Someone bashed my car! Again! Advice

[Iaing]

Was dropping something off to a shop that a friend owns in town tonight so parked up outside the shop (not on double yellows) near an entrance to a car park (not blocking the entrance). The street I was parked on has narrow walls.

I was in the shop when I saw this big jeep pulling out of the car park getting very close to my car then yes you guessed it he scraped my front bumper with the side of his jeep as he was turning left. He basically misjudged the distance between my car and his.

I ran out of the shop, he got out of his jeep, acussed me of having my car parked in a pedestrian zone, I replied i was dropping something off. He then threw me his buisiness card, I said I would inspect the damage after washing the car, he drove off after that.

I since have washed the car and the bumper is quite badly scaped. However it turns out the guy is a solicitor. So im quite intimidated and really am not looking forward to calling him either toady or tomorrow.

I really dont want this to go through insurance as that takes ages and I have a high excess which means I will basically have to pay for the repairs myself to recover the cost later (theres no doubt over blame). I also dont want to have more accident history, even though it wasnt my fault. I have two witnesses, he was on his own.

Gutted

As I jave said before I get the feeling im going to have problems getting money out of this guy and I really am not looking forward to ringing him.

[jcscoob]

Get wittnes ASAP !!

pi$h m8 sorry to hear any scoob gettin in a scrape

[jamie_wood]

Iain,

Dont take any S**t from him. Just cause hes a solicitor it cant make him invincible from wright and wrong!!

I would call him in the morning and explain the situation.

Dont threaten him in any way, just be diplomatic and calm.

He will hopefuly offer to pay for the repairs in cash. Tell him you will get a couple of quotes so he can see whats needed and go from there

If all else fails......ask the police for some advice??

[Iaing]

Yeah im gutted, had a really depressing day already today. This just rounded it off.

Am I within my rights to say I dont want to put it through insurance? I cant see it being more than £100 to fix max. The guy is a partner for peterkins solicitors in Aberdeen.

The way im feeling at the moment I just want to go get it fixed and pay for it myself.

[jamie_wood]

Dont be daft Iain.

Hes at fault here!!

If it was me I would nip round and see him face to face and offer to keep it out of the hands of his insurer by him paying for the repirs in person.

Like I said, be friendly and just keep it simple.

Tell hi it will be around £100 to repair it and you will be happy for him to pick up the tab.

Or you use your witness and involve the police

Simple

[chris_c201]

Thats sh*t mate, as previously said i would give him a call tomorrow morning, explain the damage and that you think it will be in the region of £100 to fix and as if he is happy for you to get some quotes.....

Hope it gets sorted ASAP...

[Iaing]

Yeah I know, its just less hassle .

[vicki]

Don't feel intimidated, he is in the wrong and he left the scene of the accident.

I would write down what I am going to say before I phone and have answers ready for whatever he might say to you. You might have butterflies but deep breaths and stay calm and positive.

It will be fine.

[jamie_wood]

When some donkey hit my first scooby when Ally was driving it I hunted him down like a dog!!

He rumped up the back of it and bashed the bumper etc. Blamed ally for it and gave her greif!!!

She got his name and number from him and left the scene.

She came into my work and told me. I in turn went BUSH!!!

Didnt know where he lived but had his number.

Matched code to Dunblane and name to street and also house number

Got in car and arrived at said addess.

Man wouldnt come out of house untill I had almost shattered his door knocker!!!!

Problem was sorted within five minutes.

Face to face is the answer

Take no prisoners!!!

Its yer pride and joy

[Iaing]

My plan is to go get a quote first thing then give him a bell after

Iain

[gus the bus]

<< My plan is to go get a quote first thing then give him a bell after

Iain >>

He canny argue with you on that Iain. Keep it right, keep it simple but take no Sh*te.Solicitor or not, its a road traffic offence.

Gus

[Iaing]

Cheers guys, i will keep you posted.

Iain

[andyr]

If he feels you aren't trying to take him for a ride by telling him it will cost over the odds of what he expects it to cost to repair then he might be more liable to cough up. If it's a fairly simple repair job then see if you can get a quote from somewhere that is not too expensive : if what he thinks is just a little scratch in a bumper is going to cost £500 then he might tell you to bu66er off but it it costs, say £130 then he's more likely to reach into his wallet ?

[Fee]

Did you get it sorted Iain?

[craig mac]

Iain

TELL THE FANNY YOU HAVE A WITNESS WHEN YOU CALL.

I WAS YOUR WITNESS, WE HAVE PHOTO'S OF WHERE THIS TOOK PLACE, AND WHERE YOUR CAR WAS PARKED WHEN IT HAPPENED.

I WILL COME TO THE FACE UP IF YOU LIKE

Drop me a PM, As everyone says...he is wrong

Craig

[Iaing]

Well drove about on Saturday morning trying to get a quote. It seems bodyshops are shut at weekends.

To be honest it doesnt look as bad as I first thought but still needs fixing (after seeing it in the daylight)

I will try and get a quote this week, although due to work committments, its going to be a struggle. Will confront the guy after that

Iain

[weeb]

sorry to hear this m8!

want me to send the boys round???

[chris_c201]

I would prolly recommend giving him a call to advise what you are doing as if he says he won't go down the route of paying for it you really want to kick off the lengthy insurance process ASAP..

Don't let him away with it!

[Fonzy]

What a bummer.

If your after a cheap fix I'd try Kemnay Autobody for a quote, If Insurances paying go for Kinghorn.

Good luck.

[Iaing]

Went to a small bodyshop near my flat this lunchtime, got a quote of £140.

The guy reccomended that the whole bumper be sprayed.

Does that sound reasonable?

Iain

[Fonzy]

Not bad I'd say. But I'd get a few more just to be sure.

I got my front splitter done on the cheep about 18 months ago. The original paint on the bumper is fine but the splitter is needing painted again due to stone chips.

Get what you pay for really.

[lessels]

bummer mate,have you got any witnesses? and if so or not,does he know??better politely telling him you have a quote to fix and if he wants to cough up without going through insurance,he can otherwise get the ball rolling!!if he is a soliciter he shouldn't be short of a bob or 2 anyways.hope you get it sorted ok

[Iaing]

Yeah I have got a least one witness possibly two. I kind of know both of them, so getting them to make a statement (should I have to) wont be a problem.

Am going to give the guy a buzz or drop him an e-mail tomorrow

[Croc]

any luck? - hope you got some joy out of him

anyway, he will know he is in the wrong, you should let him know what is happening asap, and hopefully enough just to say you have two indeendent witnesses, rather than needing to get their actual statements (although it always helps)

if he is a partner it is likely to be a firm car, and therefore he will not even care, and the nubmers you are talking about will be below the level of excess of the firm

important things

1. make sure he knows you know he is in wrong

2. can prove it with your witnesses to your OK parking and his clumsy driving

3. repair bill is reasonable, and if he settles it, then OK

4. if he is worried you are trying to fleece him, he might restist paying you cash - in which case, he might offer to pay the bill, or pay you on confirmation of receipted invoice. If this, then make sure he confirms in writing that he will pay monies (and signed by him too, not just an e-mail) then you should be OK to organise.

good luck

[herbie]

£140 quote for fixing the bumper sounds about the going the going rate. The whole bumper will need to be resprayed. Keep us updated