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You are here: Experts > Money > Personal Insurance > Insurance Law > accident on private property
Insurance Law - accident on private property
Expert: Denise - 10/31/2009
Question
QUESTION: i was involved in an accident at my house where my friend left his car at my house and to my understanding he was comin by to pick it up. i knew the truck was at my house for 30 minutes or so but was unaware that his truck was still parked at my house the next morning and without check i backed right into it.i realized it was my fault and wanted to fix the damage he then stated to me that his dad didnt want to get the car fixed but he got an estimate to fix the truck and that estimate was $3,000. The truck he is drivin is worth approx. $1500 according to kelley blue book value. He wants me to pay him $3,000 to him and him not get his car fixed. He also agreed to me after arguing my case that if i would give him $1000 he would just take the money and forget about it. We didnt call the police and no accident report was written up, so my question is what are the laws regaurding having a wreck at your own house and in your own driveway and what should i expect to pay or is he just trying to get as much money from me as he can without getting the truck fixed?? i also stated to him that i wanted to get his truck fixed for him because his son(my friend) didnt want to drive around a damaged truck and i completely understand that but his dad isnt willing to work with me as to where to get the car fixed he just wants me to give him money...
ANSWER: Hi Adam-
I personally wouldn't pay them anything. Sounds to me like they are trying to get as much money as possible. You could pick a car repair shop, have them take the truck there, estimate the damage you caused, and pay them that amount. Not much they can do, since there wasn't a police report filed. Hope this helps. :) Denise
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you so much Denise, i really appreciate your advice. I wanted to ask you another question related to that as well. If i were to not pay them anything and they were to take me to court over the whole situation do you have any idea as wat to expect with that, i do no that they really dont have alot of proof of the whole situation my car has already been fixed and they havent taken any pictures of my car or his either one but i did want to get his car fixed but when his father got involved and wanted to get $3000 for damage and not even get it fixed i didnt no what the right move to make was. He has also called his insurance company and reported it to them and they keep blowing my phone up but i have yet to answer because i told him i didnt want to go through the insurance because i didnt want my rate to go up anymore than it already is and his insurance company is telling him to take me to court and sue me for the money, when i told him i wanted to get it fixed but he isnt willing to be reasonable about it, hes takin his $1500 truck to the most expensive place in town and expecting me to pay him that amount. Do you have any suggestions as of what i should do or should i just blow it off and not pay him anything like you answer in the previous question, if hes not willing to work with me with a reasonable body shop? Thanks for your help... Adam
Answer
Hi Adam-
If his insurance company is telling him to take you to court (indicating that he has liability only, and no physical damage coverage on his policy), then it is up to him to cooperate, in order to try to collect from you. The question is what other damage was pre-existing on the truck, and what other damage is there that they previously didn't repair. If it is a crappy truck and they drive it looking like that, I think I'd just wait for them to take action. That's if it were me. You'd have to make your own choice about the type of folks they are. Some folks can get pretty nutty about stuff. Sorry I can't be of more help. :) Denise
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