Where is it you live in Jersey? I also live in Jesey and just purchased my first MINI Cooper S.

Someone already put a dent in my passanger side door from opening their door on mine. Gotta love Jersey.

 

Collecting for diminished value is a state by state thing. Some states do, and some don't.

As for the other guy not being insured. Well it's probably going to go on your policy and count against you... Sucks, but that's the way that usually works.Somebody is going to get a surcharge, since the other guy didn't have insurance, that leaves you... You don't actually think an insurance company would lose out on an opportunity to make some more money do you?

Just call me a cynic.

 

It seems that most accidents are always caused by some idiot that does not have any insurance. My opinion is that people that drive without insurance should be put in prison for at least 75 years. Longer if an injury is involved.

I also think that the crooked stupid insurance company's that will sell people insurance for a week or a month should be put out of business. Idiots buy the insurance, get the tags renewed and never pay for the next week or month.

Here in Florida they are supposed to take your tag off and impound your car if driving without insurance but it seems they would rather just give out a ticket and let you drive home. It should be jail time and the car should be owned by the city/county or state agency that stopped the creep.

****Forgetting to pay your insurance is not an excuse either. ****

They sure did not forget to buy a short term policy to get the tag renewed.

 

I'm with you. Jail time. Seems the ones that do the RIGHT thing are the ones that always pay. Sorta like our lovely justice system.

 

Ughhhhh, door dings!! Can't stand em and I obsessively check each time I go to my car in a parking lot. I love when I park far away to avoid em and some j$c* a$$ in a HUGE SUV decides they should park right next to me, maybe because there seems to be more room. *sigh* Drives me batsh&* crazy!

 

So far, my cars have been hit by others at least six times. All of them had insurance, even the two that hit a car and left a note! I have yet to be hit by anyone who does not have insurance.

And I have yet to hit anyone, in (so far) three decades of driving. Hopefully I will keep it that way.

 

My car was hit (only small damage...a good rub on back corner) in a parking lot by a person trying to squeeze in her big Escalade in the spot next to me, a note was left on my car, not by the person who hit me, but by the guys who watched her do it. She denied hitting the car, but they all saw and wrote her plate #. I came out saw the note and called the cops. I spoke with the guy that left the note and he said he did so because he loved my car and they were all appalled by the denial of the driver of doing anything wrong! At first I wasn't even sure I was gonna report it, cause it was a small rub, but then heard of her arrogance and it was time to get it fixed!

 

I have great sympathy for the OP (total bummer), but aren't day-to-day 'dings and scrapes' on a MINI really 'decorations' and a MINI without such is just boring?

Cheers...

 

B13Mini, I'd go after them as well. An accident is an accident but stupidity is a learned ignorance. Even if it weren't bad I'd still go after them.
And for the response after that post, "no, a mini is not a mini unless it has dings". I don't know about that guy but I work hard for my stuff and I prize myself in keeping things nice. Don't need some careless A-hole dinging it up.

 

So... I gather you not familiar with the MINI publication Field Guide to Motoring. page 8, Preparing for Dents, Dirt and Muck...?

Specifically:

"...your MINI will get dirty. And to let you know it's OK. Even encouraged. Because a mint condition MINI is a car in need of some good motoring."

"Assess the cleanlinesss of your MINi as you would a football jersey coming off the field... more mud means more action. Let your dirty bumper and chipped paint serve as sources of inspiration for other owners to take their MINI off the garage pedestal and get in the motoring game."

Again, having endured my fair share of after-accident hassles and frustration, my heart goes out to the OP, but time heals...

Cheers and motor on... I will

 

MichaelinA2 - don't get my wrong, I run my car and it does have its little rock chips on the front bumper. I don't even mind a little mud and dirt. It cleans off. I understand accidents happen but what really gets me is people who open their doors on you and could care less about what they just did.
Those idiots I can do without, not to mention those out there without insurance.

 

Yup, I did, and she got all fixed up right!

 

I do the same thing. I'm pretty sure mine happened in a bar parking lot. I stopped by a bar to have a drink with some friends. I parked out in the middle of no where and when I came out? A rusty old Cavalier decided to park RIGHT next to me. It was dark so I didn't see the ding but, when I woke the next morning to go to work I noticed the ding in my door.

I started flipping out, outside of my apartment complex. I'm sure many heard and saw, that's why I guess I came home to a picture of a colored in turtle that said, "Cheer up. <3" on it. I still never figured out who put it on my door.

Sorry for the ranting story. Anyhow, do you have any idea, just ball parking, how much it'd cost me to get a small ding removed from my door? I'm not sure if it can just be popped out or if they actually have to drill and do that whole bit.

Not trying to hijack the thread, just a curious question because I'm thinking of having it removed. I shed a small tear every time I have to look at it. :c

 

Here in NC Un/Under Insured Motorist coverage is a real cheap adder to a Auto Policy.

 

Call the dealer and see who they use to do the PDR (paintless dent removal) on the used cars. Should be less than $100 Probably colser to $50.

 

Luckily I had uninsured motorist coverage. And it looks like I have to do the work to get my 500$ deductible back :(. Life certainly is filled with dishonest people. But we have to live around them. I'm not pulling my hair out because of it but I'm defiantly go per sure and get what's mine.

On another note everyone I talk to says I need to get rid of the car since the repairs are over 5000$ on my car. And I'll never be able to trade her in. For what's she worth :( what's your recommendations.

 

Honestly if I were you, I'd try to get it fixed. The car is worth a lot more than $5000 and if you really love driving the car, I feel it's worth it. This is just my opinion though, which really doesn't mean much at this point, lol.

 

May as well fix it and keep, either way you're screwed.
As long as the fix job is good and you don't have lingering issues after the fix, all will be ok. Hopefully, the frame's/pan is not bend.
I've been there and I understand how frustrating it is to deal with crap like this. It'll heal in time.

 

Sry for this but.. Is Charlotte having a hard time sitting down now?

 

one of my bosses, got rearended/sandwiched (pushed into the car in front too) in his 05. And he told me at least his model's seat is designed to break in a crash to minimize driver injury. Not sure if thats true, and for all minis, but sounds legit. Best of luck in getting this taken care of!