What would you do?

[riverfever]

My boss wants to learn to fly fish so I've been taking him out these last few months. He's a good guy but I'd be lying if I said I wasn't initially worried about it interfering with work (don't know how just a thought that crossed my mind). Anyway...things have been fine. This morning I went over to his house to meet and we were going to drive separately. His truck is in the driveway and I back out and start to drive off when he gets out and motions to me. I stop (now behind his truck and perpendicular to it). He forgot something and needs to run back in the house. So I'm just sitting there when I happen to look back towards the truck and see that it's now rolling out of the driveway and right towards my car. My first reaction was to throw it in gear and get out of the way which I started to do but then quickly put the brake on. I think my thought process was that then the truck would gain momentum and go through the neighbors fence and maybe hit their house. By then it was too late to try to jump out and stop it (there probably was never enough time for that move anyways (unless I was Yellaheep). So I basically sat there while it smacked my car. Here's the damage.

It's not bad and my car wasn't perfect to begin with. He comes out and says we'll get it to a body shop but I'm trying to figure out if I do that. I know it won't cost him anything out of pocket really (his rates may go up a tad but maybe not). If I take it to the body shop then will me evaluation be bad this year? I know that sounds shitty but it's not a good time to be in education to begin with.

 

[YELLAHEEP]

If anything that happens away from work affects work....... That constitutes "hostile work environment".

Definitely a sticky situation. Supervisor/subordinate relationships are certainly complicated. But the guy should own up to it and make it right..... And you shouldn't have to question the outcome.

 

[riverfever]

I really feel bad for insinuating that he would treat me differently regardless of what I did. He's a good guy. I'm thankful that nobody was hurt and that it was only some minor damage to the vehicle but it still bums me out a bit.

What do you think this repair looks like? I've done dumb stuff and ruined my own vehicle before but I've never been in an accident with someone else. Do they replace door and quarter panel? Or would they more likely use filler on that door ding and maybe cut out and replace that panel spot?

 

[DutchVDub]

Sounds to me like he is already willing to make it right so I'd take him up on that. It was his vehicle that hit yours and it was him that left it in neutral or whatever allowing the accident to happen. I wouldn't be worried about any reprecussions in regards to fixing your car.

 

[YELLAHEEP]

Looks like some minor metal "massaging" and light filler then blending the paint and re-paint of the silver trim. I doubt any parts would be cut out.

Had similar damage to the same area on the wife's TBSS. Abra auto body did amazing work. The paint blend was perfect - can't see the difference in any light at any angle.

 

[xj-grin]

Sounds to me like he is already willing to make it right so I'd take him up on that. It was his vehicle that hit yours and it was him that left it in neutral or whatever allowing the accident to happen. I wouldn't be worried about any reprecussions in regards to fixing your car.

^^^that^^^

 

[rjheger]

that they will just fill and paint for sure but depending on the year and miles they might total it. i know it sounds stupid for thyat but i am sure u all know keifer pretty well and i work with him.. we see in some cases lexus that comes in that needs a bumper cover and headlight maybe and they total it.. depends on the insurance too.. some insurance companys total almost every car that comes in lol.

as far as what to do?? i would probably try to act as if it was not somebody close to you and take the same approace as you would then.. i mean i know what yoyu mean, i had the same situation with my parents lol but what can you do right. if he is a good guy as you say he is then i doubt he will let it interact with your relationship in or outside of work.

 

[riverfever]

Oooohhh I hope they don't total it. I'm only at 270,000 miles. Thanks fellas.

 

[Kiefer316]

Just talked to my dad who works as a claims adjuster for usaa. He says they shouldn't total it at all at the least it would cost about 500 to fix

 

[Kittrell]

that they will just fill and paint for sure but depending on the year and miles they might total it.

Haha, did you even look at the photo? They wouldn't total that even if it was a '76 Pacer.

Chris, I would take it and get an estimate done. Then I would see if he wanted to pay cash or involve his insurance. Depending on how much it is, it might be in his best interest to pay you cash for the repair and save increased insurance rates for the next 3 years.

 

[riverfever]

Wanted to update this thread. I was told to take the vehicle to Perkins Collision and Paint down on 21st and 24. I took it down there last Friday at 3:45. While taking things out of the vehicle, another person was picking up their 4 Runner and they were not happy. I told myself they were probably just being unreasonable. I filled out the necessary papers and got to the last page which was a check in page to go over the vehicle with their estimator to make sure that things like the ABS light were not on, horn was functional, etc. I was told that they were NOT going to check in the vehicle at that time but that if I wished to come back on Monday to do that I could. By now it's 4 and I wondered what my recourse would be if I picked up the car and something was wrong but then figured, these people do this all the time with cars that are probably flat bedded in. Things will be fine. Then I asked if someone could come out and look at the damage with me so that I could let them know which dents on the door were from parking lots and which ones were a result of the accident as I didn't want them to do any extra work but I also wanted what had happened fixed. Seems fair to me. Again I was told that nobody would look at it but that they were sure that if the dents were in the general area that they would be taken care of. Again I told myself that I was probably being unreasonable. They'll probably do a whole skin on the door and take care of it all. They'll probably do more than what they are actually supposed to because it's insurance money and not mine. Feeling uneasy, I leave my car there.

Got a call yesterday saying it was done early (supposed to be done Monday). I go down to pick it up. Here it is.

This is a 20 foot repair. My car isn't new. It's got a lot of dings on it but I just have a problem with being taken advantage of. The pic above doesn't look too bad but you can clearly see the dent above the moulding. I was given the key and nobody was going to go over the car with me until I demanded someone come out. I pointed out the dent and explained how I had asked to show someone this specific dent and that I was really disappointed. I was told that that dent was coming out and couldn't possibly have been caused by the accident but that they did fix the big dent. I asked if he thought I was fooking blind? Of course I can see the big dent is fixed. Explain to me how the other dent came from inside the vehicle. He then tells me that he supposes they can take more pictures and send them to the insurance company and see what they say. Fuming now...I begin to look closer.

This is the area that got the worst of it in the accident. I don't think this is acceptable.

That's inside the door where the blending looks like that of a 5 year old with a can of Krylon.

Here's the BEST part:

Yes that's the door decal. Not sure what to do here but I'll definitely be talking to the insurance company. The problem is that I refuse to have anyone down there anywhere near the car again. Don't take your car to Perkins Collision and Paint in Colorado Springs.

 

[ClarkPeach]

Jeebus... Sorry for the crappy luck! If you're in the market for a quick re-do, the body shop next to my shop is pretty good and has quick turn around times. Cars Collision... Talk to Ben the Manager.

 

[riverfever]

I don't know WTF I'm gonna do Clark. I can't believe this cost $1300. I'm absolutely kicking myself right now for not taking the check that was offered to me. I also can't believe that any estimator at the shop would look at this and go, "Oh yeah...that turned out nice."

 

[DutchVDub]

Abra is awesome to work with and works well with USAA, just an fyi.

I know I would be pissed about that work, even if it was just the Insurance Companies' money.

 

[jimgrms]

Go back to the insurance adjuster you took it to most likely they will get a refund from perkins , and then find another body shop

 

[riverfever]

I'm going to call the insurance adjuster I spoke with from my friends company tomorrow.

 

[Kiefer316]

I see why they did a terrible job....
http://www.perkinsmotors.com/Collision-Center-Body-Shop.html


It's a dealership... All they want is the money from the Insurance company.

 

[DutchVDub]

Thats not neccessarily true, Northglenn Dodge had an awesome body shop. When they replaced the bed side, lower corner of the cab, and rear bumper on my 84 S-10 it was top quality work. My complaint was it did take a bit longer than originally estimated. Unfortunately though Chrysler shut them down.

All-Star Automotive is who State Farm had me send my 98 S-10 too and they did very good work too. Blended the Dark Cherry Red Metallic perfectly on my Passenger side door.

And again, my dealings with Abra Automotive in Northglenn and Longmont have always gone very well.

 

[JJacobs]

Ah, body shops. Unfortunate topic. I have heard good spoken of some but my very limited experience with them has been extremely irritating. FWIW, Abra is a chain and your experience may very by location. I do know that at least once, the Longmont location has perpetuated what appeared to be insurance fraud.

I think you were on it in your first post. Hang around and watch customers pick up their repaired cars. If they're not happy, odds are you won't be either.

 

[rjheger]

Take it to the insurance and ake them have it redone. U have the right to do that. And
they will either redo it or give u a check for the car. If oh boy up there wants to be a smart ass again thats cool cuz american family just paid a guy out and totaled a sting ray vette cuz dude did not like the paint job. U have to think how much money will they put into the car before they let it go so they dont lose too much money on it. How much do u think that car is worth or what it will bring at auction? And they already got how much in it? Take it to them and say u want it redone and see what options they give u and make a choice on that.