Body work on car or not -- what would you do?

[1242Vintage]

An errant driver hit my Subaru a few years back. I was parked legally and he backed across a parking lot and into me. Damage was $600 for a new bumper.

His initial response was … let’s handle this outside insurance. I know that’s code for “he doesn’t have insurance”.

My insurance … State Farm … went after him as an uninsured driver for cost of repairs. Then I turned him into Dept of Motor Vehicles for driving without insurance.

 

[athena53]

Do you have Uninsured/Underinsured Motorists coverage? I had my car sideswiped by someone with no moral and no conscience while parked on the street at DS and DDIL's place and it caused $4,000 worth of damage. Uninsured covered it except for a $5K deductible and it even covered a loaner.

I agree that OP's accident is not a hit and run but if they have UM/UIM it should also cover an at-fault driver with no insurance (and the insurance company should be able to find that out given the info the OP has).

UM/UIM used to be cheap coverage when I was a beginning actuary but now it's sky-high with so many people not carrying insurance and/or fleeing the scene. Darn shame we're basically buying insurance for our own liability but also for the liability of irresponsible people.

 

[reneeh63]

About 10 years ago I bought a used car through Enterprise's (rentals) purchase program for a fantastic price. Only issue was a smallish dent on the hood - looked like something had dropped on it, not an accident with another vehicle. It was something that drew my eye to it every time I got in the car.

I figured I'd gotten a really good price on the car so I worked out a friendly deal with someone doing bodywork and they took out the dent and painted it for around $500. I'm still (proudly!) driving the car today rather than skulking about. Yeah, there was some vanity involved but I knew I'd enjoy the car much more and for a very long time so it'd be worth it - no regrets and the car's not given me any issues in 10 years - knock wood.

 

[MC Rider]

$500 for the hood job is not bad. Helps to pay cash.

 

[Teacher Terry]

Years ago we were hit by a semi that just kept going. We tried to file a police report because we had the license plate number. The cops laughed and said that the trucking company just gives them the runaround refusing to provide information, etc. One of the cops said he was hit by a semi and nothing ever happened to the company or the driver.

 

[Dtail]

Different example but semi relates. Our 1 month new SUV was hit in the rear panel but we were parked and didn't know who hit us.
The dealer offered to fix it for 3k. 5 years later we are living with the decent sized dent.

 

[JoeWras]

Years ago we were hit by a semi that just kept going. We tried to file a police report because we had the license plate number. The cops laughed and said that the trucking company just gives them the runaround refusing to provide information, etc. One of the cops said he was hit by a semi and nothing ever happened to the company or the driver.

Again, dashcam footage sent to your insurance can do wonders, even if the cops laugh. It can turn a claim against your uninsured or comprehensive coverage to a subrogated claim against another company with no deductible for you.

 

[skipro33]

Nothing preventing you from filing a suit, suing for damages. A court summon should get some offer to settle. Whom ever those plates belong to isn't going to take the hit if they can place this on a driver

 

[Teacher Terry]

Again, dashcam footage sent to your insurance can do wonders, even if the cops laugh. It can turn a claim against your uninsured or comprehensive coverage to a subrogated claim against another company with no deductible for you.

This happened 40 years ago .

 

[JoeWras]

This happened 40 years ago .

Ha ha. That would have been one heck of a bulky dashcam!