01 red Corolla Dent & scratch - hit and run

[readersthink]

I got hit in the parking lot by an uninsured driver. There is damage on the rear end, attached are the pics.

Am not sure if dry ice & air dryer removal will work in my case. Also I do not know if the paint is from the other car or mine.

I can go thru my insurance company but I have to pay my deductible, rates go up, etc. Any suggestions you could provide is appreciated.

[fishexpo101]

Sucks. Sorry to hear about that. Looks like the metal after the tire is wrinkled, dry-ice trick will not work on that. Would be tough for a paintless dent repair kit too - that looks like it will need to be pulled and pounded out the old -fashioned way.

Looks like paint transfer from the other car to yours - as it appears that there is some paint transferred to your tire too.

Hard to say what will work best here - I had similar damage to a Camry - repair bill was well past $2000 - but mine started further up by the rear door and ended about where your damage was. Double check with your insurance company - some have a no-fault claim, which may or maynot affect your premium.

Could have an independant bodyshop pound that out for you. Most are hurting for some business, so they might be willing to give you a cash price. Keep in mind, you do get what you pay for. Nothing worse that getting a half-a$$ed repair job after something like this happens.

Good Luck.

[blb]

Start by using some polishing compound or swirl remover and chances are most of the white paint, presumably from the other car, will come off. The dent will need to be tapped out, filled, primed and repainted if you are going to fix that.

[01loadedLE]

RT did you report them to the police at least? If not you can do it anonymously. They have no business being on the roads without insurance as they are breaking the law. If they were stupid enough to hit you in a parking lot then they are for sure stupid enough to injure or kill someone on the roads and since they're without insurance they would have to be sued by the other party or their family which would cost them money they may not even have and that would not be right. You could prevent that if you haven't yet.

[readersthink]

That person gave me all wrong information (Name, Insurance # & phone). Stupid me, I accepted it without checking her license or insurance card. Luckily I noted the License plate and found her thru Police department next day, only to find that her license was suspended.

They charged her with Hit & Skip. It went to the court, I appeared twice and provided all the evidence. I think I might get paid $500 or so, not sure. I need to go to the court again in first week of October.

Whereas the estimate to fix is $1,200, plus add 4 days of rental car to this. My insurance company is thinking that I cannot double dip (get paid from court & thru them). My deductible is $100 only.

Issue here is whatever $ I get from court is not enough. I think City Prosecutor told that I can sue via civil case (or thru small claims court) for rest of the money. I am not so clear on that, need to ask in my next court appearance.

Am still waiting for a final decision from court and confused right now.

[01loadedLE]

Good for you! Glad the broad got charged. Hope it works out for you.