Don't forget about depreciated value. This is going to cost more than just the cost of the repairs. Your car will forever have an accident recorded against it (when the body shop does the work, they have to log the VIN and the work done). That could mean thousands of dollars when you go to sell the car in a few years. Your better off going through insurance and making a depreciated value claim on top of the cost of repairs.

Also, if your car is a lease, I believe you have to report any and all accidents to Infiniti Financial Service per the lease contract you signed. Keep that in mind as well.

Good luck.

 

If I was in your position I would go the insurance route. That way, they take care of everything. I recently got rear ended and all I needed was to get it repainted. The driver that hit me proposed paying out of pocket for it but like I said earlier, it's just easier to go through the insurance company. Also, is your neighbor willing to pay for a rental too (assuming your coverage includes rental car and this is your DD)?

 

You can save some money by popping out that dent your self and all you have to do is get everything aligned. That bumper is still good. Lets hope everything else is still good and all you have to do is repaint.

 

If it were mine I would get an estimate from a body shop and collect that amount from the neighbor.
Put the money in the bank and do not fix it right away.

Who knows when s#it can happen again?

Telcoman

 

Thanks everyone for the help. I am planning to go to a body shop tomorrow and see what the cost comes out to be. The car is a leased car so I dont think I should have to worry about depreciated value.

Thanks again everyone.

 

Better read the fine print in the lease

 

Be sure to INSIST on genuine Infiniti parts if anything needs to be replaced. Good Luck!

 

If it's leased that is exactly why you need to be worried about depreciated value. Because you are responsible for any damage done to Infiniti's car while you are leasing it.

 

FWIW, I'd recommend filing a police report and notifying your insurance company immediately, regardless of what your neighbor wishes. I went through this many years ago (when I was much stupider than I am now), when someone rear-ended my car and asked that I get him the bill and allow him to pay in cash. Fortunately for me, a state trooper passed by on the other side of the four-lane at that time. He turned around at the next median crossing and then came back to take the info. Even with a filed report from the state trooper, when I sent him the bill, he tried to deny that he had anything to do with the collision. If you don't get a report, there's no official record of what happened and, in case of legal action, it will boil down to your word against his. Your insurance company won't care (at least financially) as long as you don't file a claim against them, and you may find it necessary to file if your neighbor pulls a fast one. I'm sympathetic with your desire to maintain "good relations" with your neighbor, but it could end up costing you a lot of money and will still result in "bad relations" anyway. Protect yourself. Never, Never, Never have money dealings with relatives or neighbors; it ALWAYS turns out badly.

 

Well said^^

 

I strongly agree with what was said. I was side swiped a couple of years back in my car that was less than a month ago. The girl admitted fault we exchanged information and left because we were under a severe thunder storm warning and weather was getting really bad. When I called the girl with quotes her mom got involved and things got really complicated. She was making accusations that because I didn't file a police report that she wasn't going to pay for the damages for my car. I got my insurance company involved and they ended up taking care of it, but it would have been 100xs easier if I had filed the police report.

You can file a after the fact police report and they can have him come down to the station to fill out some paperwork. I strongly recommended you do that.

 

Just get a couple of estimates and let him write you a check. Chances are everything will work out fine. If you're dealing with a neighbor with whom you have a good relationship I am sure your problems will be minimal. This is NOT the same situation as getting hit by a complete stranger. Get the car fixed correctly......DO NOT try to repair the bumper cover...that seldom works well.

 

This....


Forget the pictures get it in the forum!!!

 

Why taking the chances on a brand new car? Filing a police report and notify insurance is the right way to go.

 

It is the right way to go but if you can just shell out the cash then you don't have to worry about your insurance going up and staying there for the next 3 years of your life.