WRX300MAN

This is just one of those things!

Here I was stuck in stationary traffic down the M25 (as ever) . . . At a crawling pace, i get rear ended by some Ford Focus - very slightly - probably 2-3 mph . . Very calm and collected we both get out of the car to inspect . .

Around the number plate, there is a tiny scratch to the primer . .Barely able to notice it . .So I'm thinking what to do . .The traffic is heavy and the sun is hot . . .So in the end I see all my lights are working and the scratch is superficial . . . .So i thought - just put on some touch up paint and that's me . . .No big deal . . .Not being the petty type I said " Be careful mate", and we parted . . .No particulers exchanged . . .

I thought of demanding something like a tenner, for the touch up paint . .But what if he did not have it . .That would involve another five minutes moving to the hard shoulder, just to get his details . . Then, I thought, If i insisted on a respray, that would most likely mean getting the insurance companies involved, and would take even longer . . .

But now I sort of regret doing so - the more i look and think of the tiny scratch as I am a bit of a detailing enthusiast!. .

Was i being a bit foolish by doing, what i felt was, the decent thing, or would you nice Scoobynetters,gone out of your way and taken the inattentive driver to the cleaners!

suffolkdar

You should have at least taken his name and reg number!, just in case it is worse than it looks.
I think i would have taken his details and at least told my insurance company, even if i was to take no action, But just in case it's always better to air on the side of caution.

bob r

iTrader: (46)

ring for the air ambulance to come and put me on a spinal board and air lift me to emergency a+e as i would be in severe agony with neck and back problems, causing traffic mayhem and local press getting involved... oh and the hysterical wife turning up with screaming kids wondering if their daddy was going to be ok. it would all add to the claim

but more realisticaly i would always take the details of any one involved and get witness details....you just never know these days.

im sure the scratch will fade with time.

Sizer

I'd have taken the details and claimed. Its not unreasonable, thats what insurance is for at the end of the day and at least the scratch would only annoy you until it was repaired properly...

Or maybe give the bloke the option of paying out of his own pocket, get three quotes etc...

I understand why you didnt make a fuss as it seems like a small scratch but that scratch will cost you money when it comes to selling the car, not to mention the mental torment

And as someone else said there could be hidden damage...

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

probably would have done the same as you mate.. not one for making a fuss... did the same as he did once, and the person I bumped just waved it off and left.

scoobfan

I would have twatted him with me sweaty flip flop !

Rob

Sizer

WRX300MAN

Thanks for your considered opinions guys!

Well . .I guess you live and learn ... Its just I spent that whole afternoon flying, was pretty tired, the sun was hot, and I thought the traffic was so tedious -that this could have happened to anyone including me . . . . .So why waste time over a scratch that I am pretty sure can be touched up . . .Still annoying though . .Its just there were times as a younger driver, that people used to let me off as well . . . .

Anyhow . . .What's done is done!.

Take cares you all Scoobynetters!

speedking

That's how people park in scar parks these days. Nudge the vehicle in front then back up a couple of inches You will eventually get scratched rear and doors this way so I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. Reverse the situation and I would probably offer a tenner to cover inconvenience. Get insurance involved, are you kidding

Get real. How much of reduction would you expect as the purchaser? General condition and mileage would be far more significant.

Sizer

Well Id certainly use any defect to get money off a car and Im sure if everyones honest, when they go look at a car they like, they look for anything to get a few quid off.

Ontop of that it may only be one scratch now, but we all know scratches appear from nowhere and it all adds up in the end and given a choice between 2 similar cars, with similar mileage etc.. If ones got scrathes and one hasnt, which one would you buy??

Its a buyers market at the moment so you need all the help you can get.

Why should someone have damage to their car if its not their fault??
Why shouldnt the responsible party get it sorted out??

I just think people need to be responsible for their own actions, if I'd scratched someones car Id ask them to avoid insurance hassles and get a quote for the repair and pay it out of my own pocket. Which in fact is what I did when I hit a Mazda.....

danwrx1980

Last year I was reversing out of a parking bay on my residential parking area, when a car came flying down towards me. I was paying more attention nto that than to my surroundings and i just nudged my neighbour's car, which was parked out of a bay in the entrance.
Totally my fault I agree, caused a tiny scrape on his bumper.
Went straight to his door and told him, expecting to be told fair one lad thanks for letting me know don't worry about it. Even offered to get the scratch touched up for him.

Next day he comes round, been down to the main dealers and they tell him he needs a new bumper and the panel under is dented needs replacing.

W*nker!! I'd never be so honest again. Since then its been done again at least twice, no one owned up to it tho

SirFozzalot

ROTFLMAO!!!

billythekid

[Davey]

I would have at least asked for the guy details, there might not be any obvious damage but bumpers are built to absorb impact and generally get damaged doing so..

I had an incident a couple months ago that I feel I dealt with very well.. A brand new LDV van pulled out from a side road into the on coming traffic and I hit it.

The side of his van was caved in and my front bumper was scuffed up really bad, plus my tow eye cover popped off then got run over by a bus (nice).. I do all of my painting and body work myself so I "asked" (albeit a little demanding) that he goes to the cash point down the road and gets me £150 which in reality is a lot less than a body shop would charge and also less than his excess plus it saves us both fannying around with insurance and him loosing his no claims and me getting stung at renewal time for the next 3 years.

I've also been on the other end while reversing in a carpark with a car full of stuff so I couldn't see out of the rear I twatted a bmw that was parked directly behind me (couldn't see it in either of my side mirrors), luckily the only reason I hit it was because it didn't have its hand brake on (it had rolled out of the space) and after I hit it, it rolled the other way across the carpark with the alarm blaring towards a very ample looking wall. Needless to say I didn't want to be held responsible for sharing in someone else's stupidity so I made a quick exit.

chiark

Naah, let it be - you did the right thing IMO. Don't sweat about it.

Steve vRS

Same thing happened to me the other week. I took the guys details just in case but there wasn't a mark on either car. That's what bumpers are for!

Steve

jaytc2003

iTrader: (1)

happened to me the other night. was at some lights, lad behind was balancing on his clutch and then his foot slipped and back ended me. Just got a crack on the number plate so just got a bit of cash of him to get a replacement. didnt bother with details to much hassle at times, but I suppose it depends on the damage. (used the money for beer instead as managed to patch up the plate.!)

WRX300MAN

Thanks again for the replies lads . .

Already sorted . .Just took it down to mates body shop . .Touch up paint made . .Set me back a fiver . .Would hardly notice it . . .Put another coat on later and then clay bar it to smooth it . .

Why worry about a bumper and let it ruin my day, when there are kids starving in Africa . .They face problems - and i am sure a tiny touched up scratch on a bumper is the least of their worries!

Take cares you all!

jaytc2003

iTrader: (1)

that fiver could have fed a family for 2 months.....

awd chadders

Well done WRX300MAN. I'd have done the same. I wonder how many of those who suggested getting the details and contacting their insurance company also complain when their premiums go up?

Who knows, the guy in the Ford might stick a few quid in a charity box for his good fortune over the bump and that family in Africa might benefit......!

ukdave

Had a mate of mine run into the bk of my series 2 RST about 10yr ago couldnt see any damage probably hit me(by the time he`d braked) at about 5-10 mph couldnt see any damage other than a black scratch on the bumper an thought well it aint bad that`l t-cut out,opened the boot and it had split the seam sealant and one spotweld where the boot floor met the rear panel got home took the bumper off and had bent the rear valance well bottom of rear panel (theres no valance as such)so had to straighten that and repaint too-mate were ok about it bought paint sealant etc though sorted it meself, however would ALWAYS get their details you`d be suprised what damage you cant see.

V1CK1

I would have done the same and then wished i hadnt for ages!

suffolkdar

Why would he want to give it to a load of freeloaders from overseas when he didn't offer a "Tenner" there and then for his mistake?

misty

I too would have let it go mate. If he hadn't bothered to get out though it would have been the full monty whiplash jobby...
dave

WRX300MAN

Agreed . . .Life is too short . .And he said he was sorry!

BedHog

It all depends on the other driver and how they react. No real damage done and they are calm and apologetic then fine. Happened to me years ago in my Capri - Escort van hit me and bent my bumper slightly, he was great so I just said forget about it, that's what bumpers are for.

Or, if as what happened to my missus, the woman that hit the back of her (missus was stationary at roundabout) started ranting that she hardly touched her and she better not claim of her insurance..... so of course we did

chocolate_o_brian

iTrader: (22)

something similar happened to me at a t-junction. green van in front had stopped and so had i, was balancing on biting point, inching forward, looking for a gap to get out, and plumped into his van ever so slightly. we both pulled round the corner and pulled up. got out had a look, he seemed very good with me, said yeh no probs we'll be on our seperate ways bla bla bla. he set of and id noticed no marks on his van just a green one on my bumper from his van and set off too.

then my mates who were in the back had said he rolled back onto me as he didnt have his brake on, so was 6 of one half dozen of the other!!! my fault i guess for not being vigilant enough and being worried too much about it being my fault!! obviously this guy kept it quiet and made out he was being a good to me for it being "my fault!!", so i caught up with him, overtook him and cut him up at the next roundabout lol. silly and immature but i made my point...

Andy-C

I've got a tow bar on my wagon (yeah yeah, sings:'and it just keeps rolling along'), so he would have suffered more damage than I would.

Glad you got it sorted anyways