Hey everyone. This is sort've a continuation of my other thread entitled "Do body shops know that there is an SE model?"

Anyway, to make a long story short, my neighbor hit my car that was parked out in the street. He scuffed up the the passenger side of the front bumper, the headlight and some of the fender. It's bad enough on the bumper that there's all black marks and some of the paint is missing.

So I filed a police report and whatnot, but my neighbor would prefer we don't get the insurance companies involved. He said to ask several body shops for an estimate and whatever it costs, he'll pay for it. Should I take this offer or go through insurance?

I honestly dont' know how much this is going to run. I believe I'm definitely going to need a new bumper (not the SE lip though, but should I request a new one too? My current one is a little messed up from hitting a curb and could use a repainting). Am I going to need a whole new headlight? Just the housing was damaged. Is it a separate piece from lenses? And I don't know what to do about my fender. It's just scratched up.

Some suggestions, opinions would be great. Thanks for reading!

 

I think your neighbor will quickly change his mind once he sees the repair estimate. Save yourself the trouble and let insurance handle it.

 

try to work with him, if he down to give you the money to fix it just get a total and tell him...

 

Let me see some pictures.. I got a EVO IX bumper Cover, a fender and a Evo IX headlight. But after seeing what's all going on.. we can only tell then.

 

I will take one in the morning....but I would prefer to get new parts. Aside from my SE lip being a little dinged up, the bumper itself was in perfect condition.

 

GO through your insurance.




First off, silver is a difficult color to match. You want your car to go to the BEST shop in your area to match the paint well.

When the body shop gets your VIN, there is a detailed description of your car, options as well.


Lastly, it doesn't matter. It is your insurances job to have the car look EXACTLY the way it was prior to the accident.

 

if you like/trust your neighbor and he would rather do it personally I see nothing wrong with that

not like he's going to pack up and move

find a shop you trust..get a quote and be done with it...no reason to get a new se lip if yours is fine unless you want to scumbag your neighbor and sell the extra for some pocket cash

 

well by working with him i guess it would benefit both of you, If you can trust him ( cause some people say well its too much where you want to get it done, you get it done at the mickey mouse body shop for half the price.) but it will keep your insurance from going up and his also.

 

you don't have to go through insurance. If he agrees to pay for the all damages that he caused get the quotes and have him pay. If he refuses you can sue him and he will never be insured by any insurance company in NJ. A NJ cop explained that to me when a complete stranger rear ended me and we decided not to go through insurance.

 

Just out of curiosity. How bad is the damage to the bumper?

 

I would go through insurance unless you are SURE he is going to cover it. A salesman at my work was hit by his neighbor and said he would take care of it. The guy backed out and there is basically nothing he can do now since the cops weren't involved and it wasn't reported to the insurance company. There is no way to prove it was his fault. But like revvin9k said, they will run the VIN# to find out exactly what they need for your car.

 

he filed a police report...the incident was recorded

what you said is irrelevant

 

just depends on how well you get along with your neighbor. if you like them, work with them. if not, f***'em.

 

take some picture of the car

 

Get the insurance info, but dont 'use it' unless he comes good. A neighbor hit my dad 1/2 a block from the house, clearly her fault. He didn't file the police report, they tried to settle amicably and she never came through on the bill. Had to then live with her in the neighborhood for years and there was ALWAYS bad blood. Its not worth it .. get the insurance info, if he comes good, don't use it.

edit: im 30 :P that was a long time ago.