Athello

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/139743/audi_s4_damage.jpg"></center><p>So, I get my 40k mile checkup done, oil change, cabin filter, etc ($119, BTW, stupid cold weather and no garage...) at the dealership, and I'm feeling good. My baby's all oiled up, and ready to rock for another 5000.

I get home, and park her in my townhouse parking lot. About 10 minutes later, I decide to take a romp to the store to pick up some items for dinner. I lock the front door, keys in hand, walking to the car, and I literally watch my neighbor allowing his 15 year old sister back his car across the parking lot, not touch the brake, and slam into the front quarter panel of my car. I watch the Audi rock back from the impact, and have to hit "unlock" because the alarm was set off. I just kept walking in disbelief towards it.

I get there, and find out this toolbox took the insurance off his car last week because he's leaving on a trip next week. He wants me to help him commit insurance fraud, by not reporting the accident until next week when he can put insurance back on the car. I tell him that I don't really feel like going to jail just so he can save a few bucks, even if I feel bad for him, cause I don't want to know what the repair bill on part from Germany is going to be.

I figure a police report is in order, just to be on the safe side, so the cop comes out and is going to write him a ticket for no insurance, even though it was in the parking lot. I told her not to write it to him, as I don't want to stick him with a ticket, thinking that if I don't, he's more likely to actually come through and pay for my repair bill. I dunno, maybe I should have been a dick and made her give him one. But I also didn't mention that the sister was driving, so I gave him a break on two occasions.

I'm taking it up to the dealer recommended body shop today. He (dude who hit the car) says to me "Don't get it done at the most expensive place, man. Help me out. I'm a student." I say to him, "No problem, I'll shop around." But I'm taking it to the body shop that handles the Audi's and Porches and Mercedes in the area and knows what they are doing. I'm not going to let my car suffer just because this toolbox let his dumb@ss sister drive his car around and wreck my baby. I figure four options: He pays me for it, I take him to court for it, my insurance pays for it, or I end up paying for it.

Anyone ever have this sort of thing happen to them? What was the outcome?

Chan

Sucks man. I wouldn't have given the douche any breaks.

TXurS6

I'd be surprised if he pays for anything

KSpider

means you are SOL if he says no.

Bruce M

.....you are not dealing with someone like you.

Get an estimate, give him the bill, ask him for payment within a week.

If he balks, you can let him know you suddenly rememebered he did not have insurance, and that his sister was driving, and you need to call the police and update them. And that you'll be going pre-se to small claims to sue him for the damages plus any other time/aggravation compensation you can think of.

Good luck!

Bruce

S4V8RCR

Your repairs will likely cost $1,000 to $3,000 to repair, depending on what is damaged. If he can't afford to pay his own insurance then I doubt if he can afford to pay anything to you. Just make sure that your insurance company knows that it was his fault and not yours. They may end up going after him for you.

JamieO

you'll get your $$ and your car fixed asap plus no points to you and they'll go after him for the money.

Athello

I filed the police report to have some ammunition in case I need to A) file a claim with my insurance and B) take him to court eventually. But, as of right now, I'm not even going to call my insurance company. As far as I'm concerned, they don't even need to know about this (and therefore not raise my rates for any reason) as long as he is going to pay the bill.

If he balks, then I might get them involved, but not before. There's nothing sketchy about that, right? Is there any reason I HAVE to tell my insurance about this?

Athello

Really? I just posted about this. I was worried they would have a reason to raise my rates, no?

AVANT S4 KING

*If* you need to take him to court, let the insurance company do it. They have the legal resources.