My first car accident

[Caliga]

I think you made a mistake by not reporting it to your insurance company.  FWIW I was in an 'accident' once, in that I was idling in a parking lot and a dude backed his car into mine.  We both reported it to our insurance companies, and it didn't affect my rate.  I did however get a nice $800 settlement, which I was supposed to use to replace my left rear quarter panel.  I instead fixed the dent with a 2x4 and a rubber mallet.

[Razgovory]

This is how romances start.  At least according to Hollywood.

[Barrister]

You should have blackmailed the chick for trim.

Beeb, where did you get that you shouldn't report a not at fault accident?

Law here is no duty to report an accident <$1000 damages, which is what this sounds like.  In any event reporting an accident really doesn't do much one way or another in terms of a civil claim.

[CountDeMoney]

You should have blackmailed the chick for trim.

Duh.

[Razgovory]

You should have blackmailed the chick for trim.

Duh.

Dguller never learns.

[Habbaku]

I'm just going to assume that you all were disappointed when you got to the end, and found out that I made it out alive.

[CountDeMoney]

By the way, is a deep gouge in a bumper even worth fixing?  Could I just estimate the loss of resale value to my car, and ask for that from the girl?  I already have some minor damage on my car anyway.

Here's what you do:  get an estimate on the bumper, send it to the girl directly so her mom knows you're not railroading her, and tell her you'll accept a check in exchange for a covenant not to sue.  That'll do the trick.

And ask if she's free on Friday.  If not, ask the Mom.

[DGuller]

I got an $850 estimate to fix the rear bumper.  I'm thinking of offering the girl to pay $1,000 to settle everything, and compensate me for the estimate as well as inconvenience.  Is that the right approach?

[Barrister]

I got an $850 estimate to fix the rear bumper.  I'm thinking of offering the girl to pay $1,000 to settle everything, and compensate me for the estimate as well as inconvenience.  Is that the right approach?

No, the right approach is to ask for $850.

If you took this to court they're only going to award you amounts you can show an actual loss for.  Do you have any  other loss?  Have you had to take time off of work?  Any out of pocket expenses?

You don't get squat for "inconvenience".

[Malthus]

I got an $850 estimate to fix the rear bumper.  I'm thinking of offering the girl to pay $1,000 to settle everything, and compensate me for the estimate as well as inconvenience.  Is that the right approach?

Best approach is to document your expenses. Get your estimate in writing, send the girl a copy of that estimate.

[DGuller]

I got an $850 estimate to fix the rear bumper.  I'm thinking of offering the girl to pay $1,000 to settle everything, and compensate me for the estimate as well as inconvenience.  Is that the right approach?

No, the right approach is to ask for $850.

If you took this to court they're only going to award you amounts you can show an actual loss for.  Do you have any  other loss?  Have you had to take time off of work?  Any out of pocket expenses?

You don't get squat for "inconvenience".

Lost half a day of work, and will probably spend some time and money on alternate transportation when actually getting the car fixed. 

And, on top of it, I am doing her a favor by not reporting the accident.  I'm unlikley to lose anything if I just do everything by the book.  The point of settling is that we're settling, not fighting it out.

[DGuller]

Then again, I might just go for $850 if that helps settle things amicably, and chalk up the rest of the costs/inconvenience to "shit happens".

[Barrister]

I got an $850 estimate to fix the rear bumper.  I'm thinking of offering the girl to pay $1,000 to settle everything, and compensate me for the estimate as well as inconvenience.  Is that the right approach?

No, the right approach is to ask for $850.

If you took this to court they're only going to award you amounts you can show an actual loss for.  Do you have any  other loss?  Have you had to take time off of work?  Any out of pocket expenses?

You don't get squat for "inconvenience".

Lost half a day of work, and will probably spend some time and money on alternate transportation when actually getting the car fixed. 

And, on top of it, I am doing her a favor by not reporting the accident.  I'm unlikley to lose anything if I just do everything by the book.  The point of settling is that we're settling, not fighting it out.

If you can document your expenses, then ask for them.

But remember you're also doing yourself a favour by simply resolving this matter in a quick fashion.

And there is something to sending her the $850 estimate and calling it a day, as that might be even quicker.

[Zanza]

You should ask for th $850 + the price for an alternate car while your car is fixed. That's reasonable and seems to be the norm here.

If you want to sell your car at some point in the future, you should fix it. If it is dented, it is quite likely to rust in that spot if you don't fix it.

[Capetan Mihali]

I plowed into some broad in Knoxville and destroyed both of our cars.  She was a law student too.     Just thought you should know.