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Hit & Run - Soooo angry (and a question)

E

Emeraldfan

Shiny_Rock
Joined
Apr 27, 2006
Messages
299
My husband, brother, and I are on vacation and our rental car was just backed into. :angryfire: :angryfire: :angryfire: Someone drove their front license plate and bumper into our back bumper and then tore a 6in. hole in it trying to get their car unattached (so obviously the person knew they hit us). The person did not leave a note and now we will be stuck paying it. I am so angry I could scream. We didn't get insurance so we'll have to use our own and our deductible is $1k.

What makes this even worse for me is we invited my brother along on this trip for free (we paid for the hotel, car, food, etc.) and we were only going out to a place my husband and I were already because my brother insisted upon seeing the area (and no, by brother is extremely stingy and won't be putting any money towards it). Now I really wish we just stayed at the hotel today. :(( :(( :(( :((

So, question, if you hit a car and no one was around would you leave a note?
 
Yes.

FI and I parked at his campus one morning - noone else around. The space was small and he miscalculated and swiped at the car next to him (a mercedes, don't know anything else). Left a scratch about 4" long and a little one right under it about 2" long.

We left a note, because we're just too good for our own good. He came back with a bill for almost $2000 (yes, $2000!!) for those two blasted scratches... :angryfire:

People don't always get what they deserve, and doing the right thing can bite you in the arse hard


Sorry you're having this experience :(sad He or she certainly should have left a note, it sounds like some serious damage was done.
 
Any chance you paid with a credit card? I know Amex at least covers things like rental cars...
 
I don't think it's your brothers issue to have to give you any money. He didn't make you not take insurance on the car, now did he?


It sucks. But it could be worse... you could've been IN the car and seriously injured.
 
Thanks Yissie! That was really nice of you to leave a note and I'm sorry the Mercedes owner took advantage of your honesty. We've left a note before as well but the guy was really nice about it (my husband side-swiped a car with our rental truck when we were moving). I just don't understand people these days.

I guess I have to look at it as if this is the only bad thing to happen then it's still a good vacation.
 
Oh dear, I just reread everything I wrote and it sounds like I'm coming down in favour of just leaving - I'm not at all, just still awfully bitter about that episode apparently!


It would be decent of your brother to help you two pay it off, obligation or not. I'm VERY glad you weren't hurt.
 
bean - no my brother did not make us not pay for insurance. But, he is the secondary driver on the vehicle and he was driving at some points on this journey - so just cause its under my husband as primary it makes him responsible??? Maybe you are correct legally, but morally, geez, if you were getting a free vacation at a 5 star resort in Hawaii that typically costs $700 a night, plus food, plus access to the spa at $50 a day, etc. then wouldn't you say 'hey, at least let me chip in a little' (and by the way we used free nights to stay at this hotel so we are not paying that price nor could we afford to)?

And thanks, yes we are very glad we weren't hurt so it could be a lot worse.
 
rockzilla - we did pay with a credit card - a Discover card. Reading below it only pays after our primary insurance pays out.

EDIT - Discover Card Car Rental Insurance Plan
Your Discover Card comes with a Car Rental Insurance Plan that provides $25,000 of secondary collision damage insurance when you rent a car using your Discover Card and decline coverage offered by the rental agency.
 
Yes, I would leave a note if I hit somebody's car, mainly because I have had this happen to me TWICE :nono:

#1. (A few years ago) It was my first day on my new job (I had taken on a part-time job in addition to my full-time job, because I was struggling to pay my bills). I went out to my car to leave, and there was a HUGE rip and dent in my back bumper.

#2. (Different car) This actually just happened last month. One weekend day, I was sleeping and my husband went to walk the dogs. He comes back in and tells me that somebody SMASHED the back of my car while we were sleeping, in our own apartment complex. They didn't leave a note or anything. At first I was really pissed/sad, because I thought we would have to pay for the repairs/our deductible out of pocket. Luckily, we were able to figure out who it was, and we confronted them about it when they returned to the complex later that day. The guy was only visiting, he doesn't live there, so we were very lucky that he actually came back. So, we got his insurance information, and my car was fixed within the next week. This one was worse than the first one because my car is not even 1-yr "old", and I've been babying it since the day I bought it, PLUS it took place at my own home.

Honestly, I just can't believe that people don't have a bit more of a conscience .. I think you could at least leave an "I'm sorry" note!
 
EmeraldFan, I'm so sorry that this happened to you and on vacation no less. :(sad People can be such jerks. I know it's hard but please try to put this in the back of your mind so you can enjoy the rest of the vacation.

Rockzilla is right that Discovercard should cover your deductible. Here's a link to the actual discover card website http://www.discovercard.com/custome...es_OpenRoad_Combined-Scheduled_Air_CDWDOC.pdf - scroll down to page 4. And here's an excerpt:

THE KIND OF COVERAGE YOU RECEIVE:
In consideration of the premium paid by the Policyholder as required, and subject to all the terms of the Policy, the Company
agrees to reimburse on an Actual Cash Value basis either the Insured or the Rental Agency for repair or replacement of the
Rented Automobile as a result of Collision Damage to the Rented Automobile. The Company's liability will be for a maximum
reimbursement of $25,000. In no event will the Company be liable beyond the amounts actually paid by the Insured or the
Rental Agency.
• If your or an Insured’s primary vehicle insurance or other coverage has made payments for a covered loss, Excess Collision
Damage Waiver will cover your deductible and any other eligible amounts not covered by other insurance.
• This coverage is not all-inclusive, which means it does not cover such things as personal injury or personal liability. It does
not cover you for any damages to other vehicles or property. It does not cover you for any injury to any party.

ETA - I agree it certainly would have been nice for your brother to offer to chip in. Luckily it looks like through a combo of your auto insurance and Discover card, you shouldn't have any out-of-pocket.
 
I get so paranoid every time I rent a car for this exact reason. The headache of dealing with "loss of use" charges and such makes me antsy. I'm so sorry that this happened to you, on vacation, no less and that your brother likely won't help cover the damages. I hope your CC helps you out when it comes to dealing with the situation. Let us know how it turns out.
 
:nono: :nono: :nono: :nono:

FI came out of work one day to find a big dent in the back corner of the car. Took a week to fix and cost several thousand dollars. (luckily the insurance covered all repairs + rental, minus the $500 deductible)


I don't see how someone can do such a thing.

I'm not the greatest at parking and try to park where I will KNOW that I can get in and out again safely (next to garden or on the end nearest a firelane -- so there can't be a car on more than one side of me). BUT -- if I ever damaged someone's car, I would attempt to contact them if at all possible. (The office has a record of the cars of employees in this building, same with FI's work, store can make an announcement with the license plate, etc.) If I couldn't find them, I'd certainly leave a note.


Some people...... :nono: :nono: :nono: :nono: :nono:
 
Yes, I would.

Actually, I was in the city recently and was watching a girl parallel park and it took her FOREVER. Needless to say she nailed the car in front of her which was brand new. She proceeded to get out of the car, pay for her spot and leave. She did not care whatsoever that she just put nice scratches on this new car. It made me really angry so when she left, I took out a piece of paper and wrote down her license plate numbers and wrote a note on the paper saying she hit their car. I stuck it on their windshield...
 
Thanks rockzilla and lucyandroger!!!

I will definitely call Discover to confirm and see what we need to do to file a claim with them for the deductible.

We have a few more days before we turn in the rental car so we'll see what the process is then I guess. In the meantime, we are definitely going to try and enjoy the remainder of our vacation. It is really beautiful here and I'm trying not to let this spoil it.

Thanks so much again everyone!!!
 
Emeraldfan said:
Thanks Yissie! That was really nice of you to leave a note and I'm sorry the Mercedes owner took advantage of your honesty. We've left a note before as well but the guy was really nice about it (my husband side-swiped a car with our rental truck when we were moving). I just don't understand people these days.

I guess I have to look at it as if this is the only bad thing to happen then it's still a good vacation.
Click to expand...


Waaaa?! Took advantage of their honesty? He was well within his rights to send them the bill, after all, they damaged his car. Panel damage is incredible exensive to fix, why should he not pass on the costs? If you break it, you pay for it!
 
honey22 said:
Waaaa?! Took advantage of their honesty? He was well within his rights to send them the bill, after all, they damaged his car. Panel damage is incredible exensive to fix, why should he not pass on the costs? If you break it, you pay for it!
Click to expand...


Well, yes, he was within his rights to send us the bill, obviously that's the only reason we paid it. When was the last time you paid $2000 for two scratches on a paintjob? That's some definition of 'panel damage'.
We absolutely felt taken advantage of.
 
In answer to your question about leaving a note: Yes. No matter what the cost. Because my honor and integrity are worth more to me than a dollar amount. But I would be extremely diligent about paying only what is owed. Like if I damaged a 30 year old junker, I would expect to reimburse in a different amount than a brand new car. If somebody tried to scam me on my honesty, I would sooooo Judge Judy their butt :cheeky:
 
No
I would call the police and let them handle it.
 
I would certainly leave a note.

I wouldn't want to call the police unless necessary as that would be points on your license and then your car insurance would most likely go higher. At least in NYC and we pay an awful lot in car insurance to start. However, I would always call the police if involved in an accident with another driver to safeguard yourself against future injury claims. If you fail to report an accident to your insurance company and you get sued by the driver later you have no protection from your insurance company. In a one driver accident with a parked car though I would feel safe to leave a note and not contact the police or insurance company since the driver cannot later claim injury to self such as back or neck injuries.

Sorry this happened to you Emeraldfan. :(( FWIW, if I were in your brother's shoes I would absolutely feel it necessary to pitch in with any expenses to cover the repairs. I would hope this is the last vacation you take him on since he seems to be taking advantage of your (and your dh's) generosity. I hope that your credit card company will cover all expenses.
 
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