a guys kid run out in front of me and wrects my car

[tas38]

Hello Everyone......

I'm driving down town the other night, I had a green light and was fine then a teen runs out in front me. He had a green arrow to turn left, and comes out in front of me. Anyway we crash damage is done to my front bumper, and head light the kid goes down the block into a lot. At any rate 2 people stop one took the kids tag number, then the kid comes back a friend of his dad was with him.

Anyway the kid admits it was has fault, so does his dads friend they give me all their info. And said the kids dad may cut a check for it, I said that would be fine as long as it gets fixed. And I told him I still owe 10k for the car, a 2001 sable with just over 50k miles on it. I give him all my info his dad calls me that night, ask how I want to handle it get a estimate and let see.

So I got one right away called a place close to my house, the front dumper and head light need to be replaced. The bumper need to be painted to match me car paint, so the estimate was $937.27 plus the body guy said, I needed to add 1 days car rental to the price. And that I needed to remind him it was just a estimate, and that if any other problems was found it would add more to the cost.

So I called the guy tonight and I told him what the estimate was, and that there would be a car rental for a day. He said that seems high and a 2nd one should be done, and that the kid had to pay it out of his own money. Then hinted it may have been my fault, I told him I had a green light and the kid had a green arrow. That 2 people seen what happen, that I had the right of way.

He said well you should have your car under control at all times, and I said well I had to right of way. He had a green arrow and had to wait to everything was clear, and that may be we needed to let the insurance handle it instead. He wanted to come look at it tomorrow, I said no problem and I'll show him the estimate. He don't want his kids insurance to go through the roof, I feel for his kid.

But I'm not going to take anything else from him about it, and if he don't take care of it by monday. I'm reporting it to my insurance for sure, all I want is my car fixed right. I did not know the body shop at all, I picked it out of the phone book, because it was close but this guy is acting like it's a rip off. He said can't I do with out a car for a day, I feel for his kid but I'm not going let him jack me off on it.

It's pretty simple he come out with a left green arrow, and I had a green light and had the right of way. The kid needed to wait to all was clear, not hit the gas and go out in front of me. They said about just paying for the damages, $937 for a front bumper and head light. And paint matching is not bad at all, that is 8.4 hour at $44 and 4.8 hours at $22 for labor.

And he is yelling about it being to much, what plant does he get cheap body shop labor. From my under standing they must prime it, then put a specail coating on it to hold the paint. Then they must paint it a few times, then clear coat it for it to be right. But first they must match the paint right, that takes a bit to do that as well. It just makes me mad, that the story is all different a few days later.

 

[Devil Dog]

Don't listen to anything that guy says.

Should have called the police if you didn't at time of accident so they could get everything officially documented. Make sure his insurance pays also.

People will do anything not to get their insurance involved because they're worried about their rates.

This is what I would have done:
- Get hit by clown running green arrow.
- Exited my vehicle with evil look.
- On the phone with police and at the same time taking pics with cell phone cam of exact location of accident scene, etc etc for future reference.
- Get HIS insurance information.
- Take it to the body shop of your choosing to get an estimate.
- report estimate to HIS insurance.
- get vehicle fixed at YOUR bodyshop.

 

[draggar]

Something isn't right.

A green arrow will NOT light up unless the traffic that you'll cross has a red light.

If two opposite ways both have a green light, neither will have the arrow lit.

The kid lied.

 

[MacyT.]

Yeah, you need to call the Dad back and tell him that if you don't get reimbursed immediately for the estimate YOU gave him than you will have to let insurance handle it.

That's the risk the other person takes for not wanting their own insurance to handle it - that you could be dishonest (not saying you are) and there is little they can do about it. If they want to make sure they aren't getting taken advantage of (and the accident is their fault), then they have to go thru insurance - that is what they are they for.

I wouldn't let this guy push you around - it's not your concern where the money comes from - the kid or his father.

 

[zesty]

Tas,

I feel for you. About a year ago I got rear-ended by a teenage driver who was driving a car borrowed from another teenage friend. My car was brand new and the damage, though somewhat minor, was about $4k.

His insurance decided, somehow, that the accident was not their driver's fault (though the driver was ticketed for the wreck). I was shocked...I was rear ended, the other driver got a ticket and it was my fault??

The result was that I had to submit a claim to my own insurance company and they had to then go after his insurance company. My insurance won, but the hassle was a real bummer. My opinion of some insurance practices has been lowered since then, but I'm glad my car is well repaired.

I feel for you and I wish you the best in getting this one figured out. Don't give in and stay firm. If you are not at fault, then you are not at fault...and you are due to have your situation fixed...including professionally fixing the damage, rental cars, any transportation costs and compensation for vehicle depreciation (due to accident on carfax report) and time expenses related to this incident.

Stay firm Tas and I wish you the best,
zesty

 

[Luc]

Must be a shit week.

I was coming back from the airport yesterday and got rear ended on a highway going like 50mph. I walked aways without a scratch, but the back of my car was smacked up pretty bad. The other car was smoking. Both got towed.

We'll see how the insurance handles this one, I know those people are bastards and will try to weasle themselves out of it.

 

[Devil Dog]

Most states, that I know of, if you get rear-ended, it's the person's falut who rear-ended you no matter what. Even if if you were going 60 mph and you stomped on your brakes, that person that hit you, is at fault, for "following too closely."

 

[scrsteven]

from what I know, at least in florida, I think there is NEVER be a green arrow AND a green light the opposite way at the SAME time. it's one OR the other, plain and simple.

 

[Theo]

Most states, that I know of, if you get rear-ended, it's the person's falut who rear-ended you no matter what. Even if if you were going 60 mph and you stomped on your brakes, that person that hit you, is at fault, for "following too closely."

And it's a retarded law, I can tell you. I rear-ended at 5 mph a car whose driver did a double take and illegal passing, then hit her breaks - I ended up getting a citation ($110) plus 4 points on my license, 3 x days of car rental costs, $500 in deductible (repair shop cost was $1,500).

You should always call the police no matter what - leaving the scene of an accident can get you in trouble.

 

[tas38]

He may not of had a green arrow, all I know is I had a green light for sure. I said to him what didn't you see the light, then he said yes it was a green arrow, and I didn't give it anymore thought. I do knew 2 people stop and ask if they kept going, the one guy even stop and give me his tag number. So he may have lied about it, he was shaking and all upset about it. And admit with his dads friend, that it was his fault so I did not give it anymore thought.

I will from now on call the police, and get them to fill out a report. As now they could try to blame me, but I told him their was 2 people that seen it happen. The one that got his tag number, was a news paper reporter and would be easy to find I'm sure. One thing for sure though, you must be right and he is lieing because every time I had a green arrow, it was safe to go. Only when I had a green light did I have to wait, for all the on coming traffic to get done going. Or wait to the green arrow to come on to go, so he had to have run the light.

So my first thought was right, the first thing I ask him was didn't he see the light or some thing. So unless there is some thing wrong with the light, he had to be lieing about the green arrow. It may be even his dad knows some thing wrong with his story, as he said to me some thing is not right. After trying to put blame on me, he did day he don't get in his mind. How my front right way hit, and the kids back pass side door was hit. So may be his dad thinking some things, is not right with the story his kid is telling him but didn't catch it.

 

[tas38]

Ok the dad turned it over to his insurance, so they called yesterday and I told them the kid had to be wrong. About the green arrow that he had to have a green light not a green arrow, my insurance called he changed his story now. And said it was a yellow arrow, my insurance said they are trying to put it on me now. The kid also said I was at a red light then went, but I never had a red light it turn green right before I got to it.

How dishonest they really are, the dad was going to pay it out of his pocket but turns it over to his insurance. Then I told the insurance the kid had to be wrong about the green arrow, then his insurance left him change his story to it being a yellow arrow. And wants my insurance to cover my damages, meaning a $250 out of pocket for me then even though, the light turned green for me right before to it.

The kid said I was sitting a a red light first, not true I said right off I had a green light, as it turn green right before I got to it. The kid was all shaking and upset afterwards, and keep saying he was sorry and claim he had a green arrow. I said right from the get go I had a green light, and I did it changed right before I got to it. After posting to the forum and it was showed he could not of had a green arrow, I told his insurance that he was wrong and must had a green light not a arrow.

It then changes to he had a yellow arrow, and that not true as my light changed to green just before I got to it. That would mean his light had changed to a green light, meaning he must wait for all autos to clear before going. It's becoming very clear to me the kids dad, was stalling and try to get out of paying my damages. First they get me to get a price on the damages, then trys to shift blame to me then backs off it. Then his dad claims, the estimate seem to high and wanted to see the damages for him self.

Then changes from paying them out of his pocket, to turning it over to his insurance now they are shifting blame to me. My insurance said they are trying to pull he said she said deal, but how can they when clearly they took the blame. And got me to get a estimate on the damages, if that dos not prove they are taking the blame nothing does. His insurance yesterday said they want their own estimate, but today they are trying to say I'm at blame as much as the kid.

That is about as dishonest as it gets, the kid changes his story from green arrow to yellow arrow. It is clear he is making it as he goes, as it proves to be wrong so he changes it. The light turned green just before I got to it, so that would mean that kids light turned green as well at the same time. It could be no other way, other wise I would of had a red light and I did not. So how can they even try blaming me, when he turn out in front of me. And I had no turn at all at any time, I should of called the cops he may have well got it for hit and run.

As he did not pull right over like the law says, he went down block into a parking lot. One person yell to ask if he took off, another stop and give me his tag # as he thought he took off. It just goes to show even though the kid took the blame, and his dad friend was there and heard him. Even give me his card and said he would make sure my damages, was taking care of for me they pull this on me. His dad friend said they are good people, and he would take care of it if they did not, I sure hope my insurance don't just pay it.