What Would You Do ?

[G-Man]

Daughter traded paint with a cop car.  Cop car was blocking traffic and she was instructed to drive around it.  Passenger side door rubbed cop's driver's side front bumper corner.  No dents to either car, just paint scrapes.  Cops took a couple of pictures and daughters info.  No tickets issues.  No police report or police report number given to daughter.  Daughter got ZERO information from the cop.   That's it, I have no further info (this was like pulling teeth don'tcha know).

Would you report this?  You think the cop will?  Would you chance not calling your insurance company?

[Jersey mike]

Was this today? Did she get the vehicle number or plate number?

If it was me I’d probably go down to the station and low key try and figure it out together this way everyone is on the same page. Are you looking for anything for repair?

[semo97]

I am with Jersey Mike, do it low key and very politly, see where they stand.  Your daughter was at falt like it or not. If your wanting the city to pay for paint may stir the pot, tough spot to be in.

[John Schmidt]

When you say paint scrapes, did it go into the metal on either car or just accumulate some of the cop car paint on the surface of hers? If the latter, get some Goof Off to remove the paint she picked up. Did that to my wife's Lexus some years ago, couldn't tell where it was after she hit a barricade in a parking lot at a restaurant.

[RDAbull]

I would do nothing.

If they call you on it, which I doubt, would it really be worth turning in to the insurance company?

[Jersey mike]

I would do nothing.

If they call you on it, which I doubt, would it really be worth turning in to the insurance company?

My recommendation was only because the officer took her info and provided none in return.

I do not know if road units are visually inspected during shift change or not.

I would not expect anything to become of it but…stuff happens.

[Jess from VA]

Reporting it just like it happened to the insurance is probably smart (and you'll have to if you intend to make a claim).  The (pretty remote) worry is the cop or PD later makes a claim against her, and she looks bad for not making her own report.  Is that likely?

It can't be a hit and run (or leaving the scene), she didn't run; she cooperated and left when it was over.  

Reporting it gets an accident on her record (and maybe a rate increase, and maybe not with no claims).  Her past driving record is relevant on this issue.

Or do nothing, and no claim for repairs.

She cooperated and provided all her info.  Even though she was trying to not get a ticket and be a good citizen (and make no waves), she should have at least tried to politely get the guys name, tag, unit number (and snapped pics on scene with her cell phone).  

Whatever else you do, get her to sit down and write up a report of time, place, date, circumstances, and facts while it's fresh in her mind.  Even if you never give it to anyone.  

I was involved (but not at fault) in a very minor multi-car fender bender that turned into a shyster lawsuit almost a year after the fact... and I should have written my own report when fresh in my mind.  A cop came and looked and talked and took a few notes, but wrote no tickets and no accident report (no one was hurt).  So it was truly a he-said she-said.  The shyster and his lying client got a small settlement, which was their whole plan.



  

[da prez]

My understanding is a police officer should give you a buisness card if asked. A badge number request should be given.
 I agree with writing a report and keeping it now that it is fresh in her mind. I would do a wait and see. The officer should log the incident in his daily report.


                da prez

[G-Man]

Thanks all!

RAV4 with 160,000 miles, every bumper corner is rubbed, steel wheels with peeling paint and surface rust.  Every idiot light on even though she runs fine and starts every morning.  No, not looking to make a claim at all.  Just don't want to have to pay for something like this for the next few years if I don't have to. 

I don't know what it is with kids nowadays, though.  This isn't her first accident, unfortunately, and I guess she was intimidated as she said 7 or 8 cops were there (there was a traffic thing going on).  She said cop offered her nothing in the way of a name, badge number, etc. and she didn't ask for anything. 

The son did the same thing not long ago.  Got into a little paint scraping with another driver who took all his information and then just left.  Son got nothing.  No pictures of the car, the windshield stickers, nothing!  And they were instructed on what to do by me, in case of an accident, but I guess it goes out the window when something actually happens.  They better figure it out, soon.  These kids are adults now and I'm not gonna come running and pay the bills for that much longer.

[Jess from VA]

Make them little bullet point accident cards to keep in the glove box Gary.   

1) DON'T get in accidents.

2)  If you do, don't run away.

3)  Before you get out of the car, be sure this is not a robbery/car jack (if it is, run away, then call the cops from a safe location)

4)  and so on....   

[old2soon]

       I recall a Johny Carson thing from when he was still in NYC. Guy hit a parked car. Everyone Thinks I'm leaving my info on this piece of paper for the owner of the car I hit! I'm NOT. I'm just scribbling on this piece of paper! Good luck finding out Who hit you!  Gary-hope it all do NOT come back and bite yer Family in the keester! RIDE SAFE.

[cookiedough]

I would just skip it leave as is if the cops let her off the hook for any damages and you do not want to repair the SUV she has since older and probably not worth repairing if just paint issues.

Drive it until it dies.

I hear yah though on kids NOT reporting accidents, especially since NOT their fault.  My daughter when age 21 or so was on the interstate and a trailer tire blew in front of her and went under her left front fender wheel and made a BIG THUNK.  She kept right on going until she got to our house vs. pulling over like the guy pulling the trailer did and calling 911 and get a cop out there to file a claim on THEIR insurance to fix her (I own it) car. 

It took out the plastic fender wheel, and ripped off the rocker panel under both driver's door and also a few plastic clip on tabs protecting the bottom area (plastic skid plate on bottom also ripped).
I had to go to junk yard get a new lower rocker panel, new fender wheel, and used zip ties to hold the plastic skid plate better in place.  NOT that expensive like few hundred bucks, but MY TIME was a TON fixing it all up.    All coulda been paid for by the trailer guys insurance instead. 

[Ramie]

LEO's get scrapes and dents all the time around here.  Cost of doing business, if they're not too bad they usually wait until they accumulate then get them all fixed at once.