Since we're doing rants, My daughter's car got hit

[cabmandone]

By one of her friends. They had stayed overnight at a friend's house. In the morning they're leaving. Her friend drives a lifted 80's Chevy 1/2 ton. She cut the wheel and hooked the drivers side rear quarter of my daughter's car with the tire and front bumper. So I've got two teenage girls crying.

My daughter gets home and shortly after her friend along with her parents show up to survey the damage. We talk for a while. I ask the parents how they want to proceed. They say they'll take care of it, just get some estimates. I go out the next day, get two estimates, and deliver them. The estimates were $2200 and $2300. Now sh.t gets real!

A week goes by. I hear nothing from the parents so I text to see where things stand. I'm told they're contacting their insurance company. Makes sense since $2200 isn't chump change. So last Monday I get a text that I should contact my insurance company since this happened on private property and there were no witnesses! I'm told now that my daughter was equally at fault because they were both backing at the same time. Never mind that this NEVER came up when the parents were here. Never mind my daughter said the day it happened that her friend hit her car and her friend said she hit my daughter's car. It was equal fault!

I can afford to pay for the damage to my daughter's car but DAMN don't tell me you're going to take care of it then back out because of the cost. What the hell does that teach their daughter. Had the situation been reversed, I would have written a check the day they got the estimate. Now I know that's easy to say but I've been in this situation with my oldest daughter and did just that. I don't want what happened to come between my daughter and her friend. It was an accident. But the mean side of me wants to contact an attorney, spend a little more, and have her parents spend some money on an attorney just for being jackasses. You don't say "I'll take care of it" then back out on your word. I'd have had the car fixed by now if they had said "we think both were at fault". That's not what was said and didn't come up until the insurance company got involved.

Thing that really pisses me off is, this is keeping me up at night not over the money but how the parents have handled this. I hold a deep hatred for people who give their word and then back out.

Rant over

[1990C4S]

I was rear ended once in stop and go traffic. Stupid kid behind me on his phone. He immediately agrees to pay me for the repair.

I get a cheapo repair estimate and it's till $2,000. When he gets the price he says 'talk to my father'. Father says 'I need to see the damage, that sounds like too much money'. I tell him 'No problem, the car is out side my office, come and look, but we aren't negotiating, it's $2,000 or your insurance pays'. Then he refused to look at the damage, and he refused to pay me.

In the end his insurance paid close to $5,000.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by cabmando

Had the situation been reversed, I would have written a check the day they got the estimate. Now I know that's easy to say but I've been in this situation with my oldest daughter and did just that.

Because is feels good to stand up and be a man.
Standing tall, especially in front of your kid, is worth a few bucks.
Good for you!

[KFC911]

What we need is a sticky thread:

Some people truly SUCK - 2021

[Eric 951]

Instead of texting, you should go see the girls parents in person. Not in a combative scenario, just speak with them face to face and replay the entire timeline from start to finish especially what they said and when they said it. People act completely different when they are actually face to face, rather than behind a text, voicemail, or e-mail.

[rfuerst911sc]

I am old school , when I shake someone's hand or give my word that is a contract . Good for you trying to teach your daughter personal character . Sounds like the friends parents may have received advice from someone to fight/ignore the situation . Good luck

[Arizona_928]

I have litigation against gieco for steering me to their preferred shop that is 2.5 hours away from me for which they promptly paid an online estimate for. Mind you the difference is only 700 bucks for a shop that is closer, but they refuse to pay.


Insurance is the biggest racket....

[slow&rusty]

Originally Posted by Arizona_928

Insurance is the biggest racket....

No truer words have been spoken

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Eric 951

Instead of texting, you should go see the girls parents in person. Not in a combative scenario, just speak with them face to face and replay the entire timeline from start to finish especially what they said and when they said it. People act completely different when they are actually face to face, rather than behind a text, voicemail, or e-mail.

I follow ya. I'm going to reach out to them. My only issue is, as I've stated, I hate people that go back on their word. Staying calm while they lie to me isn't going to be an easy thing for me to do. I'm probably better off contacting an attorney and letting them do the talking at this point.

I'm kicking around an uninsured motorist claim for hit and run. I figure this way it gets my insurance company involved in the process. I asked my agent about this and his reply was "but that's not what happened". I said that technically it is. The girl hit my daughter's car and the parents ran away from their responsibility to pay for the damage.

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

I am old school , when I shake someone's hand or give my word that is a contract . Good for you trying to teach your daughter personal character . Sounds like the friends parents may have received advice from someone to fight/ignore the situation . Good luck

Bad advice if their insurance company won't pick up the tab for legal defense though. If they piss me off enough, I'll spend a few thousand more just to teach them a lesson.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Arizona_928

I have litigation against gieco for steering me to their preferred shop that is 2.5 hours away from me for which they promptly paid an online estimate for. Mind you the difference is only 700 bucks for a shop that is closer, but they refuse to pay.


Insurance is the biggest racket....

In Ohio they can't do that. You ultimately have the call on who fixes your car. The insurance company can't make you take the car to the shop that costs less in Ohio.

[PorscheGAL]

My husband was driving my Audi and was rear ended at 70mph and the driver left. I am amazed the car wasn't more damaged and my husband didn't get hurt so thankful. However, it will be another month before I can get it in a shop that is willing to work on it. Didn't think it would be this hard but I have one shop 2 hours away in Charlotte that is willing to work on a car that is not in their automated system.

[Norm K]

Not to defend the other girl's parents, but I suspect they experienced a fair amount of sticker shock when they saw the estimates. I'd wager that most people will underestimate the cost of body and paint work by a factor of three or four. If they have a $500 deductible they probably figured they'd be able to cover the cost of the repair for somewhere near that amount. No need then, to involve the insurance company, right? Then they saw the estimates.

In a likely effort to avoid a confrontation right then and there, they didn't object to the cost, feigning a continuing willingness to take care of the damage. Then of course, they went home and contacted their insurance company for advice.

And here you are.

_

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by rfuerst911sc

I am old school , when I shake someone's hand or give my word that is a contract . Good for you trying to teach your daughter personal character . Sounds like the friends parents may have received advice from someone to fight/ignore the situation . Good luck

Same here and it sucks when someone takes advantage of that to screw you, but I never have to feel ashamed of myself. Good luck cabby. Stay the course.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by Norm K

Not to defend the other girl's parents, but I suspect they experienced a fair amount of sticker shock when they saw the estimates. I'd wager that most people will underestimate the cost of body and paint work by a factor of three or four. If they have a $500 deductible they probably figured they'd be able to cover the cost of the repair for somewhere near that amount. No need then, to involve the insurance company, right? Then they saw the estimates.

In a likely effort to avoid a confrontation right then and there, they didn't object to the cost, feigning a continuing willingness to take care of the damage. Then of course, they went home and contacted their insurance company for advice.

And here you are.

_

I'll guarantee you they got hit with sticker shock. I looked at it and knew it was going to be a minimum of $1500. On the confrontation, they could have just not come over, looked at the car, and accepted responsibility from the start. I would have felt better had they not said "we'll pay for it". I wouldn't be so pissed if they hadn't stood here telling their daughter how she's going to have to work more hours to pay them back. They started out teaching their daughter the right thing and then things went off the rails when it got real and the bill came in. Then it's F that! My kid didn't do anything wrong!

I don't want to bring attorneys into this but if I can get some level of assurance that their insurance company won't cover the cost of an attorney without a claim being filed, I might just contact an attorney just to make them dig some money out of their pocket for this. In talking with my agent, he doesn't think their insurance will cover an attorney if no claim was filed.

[911 Rod]

Here there is not much you can do as it was private property.
I know as my car has been hit twice in front of my office.

[Rikao4]

take a stand..
your daughter will learn few thing from this..
like..
nice folks often finish last...
doing the right thing isn't always pleasant..

Rika

[KFC911]

Get yer daughter's car fixed, write the check, and explain to her that this is a really cheap life lesson on how people and insurance
really suck ...

Don't pet the sweaty stuff either

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

Here there is not much you can do as it was private property.
I know as my car has been hit twice in front of my office.

That's what they're leaning on. And I'm fine with that if they don't accept responsibility and tell me they'll fix the car. To me it's not about what is "legally" right or wrong. At this point it's that they gave me their word they'd fix the damage done to my daughter's car and then ran away from that. Good people just don't do that. I wouldn't care if my insurance gave me an out. I'd pay the damn bill because that's what is right.

I'm going to talk to an attorney and get their take on this. I think I have enough proof to support them claiming responsibility. No reason they'd have the estimates if they hadn't said they'd cover the damages. I know I'll pay more than the 2K to an attorney and there's no guarantee I'll win, but the principle behind all of this is worth fighting for to me.

[1990C4S]

I think your attorney will point you back to an insurance company. The other party will say they were not aware of all the facts when they agreed to pay....

As someone who has spent a great deal of money on lawyers in their lifetime I say this: They suck. Move on.

[ckissick]

A couple years ago a lady pulled out onto the highway right in front of me. I made evasive maneuvers, but hit her car behind the rear wheel. I had almost stopped so the damage was minor. She jumped out and apologized, said it was all her fault, etc.

Next thing I know, her insurance says it's my fault. She told them I rear ended her as she waited to pull out of the side street. How is that possible when the damage to her car is on the side? The final verdict was that it was my fault. My insurance didn't want to waste time challenging it. But they didn't raise my rates either.

I'm amazed how people lie and cheat at every turn. If something is my fault, I own up to it and make it right. Why is that so hard to do?