So I was parking in a parking garage Saturday night to meet some friends for dinner. I was behind two other cars driving up through the garage when the one in front decided to stop and back up for a space they had just passed. When they started to back up, the car behind them (directly in front of me) started to back up. Apparently, neither driver thought it would be a good idea to look behind them before backing up. Even though I laid on the horn, they backed right into the front driver side corner of my car. I couldn't back out of the way because I actually looked back and saw that there was a car behind me.

There didn't appear to be that much damage. As far as I could tell, there are only scratches on the bumper, and the fog light on the driver side doesn't light up anymore (the luminics bulbs that I JUST installed). Even though the damage is minor, I was still pretty pissed off that someone had hit my car. We exchanged information, and the guy said that he would pay for everything once I got an estimate.

Something I am wondering though, should I have someone look at the bumper to make sure that the paint is the only thing damaged? In other words, could the bumper be deformed or could something behind the bumper have been damaged? Also, if there are only scratches on the bumper, and there is no paint missing, can they just be buffed out, or will it need to be repainted? Any help will be appreciated.

My front end must have a bullseye on it that I can't see because this is the second time someone has hit my car. At least it wasn't a hit and run in the parking lot when I wasn't around like last time. I really wish that people would pay attention when driving so that stupid **** like this wouldn't happen.

 

Did you file a police report? This guy may bounce and you'd have nothing.

 

Probably should have filed a police report, but I didn't. I have his address, cell phone number, driver's license #, license plate #, and business card. If he tries to bounce, I have more than enough information to catch up with him. Plus, If he attempted to screw me over like that, then I'll file a hit and run report and give the cops his license plate number.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chiggin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Probably should have filed a police report, but I didn't. I have his address, cell phone number, driver's license #, license plate #, and business card. If he tries to bounce, I have more than enough information to catch up with him. Plus, If he attempted to screw me over like that, then I'll file a hit and run report and give the cops his license plate number.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Poor choice man. You could have all the info in the world, but this case just became his word vs. yours. If he decides to expletive you over, what're you gonna do? All he has to say is 'No I didn't hit him' and the case is more or less over, unless you have witnesses.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by elohel &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Poor choice man. You could have all the info in the world, but this case just became his word vs. yours. If he decides to expletive you over, what're you gonna do? All he has to say is 'No I didn't hit him' and the case is more or less over, unless you have witnesses.</TD></TR></TABLE>

this is true! ive done it... not that its recommended!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by elohel &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Poor choice man. You could have all the info in the world, but this case just became his word vs. yours. If he decides to expletive you over, what're you gonna do? All he has to say is 'No I didn't hit him' and the case is more or less over, unless you have witnesses.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I know....this is what everyone keeps telling me. The guy was very apologetic about hitting my car and was also very forthcoming with his information. He had no problem waiting for the police if I wanted to call them. Hopefully this means that he isn't the type of person who would screw me over.

Poor choices aside....any input on my questions?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chiggin &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Something I am wondering though, should I have someone look at the bumper to make sure that the paint is the only thing damaged? In other words, could the bumper be deformed or could something behind the bumper have been damaged? Also, if there are only scratches on the bumper, and there is no paint missing, can they just be buffed out, or will it need to be repainted? Any help will be appreciated.</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

Get used to the accidents.....they happen. And for those of you that have been lucky so far..........thin ice.

As for your questions........chances are they backed into you at less than 5mph...a chip shot, so there's probably no damage done behind your bumper although it's difficult to tell if the scratches will need to be repainted without pictures.

So you know what to do.

 

those sound like questions you would ask the body shop that is doing the estimate for you, right? what I can say about bumpers is that even when they don't look damaged right away alot of times the paint will crack where it flexed when it was hit so that's something to look out for. GL

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by IT GUY &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">those sound like questions you would ask the body shop that is doing the estimate for you, right? what I can say about bumpers is that even when they don't look damaged right away alot of times the paint will crack where it flexed when it was hit so that's something to look out for. GL </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes, they are...and will be asking them. I am just trying to get info on this from a few different sources. I didn't think about the paint cracking. I will definitely make sure the body shop looks for this when I go by tomorrow.


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by RICO_ &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">it's difficult to tell if the scratches will need to be repainted without pictures.

So you know what to do. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I knew the request for pics would come sooner or later....I'll have some up as soon as conditions permit. It has been raining a good bit since it happened, so lighting and everything has not been the best.

 

There is actually a lot room behind your bumper. Right behind the plastic bumper is 2 foam blocks that are between the plastic bumper and the real aluminum bumper. Then a big space before you get to the radiator.

Really, unless you have an intercooler, there is nothing but plastic that could be damaged. If you replaced your fog light bulbs yourself, you should be able to pull the bottom plastic sheild off and check up under the bumper for any damage. The only thing that might have been damanged or pinched, that I can think of, is the wiring harness for the lights and fog lights.

Good luck