Outback Rearended

[Emmett Galsworthy]

My 02 Outback was rearended while I was pumping gas.
The damage appears to be light--scrapes on the fender. The car moved about a
foot when it was hit. The driver of the other car wants me to settle with
her bodyshop and not notify my insurance carrier. This would seem to be an
expedient solution but I am wondering if the AWD mechanism could be damaged
by a slight collision without being immediately apparent. Also, the person
accompanying the driver but in another car, started acting weird when I
showed some reluctance to agree to settle. He began name-calling and saying
things like, "Maybe you backed into her car". Am I likely to get payment
from this driver? She said to disregard her friend. If the AWD is ok my
deductible is probably more than the cost of the damage. Any thoughts?
ej

 

[George Adams]

From: "Emmett Galsworthy"

The driver of the other car wants me to settle with
her bodyshop and not notify my insurance carrier.

Notify your local police and your insurance carrier. If your car was rear ended
while stopped, your insurance will contact the offending driver's insurance and
get payment from them. You did get her name, address, license # and insurance
carreier, didn't you? In many states it is against the law not to report an
accident with property damage over a certain amount, and with costs the way
they are now, the likit can easily be exceeded.

The fact that you would even consider settling with "her body shop" makes me
wonder if you should even be driving.


George Adams

"All good fishermen stay young until they die, for fishing is the only dream of
youth that doth not grow stale with age."
---- J.W Muller

 

[CEG]

My 02 Outback was rearended while I was pumping gas.
The damage appears to be light--scrapes on the fender. The car moved about a
foot when it was hit. The driver of the other car wants me to settle with
her bodyshop and not notify my insurance carrier. This would seem to be an
expedient solution but I am wondering if the AWD mechanism could be damaged
by a slight collision without being immediately apparent. Also, the person
accompanying the driver but in another car, started acting weird when I
showed some reluctance to agree to settle. He began name-calling and saying
things like, "Maybe you backed into her car". Am I likely to get payment
from this driver? She said to disregard her friend. If the AWD is ok my
deductible is probably more than the cost of the damage. Any thoughts?
ej

 

[CEG]

My 95 Legacy Wagon got rearended 3 years ago, it had 150K on the
clock.....got it fixed it looked new $4500. body work. Gave car to daughter
she has put 50K moe on it and generally beaten the crap out of it; but the
AWD SYSTEM WORKS FLAWLESSLY!
Just bought a 2004 35th anniv wagon.....looking to do it all over
again......its our 3rd one.

 

[Florian Feuser /FFF/]

Some guy backed into my car in front of my eyes in a parking lot - I started a
thread about this a while ago.

Make sure you get all necessary info from the lady and have your insurance check
if her insurance and given info check out okay - you can still tell them the
other party would like to settle privately.

Then have YOUR body shop give you an estimate and give it to the lady. Stuff
happens to everyone; I myself would certainly appreciate the opportunity to
settle for cash.

That being said, be extra cautious. The guy who caused $900 worth of damage to
my car never returned my calls and I am still waiting for my insurance company
to recover my deductible (and their portion o the bill). If they lose interest -
their portion isn't exactly hige thans to my deductible, I'll have to roll up
the case myself and take the guy to small claims court - what joy.

Re AWD mechanism: you'd know by now if anything important was damaged....

good luck!

Florian

 

[Paul J]

DO NOT JUST TAKE YOUR CAR TO HER BODY SHOP!!!! Its very important that this
is taken care of through the insurance company. Once you by pass insurance
company and police and just take your car to her bodyshop there is no
guarantee that your car will be fixed. My brother just basically took his
car to the bodyshop that the person hit him said and nothing got done. The
car just sat there. Basically always report this stuff to the insurance
and get a police report filed.

Paul J

 

[Carl 1 Lucky Texan]

There may be video tape of the incident on the store security camera -
that would probably negate the "what if you backed into her car" accusation.
It's too bad we can't just handle these things like gentlemen, but
calling in your insirance carrier is probably the wisest move - plus,
this person may have a history of these incidents and if so, shouldn't
get insurance or a liscence to drive. You may be doing us all a favor.

Carl
1 Lucky Texan

 

[oothlagre]

It was her fault, she pays, not you. You don't have to worry about your
deductible.

My advice is not to settle, contact your insurance ASAP and hers as well.

Henry

 

[oothlagre]

Since it happened on private property the police will say, "Gee, tough luck.
Contact insurance." At least that is how it works here. A guy got backed
into at work. I am a security guard there and reviewed the footage. The guy
had no insurance at the time so they are going to small claims over it.
Happened almost 2 months ago and court date is in 2 weeks now.

Henry

 

[Diva]

I completely agree with you, George. Why would anyone even consider not
reporting it?

June

 

[Emmett Galsworthy]

Thanks, Henry and to all who replied. The counter worker did call the police
as he'd had some exchange with the person about her not finding space. This
is a no-fault state so when the damage is under $1000 it can be done either
way. I was wondering about the likelihood of the AWD having been affected.
It probably is best to file a report. All info has been gathered. The
police were just annoyed that she left without talking to them but said just
to let them know in a few days whether to file an accident report.
All the best,
ej

 

[CompUser]

..

It probably is best to file a report. All info has been gathered. The
police were just annoyed that she left without talking to them but said just
to let them know in a few days whether to file an accident report.> > >

File ASAP. Gathered info will disappear fast, if
not already. Get it reported before the
officer's lose recollection of it. Collision
damage repair costs are a lot higher than most
people estimate.

Steve

 

[Dan Duncan]

I completely agree with you, George. Why would anyone even consider not
reporting it?

I agree. Report it. Get it on the record. If it's something
she's never done before, no big deal. If it's something she
does a LOT, her little scam to keep people from reporting it
is probably the only reason she still has a license.

-DanD

 

[Emmett Galsworthy]

I agree. Report it. Get it on the record. If it's something
she's never done before, no big deal. If it's something she
does a LOT, her little scam to keep people from reporting it
is probably the only reason she still has a license.

-DanD

She may have had some problems to make her so edgy. Just a cursory check
on Google revealed she's appealing a lawsuit wherein she's seeking damages
after being injured at a homesite where she was working. The company that
hired her said she'd been warned of the dangers which she's apparently
refuting. Without being aware of the possibilities, I wouldn't want to be
part of something to impede her receiving her due if she was truly injured.
It just seems an awful mess to be involved in something like that. Just some
thoughts.
Thanks for your view.
ej

 

[Catherine Hampton]

I agree. Report it. Get it on the record. If it's something
she's never done before, no big deal. If it's something she
does a LOT, her little scam to keep people from reporting it
is probably the only reason she still has a license.

Another vote in favor of reporting this. This might be innocent, but she might
be an extremely bad driver with a record of this kind of thing who is trying to
avoid loosing her license. If that's the case, you do not want to be the reason
she's still on the road. :/



--
Catherine Hampton <(e-mail address removed)>
Home Page * <http://www.devsite.org/>
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(Please use this address for replies -- the address in my header is a
spam trap.)

 

[Edward Hayes]

Just take the car to a Suby dealer for an estimate,get a cashers check, fix
and forget

 

[Debra Co]

My 2002 Outback was rearended at a stop sign by a little old lady doing 5 mph
(I was not moving). Good thing I got all the insurance information even though
damage seemed very small and I could still close the liftgate. The actual
damage included not only the entire bumper, but the left quarter panel as well.
Total cost $1382. Her insurance company even paid my $500 deductible. Always
get the info on the spot and fill out a police report!