Yesterday my husband noticed that the front of my car was hit. (I didn't go anywhere yesterday which is why he noticed it and not me.) After a bit of thinking the only conclusion I could come to was that my neighbor who always park by me (parallel parking on our street) has a ball joint on the back of her SUV that looked to fit the ball joint indentation I now have on my front bumper. We pulled my car up to hers and DH matched it up and measured everything and it fits perfectly, down to the rust spot marks that are on her ball joint and also on the mark on my car. He went to her house to confront her and of course she denied hitting it or knowing anything about it. Matter of fact her "Gunny" (aka: boyfriend while her husbands deployed... a whole different story to share) did all the talking for her. I don't think she said more than 4 words. After they went back home my husband called the MP's (military police) for advice. They sent someone up here to check it out. The MP himself said it is completely evident that it was her car that hit mine. The problem we have is that without an admission of guilt from her or witnesses that saw anything, they can't do much. The MP told us that maybe we should look into small claims.


I have never made a claim with my insurance company so i'm not sure if that's the first route we should go. I don't know much about small claims either and i'm not sure how much of a case we have since all of our "proof" is pictures we took and an MP who says he wouldn't mind helping out and sharing a 3rd party opinion that he believes it was her car that his ours without a doubt.

Or is it better to just suck it up and get it fixed on our own? I'm sure it will cost more than what our deductible is. Maybe by a little or maybe by a lot. I'm not too sure but my husband thinks they'll have to replace the whole bumper because of how it was hit.

Any advice? Ugh.... I hate this.

By Debbie on Saturday, August 9, 2008 - 02:25 pm:

When I was living in an apartment, my car got hit in the parking lot. It was hit by my neighbor, who had the parking spot next to me. We had assigned parking. I had a BIG dent, actually my back bumper was pretty bashed in, and she had damage on her front bumper. I called the police, they came out, took pictures, and filed an incident report. They talked to her, and she denied it. They told me to call my insurance company. So I did, and they came out, and took pictures, and worked with her insurance. Her insurance ended up paying for the damage. So, I would call your insurance company, and have them handle it. I would also take your own pictures.

By Mrs_B on Saturday, August 9, 2008 - 02:30 pm:

Thank you.

I'm just so upset over the situation (my poor car, lol) but also because it IS this particular person and she always walks around like her (you know what) doesn't stink! I'm trying to be fair which is why i'm asking here.

Did your rates go up at all? I'm afraid of that.

By Debbie on Saturday, August 9, 2008 - 02:33 pm:

No, since I wan't at fault, it didn't effect my rates. I also had never had an accident. It was actually a long time ago when I first graduated for college.

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, August 9, 2008 - 06:40 pm:

I agree, take your own pictures, and call your insurance company. The very worst that can happen is that you'll have to pay the deductible. And who knows, your insurance company may be able to convince her insurance company that she was at fault - in which case you won't have to pay the deductible and her insurance company will reimburse your insurance company. And, technically, your insurance policy requires that you promptly report an accident if you're going to make a claim. It clearly isn't your fault, so nothing should happen to your rates.

By Dawnk777 on Saturday, August 9, 2008 - 06:47 pm:

When I lived in an apartment building, a long time ago, my neighbor's car slid into mine and caused a small dent. (winter!) She came right into the building, and told me. I think her insurance company took care of it. I appreciated that she was forthright and honest about it. That is the kind of person she was. She felt so bad, but it wasn't that big of a deal.

That is rotten that she won't fess up to it.

By Insaneusmcwife on Saturday, August 9, 2008 - 07:18 pm:

You could file a claim or in a couple weeks I can send my Gunny over to deal with her Gunny! LOL j/k

What a rotten witch! I'm sorry you are having to deal with that. Have you asked your neighbors if anyone saw anything? You said her husband is deployed, do you know who he is with?

I'll be at a party over in your neighborhood tonight. I'm not exactly sure what street you live on or who will be at this party but I will keep my ears peeled for gossip. You know how quickly word spreads around this place.