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Arrgg.. girlfriend gets 93 in fender bender Posted by joe [Email]  (#444) [Profile/Gallery]
(more from joe) on Thu, 4 May 2006 13:16:13
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(Long read with pictures)
Chalk this one up to youthful inexperience and stupidity. Last week, I lent the girlfriend my '02 93 to drive over the Delaware Memorial Bridge to NJ (mistake #1). While on the bridge, a truck attempted passing her from the right lane and in doing so clipped my front fender on the passenger side. Everyone's ok, both pull over and wait for the police. Minutes later I get a call on the cell phone about what happened. According to the g/f and the officer, "There is minimal damage, not even worth writing a police report. The other driver received some sort of $45. lane change ticket and agreed to pay for my 'minimal damage' out of pocket." Not being at the scene of the accident, I took the officer's advice (mistake #2) and promised the other driver (from Florida) a few quotes from shops in the area.
The next day, I called General Sales Saab on 202 outside West Chester (good service btw) for recommendations. Go to each place and describe what happened. Each reports that the clips behind the fender/bumper are busted. Most suggest replacement will be quicker and cheaper than trying to sand and repaint everything. Shop #1 wants about $1900. Shop #2 wants $2100. Shop #3 quickly estimated $1500-$2500.
I know next to nothing about cars, so I can only go by the estimates and advice of three independent shops. Naturally, the other driver does not want to pay for $1500+ out of pocket and believes either I'm trying to defraud him or the shops are inflating their estimates (personally I wouldn't blame him). He mentioned something about a minor scratch to his car that he polished up himself.
So now I'm left wondering what to do. I could simply go through my own insurance company, Geico, with a $500. deductible and no-fault (so no rate hike). Without an accident report, I'm left wondering if the other driver's insurance company would take this to small claims court -- a mess I don't really want to be bothered with. I do have his insurance information, but will they accept my claim of his fault (keep in mind the illegal lane change fine)? After speaking with the other driver on the phone, he sounds cordial enough, however I'm left believing that he will not pay anything more than $100-$200 out of pocket to fix my "little saab and its vinyl bumper".
Any advice / consolation would be helpful. As for me, lesson learned -- next time an accident report regardless of how minor the damage appears. Below are the previously promised pictures of the car and a copy of the estimate. (BTW, does HTML posting work here?)
http://joelawrence.net/car1.jpg - The splash guard has torn and the fender separated from the body. Also note the scratch just above the separation.
http://joelawrence.net/car2.jpg - Plastic piece around the bumper is scratched.
http://joelawrence.net/car3.jpg - Hard to see, but a slight black scuff around the top of the wheel well. Could be buffed out.
http://joelawrence.net/car4.jpg - Another scratch / scuff on the bottom spoiler/skirt
http://joelawrence.net/car5.jpg - Hard to see, but paint on top of spoiler/skirt piece has started flaking
http://joelawrence.net/estimate_parta.jpg - Scanned copy of estimate from shop #1
http://joelawrence.net/estimate_partb.jpg
posted by 71.224.255...
, Thu, 4 May 2006 13:16:13 <-- Viewing This Message
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