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Anyone Ever In A Fender Bender?

The Boy Who Cried Worf

Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Today I was in my first incredibly minor car scrape(well I did hit a cop car years ago, but that is another kind of story). I say scrape because I think it was too small to even say accident. I bumped two other cars while trying to pull into a parking space in a very small cramped parking lot. The security guard then made it a point to indelicately let everyone in the doctors office know two cars got bumped and it was my fault. 1 car did have some paint chipped off, the other seemed fine. I exchanged information with both people, and they say they'll get back to me, but now I am worried because I don't know what unfolds from here. Anyone have a similar experience? Did it turn out all right or are these usually nightmares where someone tries to get a new transmission out of you? Should I contact my insurance company even though I don't know yet if either of them will want any payment?
 
The owners of the other cars will get estimates from their repair shops and submit it to your insurance company, your company will decide what they will pay. So, for example, they couldn't get a new transmission out of you because your insurance company will say, "Erm, how did him scraping your car in a parking lot cause you to need a new transmission?"

You should call your agent and tell him your side of things, depending on the situation it may be possible for you to get out of having to pay much (like if, for example the other car(s) were parked over the line of their space.)

Most likely, though, you'll be considered completely responsible for the damages and have to pay your deductable and your insurance company will pay to fix the other car(s.)

Since no police were involved this being on private property no points will likely go against your license or drving record but your insurance premiums will likely go up if they have to pay-out a lot to repair the other car(s).
 
Just yesterday! An apparent hit and run. I discovered my parked car made brief contact with some distracted or otherwise retarded asshat's car. Scraped the fender and rear quarter panel where the fenders are flared.

This same car (the IS F of course) was hit much harder in March. That was a real accident. Another asshat.
 
My one major accident...

I had had some brake work done on my car, and the assholes forgot to lube things up. A couple of days go by, with my being clueless. So I go out for a night on the town, and my axle burns through, and my driver's side rear wheel goes flying out behind me. My car hits the pavement, skids, and sends sparks flying before coming to a halt. My tire bounces on the road, bounces on some guy's car, and puts a massive dent in the hood. So I exchange info with dented car guy, and (the next day) talk to the brake place that did my car. I never hear from dented car guy again, but the brake repairs the damage to my car and pays me for the various towing fees I incurred.
 
As far as "fender benders" go, I've never caused one but been the "victim" of one a few times.

Most notably the two seperate times the driver's-side mirror of my car has been knocked off in a parking lot with no notes or anything left behind so that I can get it fixed on someone else's dime.

I was also rear-ended once at stoplight by a comely young woman on cell-phone. Superifcial damage to my car, the bumper was pushed in but the plasticky-ness of it rebounded by the end of the day with no notable lasting effects. Superficial damage to her car too, she must've just barely hit me as she was stopping.
 
Shortly after I first got my license, I over-compensated while backing out of a friend's driveway on a dark, rainy night and kissed bumpers with a car parked across the street. Ended up keeping it away from the insurance company so as not to bump my premiums, and paid to have the other guys bumper repaired out of pocket.

I'm now more careful when backing. ;)
 
Since no police were involved this being on private property no points will likely go against your license or drving record but your insurance premiums will likely go up if they have to pay-out a lot to repair the other car(s).
I'm never going to live in a state with a "points system" or one of those states where you can go to class and get the ticket erased.
 
To many times to count over the last twenty-three years, though only three times has it been my fault, and only once has it caused more than a scratch.

My most recent time was in June when I was rearended at a light. No noticable damage to either my truck or the van that hit it. Exchanged info with the other driver and filed a report with the police (only because it was my company vehicle that was hit) and that was it.

Since no police were involved this being on private property no points will likely go against your license or drving record but your insurance premiums will likely go up if they have to pay-out a lot to repair the other car(s).
I'm never going to live in a state with a "points system" or one of those states where you can go to class and get the ticket erased.


I thought all states had both of these programs. How does it work in Oregon?
 
I was in one about 5 years ago, and it was "my" fault because I was the one who rear-ended the lady, but it was actually her fault for not signaling her turn and then slamming on her breaks when her break lights were out! It was also raining, and the road had been freshly oiled. I didn't stand a chance.
 
Only serious wrecks...and the cars were totaled but everyone was always ok.

Thank God. :)
 
I'm never going to live in a state with a "points system" or one of those states where you can go to class and get the ticket erased.


I thought all states had both of these programs. How does it work in Oregon?
They fine the crap out of you. For example, get caught doing 65mph in a 55mph zone? Wave goodbye to $375. And the fines are doubled in construction areas and "safety corridors" which are stretches of highway with a higher than normal accident rate. Once you get dinged for $750 for going 10mph over the limit you're damned careful from then on. And judges have the right to suspend your license if you're a repeat offender.

This seems to work pretty well here.
 
^
In the wrecks I have been in, 1 my fault and the other not mine...no one got charged...it was a insurance matter...and that turned out well too. I did get into one of those wrecks the morning of 911...I was on the phone and I turn on the TV and it made what I thought was a big deal for me...small.
 
To many times to count over the last twenty-three years, though only three times has it been my fault, and only once has it caused more than a scratch.

My most recent time was in June when I was rearended at a light. No noticable damage to either my truck or the van that hit it. Exchanged info with the other driver and filed a report with the police (only because it was my company vehicle that was hit) and that was it.

Since no police were involved this being on private property no points will likely go against your license or drving record but your insurance premiums will likely go up if they have to pay-out a lot to repair the other car(s).
I'm never going to live in a state with a "points system" or one of those states where you can go to class and get the ticket erased.


I thought all states had both of these programs. How does it work in Oregon?

Here to get a ticket erased you just ammend the fine, that is, you pay double. You can do it once a year in a city.
 
No, but I was almost in one a few times.

The most notable was several years ago. I was driving a Suburban which had some trouble with its anti-lock braking system; it would engage seemingly at random, which caused jerky braking.

One time a car slowed down unexpectedly in front of me. I slammed on the brakes, but the ABS kicked in so I didn't stop as fast as I intended to, and when I did the last lurch felt like I'd hit the lady.

She pulled into a restaurant parking lot and I followed, figuring I'd do the info exchange thing....but before I got parked, she just climbed out and headed into the restaurant.

I scratched my head about that, then just drove off.
 
I'm never going to live in a state with a "points system" or one of those states where you can go to class and get the ticket erased.


I thought all states had both of these programs. How does it work in Oregon?
They fine the crap out of you. For example, get caught doing 65mph in a 55mph zone? Wave goodbye to $375. And the fines are doubled in construction areas and "safety corridors" which are stretches of highway with a higher than normal accident rate. Once you get dinged for $750 for going 10mph over the limit you're damned careful from then on. And judges have the right to suspend your license if you're a repeat offender.

This seems to work pretty well here.

I wish they'd do that across the US, although I think most every State doubles the fines in construction zones *When workers are present.

I still say that anyone arrested and convicted for drunk driving should lose the vehicle. "Lose" meaning it goes to the crusher. No ifs, ands, or buts.
 
I wish they'd do that across the US, although I think most every State doubles the fines in construction zones *When workers are present.

Nope, if it's a work zone the fines are doubled as long as that zone exsists, at least that is the way it is in Kansas. The theory being that you the drive have no way of knowing if "workers are present." Just because there's no construction teams around doesn't mean there aren't supervisors or inspectors around .
 
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