Car reversed into - likely damage?
Discussion
Evening everyone.
My 987 boxster was parked this evening and a Mercedes reversed into it, cracking the numberplate and pushing the car backwards 2-3 feet. The scumbag then drove off but fortunately there were several witnesses and we got his registration number and reported the incident to the police.
Anyway, this all happened in the dark so it is difficult to see if there is any other damage. My question is whether it is likely that there is any internal damage that may not be obvious. I do not know if the other driver is insured so I am a bit reluctant to start an insurance claim - especially if the damage is only superficial. If all that is likely is a smashed number plate, then I will just get a new one and chalk it down to experience. However, if there is likely to be other damage, then I will need to get it checked by a garage which will mean an insurance claim.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
My 987 boxster was parked this evening and a Mercedes reversed into it, cracking the numberplate and pushing the car backwards 2-3 feet. The scumbag then drove off but fortunately there were several witnesses and we got his registration number and reported the incident to the police.
Anyway, this all happened in the dark so it is difficult to see if there is any other damage. My question is whether it is likely that there is any internal damage that may not be obvious. I do not know if the other driver is insured so I am a bit reluctant to start an insurance claim - especially if the damage is only superficial. If all that is likely is a smashed number plate, then I will just get a new one and chalk it down to experience. However, if there is likely to be other damage, then I will need to get it checked by a garage which will mean an insurance claim.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
There’s radiators and things behind the corners. Maybe worth checking the temporary deformation of the bumper didn’t cause something to crack, pipe etc? Dont know how much the bumper would impinge on them. I know bumpers flex like hell with impact and then pop back so hard to tell on first impressions as they don’t stay in their deformed state like metal.
Suppose it was a van that smacked it, that’s some force. If were me I’d just pay small amount to get someone to check it then go from there.
Suppose it was a van that smacked it, that’s some force. If were me I’d just pay small amount to get someone to check it then go from there.
Take the bumper off and have a look. If that's not for you then you will need somebody else to check it over insurance or otherwise. You did t post a pic so presumably you can see any superficial panel damage. Under the bumper are the crash bar, AC condensers and radiators, various fixings for lights and the bumper itself.
Hopefully the police will track down the Merc driver and their insurance company will start a claims process. Is there a particular reason you think they may not be insured?
Similar thing happened to us recently - came back to our car in a car park and it had been damaged (though not that badly). We weren't going to bother claiming but then were contacted by the police to say a witness had reported the other driver and shortly afterwards their insurance co contacted us.
Hope you get it sorted out, regardless.
Similar thing happened to us recently - came back to our car in a car park and it had been damaged (though not that badly). We weren't going to bother claiming but then were contacted by the police to say a witness had reported the other driver and shortly afterwards their insurance co contacted us.
Hope you get it sorted out, regardless.
Thanks for the replies. I have had a better look at the car today and cannot see any damage other than the numberplate. The impact was directly on the plate rather than at an angle which probably helped.
Given the impact, there is no way that the other driver did not know he had hit the car, and that it was in front of witnesses, so just driving off makes me suspect that they may not be insured.
What I don’t want to do is involve my insurance company, end up with costs being racked up in checking everything and then find the other party is not insured and then get hammered at renewal time.
Given the impact, there is no way that the other driver did not know he had hit the car, and that it was in front of witnesses, so just driving off makes me suspect that they may not be insured.
What I don’t want to do is involve my insurance company, end up with costs being racked up in checking everything and then find the other party is not insured and then get hammered at renewal time.
TNJ said:
Thanks for the replies. I have had a better look at the car today and cannot see any damage other than the numberplate. The impact was directly on the plate rather than at an angle which probably helped.
Given the impact, there is no way that the other driver did not know he had hit the car, and that it was in front of witnesses, so just driving off makes me suspect that they may not be insured.
What I don’t want to do is involve my insurance company, end up with costs being racked up in checking everything and then find the other party is not insured and then get hammered at renewal time.
You have to "notify" your insurer, even if you don't claim. That in itself may increase your premium as you're "the kind of person who parks where other cars may reverse into you."Given the impact, there is no way that the other driver did not know he had hit the car, and that it was in front of witnesses, so just driving off makes me suspect that they may not be insured.
What I don’t want to do is involve my insurance company, end up with costs being racked up in checking everything and then find the other party is not insured and then get hammered at renewal time.
Failure to notify can mean you can't later claim if you find significant damage after all. Plus, the other driver may wish to claim against you and your insurers say you're too late as you didn't notify them.
Catch 22.
I was rear ended in a traffic jam at a very low speed. Really minor scratching and a small crack. The repairers (specialist for Porsche) would only completely replace the rear bumper. I discussed this with them and because there was a crack, albeit tiny, they stated that if they just filled the crack and resprayed, any minor movement would lead to the crack opening up again. Given that the rear bumper is quite flexible the chances were high that it would crack again if repaired.
Since it was a no-faulter on my part, I happily let them replace the bumper. It was over £1500 plus VAT.
Since it was a no-faulter on my part, I happily let them replace the bumper. It was over £1500 plus VAT.
Johnniem said:
I was rear ended in a traffic jam at a very low speed. Really minor scratching and a small crack. The repairers (specialist for Porsche) would only completely replace the rear bumper. I discussed this with them and because there was a crack, albeit tiny, they stated that if they just filled the crack and resprayed, any minor movement would lead to the crack opening up again. Given that the rear bumper is quite flexible the chances were high that it would crack again if repaired.
Since it was a no-faulter on my part, I happily let them replace the bumper. It was over £1500 plus VAT.
They were bloody useless repairers then! Fixing cracked plastic bumpers is pretty common. I had a rear bumper cracked and bent by reversing into a post, repairers fixed (plastic welded, reshaped, filled etc) and repainted, looked perfect and I kept the car another 5 years and had no issues with recracking or the paint finish - £400 all in.Since it was a no-faulter on my part, I happily let them replace the bumper. It was over £1500 plus VAT.
The bumper cover is cosmetic. If the hit was hard enough, the real protective elements (crossbar and shocks) may have deformed and not be able to absorb the next hit and you really need them to be functioning. You are entitled to have them. I'd absolutely have the cover pulled off for a respray and while it was off, have a professional look at what is behind it. Take a look at one of the parts explosion diagrams in the PET (Porsche parts listing) and see what is between that bumper cover and your solid chassis.
No idea how UK insurance works but mine differentiates between a moving accident and a hit and run while parked and unoccupied.
No idea how UK insurance works but mine differentiates between a moving accident and a hit and run while parked and unoccupied.
Having been through a couple of similar incidents with my Boxster my advice is to seek out a highly regarded repair shop and let the shop inspect the car for any damage.
The bumper cover will come off at least. The cover gives quite a bit -- it is the impact absorbing hardware underneath that really deals with the force of the impact - and this wants to be inspected to be sure it is not bent/jammed/twisted, etc.
In one case after I hit some road debris hard enough to bust a radiator -- the down low hose fitting get taken out -- while the front bumper cover had a crack in it the crack was out of sight and I just reused the bumper cover.
In another case both the front and rear bumper covers were replaced -- I got hit from behind while stopped at a light and the impact drove my car into the vehicle ahead of mine so my car got damaged on both ends. And the impact caused a headlight to pop put which broke that and the impact at the rear broke a rear tail light assembly.
The idea is to repair the car to its pre collision condition so I generally opt to replace. In all cases -- but the road debris incident which I did not turn into my insurance company but paid for out of my pocket -- the bumper covers were replaced. There was some pressure by the insurance company (the other driver's insurance company) put on the body shop to use a used cover but the used ones were in worse shape than the damaged ones on my car.
The bumper cover will come off at least. The cover gives quite a bit -- it is the impact absorbing hardware underneath that really deals with the force of the impact - and this wants to be inspected to be sure it is not bent/jammed/twisted, etc.
In one case after I hit some road debris hard enough to bust a radiator -- the down low hose fitting get taken out -- while the front bumper cover had a crack in it the crack was out of sight and I just reused the bumper cover.
In another case both the front and rear bumper covers were replaced -- I got hit from behind while stopped at a light and the impact drove my car into the vehicle ahead of mine so my car got damaged on both ends. And the impact caused a headlight to pop put which broke that and the impact at the rear broke a rear tail light assembly.
The idea is to repair the car to its pre collision condition so I generally opt to replace. In all cases -- but the road debris incident which I did not turn into my insurance company but paid for out of my pocket -- the bumper covers were replaced. There was some pressure by the insurance company (the other driver's insurance company) put on the body shop to use a used cover but the used ones were in worse shape than the damaged ones on my car.
Thanks again for all the replies.
I have had a good look and there are no cracks on the bumper itself and nothing else obvious (eg panel gaps etc are fine, bonnet opens without any problem, etc). I think I have been lucky!
With regard to it being pushed back 2-3 feet - I did not see the impact but the witnesses told me this which is why I was concerned.
If the only damage is just the number plate, for the sake of a few quid I will just replace that rather than starting the whole process of insurance claims.
I have had a good look and there are no cracks on the bumper itself and nothing else obvious (eg panel gaps etc are fine, bonnet opens without any problem, etc). I think I have been lucky!
With regard to it being pushed back 2-3 feet - I did not see the impact but the witnesses told me this which is why I was concerned.
If the only damage is just the number plate, for the sake of a few quid I will just replace that rather than starting the whole process of insurance claims.
TNJ said:
Thanks again for all the replies.
I have had a good look and there are no cracks on the bumper itself and nothing else obvious (eg panel gaps etc are fine, bonnet opens without any problem, etc). I think I have been lucky!
With regard to it being pushed back 2-3 feet - I did not see the impact but the witnesses told me this which is why I was concerned.
If the only damage is just the number plate, for the sake of a few quid I will just replace that rather than starting the whole process of insurance claims.
If it was 2-3 feet I'd suggested your gearbox will be knackered not to mention any handbrake issues. (I'm assuming pdk and not manual).I have had a good look and there are no cracks on the bumper itself and nothing else obvious (eg panel gaps etc are fine, bonnet opens without any problem, etc). I think I have been lucky!
With regard to it being pushed back 2-3 feet - I did not see the impact but the witnesses told me this which is why I was concerned.
If the only damage is just the number plate, for the sake of a few quid I will just replace that rather than starting the whole process of insurance claims.
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