Sideswiped in a parking lot
January 16, 2015 11:53 AM   Subscribe

I switched cars with a friend because they needed to borrow mine. I parked their car in a parking lot. Came back to find that their car had been sideswiped and no note left. Parking attendant didn't see anything. What are my next steps?

Am i on the hook for the damage? How can i keep costs low if i am? There's a decent dent in the passenger side door and some paint transfer. The door and window are fully operational, so the damage appears cosmetic. We both have insurance but i have a high deductible.
posted by anonymous to Grab Bag (13 answers total)
 
The car belongs to your friend, his/her insurance should pay. It wasn't your fault, and it could have happened to her/him just as easily, but if you feel bad about it, offer to help with the deductible.
posted by ubiquity at 12:05 PM on January 16, 2015 [7 favorites]


He files through his insurance. What did you do wrong? Nothing. You did him a favor and this bad thing happened. From here, it's up to him.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 12:07 PM on January 16, 2015 [3 favorites]


Presumably, if your friend hadn't asked to borrow your car, it would be your car that was damaged, and you'd be out the deductible. With that in mind, I feel like you should pay his (lower) deductible and consider yourself lucky.
posted by Etrigan at 12:15 PM on January 16, 2015 [2 favorites]


Their car. Favor for them. No negligence.

Under no circumstance should you be out money.
posted by flimflam at 12:37 PM on January 16, 2015 [2 favorites]


Even though it was a favor I would split the deductible.
posted by kimberussell at 12:45 PM on January 16, 2015 [5 favorites]


The same thing happened to me a few months ago when I borrowed my stepmother's car and it was sideswiped when I was in the grocery. She handled everything with her insurance, and AAA was called under her account.
posted by miss tea at 1:31 PM on January 16, 2015


You were using his car, you pay his deductible. He will also pay a higher premium next year, you might want to consider slinging him something for that too. Only if he protests about you doing him the favour do you consider a retreat from some or all of this.

Unless you don't want this friendship anymore ...
posted by GeeEmm at 5:30 PM on January 16, 2015 [4 favorites]


Agree, pay the deductible.
posted by Miko at 7:01 PM on January 16, 2015 [1 favorite]


My car insurance doesn't cover other drivers. If his doesn't, that means insurance may not cover it at all if you were driving his car. You're going to have to talk to your friend and figure out the lowest cost way to do it, and maybe split the deductible. Whoever does it under their own insurance should pay a little less if it will raise their rates. Under a certain threshold, it won't raise their rates -- but from what you describe, it sounds like this may. Check your insurance policies.
posted by AppleTurnover at 7:49 PM on January 16, 2015


Wow, if you're driving someone else's car because they asked you to, and something totally not your fault happens to the car, you're on the hook for it? I guess the lesson is not to drive anyone else's car.
posted by Mitrovarr at 8:36 PM on January 16, 2015 [1 favorite]


I would take the car to a reputable panel beater and get a quote for the repair. Depending on the cost, could it be worth paying out of pocket, rather than claiming the damage on insurance (especially if premiums might go up as a result!)?

As for who should pay, I'm not sure. That's a tricky one. I don't think that you're obligated to pay for all of it (whether it's all out of pocket, or whether you're paying the insurance excess), because you wouldn't have been driving your friend's car if he hadn't borrowed yours. What were you supposed to do, swap cars but not drive his?
posted by kinddieserzeit at 10:59 PM on January 16, 2015


I guess the lesson is not to drive anyone else's car.

Well...you might want to give it careful consideration because the other person's coverage may or may not protect you to the extent you'd like.. There is nonowner car insurance.
posted by Miko at 6:05 AM on January 17, 2015


This is basically a hit-and-run situation. Your friend most likely has coverage for that. If there's a deductible, offer to cover it. Done.

He doesn't have to tell his insurer that you were driving it. The rest of the story can stay the same...Parked in a lot, came back and discovered the damage, no witnesses.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:29 AM on January 17, 2015 [1 favorite]


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