It seems like this is how more and more people behave these days. You try to cut someone a break, and instead, they use it against you. Really sad.

I remember years ago when a portable canopy I had up at an event blew away in the wind, right into someone's very new SUV. I was unable to find the owner, but left a note on the car with an apology and my contact info. They called and said not to worry about it - stuff happens.

I'm not so sure that would happen today.

Sue

Now what kind of example is that to set for his daughter? Worse than the damage to the car is the damage to her values.

Sorry about your car. I hate having to deal with that sort of thing. One more headache that you don't need.

Wow, great parent....teach your kid that they don't have to take responsibility for anything if they can get away with it.

There's a lot of that going on these days, unfortunately.

Personally, I hope the insurance company socks it to them....hard!

Linda

I thought Canada had no-fault state run insurance, but maybe that was only British Columbia.

There is plenty of proof that the daughter did the damage - first by her admitting it and that she gave you her name and number. The father is stupid for forcing you to go through the insurance, but you had no choice at that point. I'm fairly sure that his daughter admitted guilt to him.

BTW, most of my accidents have been in parking lots - the others only involved buildings that were in the way. Fortunately, none of them were my fault.

Lars

We do have "no fault" insurtance here that isn't an issue. My insurance pays my damages, his insurance pays his damages.

That being said, if they pay a claim and your premiums go UP! Not for us because of the way our policy is structured but a 17 year old having an accident for which they are responsible.....her premiums will skyrocket.

That's what we were trying to avoid.

Oh Chase, you did not need this on top of everything else you have going on! I am sorry this happened to you. Well, you know you are doing what needs to be done.

Take care

I'm sorry to say that at this point her premiums going up is probably a good thing. Since dad is setting such a terrible example, the consequences will be the source of her lesson.

You did the right thing in slowing down and that young girl did the right thing in admitting her mistake. Dad is the one "at fault."

Carol

I agree, that father is setting a horrible example for his daughter and unfortunately she'll pay for it. Then again, maybe he pays for her insurance and so, ultimately, he'll pay for it, which would only serve him right.

It's not really new, people were like that 30 years ago when I started working for the Prosecutor and they don't seem to be better or worse now, there's just more of them so we notice more I think. Unfortunately, they ARE out there, and with this kind of example the guys kids very well may grow up to be the next generation of them. Sigh.

Sorry, Sharon, you try to be so fair and this happens. I can imagine that Clive IS livid, and I don't blame him. But, you did what you could to be decent and now whatever happens will.

Annie

While Dad is setting a really poor example (and I hope ultimately it turns around and bites him in the butt), I'm not sure his contention that you should have called the police was a correct one. Here at least, parking lots are considered private property so the police don't get involved in traffic offences unless someone is injured or worse. Simple damage is considered a civil matter.

It can still be proven that she hit you by the damage to your car vs her car and any paint transfer from her car on yours. Her father is setting an awful example. What a pain!

Does not matter how the story works out... your karma took a boost. Nobody got hurt in the accident!!!... Cars can be fixed and more money to pay bills can be made. While her insurance may go up some is already factored into her youthful accident prone age.

Good people can't fix everything wrong with the world. Plant the seeds of kindness and move on... before they catch and punish you ; )

I'm a first responder and deal with accidents with less then happy endings... really unhappy endings. A dent... a bill... so what?

: )
lyra

Well put Lyra....

The scenerio as I see it...
Daughter talls father what happened....he gets mad raves a bit...calls you...then calls his insurance company who say something like were the cops called? were there any witnesses to the accident? Then it's not your problem....forget about it....
So that's what he tells you.
As it turns out there were witnesses and she did admit her error....so it really is his problem as he will soon find out.

Well, that's a shame it happened. Shame on the Dad, and a pain trying to get it all sorted out and repaired. Yes, Lyra is right, but it's still aggravating that the car was damaged in the first place, and the Dad is being a jerk. I'm sorry this happened, Chase.

My son was in an accident that wasn't his fault. The woman that hit him showed him an insurance card, they exchanged info, and decided it wasn't necessary to call the cops. Wrong! It turned out the woman's insurance was expired, DS's car was totaled, and she got away with it. From now on, if I'm in an accident, I plan to call the police.

Sally

I don't know about other places but in Michigan a parking lot is "private property". The Police won't respond to a fender-bender accident.

: )
lyra

Thanks for commiserating with me.

There was no point in calling the police. They would not have responded, they don't "do" parking lots unless there is personal injury.

The Dad has no clue. So we go through insurance. No skin off our nose but wait until he gets the new bill for his daughters insurance.....maybe then he will get it.

Lyra is right, a parking lot is private property in Michigan, and so it sounds like it's much the same in Canada. He's also right about the lack of injuries, I've seen what appear to be very minor accidents with some really serious injuries.

Tincrease in the insurance bill ought to get Dad's attention, as you said and it serves him right.

Annie

In California, you have to have damage more than $750 (like how do you know before you get a shop estimate? but that's another question) and/or injuries to get a police report anywhere, parking lot or not. So here you could have called the police and they would tell you to take up kite flying.

You've got all the evidence you need. thank goodness.

Yeah, Dad'll be pretty unhappy with his bill! Actually, if he's worried about that, he should have offered to pay for the repairs out of his own pocket instead of going thru the insurance. Not too bright.

I'm so sorry you have to deal with all of this, and sorry that the Dad was a jerk.

Of course you did the right thing, and you will the next time too, although I certainly hope you won't have to handle anything like this again.

Lee

At least you tried Sharon. Too bad he/they didn't get it. I'm sure they will pay for it in the long run....the daughter for sure with the insurance. Trust me, I know from my own mess ups and a couple of nephews.

David

Well that's the kicker sushi. We have no fault here so each insurance company pays their clients damages. Even if he doesn't report to his insurance company our insurance will and his daughters premiums will go up even if they don;t claim anything.

Given the door already had scratches and we were going to get it painted anyway, Clive told him that he would only ask for any costs that were above the original quote. No additional costs then we'd just forget it. That to me is more than reasonable. We did get the new quote and the additional costs over what we had been quoted is $300. That's all we would have asked for.

Anyhow, he said what he did. So now Clive will claim the full repairs through insurance and the jerks premiums for his daughter will go up.

I wasn't comfortable with charging for the full repair but the insurance company said the entire door needed painting as a result of the accident so existing scratches were irrelevant.

The guy really wasn't thinking!

Oh, well, not everybody burns the brightest bulbs. At least you'll have a nice shiny new door. Will you need to get the whole car painted so the paint will match?

Sally