Just been in an incident where someone rear-ended me and there was minor damage on the car (paint and a small dent). I got his details for insurance but it got me thinking what others would do in the situation.
Be forgiving and let them go? or make an insurance claim even if the damage in minimal?
Yeah thats a fair option, I added it to the poll. But it does annoy me the amount of times I've come back to my parked car and some incompetent person has managed to do some damage. Really wish I had a way to know who it was so I can make those claims.
Sounds like you need some good front and rear dashcams installed. There's models that detect motion or movement even when car is off.
Yeah ive been looking into them. Someone managed to destroy my entire rear bumper on my last car. I knew which car it was just didnt have the number plate.
Been taking photos of number plates that I park next to since.
You post on ozbargain forum first
make them draw the ms paint diagram for you!
My car is a beater but you need to fix it.
You caused damage. Hopefully they take out the front bender
Poll Option: Bikies
Give bikies some bickies
Although external might not look too bad, internal damage can be done.- get the details in case.
Always take details.
Rest depends on the level of damage and their attitude. If they're a tosser and/or were driving in a way that was genuinely dangerous, then I'll let the insurer deal with it. If it's minor and was just a genuine accident (as opposed to negligence), then I usually will give them a choice of whether they want to pay for a cash repair (after I've gotten a quote) or go with insurance.
Be forgiving and let them go? or make an insurance claim even if the damage in minimal?
It depends on their attitude and whether I think they can afford to pay for the damage.
Someone driving a Merc or someone jumping out and claiming it's my fault, I'd claim on insurance to get things fixed properly. They can deal with my insurance company. A student on an ubereats bike that doesn't try to run and is apologetic, I'd just let it go or pay to get it fixed myself.
Ask them to hit me again so it’s really worth claiming on insurance. Do it properly or don’t bother!
Happened to me recently, I took their details but later told them not to worry about it. Was a small dent / scratch on the driver door and it would likely need a respray to be done properly. They were a nice and apologetic P-plater who waited in the parking lot for me. Manners go a long way.
Get the details. I once got hit from behind, but had a tow bar on, so it looked like there was no damage (other than some paint on the tow bar).
I thought I would let it go, then, as I drove away, the rear section of the exhaust dropped off about 50m down the road.
how height is your car, 50m is a huge car
Take details and get the car inspected by a panel shop. Sometimes there can be more damage than on the surface as plastic bumpers will spring back to their original shape, but the underlying impact materials and bars can be deformed even at a 20kph tap.
Pretty much happen to me recently.
We gor rear ended from behind at low speed, There wasn't much damage as the bumper stayed in shaped, we had to wait 3 months for an appointment for a panel beater to look at it. But the repair bill was almost 5K + hire car in parts and labour to repair the behind panels underneath the boot.
I saw many similar things when I was a circus advisor, one guy in a Holden vectra had what he called a minor hit in the back and just wanted a detail to get the paint back to new. I had a quick look under the bumper cover and the crash bar was a banana. It needed chassis tweaking to get the new bumper to fit and all the other gubbins.
Claim through insurance. That's why you spend a yearly premium for. They will do the running around for you. A dent in a bumper might not be repairable and need replacing. Furthermore, just to spray a bumper will be in excess of $400. IMO, depending on the car you have and if it is a late model OEM bumper; the 'minor' damage will be at least $2K+ to repair. If you feel sorry for everyone then drive around with your dented car that is not caused by you. On the flip side, I had a hit and run, 'minor' damage to my car which cost me $1000 excess for a $3500 damage. Did the perpetrator feel 'sorry' for me??
A woman scraped the back of my left bumper changing lanes because she didn't look.
Got her details but didn't bother actioning it because it's an old corolla and my father had already put giant marks on the bonnet with the bed tray of his ute while reversing. Unfortunately the dings make me look like a bad driver!
To answer your question: it depends on the damage and the car. If my $300k Mercedes was slightly damaged I would definitely follow up.
Depends on the driver.
Assuming very minor cosmetic damage; If they are elderly or genuinely apologise I'd let go. If they act like a w4$#er get them to pay up.
I had a guy once who backed up to my car in a parking lot and caused very slight scuff mark on my bumper.
First thing he said to me out of the car was he couldn't see me because I had a black car, like it was my fault for buying a black car. Complete w4$#er move. So I had him pay up, even if it was a very minor damage I could have easily forgo.
Minor damage might conceal major damage underneath.
Always always take details first. You can decide later if you want to actually claim or not.
My vehicle has tons of scratches and scrapes driving off-road through the bush so if it's cosmetic, I wouldn't be too fussed personally.