Somebody just backed up into my front bumper today. It was a kid in a beat up '96 Mazda 626 sedan. We were coming out of a parking lot and since the lot is on a decline he didn't see me as he tried to back up to use another exit. The one we were sitting at was blocked by a mass of traffic. Due to the decline he didn't see me and he backed up pretty hard into my bumper. There some cosmetic damage and may, if I was that anal, require a new paint job on the bumper cap. He didn't have insurance and was a young kid so I took his info and gave him a break. I told him I'd get an estimate and contact him about the costs. He told me he would pay me cash for the damage. I could have gotten him in some shit as he didn't have insurance but I didn't want to be an ass to the kid and so I let him go. Hey everyone needs a break or two once in a while. As for the bumper there are some depressions from the bolts holding the lic. plate and the lic. plate bracket. There doesn't seem to be damage to the stirofoam impact obsorber inside the bumper cap and some minor scratches that are noticable from a few feet away. Eh, my first booboo on her, hopefully the last. I guess I'll get an estimate just to be sure and see from there, but I don't even have time to go to a body shop. So what do you guys think I should do?
__________________ Always outnumbered, never outgunned.
Get Christopher Soprano to head over there if he doesn't pay up.
Get it done right for your sake, but get it done cheap for his. Usually insurance adjusters have the 411 on the lowest bidders when it comes to collision.
Get Christopher Soprano to head over there if he doesn't pay up.
Get it done right for your sake, but get it done cheap for his. Usually insurance adjusters have the 411 on the lowest bidders when it comes to collision.
Eh, I'll get an estimate and try to make it cheap for the kid. Oh, I've got better than C. Soprano if he doesn't pay up, but I'd rather not go that route. Man I hate headaches like these and rather just forget the damn thing and enjoy my free time doing other things. We'll see, I'll think it over for a day and see what I feel then. It's only a car and shit happens. Thanks for the sympathy guys.
__________________ Always outnumbered, never outgunned.
Damn Zoom, you too! That sucks man. I hope the kid comes through for you, you cut him a lot of slack. I still got mine and I'll have it repaired by early next week.
I hear what everyone is saying and I thank you all for your input.
I don't know if I should be saying this here and don't want to seem like I'm getting on a soap box, but the kid was a young black kid (don't get me wrong here this has nothing to do with the fact that he's black). He seemed intelligent enough as he spoke proper english, unlike most young kids these days, and he seemed genuinely sorry for the accident. I guess I just felt like I wanted to give the kid a break and maybe impact his life positively in one way or another. I know I sound like some tree hugger but that's sort of the way I felt. I remember growing up in LA and doing some really stupid things. I was lucky enough that there were grown ups that went out of their way to give me a stern lecture and send me on my way, with a break. In many ways, those things did impact my life in one way or another. I almost feel like our society has become the way it is now because so many people don't care and would rather just call the cops.
By the way, he said he has a job and will work to pay off the damages. He took responsibility for his actions and was willing to do what's right. That in my book means a lot and made me want to believe in the kid and give him the benefit of the doubt. So call it my own personal social experiment or my way of not loosing complete faith in our society, but I want to give him the chance to make things right. I can honestly live with the damage anyway. It's only a car and I can live with a few dings and marks because it won't kill me. It was only a matter of time before she got some damage from rocks/door dings/etc. anyway.
__________________ Always outnumbered, never outgunned.
I like your style Zoom. I hope your experiment works out, even if it's marginally successful. Kudos to you.
Thanks gamma. You know it's weird but I guess this little incident brought some much needed perspective into my life. Which is always a good thing. I figure even if this kid doesn't come through it won't hurt me much to either fix it myself or just live with it.
__________________ Always outnumbered, never outgunned.
just a few weeks a go, I was doing like 45 in a 30 and a cop hit his sirens but did not pull me over. Instead he got on the speakers and said, "theres a speed limit here!". I think I knew the cop, but anyways, it was much more effective than any ticket I reveived. I respect to cop for giving me some slack, so I will respect his street in the future.
anyways, please post some pics. maybe we can give some suggestions.
__________________
:05X: f/s
Neal 376 [8:31 P.M.]: sedan drivers are better
superbitch [8:31 P.M.]: i agree with you
just a few weeks a go, I was doing like 45 in a 30 and a cop hit his sirens but did not pull me over. Instead he got on the speakers and said, "theres a speed limit here!". I think I knew the cop, but anyways, that was WAY more effective than any ticket I have received. I feel like I owe the cop for the slack he gave me.
anyways, please post some pics. maybe we can give some suggestions.
It's not bad at all. Just like two depressions in the bumper cap and some scratches. I could probably get away with living with it and most people wouldn't even know it was there unless they were looking for it.
__________________ Always outnumbered, never outgunned.
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Ouch!!!
