Don't just drive off after getting lightly rear-ended

[cmhsieh54]

So, I got rear-ended yesterday in my Genesis. Probably about a 25 mph bump. The other guy came out of his car and was very apologetic. I looked at my bumper and it had no damage aside from 4 tiny indentations from the other guy's license plate bolts. I could have been happy to drive off. But he insisted that I follow him and take care of insurance issues.

Turns out it was a good thing to follow him and get his insurance information, because my backup sensor (embedded in the bumper) was busted. I wouldn't have noticed it until getting home, had I just dismissed the damage as being negligible.

The other guy could have driven off, too. But I have both front and rear dash cams anyways.

Lesson learned: if you get rear-ended in your bumper even at low speed, get the other guy's insurance info.

 

[homeofstone]

Yep. About 45 years ago I learned to always do a report on any crash, even at 2 mph.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Well I'm glad nobody got hurt. And I'm glad you went through the insurance process considering the damage you found later on in your drive. 25mph isn't exactly a slow hit. I've seen front ends demolished from a 25mph hit. Car totaled. But I think the front is softer than the back...

 

[kn5owa]

Another big tip:

If you get a ticket for a moving violation, e.g. speeding: GET A LAWYER - immediately. Use something like Findlaw.com , But get a Lawyer, ASAP. In Northern VA, where I live, the speed traps are rampant - always positioned where a big speed transition is present and where there is a nice little hiding place for a cop on a motorcycle. It has nothing to do with speed enforcement, or safety. A total game, in plain English.

In my county - you can get a decent lawyer (admittedly a junior attorney) for a few hundred bucks - well worth the money. Your lawyer can get the ticket dismissed entirely with maybe an online safety course.

If you don't follow the above advice - your insurance co. will punish you very thoroughly - esp. on pricier cars like the Genesis.

 

[mcginnpm]

I got tapped at a stop light a while back...about a 5 mph hit. It was at night and the other driver took off (i.e., hit and run).

Initially it looked to me like there was no significant damage, other than two bolt prints in the bumper from the other vehicle's front license plate, and deployment of the active head restraints in both the driver's and passenger's seat.

Once the shop got ahold of it and took the bumper off, they found several cracked brackets and the energy absorber was crushed slightly. All told, after replacing the head restraints, cracked brackets, energy absorber, and bumper, it was about $2,500.

Now for the good news. When I got home after the accident, I took out a shop light to look for additional damage. When the light was at just the right angle to the bumper, you could see the imprint of the license plate numbers and letters in the grime on my bumper. The police ran the numbers and found the other car. Needless to say, she (young college student...probably texting when she hit me) was charged with hit & run, and her insurance paid for 100% of my damages.

Bottom line, even in a slow speed rear ending, get it checked out. It may look OK, but under the skin there could be damages that need to be repaired.

 

[markpoisson]

I got tapped at a stop light a while back...about a 5 mph hit. It was at night and the other driver took off (i.e., hit and run).

Initially it looked to me like there was no significant damage, other than two bolt prints in the bumper from the other vehicle's front license plate, and deployment of the active head restraints in both the driver's and passenger's seat.

Once the shop got ahold of it and took the bumper off, they found several cracked brackets and the energy absorber was crushed slightly. All told, after replacing the head restraints, cracked brackets, energy absorber, and bumper, it was about $2,500.

Now for the good news. When I got home after the accident, I took out a shop light to look for additional damage. When the light was at just the right angle to the bumper, you could see the imprint of the license plate numbers and letters in the grime on my bumper. The police ran the numbers and found the other car. Needless to say, she (young college student...probably texting when she hit me) was charged with hit & run, and her insurance paid for 100% of my damages.

Bottom line, even in a slow speed rear ending, get it checked out. It may look OK, but under the skin there could be damages that need to be repaired.

I have a similar story. About 18 years ago, I was at a stoplight in a rental car. The light was just beyond on offramp from a highway. As I am sitting there at a red light, I look in the rearview mirror just in time to see a Ford Explorer barrel down on us. I was in a Countour. Anyway, I released the brake just as she plowed into us. Our car was essentially totaled and hers was badly damaged. I got out, assessed the damage and then went to check on her. She was very shaken up but seemed OK. So, I called the police and as I am on the phone she drove off! I was shocked she did that. Anyway, the police showed up quickly and as we assessing the damage, we look in the trunk of my car and find the lady's front license plate! Needless to say, they found her and charged her. I was young and let the insurance companies handle it. Funny story.

 

[Mladen5375]

Hey cmhsieh54 I'm glad you are ok. I have a front dash cam myself in my Genny but would to add a rear view dash cam as well and I was wondering if you could please share how you hooked it up. Thank you

 

[PaFromFL]

...Anyway, I released the brake just as she plowed into us...

Releasing the brake is good a strategy to reduce damage to your car (assuming there are no obstacles directly in front of your car). Stepping on the brake reduces damage to the passengers in the car (more energy dissipated through tire friction and bending metal).