Involved in a very minor accident. What to do?

[Arizona_928]

At Mickey D's to get some ice, and the car behind me bumps me while ordering... ****, ok. Look at the damage, and a very small scratch at the rear bumper. Maybe 2-3mm. Get his info, and get home. It's definitely not insurance claim big, nor even at deductible. I wouldn't care if it was my DD as that car has been hit so many times, but on the new MK6...

Kid offered to give some cash tomorrow. I kinda feel like a slipping Jimmy if I take him up on the offer.

[wdfifteen]

Kid ran into and damaged your car he should pay to fix it.

[Don Ro]

I was educated in the upper Midwest, help a naive farm boy...what does "I kinda feel like a slipping Jimmy..." mean?
.
I'd say, if it bothers you enough to post it here, don't deny him his opportunity to embrace that wonderful sense of responsibility.

[ckelly78z]

If you take the cash, will you apply it towards fixing the scratch, or will you pocket the money. I don't think there should be any guilt if you end up fixing the car.

[Otter74]

I'd probably accept his offer for something so minor rather than make a claim against his insurance.

When I was 20ish I was inattentive once and bumped a pickup at a light while driving my mom's car. No damage to mom's car, slightly bent step bumper on the pickup. She would have let it slide but it was her boss's truck. He replaced the bumper, I wrote him a check to pay for it. Simple!

[dad911]

Depends on the circumstances. If he was truly sorry, and driving a beater, I'd cut him some slack. If he was driving daddy's benz, and a dick, take the cash.

New driver, siht happens. Some people cut me slack when I was 17. and I pay it forward now.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

He hit your car, damaged your car and is offering you cash to fix it. What's the problem? It sounds like it's being handled the right way. I'd figure out a fair value for the fix-up, collect, accept his apology, shake hands and go on with life.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by dad911

Depends on the circumstances. If he was truly sorry, and driving a beater, I'd cut him some slack. If he was driving daddy's benz, and a dick, take the cash.

New driver, siht happens. Some people cut me slack when I was 17. and I pay it forward now.

I agree. My response in a circumstance like this is directly tied to how the individual handles it.

Now, if he was texting or on the phone, I'm thinking my neck is starting to throb

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Don Ro

I was educated in the upper Midwest, help a naive farm boy...what does "I kinda feel like a slipping Jimmy..." mean?
.

Slippin' Jimmy was a con artist on the TV show Better Call Saul.

[GH85Carrera]

About 18 or 19 years ago on a snowy day I was sitting at a left turn red light. Some kid in a Honda started honking as he was sliding along and hit me in the rear. There was no place I could go and all I could do was hold on. It folded up his Honda and destroyed the radiator and his car was no longer drivable. It put a tiny little dent in the chrome big old bumper of the El Camino. It was snowing and COLD and I really did not feel like sticking around. This was before most people had cell phones so the kid jumped into my car and I drove across the street to a gas station so he could call the cops. They were not coming out to minor wrecks, just injury wrecks due to the snow. He called a tow truck and gave me his contact information.

The tiny dent is still on the bumper and there is no rust or other damage from the crash. I do love those big ol bumpers. Some day I will get those bumpers re-chromed and get it fixed. Maybe in another 15 or 20 years.

You will have to decide if that damage is really enough to even mess with. Do you park on the streets? When I was in San Francisco walking around I noticed almost every single car had bumpers that looked like everyone parks using the braille system.

[Don Ro]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Slippin' Jimmy was a con artist on the TV show Better Call Saul.

I see, TY.
I recorded a few episodes of Better Call Saul as I enjoyed all the episodes of Breaking Bad and his character.
Never got around to watching BCS.

[1990C4S]

Episode Uno...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmhNLbxUJr4

[herr_oberst]

I've had this happen before.

My take?
Examine the situation.
Is he a 25 year old kid driving a beater with a couple of carseats strapped in?
If this is the case, I'd let it go.

Was he polite, apologetic, willing to make things right, or was he kind of a dick? Use your best judgement.

[Baz]

[LeeH]

Originally Posted by Baz

Yeah, I was wondering if this happened last night if Levi's assessment would be the same once it was seen in daylight. If it's truly a 2mm anything, I probably wouldn't worry about it. The next bug that hits the front bumper or trip across town on I-10 (that's landscaped with gravel) will probably result in worse damage.

Sometimes I'm tempted to bring in a pro to airbrush the few rock chips and scratches that are on my Audi... but there will always be another. Trying to keep a car perfect is an exercise in futility. It took me years to get that through my head, but I've been a lot happier guy since I did.

[Steve Carlton]

What's a MK6?

2-3mm sounds like nothing- maybe some touch-up paint?

See if you can get him to put in a couple of hours or more at an animal shelter or something.

[Steve Carlton]

And stop bothering McDonalds for ice...

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by LeeH

but there will always be another. Trying to keep a car perfect is an exercise in futility. It took me years to get that through my head, but I've been a lot happier guy since I did.

That's what I figured. I'll let it go and buy a lotto ticket.

I 100% agree with Seahawk. He was apologetic, and sincere. If his mentality was different, well... the last person to hit me still has 100k in medical debt calling them.

[Steve Carlton]

Your rear bumper might look worse after repainting a 2-3mm scratch vs just touch-up paint.