Small scratch on car cost $3,000?
By Kowgirl
@Kowgirl (3490)
United States
March 26, 2007 11:32am CST
A friend of mine walked by a car in the parking garage downtown. He slipped in some water and fell on the rear of someones car leaving a small scratch with his watch. It was a new car so he thought it would be the right thing to do to leave a note with his name, phone number and offer to pay to get the spot painted. He knew a guy who did this kind of work and knew it wouldn't cost much to have him fix it. He then took his phone and took a few picture of the spot. It was less than 1/4 inch long.
But when he heard from the owner of the car he said the estimate was for $3,000
and needed him to come pay for it. When he arrived and looked at the car he saw where it had been hit on the drivers side near the tail light. The scratch he had offer to pay for on the other side had not even been noticed. He refused to pay for these damages and the car owner called the police. He gave the police the note and they arrested my friend for hit and run. Do you think the police had a right to do this even though he had pictures of the scratch he made? Aren't we innocent until proven guilty?
2 responses
@kurtbiewald (2625)
• United States
26 Mar 07
i had a similar thing happen once
my bumper just touched another car , made a spot on the bumper, one that a papper towel could remove
the woman went and got the park ranger, then they called the cops to report the "accident" . The cop was trying to not laugh at the woman. She was trying to get me to pay for existing damge to her car I think.
I think just hold your ground, yor friend should have let her take it to court, offer $15 for the scratch. Or let her take it to court. When it gets there, they see that your friend has NO record for for even swearing at anyone. Then they see that the woman who is complaining is guilty of 739 past things of all sorts. What do you think happens then?
@Stringbean (1273)
• United States
26 Mar 07
Ouch. That is really a bad deal. I think I would demand a trial. The fact that he took a picture of the damage and left a note should convince the jurors that he is telling the truth. Why should they arrest him for hit and run if he left a note? That should prove to them that he was owning up to doing some damage. I hope he manages to beat this trumped up charge.
@Kowgirl (3490)
• United States
27 Mar 07
Oh he is going to court and I can hardly wait to hear what the other guy has to say. It was an old dent that was begining to rust underneath.
He thought he had found a way to get his car fixed.
From what I hear he is the one who is going to end up paying now!
