Hey guys,
I was driving along Parramatta Rd last night and pulled into the last Mobil before Broadway and was parked behind a 4WD. It was dark and as I was coming back from a toilet break the car backed into me and I heard a crunching sound. He drove forward and i tapped his rear view and he said he's sorry and if theres any damage.

Me beind the idiot I am inspected the bumper and for some reason I thought his tow bar hit the gap next to my fog light and on touch inspection I could not feel anything so I let him go.

Unfortunately today I woke up and in the light I can see orange scratch marks that are feintbut noticeable around the front bumper where he hit me with his rear tow anchor. It's definately a couple scratches and swirls that covers an area of about a postage stamp.

The paint is not smooth and is rough when I run my finger across it although does not seem deep enough to have penetrated into the lowest layers. It is not white like a stone chip but rough to touch like a unsanded glass? Why is the scratch orange?

Fortunately, with the help of a heavy foot and eager engine I quickly realised my folly and took his number plate at the next lights.

What options do i have?

I have comprehensive insurance too but it's definately not worth claiming under my own insurance and may be buffed out with some good polishing I think.

But maybe I am just being optimistic.

Here are some pics:

Ok i lied theres no photos I took some but the flash reflected into the lens and you can't see the scratch.
Maybe later when I go out into the sunlight I can take a better pic.

 

It is orange prob because he has transfer some of his rusted tow bar anchor on your bumper.

Take a picture if you may.

But firstly you need to do:


1. Buy some good cut and polish. Meguire professional series in Autobarn *(they are in beige bottles). There are choices of level of cut. Please choose the fine cut (lowest level).

2. Purchase a orbital buffer if you don't have one. Also get a matching sheep/wool polishing pad.

3. Wash the car.

4. Buff it up,

and re value your cut.

Good luck

I think getting a professional to do it will be cheaper than claiming insurance. Most small area touch up will be less than $200 touching up.

You better get the details next time - that will save you the excess.

 

Sohaving his rego is pretty much useless?

 

Report incident to the local cops they will give you his rego details get 3 quotes on fixing the car and pass them on .

 

I guess Michael is extreme but a workable method. Do not need to involve the cops and let them chew on their donuts first.

The rego and the details of the car (make model and colour) is useful, but you don't know the driver was the owner.

Talk to your insurance company first.

Someone bump onto my front long time ago, too bad it was not hard enough. Just crack my number plate protecter and bend it. Got $50 & details from him. He begged me not to use the insurance. Since if I have to paint it, it will be $300 plus out of his pocket. I am now having so many stone clips that I don't mind having it repainted.

 

So if I call the cops who do i call? I'm sure it's not 000. Should I call the local cop shop?

After they give me the details of the car, should I call the owner and discuss the situation?

Regardless of whether he is the driver or not that is his problem he needs to sort out.

I got my bumper scratched and even if I have to go out to buy polish I want to be re-imbursed for it.

I hate to be a dick but cest la vie.

Do i have any grounds for calling insurance? IE Because I let him go, will that defeat any claim I can make against him?

I would prefer to call him and tell him he needs to pay for the damage, I will let him know how much a professional detailer will charge and let him pay that or tell him insurance will sort him out?

NB: I remember the make and colour. Not the model but it was a late 90's looking Toyota with 4Runner on the back with a fat exhaust and chrome wheels.

 

hey mogley, sorry to hear abou that.

The boys in blue have a dedicated phone number for reporting motor vehicle accidents. I cant remember the number but if you call your local police station (check in the white pages), they'll give you it.

Alternatively, you could walk into your local station and they will most probably take your report down there and then or refer you to a 'booth' in the station itself that has a direct line to the number where you need to call to report the accident.

Dont quote me on this but, I dont think you'll be able to get the phone number and details of the person involved yourself; privacy laws and stuff.

Anyway, I would suggest going down to the local station rather than calling a number to report anyway. That way, you might get some ideas on what you can do, who to contact etc to follow things up.

If I were you, i'd bite the bullet this time and probably get things done without involving the insurance (I dont think it'd cost more than 200'ish).

 

If you call the police I believe they are going to tell you there is nothing you can do as you advised the person that all was ok. Even if they dont, you are going to have to fill in a report, the police are going to have to locate and visit the person and personally I think it would be a lot to put someone through because you let them go without getting there details. I dont mean that in a nasty way, but the first thing you should always do in any touch circumstance is get details, including license number.

Regardless of what you decide, take it into a panel beaters and ask them the damage, but tell them its a non insurance job (so they will give you the most honest answer you are going to get )

Good Luck.

Andrew

 

There is nothing you can do if you cannot identify the person driving. This is the whole point of calling the insurance. If you have the time and date and the place of event, the id of vehicle and the driver. The excess can be waived.

Stupid insurance I know.

Always good to carry a camera or a camera mobile phone as evidence is the best solution. Film the guy saying, " I am sorry" worth $400 of excess IMHO.

 

Thanks for the advice.
I've decided to let it slide as the damage is not that bad and is just a scuff at worst.
The orange i think will clay bar off and I will have to live with the memory of the scuff to remind me never to let anyone off again.

Thanks!

 

Hey Mogley. Sorry to hear about your incident. I take my car in tomorrow after a small accident at traffic lights. The only thing to watch for is if the damage is on a painted part of the bumper the paint can start to split over time.

My whole back bumper is being replaced after my accident and the only thing you can see is a small crease.

I guess you have learnt, always get the driver's details even if it's only minor. You never know what might turn up.

I have turned the whole matter over to my insurance company. I got the kids name address licence no..etc. etc. So that way I don't loose my no claim bonus and don't have to pay an excess. The kid is the one whose going to have the headache!

Hope it all turns out ok for you.

 

Something tells me Mogley's no longer worrying about mid-life crisis blogs.

Just kidding. Sorry to hear about your mishap.

As others have said - never self-assess damage when you've got someone who can be made to pay for whatever they've done (especially in the dark!). Always get details, etc.

I don't think the fact that you let him go is fatal to claiming from his insurance. It is easy to sidestep that by claiming the circumstances were such that you could not tell whether there was damage or not until you checked it in better light.

All that said, I don't think I'd bother pursuing it if the cost of repair is under $200. Not worth the hassle IMHO but everybody has their own view on these incidents.

I've now got enough small stone chips and scratches on the nose that it would take more damage than what you've described to make me bother with a full-on repair. Mind you, if the damage warrants a respray, it can be a cheap way of getting it done (thus curing the other stone chips, etc).

 

Here's an upside Mogley - you don't have to worry about this one now.