noshow_nogo

so a guy backed into my car in an open parking lot. I got his information and even had the parking lot's security fill out their formal form to record the incident. The guy does landscape with his son and is begging me not to go through insurance. He just got his license reinstated after a string of incidents. I'm generally a nice guy and if I were in this guy's shoes, I'd want the other party to help me out too.

What are the best ways that I can safeguard myself from this guy ditching out on me? I plan on writing a brief contract for both of us to sign. Any ideas would be great. I am meeting him tomorrow night and if he's a little shady, I'll make a police report. Thanks guys in advance as always.

doopstr

How much damage? You should have had the police do the report at the scene of the accident.

csmeance

get the damages amount for the car and tell him them. If he can afford to pay them, have contract signed stating that he will pay in full by X due date and failure to do so will result in X. Fill X in with stuff.

gatrhumpy

iTrader: (1)

Get your insurance involved ASAP. I've learned my lesson when it comes to these scumbags. Get your insurance involved, and get a police report.

Chief F1 Fan

I always try and do the right thing, however, in this case, if you do what your heart sez, you will be left holding the bag. His mistake, his insurance-call them asap before it gets dishonored due to late notice.

fast-tl

Agreed 100%. Don't rely on a non-binding contract to get your car repaired. Leave it to the insurance pros you pay every month and let them do their job.
Actions have consequences. It's not personal, it's business.

A string of accidents is no accident, wouldn't you say? This guy has to face up to accountability and change his friggin' driving habits. How many sob stories has he handed out to various victims?

Q1911

i understand what your saying. If it was me it would depend on how much damage was done to my car. if it was alot and going to cost a bunch of money and didnt think this guy was going to be able to cover it, i would of called the police and insurance ASAP! if it was something little and you think this guy could actually cover paying for it. it might be a different story. Either way good luck with it

fast-tl

Keep in mind if you're not a body guy, you may not realize the actual cost to repair. Also, if you're going through the trouble to get an estimate, then why not use insurace?

noshow_nogo

thanks for all the replies. its going to be a bumper cover and the taillight housing since the out lense is cracked. nothing major, but could cost a pretty penny

i can't be too nice, then again I don't want to be the impetus to ruining this guy.

DRM600

i know you're trying to be a nice guy, but don't buy into a hard luck story. driving is a privilege and it comes with responsibilities.

i would file a claim with your ins. co. to make sure that you car is repaired, correctly and in a timely fashion. you're taking a big chance by trying to get an estimate and get the guy to pay it.

salvo24

My front bumper got backed into a few years ago. I only needed the cover replaced and the foam piece that goes behind it. All work and paint came out to just under $700. I'm guessing if you need a new bumper, it will most likely be around $800. I ended up going thru insurance with my incident, even after the kid who hit me begged me not to, because he had quite a few minor accidents previously. He also said that getting the money would be no big deal, however, he said he wanted me to take my car to some shop where his friend worked. That was a turn off, I wanted to go to a shop that the Acura dealership recommended, which was a little more expensive labor wise.

I'd go with insurance...yea, it sucks to be the guy who hit you, but in cases like this, you need to worry about, and take care of yourself first

doopstr

To get that bumper cover replaced/painted and the taillight replaced you are looking around $1250-$1500. That's assuming they find no other damage.

teranfon

I agree with fast-tl. A string of accidents, or so he claims, doesn't really represent him as careful and courteous driver. As chief stated, your desire to be a nice guy and helping him out somewhat may be of detriment to you with absolutely no accountability on his part. Inform his and your insurance company, and make sure your car is repaired accordingly.

Terry

MSW 6SP

I work for an insurance company.
File a claim with your insurance and tell them you want to do it for report only and he plans to pay out of pocket.

You can always change your mind, i dont know NJ statue of limitations but you have years...literally

BENDER08

I GOT rear ended on the 22nd looked no more then 1200 dollars. i think i need frame realignment.

get an estimate and at 25% to it

Python2121

+1 insurance

phil2

nothing to say here. Insurance is the only option!

noshow_nogo

Thanks guys. I'm meeting the guy tomorrow. If he cannot produce a check in 1 day, then I will file to create a police report, inform my insurance, and hope the guy will deal.

sonnyg80

Costco

Take shitty drivers off the streets please. I'm one of the nicest guys out there but he has a suspended license for a reason don't you think?

Just call your insurance company, its not your fault and you shouldn't be paying for it. I don't feel sorry for the suspended license guy at all, and I would feel even less sorry for you if he screwed you over somehow despite all the advice telling you otherwise.

IlliNorge

Sounds good. It's probably hard to call the police with a couple nice guys standing right by you in the parking lot. One disadvantage to notifying insurance is that most will raise your premium for living in a "higher risk" area, even though it wasn't your fault.

And if the guy's a no show, then obviously the deal's a no go.

TzarChasm

I WAS going to say you are an idiot for not going through your insurance. I have heard way too many horror stories about these people. However, if he can come up with the money in a day, that might not be bad. Have you gotten an estimate already? I'm not sure you want to take a check, just tell him the amount and have him bring cash, otherwise he could write a bogus check that could take days to clear, then hits your account for fees when it bounces.

sho_nuff1997

iTrader: (2)

I wouldn't cut this guy any slack. he doesn't know how to drive. if he's had a string of reported incidents, how many went unreported?

Smalls

Ya know around here if it happens on private property (i.e. parking lot) the police won't even fill out a report. The refuse to.

CLpower

police report isn't necessary. I"ve never gotten one on a minor accident.



This is what i'd do. You have all his information, i'd give him 2 weeks to pay up after you get an estimate on his own, if he gets shady, go through his insurance.

DarkSithCL

iTrader: (1)

I would have him meet me at his bank with the check if you want to go that route, so you know youre not getting burned... I had a guy jack me up good with a bad check when I called myself being NICE...

CLpower

yeap, and most police will berate you for calling them to a light fender bender. THey have better shit to do. All they are going to do is make sure you guys exchange information.

DarkSithCL

iTrader: (1)

True... most times you have to lump it urself... ur pretty much by people who hit u on parking lots..

RaviNJCLs

iTrader: (4)

Get all his info. You have a witness in case he tries to stiff you. Give him a chance to pay for it.

Get a good estimate. I would include a couple bucks to cover anything that can pop up.

CLpower

Yeap, my mom got hit by a lady in a parking lot, they saw her do it, got her license # etc. Police said they couldn't do anything even with witnesses.


The cop was actually a real prick to my mom who was good friends w/ the chief and the mayor, he got an earfull from it

DRM600

did you meet?

Bearcat94

You want to do the right thing? Then do what you're supposed to do. Report the accident, claim your insurance, etc.

Doing the right thing doesn't always mean being "nice", it means doing things the way they are supposed to be done.

achenator

around here, the police won't even write a report if the incident happens on private property unless there was an injury

noshow_nogo

well just to unravel a few things. My car was parked, I wasn't in it at the time. The security attendant apparently witnessed the accident and made a report.

This occurred in a parking lot that is funded/run by the city, so I think the local police and sheriff's dept. would be more than cooperative.

The guy stood me up tonight. he promised cash for estimate (1289) plus rental (250) so monday morning it's off to my insurance.

My fault is that I see too much good in people. I believe in 2nd chances, 3rd and 4th. and I always just want to help somehow. These fckin people drive me to become a pessimist.

slap a huge "I told you so" sticker on my face please

Sarlacc

Do you at least have his info when you call his insurance?

Like his insurance company, policy number, plate number, name, etc?

I hope so. We are opposites. I am pessimistic about people, and I have learned to not really trust anyone in these types of situations. Its sorta like "tough shit, then you shouldn't have been stupid and hit my car.

If you dont have his info...hopefully you have his plate...then you can really get up his ass and file it as a hit and run. But if you do have his info, youre out of luck on that.

Chief F1 Fan

To the OP: you're to be admired for trying to be decent in my book. Unfortunately every single time I've heard of this scenario, it never works out for the person who is at the receiving end of someone else's irresponsibility. Hope it all works out!

fast-tl

Don't swing all the way to pessimism. Be a realist. This is the reason we have insurance, to protect us against irresponsible people and to ease the burden of car accidents. Make use of it; don't screw yourself for the sake of "helping" someone else. To me, that's not charity, that's selflessness in excess.

noshow_nogo

thanks guys. you could lock this thread up. I made a claim via insurance this morning. Called the guy right after whose "cellphone acted up so he couldn't call me last night" and after I told him I went to insurance, he started crying saying his life was over and how his license will be forever suspended and he'll never be able to work again.

I still kinda felt bad for the guy, but oh well, stuff happens and he's a grown man to have to accept responsibility.

EuRTSX

It's the only thing to do when the other person doesn't do their part.

Let insurance handle it.

einsatz

Correct. You gave him a chance - he blew it, and gave you a BS excuse for doing so, trying to get that 3rd & 4th chance you mentioned, since he saw you were being a nice guy.

If his life was really going to be ruined, he had your number - he could have gone to a neighbor's house and called, or used his son's cell. I mean, shit, if my livelyhood was in the balance, I would have run up and down town trying to find a public phone or something!