Front end smashed - less than 3 weeks old

[OppoLock]

[#2]: updated situation on post 88.

[#3]: collision repair photo update on post 108.

Well this sucks.

Was following this van on the way into my company's parking garage this morning. Guy gets to the base of the ramp leading up to the second floor, realizes his van won't duck under the clearance bar, and proceeds to put it in reverse. I'm right behind him, and before I get a chance to do anything except get out a quick honk, he crunches my whole front end in.

The front driver's side QP ended up getting pushed back underneath the front of my door, so it was a little hard to open it and get out.

Right now I'm just in shock. Hard to register this bullshit so early into ownership, especially when I'm not at fault.

Asking for advice: I tried calling 911 to file a police report, but the operator states that we can't make one due to the location of the accident. We were both cooperating with each other, and he was genuinely apologetic about the whole thing. We took photos of each others' IDs, exchanged phone numbers, and I took a shitty video documenting the time/date and briefed what happened with both license plates recorded. Dafuq do I do now? FL is a no-fault state. Does that mean I have to bite the bullet and go through my own insurance? Also, I don't want any of this shit repaired. I want it all replaced with new parts. The car is new for christ's sake.

TIA for any advice and listening to me vent. Going to try and make it through work and enjoy Gasparilla tomorrow.

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[Thompyt]

His insurance doesn't cover it?

 

[ScottsGT]

Bummer. But mine was 4 days old with 250 miles on it and had to replace the bumper. Son's friend let his foot off the clutch pedal without checking the shifter first. Car lunged into my house.

 

[SVT_N8]

Now's the perfect time to upgrade to a Roush front bumper

 

[stoli]

That SUCKS.

Contact his insurance company and yours. "No Fault' is a misnomer - it has to do with injuries. He was at fault so his insurance will (should) pay for it all. You want to notify yours just so it's on record in case the driver's puts up a fight for some reason.

 

[OppoLock]

I should mentioned that his van is a rental... does that play into it?

 

[doulos4jc]

That really sucks...sorry to hear of several forum members already getting in accidents :(

 

[Zombie]

UGH! NO!!! :(

Sorry dude.

 

[stoli]

Now's the perfect time to upgrade to a Roush front bumper

Absolutely!

 

[Grimace427]

Best of luck to you OppoLock.

 

[stoli]

I should mentioned that his van is a rental... does that play into it?

Even better - it's pretty much guaranteed to have good coverage and you have two methods of recovery - the driver's personal car insurance and the rental company's.

 

[mc lane]

sorry to hear this
the best way by far to avoid this
is to stay far behind the one in front of you
there is no such Thing as to much safety distance...

 

[Nanashii]

Just FYI...something similar happened to my friend at a traffic light recently. Car in front of him stopped way past the white line....driver backs up a little and leaves the car in reverse. My friend could not see his reverse lights since he got really close when he backed up. Light turns green and the guy hits him. My friend called the cops to get everything documented...the guy admitted his fault in front of the cops, but they didn't draft a report because the damage was minor. The guy then changed his story and told his insurance company that my friend rear ended him. His insurance company won't talk to the cop. My friend now has to get this fixed on his own and go through small claims court (the cop will get a subpoena).

 

[TWilliams]

Oh, man, seeing all these early "victims" is painful. Makes me want to keep mine in its cave and not let it out to play! Hope they do you right.

 

[Twin Turbo]

:(

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