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Aug. 28, 2008 11:48 a.m. Salanis Dork

Came out from the Brewpub with a friend last night, to discover that some jackass had parked with the front of their car pressed fully against my rear bumper. Doesn't look like there was serious damage, but I haven't looked closely yet today.

I took down their license plate number, left a note on their windshield, and made sure the hostess and managers at the restaurant new about the situation and can back me up.

Any suggested resources on tracking them down to repair any damages? Or would my only option be to file a claim with my own insurance company? I don't want to do that, since fixing an imperceptible scratch would not be worth the cost and hassle of an insurance hike.
Aug. 28, 2008 12:01 p.m. mistanfo Dork

Well, if you have witness', and the plate number, contact the police. They should be able to provide you with the identity of the perp, along with (hopefully) their insurance company. Contact the owner, if he/she is not willing to work with you, go directly to the insurance company.
Aug. 28, 2008 12:12 p.m. Nashco Dork

mistanfo wrote:

Well, if you have witness', and the plate number, contact the police. They should be able to provide you with the identity of the perp, along with (hopefully) their insurance company. Contact the owner, if he/she is not willing to work with you, go directly to the insurance company.

Ditto. This won't increase your rates if they're responsible...go through their insurance company.

Bryce
Aug. 28, 2008 12:17 p.m. BBsGarage Reader

Without a police report, you more then likely would have to take them to court, and it will be your word against theirs.
Aug. 28, 2008 12:32 p.m. GlennS HalfDork

Hopefully no damage was caused. I think bumpers are designed to survive collisions up to like 4mph. Hopefully the car just crawled into yours.

In some parts of the world parking like that is common practice as is bumping cars to get out of a tight parking spot.
Aug. 28, 2008 12:46 p.m. poopshovel Dork

Can I ask the obvious question?:

Why didn't you just call the cops?
Aug. 28, 2008 12:48 p.m. Salanis Dork

There was no structural damage. At worst, they scratched some paint on the bumper cover (which is plastic, so no lasting damage there).

I'm more bothered by how utterly rude this was than any damage to the car. I've put bigger scratches on that car myself.

There wasn't any need for them to park against me. I was in a parallel parking space, one empty space away from the curb. So, whoever parked behind me had the ability to just pull strait in from the corner.
Aug. 28, 2008 12:50 p.m. Salanis Dork

poopshovel wrote:

Can I ask the obvious question?:

Why didn't you just call the cops?

Not enough damage, if any. Not worth the hassle. I just want to work this out privately with the owner/driver of the vehicle.
Aug. 28, 2008 12:54 p.m. integraguy Reader

I've come to the conclusion that there is a HUGE electro-magnet, somewhere in my car, that is turned ON when I switch off the ignition. I park nearly a half a block from the grocery store, when I go there, yet, when I come out...even tho there are several empty spaces around my car, there is ALWAYS either a HUGE SUV, 3/4 ton pickup truck, or some "boat" of a car parked just far enough from me so I can squeeze into it. This happens at work too.
Aug. 28, 2008 1:10 p.m. Travis_K New Reader

I doubt there is anything you can do about it. They probably figured it was an old car so you would care, or whatever. It would make me pretty mad too, but its probably not worth the trouble. One time I was parked at the store where I work, and someone parked with the wheels of their car over the white line into the space where i was parked, and scratche the paint on my car with their door. I pulled out of the space and got out and looked at it, and a guy got out of the passenger car and stared at me with a nasty look on his face until I left. I figured since it was just a scratch, and the paint on my car is crap anyway, it wasnt worth making trouble over, especailly at my job.
Aug. 28, 2008 1:15 p.m. Salanis Dork

Unfortunately this was the BMW M Coupe I care about, not the track rat that wears scratches and dents with pride.

I'm figuring they felt like being vindictive against someone who was clearly a snob and shiny happy person, because who else would drive a rare and fancy-looking BMW.
Aug. 28, 2008 1:16 p.m. ignorant UberDork

My dad sells insurance. His advice is that in any situation, you need to protect yourself. Call the cops get a police report. Otherwise it is your word against theres, and they can turn the tables on you easy in court.
Aug. 28, 2008 1:19 p.m. Mental UltraDork

Here in C Springs, the cops won't come. They are undermanned and cut coming out for situation like that, if your car is broken into or for vandelisim. You have to go to the Polic dept and file a report.
Aug. 28, 2008 1:19 p.m. PHeller New Reader

Oddly enough, my friend has this happen to her as well yesterday, only it was out in front of her apt.

How do you not notice such things?
Aug. 28, 2008 1:29 p.m. Xceler8x Reader

The problem I see is proving that the scratch wasn't there before you parked and was there after. Also, they could say they saw a car pull away from yours AFTER hitting it. Then, they pulled in. Therefore, the previous unknown car caused the damage. They just pulled in after the fact.

Sucks but you may just have to chalk it up to living in the city.
Aug. 28, 2008 2:11 p.m. GlennS HalfDork

Its possible the person didnt set the parking brake and rolled into you.

There is a guy close to my house who drives a blue m-coupe..... god that thing is sweet.
Aug. 28, 2008 2:29 p.m. Stuc HalfDork

So they drove into your car and didn't seem to care much about the damage of yours or theirs. If I wasn't getting the police involved, my key would certainly be doing double-duty before I left.
Aug. 28, 2008 2:33 p.m. Wowak Dork

Stuc wrote:

So they drove into your car and didn't seem to care much about the damage of yours or theirs. If I wasn't getting the police involved, my key would certainly be doing double-duty before I left.

I've done it. And I'm not ashamed to admit it. If you care that little about my car, I care equally little about your freshly waxed BMW 3 series. Besides, it probably looks better with a gouge in the hood. No, I'm not still bitter. Not at all.
Aug. 28, 2008 2:41 p.m. integraguy Reader

While I've considered showing someone how much I thought of their "parking skills"....or lack thereof, I don't, if for no other reason than the OVERabundance of cellphones with cameras. Not only is Big Brother probably watching you, but so is a whole cadre of his stand-ins.
Aug. 28, 2008 2:49 p.m. poopshovel Dork

ignorant wrote:

My dad sells insurance. His advice is that in any situation, you need to protect yourself. Call the cops get a police report. Otherwise it is your word against theres, and they can turn the tables on you easy in court.

Egg-zachary. If it's not worth the hassle to call the cops, how the berkeley is it worth the hassle to try to track this dude down and get money from him? No police report = you're boned. Ain't chu watch no Judge Judy, meng?
Aug. 28, 2008 2:58 p.m. doitover Reader

When you hurt a 3 series, you hurt all of us.

Wowak wrote:

Stuc wrote:

So they drove into your car and didn't seem to care much about the damage of yours or theirs. If I wasn't getting the police involved, my key would certainly be doing double-duty before I left.

I've done it. And I'm not ashamed to admit it. If you care that little about my car, I care equally little about your freshly waxed BMW 3 series. Besides, it probably looks better with a gouge in the hood. No, I'm not still bitter. Not at all.
Aug. 28, 2008 3:03 p.m. WilD Reader

integraguy wrote:

I've come to the conclusion that there is a HUGE electro-magnet, somewhere in my car, that is turned ON when I switch off the ignition. I park nearly a half a block from the grocery store, when I go there, yet, when I come out...even tho there are several empty spaces around my car, there is ALWAYS either a HUGE SUV, 3/4 ton pickup truck, or some "boat" of a car parked just far enough from me so I can squeeze into it. This happens at work too.

Haha, I thought you were going to say you collect shopping carts with your magnet. In the few months I have owned my Jaguar I have been hit by two shopping carts already, and hit hard. I have a huge dent in both the drivers side and passender side rear doors. I don't recall ever taking so much cart damage before (if any).
Aug. 28, 2008 3:05 p.m. Salanis Dork

Bah, I guess the answer is that it's not worth the hassle. It still burns me though.
Aug. 28, 2008 3:14 p.m. RX Reven' New Reader

Hi Salanis,

When I first got my RX-8 (didn’t even have the plates yet) some E36 M3 in a Tahoe pressed up against my bumper at a gas station so he could get the nozzle to reach rather than waiting his turn.

I opened the passenger door rather than getting in on the driver’s side, he honked as to say “move it” I just ignored him and got my cell phone and started taking pictures of the contact point, his license plate, & him now screaming at me asking what I was going to do.

The windows were down on his Tahoe and he had his wife and two little kids with him so rather than answering him, I turned to the kids and advised them to not grow up to be like their daddy who everyone laughs at and has no respect for (wife is now cringing & sliding down in her seat with a “here we go again” gesture).

I then told him to move his truck and wait for me to inspect my car & give him the nod that it was OK to leave. I told him that if he left without my permission, I’d call 911 with a hit & run report & mention that the driver strongly smelled of beer (which was true).

I’m only 5’9” & he was one of your classic high school football jocks that peaked at 18 types but he knew he’d made a series of huge tactical blunders & was one misstep away from big, big, big trouble.

In the end, no damage occurred (as someone mentioned, bumpers are specifically designed for bumping) & I gave him the nod that he could leave.

I hope he took the experience as a wake up call rather than taking anything out on his family; I’ll never know.
Aug. 28, 2008 4:10 p.m. Xceler8x Reader

RX Reven' wrote: When I first got my RX-8 (didn’t even have the plates yet) some E36 M3 in a Tahoe pressed up against my bumper at a gas station so he could get the nozzle to reach rather than waiting his turn. ..

Way to go! You handled that one pretty well. I'd be worried the guy would yank out a piece and start really going ballistic.

Good one!

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