Someone Left a Note

Hi! Yeah, so I hope you had a great Thanksgiving (if you're American) or... whatever holiday may have fallen, by coincidence, on the same day or weekend that we celebrate Thanksgiving in America. Or, hey, if it wasn't a particular holiday where you're from, then I hope you had a great weekend!

I had a pretty good weekend, thanks for asking. There was a minor incident, though, that I thought I'd seek some advice on. Tell me what you all think I should do.

I was parked somewhere this weekend, and someone accidentally maneuvered his car into my car while I wasn't there. I knew this because the doors had a bunch of white streaks on them that looked an awful lot like salt road spray. But there is no road salt right now, so that's not it. I wiped a bit, and wouldn't you know it... there's a long crease along the bottom of the doors on the driver's side. Some paint is missing too. :(

I got in the car to see if it recorded the event, but before I had a chance to check that, I discovered a note under the windshield.

The note had a name, a number, was deeply-apologetic, and offered to get it straightened out.

I know. I was shocked, too.

We live in a world now where that would have happened and the offending driver would have just... driven away like it didn't happen. But this guy left a note.

Turns out, he's a new driver. I feel terrible for him, because he probably left that note, and then dwelled on it all day until I contacted him. It probably put a damper on his weekend, too. I don't want that for him.

I would, however, like the car to be fixed. I've never owned a new car until I bought this one, and I want it to look pretty. I like it, and I take care of it. I talked to the driver and he has insurance, but would like to avoid using it to keep his premiums from skyrocketing. This seems reasonable to me, but I feel like I need to do something to mark this. I already made an appointment with Tesla to get it looked at (that's late February). Do I need to call my insurance and tell them? Do I need to try to get his insurance info anyway? Police report? Call the President?

I want to do something right by him for leaving the note. I hate the "No good deed goes unpunished" saying, but in this case, it's one of those things where it often applies. I'll try to do something to make it right for him. I really want this to be something he forgets about in a couple of months and never thinks about again--because I know how it feels to gently back up your car into your sister's car in the driveway and break every single piece of her BMW 318's bumper, causing thousands of dollars of damage somehow, and then relive that experience every time you see a Z3 or a 318 for the next 20 years.

What do you guys think? What would you do?

Here's the issue, he is under the impression it's a under a grand.  You'll find out in Feb. it's not and then what? I'd see if there is any other shop that can give you an idea, but I would ask him what he is thinking it might be $$ wise and see if he is being realistic about it.

In reply to confuZion3

First I think he's delusional to think that he'll pay out of pocket for that especially since you say it's a Tesla.  It's best that you both just report it to insurance and let the process go as normal.

I think trying to work with him is a noble gesture. I moved a few years ago and as I was leaving with the last load I damaged one if my neighbors cars. I left them as note as they were away,  and told them to get it fixed and I would pay it. I never contacted my insurance.  By the time they got an estimate from a shop they liked it had been 2 months and it was for close to $4000 ( turns out it was pearl paint), I wished I had claimed it on my insurance.  My message is see if you can confirm he can afford to pay out of pocket. If not have him contact his insurance and you yours. Good luck, minor accidents are sometimes worse to deal with.

You say there is a crease in the side doors.  I take that to mean two doors.  Plan for a min of $2k per door so my guess is you are at a min $4k problem.  If front fender or rear fender are involved at all, add $2k each as well.  $4k to $8k problem.

About the only way I see you can be a hero here is "eat it" yourself as in make a claim to your insurance stating you don't know who hit you.  You'll have to come up with the deductible yourself and you "might" be able to get that in cash from from the young'en.  But, you take all the insurance hit for a claim. 

Won't your Tesla have side video that might reveal the plate of the car who hit you?  Claiming you don't know who did it won't stop your insurance from trying to seek a source, like that video, to pin the blame onto someone other than you.  

The young person (or his parents) might have deep pockets.  I would do my best to estimate the damage in a way you could support and share this number with him.  Let him know the ballpark estimate of how much you'll be needing from him.  Go from there.

Years ago my truck was hit in the parking lot of my local motorcycle shop. The guy waited for me to come out, apologized, and gave me his contact info. He also asked if we could avoid insurance as he'd pay out of pocket. He then gave me the run-around for months. When I tried to take it to my insurance company months later, they were less then helpful.

That experience soured me on the idea of being a nice guy in those circumstances - which really bugs me because I like being a nice guy. Proceed with caution. 

Get a claim open now.  Do not wait, do not pass Go, do not collect $200.  Get the claim started.  If you ultimately wind up settling with him directly, no harm no foul.  From your description I'm guessing at least $3k.  From decades of experience, it rarely goes well trying to handle that much out of pocket.  Is he going to get you a rental while it's being repaired?

People are usually shocked by what bodywork costs, especially on something like a new Tesla. He probably thinks it's a $500 repair, but as John said I wouldn't be surprised if it crept into thousands and thousands. Even if I'd hit you, I would want to involve my insurance company--that's what it's for. If I'd been hit, I would DEFINITELY want to involve my insurance company. I second the advice to open the claim ASAP. 

Once it's open though, as far as what to do next. It's been more than a decade since I spent my summers in a body shop, but here's my recommendation based on that experience:

The best body shop in your town will already be an expert at dealing with each of the insurance companies, and about half of their customers will have notes in their hand with similar promises from the kid across the street, the uncle with poor eyesight, etc. etc. etc. They'll also offer free estimates.

I would go to that shop, lay your cards on the table, and ask "for this repair, what's the best path to get my car fixed as quickly and as correctly as possible." They'll likely lay out a few alternatives and hand you a written estimate for the repair. Make your decision from there, but don't do anything until you've had that conversation. 

Getting estimates in a timely fashion from a couple of local reputable body shops to give him the opportunity to pay out of pocket before taking it to insurance is the biggest break you should consider giving him. Communicating and coordinating with even otherwise well-intentioned individuals is almost always more time and effort on your part than you'd expect, although so is insurance, so that's the main cost to you.

Filing under UIM is putting your own neck on the line for him, and sounds like a bad idea to me.

I went through something similar after getting rear ended a few years back. When I talked to insurance, they told me there was no way to preemptively open the claim, while also giving him the opportunity to pay out of pocket and not have it show up on either of your insurance histories if he did. At least in my state, there was apparently also no rush to file the claim immediately. So I gave him the chance, and when it came out more than he could afford (totaled the car) I went just through insurance. Had another happen more recently with a small company. I'm my experience, also don't be surprised if they start to become less responsive and/or start offering sketchy 'alternative' solutions to bring the cost down once the real numbers are known.

I'd call your insurance first to find out what they have to say about your options, and how long you have with them in your state, then go from there.

OK, I will take the car to a local shop ASAP and see what they think--I'll get an estimate from them. I have the appointment with Tesla on the books if I need to talk to them, but holy smokes, 28 February is the earliest they could do. Maybe they can work up an estimate beforehand--maybe 28 February is when they'll try to repair it. I'll find out more from Tesla today when they open up and have a chance to review my message.

Also, yeah, Driven5, I'm going to avoid UIM because I agree with you on that point--plus, it's an ethics issue.

Tom, doing what you suggest probably is the best thing for both him and for me.

Thanks, everyone! I've got a couple phone calls to make. 

In reply to confuZion3 :

Just make sure that you also stay within any time frame required by your insurance for both reporting an accident (assuming this qualifies) and filing a claim.

Depending on the city you live in there may be a Tesla approved body shop and they could be a start for an estimate. I have in the past delivered printed material to one and the shop and yard were full of Teslas in various states of repair.

Just to make you feel somewhat better ... I was driving to the office at about 5am a couple of years ago and hit the back of a car that was sticking out of the driveway, I barely touched as I did not see it but I damaged quite a bit of it. I left the guy a note with my phone number and went on my way.

Later on that day on my way home I went by the house and knocked on the door, the guy was quite happy to see me as he had not seen the note or the car. I told him to get three quotes and that I would give him cash. Once he got the three quotes, I asked him to pick the one that made him feel better (there was a $1600 difference between lowest and highest), the guy was cool enough and picked the middle quote. I handed the cash and went on my way.

Some people will do as they say. Go get a couple of estimates and give the guy a chance.

If you are potentially willing to eat it, then go ahead pay out of pocket, call up Bro at the end and tell him it cost XYZ.

Otherwise turn it into insurance and let them sort it out.  

I was able to find out that we've got time on our side. I'm going to call around and get a couple of estimates and then see what he wants to do. Tesla doesn't really do estimates, because they don't know what they're going to find until they get in there, and they don't like being held to that--but they are allowed to ballpark things. I understand that. I'll see what the locals say.

In reply to confuZion3 :

That's all the estimates from any other body ship are too... It's that much for what they can see, and more for anything they can't. They and their estimate should say that, and it's also why you need to look at the itemization to actually be able to compare estimates. You'll need to make the same clear to him, and get agreement in writing, that he'll also be liable for any amount over the estimate resulting from to hidden damage too.

In reply to confuZion3 :

How about some damage pictures?

The good will of leaving a note has nothing to do with the reality of the situation.  There may have been a camera in the area or someone observed it anyway.  This is what insurance is for, get his policy information and call your insurance company.  Delay on this could cost you.  Once the estimate is available they have the option to pay out of pocket.

I shudder to think what a door repair on a tesla will cost.  

I'd be talking to the kid's parents to see if they're willing to go along with him footing the bill. An estimate would encourage them one way or another. Otherwise start a claim.

Is it possible that the note said, "my ol man is a television repair man.  He's got this ultimate set of tools...I can fix it!" 

John Welsh said:

In reply to confuZion3 :

How about some damage pictures?

Oh yeah! I can't leave you all hanging!

John Welsh said:

Is it possible that the note said, "my ol man is a television repair man.  He's got this ultimate set of tools...I can fix it!" 

No, the note was super apologetic, and he seemed sincerely upset and willing to help. I will have faith in him unless circumstances prove otherwise. Of course, I will make sure I don't accidentally shoot myself in the foot either.

Someone backed into my wife's van a few years ago. Other driver was all about paying out of pocket until she got the estimate. Average person thinks that body work is far cheaper than it is. 
 

It ended up costing us more time and effort to get the repair done. 

google your state law on vehicle damage mandatory notification.

https://www.google.com/search?q=california+vehicle+colission+mandatory+nofitication&rlz=1CAUSZT_enUS968US968&oq=california+vehicle+colission+mandatory+nofitication&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIJCAEQIRgKGKABMgkIAhAhGAoYoAEyCQgDECEYChigATIJCAQQIRgKGKABMgkIBRAhGAoYoAEyBwgGECEYjwLSAQkxNTI3M2owajeoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8