Hit a car 3 days ago

[Xbox2202]

So I was pulling into the gas station 3 days ago with my little brother. I had something other than driving on my mind and was talking to my little brother so I hit a car. It was parked, and I was parking beside it, so I wasn't going too fast.

It didn't do any damage to my Jeep, but it did some to their car. It put a dent about 2 inches by 4 inches just under the tailight, and two scrapes on the rear bumper. One is about the size of an orange, and the other is about half that size. Their car is a Mercury Mystique, and it looks like an early to mid 90's model.

Anyway, the husband was in the gas station and came out to see what happened. He saw it, and saw that I'm young (17) and said not to worry about it. His wife said no, that they need to turn it into the insurance, but he calmed her down. He told me that I can pay it off so it won't kill me on insurance.

Anyway, that was 3 days ago. My mom said that I can't get a ticket because they didn't report it before 24 hours. So, what is the time limit they have before they report it to insurance?

[MagicRat]

First of all, you cannot get a ticket from the cops because gas stations are private property. The traffic laws do not apply to private property.

Even if they did go to the cops, the cops could not fill out an accident report. Now, this is the important thing. Without an accident report, there is no way your insurance will know about this, unless you tell them. So do not let these people intimidate you with stories about your insurace rates going up. They will not go up unless you tell your company about this.

If they want to get you to pay, they will have to sue you in civil court.
Do they have all your information, name address etc? If not they cannot sue.
If the sue, they will have to hire a lawyer, get witnesses etc. Do you think they got the names of witnesses on scene at the time?
If they did not, then it is unlikely they will sue successfully, since the $$$ to sue is more than the cost of the repair.

The ethical thing to do is to pay for the damage.
However, in my experience, people with older cars usually get several bodyshop quotes, then present the highest one to you to pay, then keep the money and never get their car fixed. They will make money from your honesty.

However, if you choose not to pay the damage, they can make a not-at-fault claim with their own insurance co, or not bother to fix it. Without a lwasuit they cannot come after you.

IMHO, if you are feeling morally obligated to pay, offer them a flat sum of money, about $200 or so, cash. Tell them to take it or leave it. If they want moere, let them sue.

[Xbox2202]

I called them yesterday and they said that the bodyshop quoted them at 800. I'm doing the morally right thing and paying for it because I don't want it to come back on me.

That sucks, because that's over a month and a half of pay for me that I'm going to have to borrow from my parents. I only have about 200 cash right now.

[clawhammer]

Ask them for more than 1 qoute from body shops. $800 sounds like a lot.

[drdisque]

also, you can get traffic tickets on private property as long as it has unrestricted access to a roadway (this includes most parking lots)

[Igovert500]

800 sounds a bit much for one panel's worth of repair. Was there paint damage or just dents. In other words, did it scratch too, or just dent it inwards. If only dents, then that "DINGKING" dent remover thing may work. If paint damage, then they can get high quotes. I feel for you though, it's nice to see someone who isn't a dick and does the right thing. Best of luck.

[drunken monkey]

er... what's stopping you from getting your own quote/estimate?

[imtheoneandonlyD]

yeah 800 sounds high for that small of a dent. I had 3k in body damage to my truck and that was for four huge dents and paint damage. All of those were bigger than the one you described. I would go get a quote on your own.