My car was damaged while parked
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6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,334
Likes: 4
From: Vancouver Island, Canada
My car was damaged while parked
Hey All,
Just wanted to share an unfortunate experience I had yesterday. I was visiting family out of town, about 7 hours away. I parked my car outside of my dads house, and was inside chatting for an hour or so. When I returned to my car, I found this:
http://instagram.com/p/OcY5Ypm2lX/
(Sorry, NAM won't let me upload a photo today.)
There was no note, just some tail light bits from the culprits car scattered around the road, and my busted mirror. The door is also quite dented, which doesn't come across very clearly in the photo.
Obviously I was furious. I was a days drive from home, my car was mangled, I couldn't drive without repairing the mirror... and it was going to cost me my $500 insurance deductible to get fixed!!
I was in a rush to get to an appointment, so my dad gave me a lift while I dealt with the insurance company and the police on the phone. Fortunately, when I returned, there was a woman with a note in her hand walking towards my car. It turns out, it was the neighbour from across the street. She had backed out of her driveway at mach 1 without looking in her rearview, evidently, and just ****ed off because she was picking someone up at the airport. I was pretty angry still, considering she had no way of knowing I would still be there when she got back, and didn't take the five seconds to write a note. Since it was an older woman, and my dads neighbour, I made every effort to be polite.
It looks like insurance will take care of it, but it's still a big hassle, having to deal with claims agents, body shop, dealership (for the powerfold mirror, I imagine...) and being stuck with a horrible courtesy car, I bet.
Fortunately duct tape and glue held the mirror on at highway speed.
Just wanted to share an unfortunate experience I had yesterday. I was visiting family out of town, about 7 hours away. I parked my car outside of my dads house, and was inside chatting for an hour or so. When I returned to my car, I found this:
http://instagram.com/p/OcY5Ypm2lX/
(Sorry, NAM won't let me upload a photo today.)
There was no note, just some tail light bits from the culprits car scattered around the road, and my busted mirror. The door is also quite dented, which doesn't come across very clearly in the photo.
Obviously I was furious. I was a days drive from home, my car was mangled, I couldn't drive without repairing the mirror... and it was going to cost me my $500 insurance deductible to get fixed!!
I was in a rush to get to an appointment, so my dad gave me a lift while I dealt with the insurance company and the police on the phone. Fortunately, when I returned, there was a woman with a note in her hand walking towards my car. It turns out, it was the neighbour from across the street. She had backed out of her driveway at mach 1 without looking in her rearview, evidently, and just ****ed off because she was picking someone up at the airport. I was pretty angry still, considering she had no way of knowing I would still be there when she got back, and didn't take the five seconds to write a note. Since it was an older woman, and my dads neighbour, I made every effort to be polite.
It looks like insurance will take care of it, but it's still a big hassle, having to deal with claims agents, body shop, dealership (for the powerfold mirror, I imagine...) and being stuck with a horrible courtesy car, I bet.
Fortunately duct tape and glue held the mirror on at highway speed.
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,334
Likes: 4
From: Vancouver Island, Canada
Thanks! The other driver does have insurance, so hopefully it will all go smoothly... my company will waive my deductible and bill her insurance. I hope I can get it in the shop soon! 
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,334
Likes: 4
From: Vancouver Island, Canada
Yeah, don't get me wrong... I'm glad she came back and did the right thing. It saved me some money I thought I was going to have to cough up.
However, the right and proper thing to do is to leave a note immediately... not go run some errands and come back when it's more convenient to leave a note.
However, the right and proper thing to do is to leave a note immediately... not go run some errands and come back when it's more convenient to leave a note.
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,925
Likes: 2
From: Laurel MD
Yeah, don't get me wrong... I'm glad she came back and did the right thing. It saved me some money I thought I was going to have to cough up.
However, the right and proper thing to do is to leave a note immediately... not go run some errands and come back when it's more convenient to leave a note.
However, the right and proper thing to do is to leave a note immediately... not go run some errands and come back when it's more convenient to leave a note.
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Glad it wasn't worse either... a friend of mine had the same thing happen with a contractor's pickup truck was the vehicle of choice to back right up into the driver's door. It wasn't pretty...
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 776
Likes: 2
Wow,,I'm so sorry to read about your news and to see the damage on your beautiful car. Try not to let it get you down (which I would) and things will definitely get fixed. What a hassle simply because of someones careless mistake.
Best of luck to you.
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,334
Likes: 4
From: Vancouver Island, Canada
Thank you! I hope the above poster who was rear ended isn't in too bad of shape!
I just got back from the body shop. It looks grim... at least 8 hours of work on the door, and possibly a new door, because they think it will have interior damage. The paint will have to be blended with the A-Panel because the damage is so far forward. Basically, this will be an expensive repair.
If a repair is over $2k, I'm legally obligated to divulge it to a potential buyer. Resale value will be effected. I've sent my adjuster an email telling him I want to pursue compensation for diminished value. I'm sure this is going to be an ordeal.
Edit:
If I took an appointment a week from today, I would have a toyota corrola as a loaner. If I wanted an additional week to get it into the shop, I will get some kind of Merc sedan, or a BMW 325i. Since they'll have my car for at LEAST a week, I decided to wait and get a nice, luxurious car to sooth my troubled mind while my baby is repaired.
I just got back from the body shop. It looks grim... at least 8 hours of work on the door, and possibly a new door, because they think it will have interior damage. The paint will have to be blended with the A-Panel because the damage is so far forward. Basically, this will be an expensive repair.
If a repair is over $2k, I'm legally obligated to divulge it to a potential buyer. Resale value will be effected. I've sent my adjuster an email telling him I want to pursue compensation for diminished value. I'm sure this is going to be an ordeal.
Edit:
If I took an appointment a week from today, I would have a toyota corrola as a loaner. If I wanted an additional week to get it into the shop, I will get some kind of Merc sedan, or a BMW 325i. Since they'll have my car for at LEAST a week, I decided to wait and get a nice, luxurious car to sooth my troubled mind while my baby is repaired.
3rd Gear
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 171
Likes: 1
From: East Greenville, PA
Danny,
Sorry to hear about the damage to the car. The repairs to your car sound very much in line with the picture you posted (I do this stuff for a living). Blending is a normal part of the repair process. The shop can't match the paint 100% perfect to what was on the car for several reasons, so they blend it into the next panel so that it's seemless. A good shop will be able to make your car look perfect.
As for the diminished value claim, not try to be negative, but just to help set expectations. Given the damage, I wouldn't expect much of an offer from the insurance company. It's a touchy subject and always one of the biggest sources of controversy we see, but it is what it is. Diminished value is really a public "stigma" more than anything else. So what is that worth? That's a matter of debate. Some argue it's worth nothing, others argue it's worth a lot.
Sorry to hear about the damage to the car. The repairs to your car sound very much in line with the picture you posted (I do this stuff for a living). Blending is a normal part of the repair process. The shop can't match the paint 100% perfect to what was on the car for several reasons, so they blend it into the next panel so that it's seemless. A good shop will be able to make your car look perfect.
As for the diminished value claim, not try to be negative, but just to help set expectations. Given the damage, I wouldn't expect much of an offer from the insurance company. It's a touchy subject and always one of the biggest sources of controversy we see, but it is what it is. Diminished value is really a public "stigma" more than anything else. So what is that worth? That's a matter of debate. Some argue it's worth nothing, others argue it's worth a lot.
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,334
Likes: 4
From: Vancouver Island, Canada
Hey, thanks for chiming in. I spoke to my insurance broker, and she gave me some advice for how to press for diminished value, but added as a caveat that she's seen very few instances where they paid out. It was suggested that I point out, if my car was involved in a total-loss situation the day after the repair, would the previous damage/repair lower the amount the insurance company would offer me? I'm willing to bet it would.
I figure it can't hurt to try! I agree that it's stigma and not actual "loss of value" as far as the condition of the car is concerned, but that stigma means real dollars come resale/trade-in time.
I figure it can't hurt to try! I agree that it's stigma and not actual "loss of value" as far as the condition of the car is concerned, but that stigma means real dollars come resale/trade-in time.
Danny,
Sorry to hear about the damage to the car. The repairs to your car sound very much in line with the picture you posted (I do this stuff for a living). Blending is a normal part of the repair process. The shop can't match the paint 100% perfect to what was on the car for several reasons, so they blend it into the next panel so that it's seemless. A good shop will be able to make your car look perfect.
As for the diminished value claim, not try to be negative, but just to help set expectations. Given the damage, I wouldn't expect much of an offer from the insurance company. It's a touchy subject and always one of the biggest sources of controversy we see, but it is what it is. Diminished value is really a public "stigma" more than anything else. So what is that worth? That's a matter of debate. Some argue it's worth nothing, others argue it's worth a lot.
Sorry to hear about the damage to the car. The repairs to your car sound very much in line with the picture you posted (I do this stuff for a living). Blending is a normal part of the repair process. The shop can't match the paint 100% perfect to what was on the car for several reasons, so they blend it into the next panel so that it's seemless. A good shop will be able to make your car look perfect.
As for the diminished value claim, not try to be negative, but just to help set expectations. Given the damage, I wouldn't expect much of an offer from the insurance company. It's a touchy subject and always one of the biggest sources of controversy we see, but it is what it is. Diminished value is really a public "stigma" more than anything else. So what is that worth? That's a matter of debate. Some argue it's worth nothing, others argue it's worth a lot.
3rd Gear
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 171
Likes: 1
From: East Greenville, PA
Honestly, I wouldn't use the argument that your agent suggested. As the insurance claims person, my response to that would be "Yes, your car would have a lower value the day after it was fixed from a total loss situation. However, your car wasn't totalled, so it's an apples and oranges comparison." That's exactly what I would say, and have said many times, when presented with that. When a car is declared a total loss, the title is then branded as a prior salvage (i.e. the car could have/should have gone to the great junk yard in the sky) but was repaired. Your car wasn't totalled, it sustained what in the business would be considered relatively minor damage. A very different situation.
My advice...base your claim on common sense. You can present the argument that upon disclosure of the accident to a potential buyer (private sale, not dealer trade) they may be likely to offer you less money. You could also present the argument that the MINI is a more unique car with more discriminating buyers...that may not work, but certainly it's not a run of the mill Accord.
Hope this info helps.
My advice...base your claim on common sense. You can present the argument that upon disclosure of the accident to a potential buyer (private sale, not dealer trade) they may be likely to offer you less money. You could also present the argument that the MINI is a more unique car with more discriminating buyers...that may not work, but certainly it's not a run of the mill Accord.
Hope this info helps.
5th Gear
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 759
Likes: 3
From: Western, MA
Sorry to hear about your trouble. Same thing happened tme last summer. I was parked in front of my wife's mother's house, when I came out, there was white paint imbedded I am my door, part of the other cars taillight on top of my door handle, and more on the ground. After some investigation, I found the neighbor across the street's car backed in (they always drive in), and their car's busted light. Long story short, after much arguing and threatening, I got the woman to admit that she did it
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,334
Likes: 4
From: Vancouver Island, Canada
That sounds like great advice, thank you!
Honestly, I wouldn't use the argument that your agent suggested. As the insurance claims person, my response to that would be "Yes, your car would have a lower value the day after it was fixed from a total loss situation. However, your car wasn't totalled, so it's an apples and oranges comparison." That's exactly what I would say, and have said many times, when presented with that. When a car is declared a total loss, the title is then branded as a prior salvage (i.e. the car could have/should have gone to the great junk yard in the sky) but was repaired. Your car wasn't totalled, it sustained what in the business would be considered relatively minor damage. A very different situation.
My advice...base your claim on common sense. You can present the argument that upon disclosure of the accident to a potential buyer (private sale, not dealer trade) they may be likely to offer you less money. You could also present the argument that the MINI is a more unique car with more discriminating buyers...that may not work, but certainly it's not a run of the mill Accord.
Hope this info helps.
My advice...base your claim on common sense. You can present the argument that upon disclosure of the accident to a potential buyer (private sale, not dealer trade) they may be likely to offer you less money. You could also present the argument that the MINI is a more unique car with more discriminating buyers...that may not work, but certainly it's not a run of the mill Accord.
Hope this info helps.
5th Gear
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,025
Likes: 2
From: Los Angeles
Man I'm glad everything is getting handled.
I just got rear ended earlier today on the freeway!! I've only had my Coupe S for a month! Hate to say it because I love both Mini's I own but I wish I was in my R50 when it happened
Claim has already been filed. I guess the upside to this is that I'm certain I won't pay a dime seeing as it wasn't my fault....but still, rather it never happened at all.
I just got rear ended earlier today on the freeway!! I've only had my Coupe S for a month! Hate to say it because I love both Mini's I own but I wish I was in my R50 when it happened
Claim has already been filed. I guess the upside to this is that I'm certain I won't pay a dime seeing as it wasn't my fault....but still, rather it never happened at all.
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6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,334
Likes: 4
From: Vancouver Island, Canada
Well, just thought I'd update this thread with a final conclusion for any curious parties.
The total cost to repair my car, which including removing wheel arches, etc, painting the entire drivers side to blend properly, pulling the dent, and replacing the mirror with a new OEM unit, came to just over $2,500.
It sure adds up fast! Thank God for insurance!
It took nearly three weeks, while I rolled around in a '12 Mercedes C250, which was fantastic. Comparatively, my car feels rattly, loud, tiny, and unrefined, but I'm sure I'll adapt
The total cost to repair my car, which including removing wheel arches, etc, painting the entire drivers side to blend properly, pulling the dent, and replacing the mirror with a new OEM unit, came to just over $2,500.
It sure adds up fast! Thank God for insurance!
It took nearly three weeks, while I rolled around in a '12 Mercedes C250, which was fantastic. Comparatively, my car feels rattly, loud, tiny, and unrefined, but I'm sure I'll adapt
5th Gear
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 776
Likes: 2
Well, just thought I'd update this thread with a final conclusion for any curious parties.
The total cost to repair my car, which including removing wheel arches, etc, painting the entire drivers side to blend properly, pulling the dent, and replacing the mirror with a new OEM unit, came to just over $2,500.
It sure adds up fast! Thank God for insurance!
It took nearly three weeks, while I rolled around in a '12 Mercedes C250, which was fantastic. Comparatively, my car feels rattly, loud, tiny, and unrefined, but I'm sure I'll adapt
The total cost to repair my car, which including removing wheel arches, etc, painting the entire drivers side to blend properly, pulling the dent, and replacing the mirror with a new OEM unit, came to just over $2,500.
It sure adds up fast! Thank God for insurance!
It took nearly three weeks, while I rolled around in a '12 Mercedes C250, which was fantastic. Comparatively, my car feels rattly, loud, tiny, and unrefined, but I'm sure I'll adapt
Besides "rattly, loud, tiny, and unrefined", you forgot to add loved.
Glad everything is over and finished.
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,334
Likes: 4
From: Vancouver Island, Canada
Ahh, of course I still love the car! I just need to soften it up a bit, put some 15" wheels and higher profile tires or something. My next car might be a little more comfortable though, maybe I'll try to find an older M3.
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