I've had a really bad morning today

Well what can I say? I was so stressed out this morning that I wanted to start smoking.. again. Thankfully that hasn't come to that.

What happened was at my apartment complex there have been cases of people illegally parking in spots not marked for parking. This morning I back out of my spot and I thought I bumped the car that was illegally parked. I thought nothing of it and drove in to work.

When I got to work I noticed the damage to my rear bumper. It was smashed in on the right corner of the bumper. Immediately I started panicking and my stress level increased to a level I've never felt before. I called the police (not 911) and asked them what do they think I should do. They told me even though the car was illegally parked someone could have seen the accident and filed a hit and run. Thankfully that didn't happen as far as I know. I don't think there was anyone around anyway or else they would have flagged me down and got my attention.

The police told me that I should drive back and file a report when I meet the officer. I took off quickly since I was so scared that there could be an alternate situation I'd have to deal with. Anyway, I called the apartment complex and talked to the manager who reassured me things will be okay. She told me that the same thing happened to her, but she didn't get a ticket yet she was charged with the accident with her being the moving vehicle and the other was stationary.

The officer showed up and I told him the story. He got my information and as much information on the other car. I've got a case number so I'll be popping in to the local police station and pick up the report in about 4 or 5 days. The officer was nice and patted my arm just to reassure me that everything will be okay. He did tell me though that with the apartment complex being private property that there's nothing he could do. I was also told by others here at work that the insurance companies might not do anything as well for the same reason.

I'll just have to wait and see what happens, and I'll keep you posted.
<sigh

 

True it isn't my fault, but I'm afraid that when I get the incident report that I'll be charged with the accident even though that person was illegally parked. My biggest problem is what the apartment manager said to me.

I know I should worry about things that are out of my control, but I do feel a lot better now than I did this morning. I know if it was me, I would be upset someone hit my car, but I know I wouldn't be parking illegally. That's just ridiculous. I know there are people who are very possessive of their cars.

Oh and I did forget to mention that it was a BMW convertible. Like that really matters, huh?

 

As bad as it may seem you did the right thing by reporting it. Like you said it may have been your car. You have to be careful now a day because the owner of the other car may have seen you bump him in the morning & never had time to get out to you and discuss the situation. Then you never know if this person is planning revenge which usually is worse. At least if someone confronts you there always is the police report which proves you are a good honest person & you did report it. Most of all your conscience won’t eat away at you. I myself would think about it first, but in the end I would report it because my conscience wouldn’t let me rest & I have been bumped 3 or 4 times in parking lots with no one reporting it. In the end you will have to shell out some cash, just be thankful it wasn’t a serious accident & no one was injured. Hope this help. All the best.

 

Something doesn't sound right.
The manager can get any unwanted cars towed with a phone call but says nothing can be done?

 

What ever you do, don't start smoking again! I think you did the right thing reporting it to the police, now you have a police report to go on. If the car was illegally parked, they would be at least partially at fault. I would contact my insurance company and see what they say. Just tell them what happened and get them a copy of the report when you get it.

If your insurance company can get out of paying any money (by making the person who parked illegally pay some, they will...) so they will be on your side there.

Good luck, and hopefully you will have a better day tommorow :cool

E

 

That's what I was thinking, especially if she's hit a car and been ticketed for causing an accident herself. Private property means they have absolute discretion over what goes on there, she should have all illegally parked cars towed at the owners' expense. That's what would happen at the last complex I lived in.

 

I think you are at fault because you hit the other vehicle, as crappy as that seems. If it is illegally parked and is impeding the movement of your vehicle, you still can't hit it. I think your options would be to have it towed yourself, or have the manager do it.
I know here, insurance would cover it, if it's more than you can afford. Talk to your insurance company. Regardless of whether they or you pay to repair it, have the insurance company estimate the repair. They will likely find the cheapest repair for them, or you.
I don't know if this is the first time you've been in a situation like this before, but they usually turn out to be not a big deal.

@ Sgt. Tibbs. I agree. My car was towed at my daughter's complex in another city. There was nothing saying I couldn't park there (winter snow cover), but I had to pay the bill. Nothing I could do.

 

@Bear9090: Thank you for your words of encouragement. I knew I was doing the right and honorable thing. My boss told me that if it was him, he wouldn't have done a thing and forget about it. So I know I did the right thing by reporting it even though there's nothing anyone could do about it.

@tjet & Sgt. Tibbs: Basically I was thinking the same thing as well. I thought if I reported people parking illegally that their cars would be towed. Apparently this is too much of a liability for them which is the impression I'm getting. I don't know if they have to pay for a towing company to come by and tow illegally parked cars. That's just from my vantage point.

@Fred_G: As much as I really wanted to smoke even if it was one, I resisted and won... this time. As long as I don't pick up what I did smoke (Marlboro Light Menthols), I feel like I'll be fine even if it was just the one. Guess that's why I love mints so much these days. Besides the second time I quit was... hmmm... about 8 or 9 years ago.

@sibeer: I know that's true that I'm the one at fault since I was moving and hit a parked car even though it was illegally parked. That I can face up to it while grinning and bearing it. I might contact the insurance company, but I'm hearing that insurance companies might not cover that because it happened on private property. I'm not sure if that is correct, but I'll find out as that progresses.

**** End of replies ****

Since my back bumper is made of plastic someone told me to get a hair dryer and warm that up and push the corner bumper back out. Then use some touch-up paint to take care of the mishaps. I might take a picture of that bumper just to show you how bad it was. I know two people got two different impressions from how I was reacting to what happened. One thought it wasn't any big deal and the other thought it was worse than it was.

Oh and speaking of which I have seen that same vehicle in the parking lot a couple of times over the weekend. I am not sure if that person still visits over the weekend or what, but that doesn't matter really. The reason I'm telling this is that the person is now parking in a PROPER parking spot!

 

You’re a rarity! Wish there were more morally minded persons out there like yourself…hope everything works out well for you!

 

99.9% of the time illegally parked cars are towed at the owner's expense. Liability? Meh...they just don't want to deal with it. Which means management is lazy. I bet it takes forever to get things fixed in your apartment, too, doesn't it?

 

Even if the BMW owner does try to claim for damage to their car, what evidence is there that your car caused all the damage ? For all you or he / she knows, the BMW could already have had damage on it, especially if the driver was in the habit of parking it in places they shouldn't.

If it's any consolation, at least you didn't do this to it . . . .

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b384/12quidkidinnit/CURRENT%20UPLOADS/m53.jpg

 

hahaha if your lucky they drove away without seeing it =) then at some later time find out hahahahah.

 

There is that lack of honesty that I saw in another thread.
http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?p=1079962#post1079962

To each their own, I guess.

 

and what lack on honesty was that?
can you explain to me any lack of honesty.
1. in the other thread i had no idea it was stolen
2. he didnt know about bumping the other car
3. It wasent even his fault, The other car was illeagly parked
4. How is that a lack of honesty, i was just stating the best outcome of this situation.

 

British TV Nut, really bad morning...I hope your insurance company will pay you Bun in future, NEVER go from accident - you should go out from a car and see what's happened...

 

Surely everybody knows that BMW drivers are above the law. They can park where they like (usually in a disabled parking bay) .

 

Actually no it doesn't. Getting things fixed is just as easy as can be which I know I'm rather shocked about the response I got. Oh well.

 

That's true it could have been much worse!

 

Not to be a wet blanket, but as I use pro level hair dryers on a regular basis and own a saturn (the ultimate plastic car) I don't think that it will give you quite enough in the way of heat to do what you need to... granted, this is without seeing the damage. Also, take into account that all my 'body shop skillz' are self taught and I love to use Bondo

You may have better luck with an industrial strength heat gun tho.


~C




PS: as an afterthought, talk to the manager about the complex investing in some car boots to immobilize illegally parked cars. They are starting to use them here in Syracuse for cars with more than 3 tickets (NOT ME!!!) and it immobilizes the car without damaging it. Just elave a number on there that they have to call to get it removed. THen make them wait an hour ot 3 before getting there to remove it, garuntee that it will cut down on illegal parking in short order

 

So can't you just go to a junkyard and get yourself another bumper. We do it all the time.We have gotten door handles, wiper blade assemblies, custom carpeting.