Fender-Bender

[Lisa Croft]

I desperately need advice...

This morning on the way to work, I got into a slight accident. I was parked at the end of my block, with 3 parked cars behind me. I pulled my car out and positioned myself parallel to the car directly behind me so I could back up and pull up right in front of my house to pick up my mother. I cleared the first 2 cars, but the third was a little further out from the curb than the other 2. I should have realized this and corrected my distance accordingly, but I am a cocky moron and thought I could make it. NOPE. I completely grazed the side of the car and just my luck, the driver was sitting in it. Naturally, he completely freaked out, causing me to do the same. I apologized frantically, he calmed me down and said he wouldn't go through insurance as long as I covered all damages. Of course, I agreed. When we examined his car, the only damage appeared to be about a foot-long scratch on the back door and a small dent above the back wheel. He said he'd get an estimate and we left it at that. When I got home from work, I found a note saying that he called and said the estimate is $834!!!! Does this seem slightly exhorbitant to anyone else?!?!?! I know absolutely NOTHING about cars or accidents, as I have only been driving for about 4 months. I was just wondering if maybe anyone else has had a similar experience or knows anything about body work and could help me out. Should I say "Sir, you are full of shit" and demand a second estimate? I don't want to piss him off and cause him to screw me and go through insurance.

Any suggestions would be MUCH appreciated.

http://members.aol.com/rnfpantera/lisasig4

[Knocked]

Sorry to say, but that sounds about right, of course I would get a second estimate, I bet you can get it down to $500,,,I used to do auto body in HS, and some of my friends still do it,,,they're all thiefs :(

<img src="http://knocked.homestead.com/files/knocked1.jpg">
Seeya!

This message was edited by Knocked on 2-26-02 @ 4:23 PM

[PanterA]

you should have just drove around the corner ya bird brain.

http://www.members.aol.com/rnfpantera/rfsigI crush the rush! I rule you fool!

[Poison Ivy]

Lisa,

Auto body work is ridiculously expensive. That sounds pretty legitimate to me. A few years ago I had an angry girl mistake my car for my friend Kim's and she scratched it up pretty good. The bill to repair all of it was over $1,200.00...for SCRATCHES!! And a small dent... did he leave a copy of the estimate papers though? You should ask to see them just to be safe.

Sorry to hear about your accident.

<img src=http://spirit515.50megs.com/ivysig.jpg width="300" height="100"> <br><marquee><font face=comicsansms color=mediumpurple> Do you ever put your arms out and spin and spin and spin? Well that's what love is like. Makes your heart race, turns your world upside down. But if you're not careful, if you don't keep your eyes on something still, you can lose your balance. You can't see whats happening to the people around you...You can't see that you're about to fall... </font></marquee>

This message was edited by Poison Ivy on 2-26-02 @ 4:27 PM

[chefpitt]

Well who's to say the dent wasn't already there ..... and His biggest mistake is that he didn't get a police report to show to the insurance company .....
So now the ball is in your court.
Tell him you spoke to a friend and that the estimate he gave you was a little high...
Personally you can make him get as many estamites as you want.......remember you are paying for it....

Shoot first
Then ask Questions........

[jrSpivey]

Tell the guy you might want to go throught the insurance - get a feel for what his reaction is (sometimes people with bad records still get increases even though it is not their fault) then s his d and call it even.

It has been a pleasure.

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[furie]

Well, if you didn't exchange information, i would say fuck it.


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[TheGameHHH]

That does seem about right, but get a second estimate so you can make sure you aren't getting screwed.

IT'S TIME TO PLAY THE GAME-AHHH!

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Thanks Fallon for the sig!

[zathrus]

1st- glad to hear that no one was hurt.
2nd- the est. sounds right, but i would tell him that you wan a second opinion

--zathrus
<img src="http://tseery.homestead.com/files/zathrusliberty.jpg">

[FUNKMAN]

The cost sounds reasonable, could probably get it a bit cheaper...
A word of advice, if it was the other way around, always report it to the police... There is always the chance someone may try to stick you and you will go through alot of trouble to get it resolved or have to pay it yourself...

<img src="http://www.markfarner.com/2001tour/ribfest8_small.jpg">

[The Belcher]

I went through something similar a few years ago, and then said "fuggit" and went through insurance because I knew the estimate was inflated. My insurance didn't go up that year, but did two years later after *I* was hit twice after that episode. Find out what your deductible is though. You may want to get your own scratches fixed too, and the cost to split the bill between the two cars would end up way cheaper than you paying for HIS scratches while you drive around with your own scratches. In my case, insurance paid for his, and mine, minus $500 deductible for me. Be careful though, he may have already done the police report or called his own insurance company and you could be getting screwed right now without even knowing it until you get the call from your insurance company. Glad you're okay, and that you didn't punch him and get arrested.

Apply pressure to Stabby's wound to stop the bleeding.
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AYA! My neck hurts :( Help me?