OT NPC: My daughter was in a hit-and-run crash - need some advice, She is fine - 2012 Mini Cooper S Options

[scott_in_nh]

I would also ask about the shop on the mini forum (like this place). I love my 06 S, and they are weird cars to work on that many shops don't understand. Glad she is ok. Surprised if not totaled, though. Having mechanicals inspected by shop?

Good idea, I suggested she look into it.

[Chris914n6]

The Police report should qualify it as a hit and run accident. In Nevada we have No Fault Ins so the Police report is the closest we come to legal responsibility.

You will likely never find the car, but a post on FB and CL has shown to do wonders. But still, to get the deductible back you will likely have to go to Small Claims Court and prove it, usually not worth it. A bat to the windshield or slashed tires feels better -- has to be replaced thus costs money and time immediately.

Don't worry, a body shop will find all the damage and some.

[914_teener]

Sorry, but you are they guys I trust with all things related to cars - not just 914's.

My daughter lives in Nashville TN and got hit and run sideswiped on the highway coming home from work last night.

She never saw the car, got hit on the passenger side, spun out, went across 3 lanes and then backwards up an embankment (ok she wasn't going slow, which means the jerk-off was hauling ass).

No one stopped, it took 3 hours for the cops to arrive, and then they just rubber stamped it and tried to get her to drive it home rather than have it towed (presumably because he didn't want to have to wait for the wrecker). (IMG:style_emoticons/default/mad.gif)

She was obviously shaken up, and he had no way of knowing if the car was safe to drive - the 3 hour delay and telling her to drive the car is really pissing me off to the point I want to complain to the Nashville PD department!

Luckily her boyfriend drove out and stayed with her the entire time.

Even though there is paint and a chunk of the other cars mirror housing stuck on her car, it doesn't seem the cops are going to do anything - should they be?

It is a 6-speed stick and she is concerned that the trans or motor might have been damaged when she went a couple hundred yards backwards - should she be?

The car was hard to start at first, but ran fine after it cleared.

Because of the door damage, the window won't go down all the way (understandable) but some other electrics and the radio were acting up (damaged wiring?).

She is trying to get Liberty Mutual to consider it an accident with a non-insured motorist because that is a lower deductible than collision.

She is concerned about the rear suspension being damaged or other damage not discovered by the body shop - should she be?

I guess this is mostly a rant, but is there anything else she should be doing?

Is anybody in the area and know a great body shop?

I told her to call the mini dealer and ask who they used.

Besides being grateful that she wasn't hurt, getting the car fixed and moving on - is there anything else she should do?

I don't know how old your daughter is but I have two, one in her early twenties and one in her late twenties.

I have an answer that you might not like to the last question:

No.

Consider her in your prayers and that she wasn't hurt. Biggest lesson it seems to me is the value in uninsured motorist ins...in California it's a no fault state so my daughter didn't carry full comprehensive insurance " it costs more"...so the car went un-repaired and she saved her money and bought a new one later.

You are probably a great Dad and I myself struggle sometimes to let them grow and let go.

[scott_in_nh]

UPDATE: So she ended up being sore the next day and is going to physical therapy for it - overall she is fine.

The car started out with an estimate $2-3k under total, but as they found damage underneath it has now been declared totaled (rock bent a crossmember, exhaust got shoved forward damaging the cat)

They are giving her the lower deductible for uninsured motorist ($200 vs. $500) even though they did not stop - she only had to supply the police report.

She also had the "newer car replacement" rider on her policy (1 year newer with 15,000 fewer miles) and will end up with $3-4k cash to use as a down payment on another car.

Thanks for your concern and advice,

Scott

[mepstein]

Glad she wasn't seriously hurt and getting out of it ok.