Driver hit my bumper today - Deep scrapes

W

waxacura

New member
Unlicensed, uninsured driver ran into my lane on a 2 lane turn and scratched up the side, corner, and rear of my bumper. Scratches are deep down to the black plastic. I hate the idea of a repaint on my bumper, it was mint as new. I'm guessing it's gonna cost at least $2-300 to repair and paint and they were telling me I could just buff it out! Scratches are almost 1/4" deep and some are that wide or wider and most are 5-6" long.



If I'd had my car more than 6 weeks I wouldn't care as much but it's in new condition. I'm getting estimates tomorrow. I don't like having repaint on my car.

Just venting, and frustrated that people get away with driving with no ins.
 
waxacura said:
Unlicensed, uninsured driver ran into my lane on a 2 lane turn and scratched up the side, corner, and rear of my bumper. Scratches are deep down to the black plastic. I hate the idea of a repaint on my bumper, it was mint as new. I'm guessing it's gonna cost at least $2-300 to repair and paint and they were telling me I could just buff it out! Scratches are almost 1/4" deep and some are that wide or wider and most are 5-6" long.



If I'd had my car more than 6 weeks I wouldn't care as much but it's in new condition. I'm getting estimates tomorrow. I don't like having repaint on my car.

Just venting, and frustrated that people get away with driving with no ins.
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Unlicensed and uninsured? What are the laws in Texas? This guy should have been arrested.



From your description, Id say your estimate is way low. I'd bet you are closer to $1,000.
 
Iwouldn't care if my car was 6 weeks old or 60 years old, I would be pissed the same either way. People who do stuff like that should be shot and urinated on. Not only for that but for being a danger on the road. It's obvious he's reckless or he wouldn't have lost his license. Take solace in the fact that it wasn't a more serious collision and you weren't hurt.



It's like the idiots who tailgate about a foot behind you in the highway. At that point I wish I was driving a hummer so I could slam on the brakes and watch their front end fold like an accordian. :spot
 
Well it was actually a lady who spoke only Spanish. Luckily her son was with her, he seemed about 15-16. He spoke English.

I don't wish violence on others but yea I was po'd, mainly because she had no insurance and I could tel lshe was not a good driver just following her to pull over. I don't think the police would even have come for scrapes on my bumper, really.

They said they'd pay and I got the name and address, but all I can do is try. I hope $1000 is wrong, I'd have to use my insurance for that, damm. Even a brand new bumper cover and repaint is less than $1000?

Hope tomorrow is a better day.
 
Definately $1000 or more including the bumper cover anywhere from $300-$600 just for a repaint. If the cover is scored they will have to replace it because you really can't level out bumpers with filler as they constantly bend and move.



Don't worry too much about it going to your insurance. Contact them and let them handle it. They will either pay for it out of your uninsured motorist coverage which is no-fault or they will sue her for the balance.



In the future though, always call the police. I cannot even imagine being in a situation with an unlicenced uninsured driver hitting my car and not calling the police. Of course they would have come, thats their job. You actually may have problems with your insurance because you didn't call the police...
 
It doesn't matter if she's Spanish or a Martian. If she was unlicensed I would of called the police right there, she has no right to be on the road. Today it was you in a minor collision but tomorrow she could run someone over. Remember she could be driving in a school zone next. I don't want to preach but I think you're somewhat obligated IMHO to report her to the authorities. That car is a 3000lb battering ram in her hands.



As for the damage to the bumper try to get some pics up here so some Autopians here might be able to give their opinion on it.
 
Yeah, the way things are today its best to phone la polizia no matter. My neighbor recently got hit by an uninsured motorist and he tried to flee so he followed the guy and called the police. The sad part of it all was that the guy who hit him lives in the same community and only a couple of blocks away. It sucks that your new vehicle has damage but just shop around and find the best body shop you can. They will take care of you.



EDIT: I totally agree with Dan. Just a month or two ago a firefighter responding to a car fire on the side of the road was hit and killed by another motorist. She fled because she was unlicensed and uninsured.
 
I guess I screwed up, but I didn't have a cellphone and I felt like they would drive off if I went looking for a phone. There were no stores or houses right around there. I had no idea it would cost that much, maybe they will pay. I'm getting an estimate tomorrow.
 
Well here it is, looks worse in pix, may not be as deep as I said but it's into the plastic.



scrapes1.JPG




scrapes2.JPG
 
Pick up the phone and report it now. Tell them the same thing you told us as to why you didn't report it at the time. The law here requires you to report accidents that may cost over a $1,000 bucks to fix. I suspect the law is similar in Texas. As mentioned before, failure to report it may cause you problems getting your insurance to pay.
 
waxacura said:
$430-460 to repair and repaint. $550-625 to replace and repaint.
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Yeah, I figured $1000 was on the high side. They had to replace the rear quarter, bumper and slider on my '00 Odyssey and with refinishing and new parts and what not it was only $2600 and that was done at a Honda dealer.



I would go with the new bumper if I were you.



Chris
 
I just had similar damage to my bumper where I park my car near my office. It's a 2001 Saab 9-5 and they scuffed the bumper on the left front corner. I received an estimate at a Mercedes/Honda dealer and it came to $825 as the bumper cover ($ 500) had to be replaced. At least on mine, the bumper has a grain to it on a strip down the middle, so you can't sand the scratches out of it.

So you are going to be in that ballpark for replacement. This would be the high end estimate.
 
Thanks, I'll probably just replace the bumper cover instead of repair it since the car is mint and under 9500 miles.
 
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