it into their insurance, they wanted to.

 

[grlpwrd]

I hope so. It was an extremely nice and generous gesture on your part, BTW.

Yes, and it also reflects positively on her for having integrity and telling the truth to the insurance company.

It's very rare in this day and age to have people do the right thing, kwim? Even if it wasn't your fault and you shouldn't have to foot the bill, in the long run I think your $1000 was well spent.

 

[Buckalew11]

This reminds me of the time I was backing out of a parking spot and barely hit (but still hit) a '67 black camaro. I was sick. I get out of my car, the man gets out of his car and he then goes on to tell me it is not his car--it is his brother's! I think, "his brother is going to kill me". He calls his brother on the cell phone and goes on and on and on and I'm standing there thinking, I am really gonna pay for this one! I have always heard it is a pain when you have an accident in a parking lot. The guys hangs up and then proceeds to tell me he is an off duty Knoxville police officer. I just hit a police officer! Ack! Ended up, hs brother was going to get this car painted anyway so he told me not to worry about it. I don't think I have ever been more relieved in my life.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

Little update:

I took the car into the dealership and the damage was estimated at a little under $1000.00, far cheaper than I thought it would be. I told the body shop at Mercedes to go ahead and repair the car and I'd take care of the bill out of pocket.

I called our friends and spoke to the wife. She told me that she was so sorry, felt stupid, didn't sleep at all last night and had already called her insurance company to report the incident. I told her to call them back and tell them that it wouldn't be necessary and that I would cover the damage myself. She asked if could please pay for half the repair bill and I told no but they could definitely pay for dinner next time we all get together. She said "Absolutely!" and thanked me again. I guess all's well that ends well!

That is very nice you. You are a gem!

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

I had someone I know open her car door (she was parallel parked) as I was coming down the street. She caused $10,000 damage to my SUV (Land Cruiser).

I know accidents happen, but no way in heck am I going to split the cost. It's bad enough that my SUV now has body work done to it (reducing it's value).

My best friend just bought a brand new Range Rover - if I backed into it, I would either pay for it out of pocket or let my insurance handle it. It's bad enough she would have suffered the damage and then have a car with a replaced part (especially a brand new, very expensive vehicle). I certainly wouldn't even accept an offer from her to split the cost.

You are being so kind and so generous and so understanding - but, truly - you're already taking a hit because your car is going to have a replacement part. How much more of a hit should you take?

 

[FinallyBoughtDVC]

Oops - should have read ahead - didn't see that the cost was $1000.

In any event - you're a good guy. I hope, though, she didn't give her insurance company your VIN number or file any other type of report because your accident will then show up on CARFAX, reducing the value of your automobile when it's time to trade in or sell.

You really are a terrific fellow - I don't know, though, that I would be able to let my friend do that. I think I'd be picking up dinner checks for a very long time!!

 

[Typham]

Hello,
I know this is kinda late but I was scrolling though the web because I’ve encountered the same situation; I bought a new truck and my buddy backed out and did severe damage on my bumper/rear lights and looks like a huge panel dent as well. I just hope a branded title doesn’t get attached to my vehicle. I JUST purchased it, so obviously kinda heated at the moment. I also plan on taking it to get fixed professionally at a dealership. My question is how does something like this look on car fax reports in case I plan on selling my truck someday? Does it still have that “clean” title? How did the repair go; did it look as good as brand new? Thanks

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

Hello,
I know this is kinda late but I was scrolling though the web because I’ve encountered the same situation; I bought a new truck and my buddy backed out and did severe damage on my bumper/rear lights and looks like a huge panel dent as well. I just hope a branded title doesn’t get attached to my vehicle. I JUST purchased it, so obviously kinda heated at the moment. I also plan on taking it to get fixed professionally at a dealership. My question is how does something like this look on car fax reports in case I plan on selling my truck someday? Does it still have that “clean” title? How did the repair go; did it look as good as brand new? Thanks

I am not entirely sure that this is the right forum for your question. You may receive better advice elsewhere. Good luck though.

 

[Edna Cloud]

I think you have made a great gesture to your friend and in you shoes, if I could afford it, I would do the same. It isn't the sort of thing worth losing a good friend over and they will never forget the flood of relief when you told them it was sorted. You can't put a price on that.

You have even left me feeling all warm inside just hearing about your decision!

 

[pxidst119]

Some one bumped into me when my car was new. At a stop light and she rolled so slowly. It was barely anything but it had a crack so we replaced it at the dealer since it was still a new car. Traded it in 10 years later and they said oh it was in an accident on the car fax report. So annoying. It was barely a crack in the bumper that was 100% fixed but we still got dinged on the trade in for it having been in an “accident”.

 

[mjkacmom]

This thread is 14 years old. My husband backed into a car illegally parked behind our driveway (no parking allowed on the street since it’s really just a lane), friend of neighbor’s, we paid cash so our insurance wouldn’t go up so no report.

 

[_19disnA]

It would be better to start a new thread instead of adding onto something 14 yrs old. Most of those participants are probably long gone and it also gets confusing knowing which situation people are referring to.

 

[thinkerbell]

Sorry! Wrong thread.

 

[emily nicole]

I didn't realize this was a zombie thread and I was soooo confused by the phrase "brand new '07 Mercedes" LOL