Need some advice! I've been hit and runned!
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1st Gear
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Edgewater, NJ
Need some advice! I've been hit and runned!
Fellow Mini-owners,
Would appreciate some advice from the experts here. I was on my way to Newark airport in Nigel (06 MCA BRG) this past Thursday when it happened. I was in the exit lane from the turnpike about to get on I78 when I saw an SUV awkwardly trying to get in the exit lane at the last second, I politely slowed down to let the car into the exit lane, and was rewarded by the car behind me bumping into the rear of my car and then flying away when I pulled over to see if any damage had been done!
Fortunately, the damage was minimal and cosmetic, I've got a big bump and scratches on the left hand side of the rear bumper, and some of the plastic on the inside of the bumper was pushed onto my left tire. All my lights work, and the rear door and hatch are also undamaged and working fine. I ripped some plastic off from inside the bumper to free my tire and the car ran smoothly like normal. I think I could probably drive the car as is if need be, but I love my Mini and want to get it fixed asap (I'm on vacation in San Francisco right now and it irks me that it hasnt been taken care of yet!).
So then I wanted to see if anyone has been similarly rear ended and what advice there might be. My questions:
1) Has anyone had to replace the rear bumper on an 06 Mini before? Any idea what this costs? (I think its all one big one piece is that right?)
2) Is it expensive to replace the inside material that goes within the bumper and surrounds the wheel? (I'm really worried about this one and fear it will involve a lot of labor!)
3) Since the guy/gal that hit me drove away, and I didn't want to miss my flight I didn't file a police report. Do you guys recommend doing this through insurance or should I go straight to Mini to get the work done?
Really appreciate any advice and hope none of you ever get rear-ended this way!
thanks,
ryu
Would appreciate some advice from the experts here. I was on my way to Newark airport in Nigel (06 MCA BRG) this past Thursday when it happened. I was in the exit lane from the turnpike about to get on I78 when I saw an SUV awkwardly trying to get in the exit lane at the last second, I politely slowed down to let the car into the exit lane, and was rewarded by the car behind me bumping into the rear of my car and then flying away when I pulled over to see if any damage had been done!
Fortunately, the damage was minimal and cosmetic, I've got a big bump and scratches on the left hand side of the rear bumper, and some of the plastic on the inside of the bumper was pushed onto my left tire. All my lights work, and the rear door and hatch are also undamaged and working fine. I ripped some plastic off from inside the bumper to free my tire and the car ran smoothly like normal. I think I could probably drive the car as is if need be, but I love my Mini and want to get it fixed asap (I'm on vacation in San Francisco right now and it irks me that it hasnt been taken care of yet!).
So then I wanted to see if anyone has been similarly rear ended and what advice there might be. My questions:
1) Has anyone had to replace the rear bumper on an 06 Mini before? Any idea what this costs? (I think its all one big one piece is that right?)
2) Is it expensive to replace the inside material that goes within the bumper and surrounds the wheel? (I'm really worried about this one and fear it will involve a lot of labor!)
3) Since the guy/gal that hit me drove away, and I didn't want to miss my flight I didn't file a police report. Do you guys recommend doing this through insurance or should I go straight to Mini to get the work done?
Really appreciate any advice and hope none of you ever get rear-ended this way!
thanks,
ryu
First, file a police report. The delay won't hurt anything.
Second, take the MINI to a reputable shop for an estimate. You will be surprised how quickly the dollar signs start piling up. I'm guessing a minimum of $1000 for this repair.
Third, decide whether or not to involve your insurance company. Rules vary by state, but a H&R is usually not charged against your record.
Good luck!
Second, take the MINI to a reputable shop for an estimate. You will be surprised how quickly the dollar signs start piling up. I'm guessing a minimum of $1000 for this repair.
Third, decide whether or not to involve your insurance company. Rules vary by state, but a H&R is usually not charged against your record.
Good luck!
OVERDRIVE
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,326
Likes: 6
From: PA
I deal with hit and run accidents on a daily basis.
First, do get a PR, as 3c said. It's not essential, but it can't hurt. Not having filed one is going to tie into the last sentence of my next paragraph.
Second, CALL YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY and report the claim. I seriously have to question your judgment for not doing this already. You were the victim, why would you hesitate ? When I'm investigating hit and run accidents, I'm looking for what we call "SCIs", or suspicious claim indicators. Someone waiting four days to report a hit and run makes some red lights go off in my mind.
Third, give your claim rep anything that can help them track down the at-fault party. Anything you can remember about the car, make, model, color, dents, scrapes, general idea of what the driver looks like, too. And even if you only have a few digits of the tag number, give it to him/her. We can track them down sometimes with as few as 3 numbers.
Fourth, let your insurance company handle it. You're not at fault. Your rates won't go up. You'll only have a small UM deductible to pay... in most states they are around $200. You'll get put into a rental at no cost, if you need one. You can take it to any shop you want.
And yes, I was hit in the *** end with my '06 and the damage was about $300. But it was not a hard hit. Your damages are going to be much more... sounds like about $2,000 to me (without pics, hard to tell).
First, do get a PR, as 3c said. It's not essential, but it can't hurt. Not having filed one is going to tie into the last sentence of my next paragraph.
Second, CALL YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY and report the claim. I seriously have to question your judgment for not doing this already. You were the victim, why would you hesitate ? When I'm investigating hit and run accidents, I'm looking for what we call "SCIs", or suspicious claim indicators. Someone waiting four days to report a hit and run makes some red lights go off in my mind.
Third, give your claim rep anything that can help them track down the at-fault party. Anything you can remember about the car, make, model, color, dents, scrapes, general idea of what the driver looks like, too. And even if you only have a few digits of the tag number, give it to him/her. We can track them down sometimes with as few as 3 numbers.
Fourth, let your insurance company handle it. You're not at fault. Your rates won't go up. You'll only have a small UM deductible to pay... in most states they are around $200. You'll get put into a rental at no cost, if you need one. You can take it to any shop you want.
And yes, I was hit in the *** end with my '06 and the damage was about $300. But it was not a hard hit. Your damages are going to be much more... sounds like about $2,000 to me (without pics, hard to tell).
I deal with hit and run accidents on a daily basis.
First, do get a PR, as 3c said. It's not essential, but it can't hurt. Not having filed one is going to tie into the last sentence of my next paragraph.
Second, CALL YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY and report the claim. I seriously have to question your judgment for not doing this already. You were the victim, why would you hesitate ? When I'm investigating hit and run accidents, I'm looking for what we call "SCIs", or suspicious claim indicators. Someone waiting four days to report a hit and run makes some red lights go off in my mind.
Third, give your claim rep anything that can help them track down the at-fault party. Anything you can remember about the car, make, model, color, dents, scrapes, general idea of what the driver looks like, too. And even if you only have a few digits of the tag number, give it to him/her. We can track them down sometimes with as few as 3 numbers.
Fourth, let your insurance company handle it. You're not at fault. Your rates won't go up. You'll only have a small UM deductible to pay... in most states they are around $200. You'll get put into a rental at no cost, if you need one. You can take it to any shop you want.
And yes, I was hit in the *** end with my '06 and the damage was about $300. But it was not a hard hit. Your damages are going to be much more... sounds like about $2,000 to me (without pics, hard to tell).
First, do get a PR, as 3c said. It's not essential, but it can't hurt. Not having filed one is going to tie into the last sentence of my next paragraph.
Second, CALL YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY and report the claim. I seriously have to question your judgment for not doing this already. You were the victim, why would you hesitate ? When I'm investigating hit and run accidents, I'm looking for what we call "SCIs", or suspicious claim indicators. Someone waiting four days to report a hit and run makes some red lights go off in my mind.
Third, give your claim rep anything that can help them track down the at-fault party. Anything you can remember about the car, make, model, color, dents, scrapes, general idea of what the driver looks like, too. And even if you only have a few digits of the tag number, give it to him/her. We can track them down sometimes with as few as 3 numbers.
Fourth, let your insurance company handle it. You're not at fault. Your rates won't go up. You'll only have a small UM deductible to pay... in most states they are around $200. You'll get put into a rental at no cost, if you need one. You can take it to any shop you want.
And yes, I was hit in the *** end with my '06 and the damage was about $300. But it was not a hard hit. Your damages are going to be much more... sounds like about $2,000 to me (without pics, hard to tell).
OVERDRIVE
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 12,326
Likes: 6
From: PA
Not a good excuse. In today's age of cell phones and with the insurance company having a toll-free number, should have called as soon as it happend. The next day would have been less suspicious, even.
Anyway, give them a call ASAP. They're probably not open today but most big companies have an after-hours support center to at least register the claim.
Good luck.
Anyway, give them a call ASAP. They're probably not open today but most big companies have an after-hours support center to at least register the claim.
Good luck.
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