Wife just got rear ended and didn't get other driver's info!!!

[Rick Lee]

How screwed are we?

This happened 15 min. ago in front of our house. I was at my desk, literally 100' away, didn't hear or see anything. Instead of calling me to come out, wife stopped briefly and then continued on to work. She called me while further along her way to work (hopefully using hands free), said teenage neighbor rear ended her pristine 328i and damaged the rear bumper cover badly. She said they exchanged first names and phone numbers and nothing else. Didn't take photos, didn't take down DL or insurance info. I don't know this neighbor. I think I've seen her and recognize her car, but don't know her or her parents. I am beyond irate, but don't want to make my wife any more upset. Still, I had to tell her what she should have done, in case it happens again. It's happened to me four times in four years and I don't drive as much as she does and I'm very attentive at all times. I told her from on, if this happens again, forget about getting where you're going, take photos of everything, all documents, all damage and then email them to me before continuing on. We have nothing but a first name and phone number, maybe an address to tell the insurance company and are betting everything on this kid being honest and/or having honest parents AND insurance.

Is there anything else she or I can do right now?

[GH85Carrera]

A forehead slap like Homer Simpson DOH!!

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Hire a process server to track them down?



In all seriousness, does AZ have a mandatory accident report requirement? CA certainly did and I believe most other states do as well over certain dollar values or if there's any injury (fortunately not here from the sound of it). If you make the report and Party #2 does not, well... it could be legal trouble for them down the road and probably ammunition in court if it ever came to that.

No witnesses?

If not and the kid plays dumb it might end up having to go in as a hit-and-run claim.

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

It's happened to me four times in four years and I don't drive as much as she does and I'm very attentive at all times.

First, if you didn't have bad luck, you'd have no luck at all!

Second, I'm not sure what she did that was so wrong. Your title says "she didn't get the other driver's info" but in your post you say she got his name and telephone number, and that she recognizes him as a child of a neighbor.

Why not call the number or go by the house, get their insurance information and proceed?

[Rick Lee]

Other driver was a female and Mrs. Lee only got the girl's first name. For all we know, she could be pretty crafty and is the neighbor's son's GF, leaving after spending the night while the folks are away. I didn't see anything, so I'm just going on her garbled description. If it's the house, the car and the person I think it is, then we'll probably be ok. I feel silly calling USAA now because I didn't see anything and have nothing but a first name and a phone number. When my wife gets home and shows me the house from which the other car came, then I'll have a firm address.

Anyway, IF this is the only damage, it looks like we need a new bumper cover at worst.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

Hire a process server to track them down?

That would be funny, except that, in my experience, process servers lie through their teeth and are willing sign their names on affidavits to such.

[Zeke]

Basically, at least in CA, that would be considered a hit and run. It is imperative to exchange all info at the scene. If the girl is smart, she will acquiesce at that slightest hint of your trying to contact her.

You might also consult with the local PD on how to proceed just for the sake of it. They might say they will handle it now or wait until you decide to file a complaint. Don't be so excitable.

What is it with you and bumpers?

[Rick Lee]

I will confess to being legally at fault in one of the four fender benders I was in within a four year span. It was a staged accident and a guy in the back seat of the car I hit called my insurance co. and claimed injury less than 10 min. after he told me he was fine. They denied his claim. Two of the other three times, I was boxed in at a red light, could see it coming and couldn't move. The last time, I saw it coming, but had pedestrians behind me, couldn't back up and the guy backing into my 993 said he couldn't hear me leaning on my horn.

Mrs. Lee, however, is an inattentive driver. And while she may not have been at fault in this one, I'll bet it's something I would have seen coming and been able to avoid. She says she was hit after backing out of our driveway, was at rest and was shifting from R into D. Maybe she couldn't have avoided it. But then I am NEVER in a hurry to back out of our driveway. There are a lot of kids, garbage containers, toys and other things to avoid, so I am extra careful around the neighborhood.

[T77911S]

my brother got into a wreck about 10 years ago with a dump truck. they even called the police, but my brother, against me advise, did not want to do an insurance claim, it was the other guys fault, but instead, had the guy sign something saying he was resposible, blah, blah blah. in the end, the guy never paid anything.

are we married to the same woman?? oh wait, mine is the one that runs into everyone else.

[pete3799]

Punch in the phone number here
Free Reverse Phone Number Lookup | WhitePages

[Head416]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

...
Anyway, IF this is the only damage, it looks like we need a new bumper cover at worst.

That'll buff out... seriously! Probably thousands to replace the bumper cover, as ridiculous as that sounds. I would buff it out as well as I could and use the insurance check for spoons.

If she lives a couple doors down you should be fine with giving USAA her name, address, and phone number. You can get the license plate number too next time you see the car.

[Noah930]

I don't know how AZ laws work, but if they're anything like here in CA you'll just be out the deductible. If your insurance company can track down the girl through that name/phone # she gave, you won't have to pay the deductible, as her car's insurance policy will cover your repairs.

Had something similar happen to the wife. She was driving along at around 35-40 mph. Got tagged out of the blue from behind. She pulled into a side street (WTF?), and the other car kept going. By the time she three-point turned, obviously the other car was gone.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Before freaking out, just call the girl. Maybe she'll actually be a decent honest person and it won't be an issue.

[Rot 911]

Here is something similar but with a twist. My wife takes our daughter and her friend to the movies. Comes out and sees a business card tucked under her windshield. It was from a guy who accidentally backed into her Mini. There was no one around and it was dark. He wanted to make sure she knew who had done it and how to contact him. Hardly even any damage. Just a scuff. There are still some honest people left in the world.

[Rikao4]

just don't do the postal when she comes home..
figure she's dreading that more than anything..

Rika

[jyl]

My wife did a similar thing. Guy backs into her in a parking lot, she inspects the plastic bumper cover and decides there is no damage, and doesn't get any information. Turns out the plastic is cracked, one of these days we will buy a plastic cover from a scrapyard, have it painted, I'll install it, cost maybe $500. Kind of irritating, but I don't get too worked up about it.

It's not like I haven't cost us many times more money than that in the past, either via ill-advised purchases, poor career decisions, etc.

[Rick Lee]

I'm only worked up about it because I have no idea if the other car is damaged and can't go by what my wife says. She can't even tell me what kind of car it was. I'm not real worried about this girl having given a bogus phone number or not actually being our neighbor. But this could have been dealt with properly in less than five min., had my wife not been in such a hurry to get to work. She is late for everything, is always in a hurry because of it (usually because she has to change costumes a few times before settling on one and going to work) and I fear she won't learn her lesson until she does some real damage. It's especially frustrating because it would have taken her less time to come into the house to get me than to find my number on the recent calls screen on her phone and hit redial, which she only did after she and the other driver had parted ways. There is simply no reason for this BS and it's going to be a headache now even if it all works out.

[speeder]

Ahh, that doesn't look like your wife got "rear-ended". It looks more like she backed out into traffic and the other driver had to swerve to avoid a full-on collision, glancing your rear bumper. Forget about whether the other driver is an honest person, ask your wife if that is indeed what happened; did she back out w/o looking and someone had to lock-up their brakes before colliding with her?

That is not "rear-ended" damage on your car.

[speeder]

OK, just read your post # 17.

Yep, that's what happened.

[rnln]

I have had worse damages than this and body shops around here repair them very well. I don't see the need of replace, but still cost some $.

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

Other driver was a female and Mrs. Lee only got the girl's first name. For all we know, she could be pretty crafty and is the neighbor's son's GF, leaving after spending the night while the folks are away. I didn't see anything, so I'm just going on her garbled description. If it's the house, the car and the person I think it is, then we'll probably be ok. I feel silly calling USAA now because I didn't see anything and have nothing but a first name and a phone number. When my wife gets home and shows me the house from which the other car came, then I'll have a firm address.

Anyway, IF this is the only damage, it looks like we need a new bumper cover at worst.