errr...MY first accident today...

[sal612]

Oh gosh, I don't know if this is the right place to post this, but I got into a reallllly minor rear-end collision with a RAV-4 or something of that sort on the freeway. Since I've only been driving for like 5 months, I had no idea what to do....they accelerated after traffic cleared up and as I went up to 10-12 mph, they slammed the brake and I braked as sensibly as I could and tapped their rear on the bottom of the spare tire thingy at like 4-5 mph. My car is a '86 corolla so the hood was hella weak and it was bent but the guys car had like paint scratch on the bottom...just a little over an inch in width and little less than an inch in height. Shit...

I know I'm wrong because I rear-ended that car but with the minimal damage on the other car, how much $ would be involved?

Ugh...I'm feeling poopy.

[angel nympho]

HA, newbie. Just ONE accident? Shit, in one year, I got in 3 accidents. 2 in one week. ;D

[ren28]

No insurance involved? If the guy's bumper is just missing some paint, it can be repainted but many people know that repainting a bumper is never the same. The paint tends to crack and come off much more easily than the original bumper.

If it's not the bumper, the rear body panel might need to be painted... and the cost can vary between shops by quite a bit. People are not stupid so they go to a good shop that ends up being $$$. Hopefully it will not be more than $300... but you never know!

[sal612]

Yes we both have insurance.

The person didn't speak english very well, so I will go on a limb and say maybe they're not that familiar with the stuff...but that's very prejudice of me. No bumper contact, maybe..but his SUV was higher off the ground than my corolla so my hood hit the bottom of his spare tire thingy...when i saw it...i don't think there's more than a small dent. :(

[ren28]

I don't know how much the spare tire cover costs. I'm assuming it's the body colored one that you hit. That's good news since that MUST cost less than having to repair paint on the body of the car.

If the person you hit was really nice, he/she would just let it slide. There is a chance...

[ren28]

Damn it. I forgot to mention this and I already edited my post. The accident was very minor. There was no damages done to any person so the bottom line is don't sweat it! Just stay back a little farther next time.

[sal612]

Well the paint scratch is damage right? And MAYBE a small dent that I could not have seen that they might have noticed upon further inspection...

Haha my parents said our car is so old, the damage we recieved we'll just leave it. It's 16 yrs old...screw it haha....I'm just afraid insurance rates will go up!

[ren28]

It's no use to suffer over what might be. Just see what they want to do and go from there.

[ism]

Yeah, usually when the cost to repair your own car doesn't go over the cost of the premium it's not worth it. Better to leave it as-is or deal with it out-of-pocket. If the other guy is amenable, it might be wise to do the same (i.e., not deal with insurance companies) but get it down on paper (i.e., a contract).

Honestly, if that's your first accident, you should be proud it was so minor and not super-boneheaded. It wasn't a stationary object. =) Rear-end collisions happen all the time.

[Hanuman]

Don't report it to the insurance company if the other guy does try to claim damages. You'll deductable probably won't cover it anyway (I'm assuming yours is around $500), in the long run, it'll cost you more in higher premiums. If it comes to that, ask him to allow you to get an estimate at a garage of your choice (that's your legal right) and pay out of pocket.

You got off lucky, no injuries and no deaths, it's a bargain.

[sal612]

Cool...thanks guys. :)

[mrazntre]

Originally posted by ism@Dec 4 2002, 10:31 AM
Honestly, if that's your first accident, you should be proud it was so minor and not super-boneheaded. It wasn't a stationary object. =) Rear-end collisions happen all the time.
Does someone have a story to tell ?

[sal612]

lol...stationary...hmmmm. :rolleyes:

[applehead]

WOW. you people.

i didn't know there were this many forums about CARS.

[mrazntre]

Originally posted by applehead@Dec 5 2002, 04:47 AM
WOW. you people.

i didn't know there were this many forums about CARS.
yeah well...


cars are a far better subject to discuss than material things such as flowers, rings, diamonds, and nude pics.


Imma be watching you in my forum. :blink:

[sal612]

haha...

Wait, cars are material things though.

[mrazntre]

Originally posted by sal612@Dec 5 2002, 06:06 AM
haha...

Wait, cars are material things though.
no.


they are living, breathing, extensions of ourselves.

[applehead]

Originally posted by mrazntre@Dec 4 2002, 10:23 PM

no.


they are living, breathing, extensions of ourselves.
wow.
sir, you're too in love with your car..

[wylin]

yeh cept tre's is an old junker or a new alien looking thing so wat is more like tre?

[mrazntre]

Originally posted by wylin@Dec 5 2002, 04:56 PM
yeh cept tre's is an old junker or a new alien looking thing so wat is more like tre?
and will's is an old junker with whack ass rims

[wylin]

wack ass rims that cost more then sy's shit bucket

[mrazntre]

whack ass rims on will's assmobile that cost more than he should have paid for