NQR paint job

[RitaR]

 Well You tell me what you think.

 

On Labor Day we were at a County Park, fishing and loafing.

 

I needed to go to that little 4 by 4 building with a potty seat in it.

 

Said Porta-Potty was up a small drive, from the main drive thru the park, and the little drive way was to be used for

OFF LOADING ONLY and is clearly stated at 3 prominant spots, in the off loading drive and covered picknickig area,

and offloading area for the group area.

 

I was in the Go-Go, my mobility chair, and had to try to find a way to get to porta potty around 5 or 6 cars in the Off LOADING ONLY

and I had to find a way to get between or around them.  Going in I risked my Go Go and me because it was so slanted.

 

One gal asked where I was going that it was a private party here!

Well I told her I had to get to the porta potty and they were the only ones in the day use area, and the driveway was blocked.

She went walking around  and asking is it really the only one around and I said yes, yes, yes, yes. and so it went.

 

That is when I had to on the slanted Lawn and gravel.  They weren't want to move the cars.   They stood there telling me not to

tip over and hit her car.  She told me she didn't see why I had to use that one.. surely there is another!   (These people were

simplesubject minded.)   "Is it the only one"  don't see why you can't use another.  The answer was I would have to take the gogo

across the park to the camp area up a steep hill, drive of loose dirt and gravel, and too far to go as I'd only bog down in the dirt and gravel.

I nearly did tip, even leaning hard on the uphill side.  While I was using "that little building" I heard a car start and it sounded like

they came back in, giving me more room.

When I went out, I saw what I thought was a larger space, so zero'd in on that. and handle bars left a smudge of rubber on one side

and I did scratch the surface of the other car, but barely the surface, not down to metal.

 

She called about 4 weeks later telling me she had an estimate for painting and she thought I should see it so she would send me

a copy or maybe bring it by.  I told her either way would be fine.  I didn't hear more until Tues. this week, with a letter from her

insurance adjuster saying I was at fault and they had investigated the incident and I had hit a stopped car.

I asked what I was to do, they had the drive blocked, didn't offer to move the car.

He replied to everything  said with "You hit a stopped car"  I said she was illegally parked and denied access to the porta potty, so what was I to do? He didn't now, but I hit a stopped car.

He said they had a claim for repainting for $663.00.  I asked him to repeat that and he did, had the receipt and would send it to me.

I told him I wouldn't pay for painting the whole car since it was a minor scratch on a quarter panel and that was all I was willing to pay,so

she needed to find another.  He said the bill was just for the Quarter Panel that I hit while stopped.

 

WELL MY QUESTION TO YOU ALL IS:

Would you pay $2,652.00 for a paint job on a small car of about a Corola or a Kia Optima size? 

Do you think since it was Public Property, she was illegally parked, had no intentyion of moving one car so I could get by, and lied to

me about having permission to park there.  She was leaning on the darned post the sign was in.  Bright red sign.

 

I don't intend to do anything for now.  Will wait until they do something more.  I'm ready to go to courty on this one.

 

The adjustors claim of investigation was "the damaged car owners description."  I'd think he would have driven out, or called Steve the ranger

who does most everything with 2 part time workers, and sometimes neither were working.  He was the only one on duty that day and says he

stressed they could park there to offload then had to go up in the parking lot.

 

Rita

 

 

He

[T Row Studio]

That sucks Rita  I feel for you anytime something happens I take pictures so when something is brought up long after an incident I have some visual proof . Then it is not your word against theirs I would have taken a picture of the scratch and the sign that said no parking unloading zone only.

[Quilting Heidi]

I'm thinking like Terry, did you have pictures.  I hate when something like this turns into the innocents fault.  

[Zora]

Contact your insurance agent, both your homeowners and your auto policy. Explain and let them take it from there.

[LisaC]

Yes, do what Lynn says. Insurance adjusters are there to make sure their company doesn't lose money. They pressure people into thinking they are at fault.

[Liam]

I agree with Lynn, contact your insurance company.

[Marti10245]

Those people should be ashamed of their selves. They should have helped you and moved their cars. I would also talk to a lawyer I'd be proactive just in case she does take you to court over this estimate, and I would insist that she gets three estimates not one. It makes me so mad when someone tries to take advantage of anyone. I'm praying for you Rita.

[Sheri Butler]

1. If her insurance adjuster didnt record your conversation, then it's a he said she said. and zero will be paid on the claim by you.

2. To be honest and fair, as I would too offer to pay for something I did, let your insurance adjuster handle it.

Also!, get a statement in writing from the park dude, who said they could only park there for off loading.

Also, get anyone who was with you who may have saw you, also give a statement to YOUR insurance adjuster. NOT theirs!

Then send that to your insurance adjuster. At that point, the two adjusters will battle it out!

(My husband is a Property Adjuster Insurance Specialist, and deals with this stuff EVERY DAY of EVERY WEEK!)

[Cagey]

Rita:

 

I would like to start from the beginning of this event.  In a situation like this, you should always take pictures of the event.  They were blocking access to the potties.  Take a picture.  Then call the police or rangers.  Stress your ADA issues, and the urgent need to access said potty, its a recorded line.  The pictures and calls would put on record the cars were illegally parked.  

 

That being said, you need to contact your insurance agencies as told above.  Your insurance agents will get involved.  As I see it the folks could have easily moved the vehicles or gotten the owners to have moved said vehicle.  Your insurance company can press these issues, and more importantly get this entire matter to go away.  I for one would not pay the vehicle owner a damn dime.  Tell them to kiss your ADA rear end.  I for one would not have given her my contact information.  I would have simply called the police then and there, and started taking lots of pictures. 

 

I for one am ticked off that those SOBs would watch you, but no do something to assist you.  What is our world coming to?  If you had fallen because of their careless parking, they could/would have been liable for your injuries.  All I can see now is you in your mobility cart taking the "Fried Green Tomatoes" road, and ramming those cars, while shouting at the top of your lungs "I have better insurance than you!!!!!"

 

Best of luck with this issue.  Stand your ground and let your insurance companies fight the issue.  Get statements from the ranger and give them any photos you might have of the event.  Fight this sort of garbage claim.  Get yourself a GoPro camera, and start recording your scooter dash cam videos.  They are probably funnier than you think.

 

Cagey

[RitaR]

Thank you for your replies.  I should call homeowners, but since it was public property not here at home, I doubt

that they will do anything.  Auto ins. says there is no way to help, since it is not an auto I was driving.

 

We didn't have the camera with us and the cell phone, just a Trac Phone.  It doesn't take picts, and if it does,

I certainly don't know how to do it nor how to get that info on a computer.

 

We did take our car out to the park and parked in the drive. It clearly showed how little room he had, and it was very evident that it

was only a drive for a single vehicle. 
 

We took picts of that, and the 3 signs both up close with something identifiable in the close background, and from

the main road.

 

I just wish we'd have had a camera.  The one I have is heavy, so hard for me to carry much or for long times.

I'm just stopped for  a couple of shortbreaks.  trying to find all the partially made quilt blocks and the fabrics 

that go with them. They were given to me years ago and I just can't seem to get busy on them, even though

they are simple., that OI've been

given and am going to take on our trip.  Thinking some of those we will meet with might like them.

 

No, she didn't get more than one estimate, and I wasn't offered to see any before she got it painted.. according to her

lawyer it;s already painted.

 

Goitta run. the infusion is done.,

thanks again and hugs around.

[LeeAnn]

Rita, I would call your homeowners anyway. What do you have to lose? There may be some liability clause you don't know about. And how can the investigation be by their word of mouth? Not much of an investigation.

[RitaR]

LeeAnn, I will be calling both of my insurance departments.  I think this is where I wish I were dealing with two different

insurance company's.

Thanks for all your concerns, suggestions.  They help me think other suggestions, not just mine.

 

Shall reply to any further when we get back the9th.

 

Stay well, and folks in the flood warning and watch areas, stay safe and happy

God Bless

[Sunny Quilter]

Rita, if just a smudge or minor scrape, this can be buffed out.

I know a little about cars and repairs.

I would not get in a back and forth confrontation with this person with admission of fault. Emails can be copied. You may want to contact your agent to advise.

[FloridaMissy]

I'm so sorry to hear how rudely you were treated.  You might contact the group that fights for the disabled.  Their are laws about not giving the handicapped access. 

I once watched a lady pull into a handicap parking space and it made me so mad I pointed it out to her that she might not have noticed.  She said I did but refused to move.  I then followed her into the store and after a couple of aisles she turned and said what do you want.  I said I don't want anything from you I just wanted to see what was so important for you to buy.  She stormed out of the store without her purchase. 

Hope you have a good outcome.