Rear ended...in a 4 month old car. Advice?

[Squeek]

So...

I am leaving on vacation tomorrow. I'm going to Newfoundland to see some friends and family I haven't seen in a while. Three years to be exact. As you can imagine, I am happy to be going. I was worked like a dog this week, but was rewarded with a short day today. I figured I would get all of my errands done with my free time.

I left work, got a haircut, ran a few errands, got an oilchange and dropped by my cousins place all within an hour and twenty minutes! I was very pleased with myself and the amount I was getting accomplished.

I left my cousins house to go home and get packing. About a kilometer from his doorstep I was waiting in cue behind a few other cars at a construction hold up when I looked in my rearview to see a beautiful girl with terror in her eyes bracing for impact. There was nothing I could do. There was a car in front of me, and no time to move anyhow. Bam.

My beautiful, black new Mazda 3. Punted.

No major damage, just some scrapes and a divot where the screws that hold her liscence plate on jabbed into the bumper. If this was a heap I might not be as upset, but I drove this thing off the lot with 8 kilometers on it less than four months ago! No amount of damage is acceptable.

So after getting her info, I headed back to the dealer for them to have a look. They directed me to their collision centre. $900. A new bumper is required. Apparently the damage is in a place that is not repairable. No choice but to swap out the bumper. Thankfuly, no other damage though to my car or my person.

So I called the girl, let her know that estimate. She put her Dad on the phone and he wants to come over and see the damage. I don't see a problem with that. He was understandably suprised by the pricey estimate, but hey, bumpers don't grow on trees and they certainly don't install themselves. He wants me to get another estimate at another garage, which I think is fair.

I can't address the situation completely before I leave, so I agreed to speak with them again when I return.

Advice?

 

[KYTGuy]

Meet in a public place, NOT YOUR HOME, and have a witness with you and maybe another that is nearby and has a camera, but not with you...

Go to another dealer for the estimate. If you don't have two Dealers within reasonable distance, then take it to a well-known body and fender shop - the estimate will be more (IF you specify manufacturer's parts).

Relax - this is what Insurance is for. Let your Insurance do any negotiations with the father or the girl. Don't agree to any private or off-the-books repair.

 

[viator122]

With a 4 month old car I would make sure to have the dealer do the repair. I would be gracious enough to get an estimate from another dealer. Tell them you won't insist on an insurance claim if they pay you for the cheaper of the two dealer estimates. If they're smart, they'll know that even $900 is cheaper/smarter than having a collision claim on their insurance.

 

[braillediver]

Why would you be dealing with them directly? You should be working through the insurance companies and not directly with the individual involved in the accident.

Is the father a mechanic or auto body repairman? If not then what’s his opinion worth?

Who cares whether he thinks the damage is worth that much or not- it’s the people who work on cars everyday and know current costs- Like the Dealership or a collision repair shop.


Mitch

 

[usc goose]

no advice for you but, that sucks. hope it all works out okay.

 

[Homeless]

Quote:

Originally Posted by braillediver Why would you be dealing with them directly? You should be working through the insurance companies and not directly with the individual involved in the accident. Is the father a mechanic or auto body repairman? If not then what’s his opinion worth? Who cares whether he thinks the damage is worth that much or not- it’s the people who work on cars everyday and know current costs- Like the Dealership or a collision repair shop. Mitch

I agree, she hit you...her father has nothing to do with it. It's a brand new car, get the job done right and have it done by the dealership...

 

[Squeek]

You guys are expressing the feelings I had about going through the dealership. I figured if she is willing to cough up the dough, then why involve her insurance?

I just want my car to be exactly as it was before we met. I don't want to punish her.

 

[nabwong]

I had the same experience last year. You can choose between the dealer and another workshop. You should have the insurance company recommend a reliable workshop firstly.

IMPORTANT - Check the exhaust, underbody and also inside of the trunk. I was lucky i did, cos initially the mechanic missed something and i had a hunch something was wrong with it just from driving it. Didn't feel the same.

 

[Squeek]

Lol. I called and told my cousin that a broad rear ended me. The first question out of his mouth..."was she hot"?

 

[nabwong]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squeek Lol. I called and told my cousin that a broad rear ended me. The first question out of his mouth..."was she hot"?

Payment in kind?

 

[RYCeT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squeek You guys are expressing the feelings I had about going through the dealership. I figured if she is willing to cough up the dough, then why involve her insurance? I just want my car to be exactly as it was before we met. I don't want to punish her.

IMHO you've been generous enough, as long as they don't give you a hard time, I don't see any need to get the insurance involved but if you feel any indication that they start to do anything wrong, report to your insurance directly. Btw, have you got a police report? Also ask the dealers to take off the bumper before they do any works, you don't want any suprises when they start doing the work since it will get nasty.

 

[RYCeT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squeek Lol. I called and told my cousin that a broad rear ended me. The first question out of his mouth..."was she hot"?

Was she?

 

[Squeek]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RYCeT IMHO you've been generous enough, as long as they don't give you a hard time, I don't see any need to get the insurance involved but if you feel any indication that they start to do anything wrong, report to your insurance directly. Btw, have you got a police report? Also ask the dealers to take off the bumper before they do any works, you don't want any suprises when they start doing the work since it will get nasty.

I went to the police station, as it is conveniently located about 1 kilometer from my dealership. They said "if it's less than $1k there is no need for a police report. Talk to your insurance company. If she gives you a hard time come back." My main concern was that I'd call her up and she'd be like "who are you? I didn't hit anyone?".

MOD EDIT: OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE REMOVED.

 

[nikongod]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squeek You guys are expressing the feelings I had about going through the dealership. I figured if she is willing to cough up the dough, then why involve her insurance? I just want my car to be exactly as it was before we met. I don't want to punish her.

the key here is that you dont get the shaft. simple and plain.

toooooo many people try to get their cars fixed by someone who dammaged themn only to catch all the ****, and be out all of the money.

its a 4 month old car. if the parts dont cost more than 1000, and the labor to install them dosnt come to 1000 the depreciation for a crashed car comes out that high.

 

[Jahn]

first is, you should have called the police and had them write up an accident report. then go with it to your insurance agent. both the police and agent should have been involved before appraising the vehicle. that way, there is zero wiggle room, you have fault documented, the insurance agent starts their mad dog routine on the girl's insurance agent, and you don't do any legwork unless the agent tells you to do it. some agents even have their own garages where they take photos right there and appraise damage on the spot, then call up the other party and give em hell- no wiggle room there that way either.

do what you need to do. when i got hit in a parking lot back in grad school i didn't do ANY of the above and the guy who hit me got off scot free by playing dumb.