Fender Bender or 7 Points?

Kenny-sauga

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Feb 20, 2005
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It just so happens that on Saturday while getting out of my driveway, I managed to scratch a parked vehicle. Her alarm went off and I stayed there until it stopped. Nobody showed up, so off I went for my coffee. I came back after 15/20 minuted and still no sign of anybody around the house or car. I went to my home and brushed it off. This was Sat night.

Today, a guy shows up and foolishly my brother admits that it was me!! Anyhow, the guy wants to report the incident to Police. To buy sometime, I asked him to get a quote and we'll talk about it. The damage is quite minor, and can easily be fixed by a touch-up. However, knowing how things work, he will come back with a substantial quote for paint job.

My questions are a) If he reports, am I likely to be charged with "fail to remain", b) is there any time limitation as to when an incident can and can't be reported to Police c) Shall I notify insurance, and let them fix his car.

Any ideas/info is highly appreciated.
 
I don't know what the law is on this but maybe you should have left a note on the guys car. Unless he's an asshole he should accept your offer to pay for the repair.
 
Well... Agree on leaving the number. However, the car was parked across from my house, same color as my neighbor's car, so stupidly I thought he will contact me.

So, there is no limitation as to when an incident can be reported? Its been over 96 hours!!! Also, there are no witnesses..
 
There may be no witnesses but you said your brother admitted to him it was you.
 
Kenny-sauga, It depends on what the policy of your local police happens to be. Did the neighbor file a report with them at the time? If not, by now 3+ days latter they may or may not accept a report and just let your insurance companies have at it.

For the future, policy varies as to whether police will make a report on "fender benders." If they will it is often good for you the "offending driver" to call them since you now have a neutral third party witness as to what it looked like rather then what the unscrupulous owner of a struck car could make it look like.
 
Kenny-sauga said:
Well... Agree on leaving the number. However, the car was parked across from my house, same color as my neighbor's car, so stupidly I thought he will contact me.
You think it should have been obvious to him that it was you so there was no need to leave a note?

If that's true, why do you think your brother was foolish and why is he now beerless?:p
 
hahahaha good one... I looked at it and it was nothing serious. It happens a lot in parking lots. What bro admitted was that around that time frame i went out. Had he said, he don't know...go figure...take car DNA :)
 
COPYCRAIGS.COM said:
Cops will say, why didn't you leave your number on his window, then they will say, why didn't you call it in to a police station or something like that...I hate when sh*t like this happens.





Ah, but he did leave a note. The wind must have blown it away.;)





.
 
So you hit the guy's car and then just assumed he'd know who to come after. Yeah, right. :rolleyes:

Don't try to bullshit us. You were hoping the owner either wouldn't be able to find you or would ignore the damage.

How about taking some responsibility and paying what you owe?
 
What Keebler said. Be a good citizen and pay for your bad driving.
 
If the damage is under a certain amount - 1000 I think, you don't go through insurance. Cops wouldn't even be called if the guy was around.

I would say to the cops that you did leave a note which is how you assumed the guy finally found you. Wind could have blew it away. No charge that way.

Get him to get a full written out quote, take a copy and go to your mechanic with it and see what he says. You have the right to get it fixed at your auto body shop. Not the one he says.

Don't go through insurance.
 
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Rylan said:
...Get him to get a full written out quote, take a copy and go to your mechanic with it and see what he says. You have the right to get it fixed at your auto body shop. Not the one he says.

Don't go through insurance.

He makes the choice (assuming both parties agree it is your fault). If he wants to make any claim via insurance, he can and if you are 100% at fault according to the guidelines, your insurance will be responsible. He will still decide where to take the car under his insurances suggestions.

If he agrees to do things outside insurance, he is doing you "a favour" and can set the amount and the place. Your option here is pay low or go through insurance (and pay later).
 
Actually, with Ontario Insurance the guy's insurance will pay for it but the OP will be deemed responsible (from the HTA aspect).

Don't pull the note/wind BS. That will be construed as "filing a false police report" and comes with a hefty charge. The police have heard it all and will give you all kinds of grief over that BS story. Your best bet is to be honest and if you truly thought it was your neighbour's, then tell them that.

As for not reporting it, and if it ever comes back to you, just say "you thought you didn't have to report anything under $1000.00" (if that is the truth). Be prepared: you may "think" it is minor but a simple little dimple may end up costing a couple of grand to repair.

As Keeb said: you hit the guy's car, PAY FOR DAMAGES you cheap bastard. lol...and btw: get a pair of glasses because you have to be pretty blind to hit a parked car.

BTW: you also have the right (if you're paying for the damages) to send him to THREE repair centres of your choosing and then YOU pick the one.
 
Instead of trying to figure out how to squirm your way out of responsibility for damaging the guy's car, get 3 estimates for repairing the damage and pay the guy. Your rationalizations are silly.
 
I think the report limit is now 3000.00 . there is no charge for not reporting the accident if you and the other party agree to ahndle it yourself. The problem you now have is he went to the police and reported you for a dent and run, its called leverage. Get three quotes check with Maaco for the bottom end quote and get out your check book
 
I don't think the OP is trying NOT to pay. I think, like anyone he wants to avoid insurance, and getting a ticket. Should he have left a note - sure, but it is clear the owner of the parked car found him, so it is not really that big of a deal.
 
Kenny-sauga said:
Well... Agree on leaving the number. However, the car was parked across from my house, same color as my neighbor's car, so stupidly I thought he will contact me.

So, there is no limitation as to when an incident can be reported? Its been over 96 hours!!! Also, there are no witnesses..

C'mon, that's bullshit. You didn't leave a note, you're guilty of asshole-ness. Your comment that your brother "foolishly" admitted it is classy. :rolleyes: