A 23-year-old driver in Missouri says they paid nearly $3,000 out of pocket after getting into a minor fender bender, hoping to avoid an increase in their insurance premiums. Now, the other driver is asking them for more money for an internal inspection of their vehicle.
The driver shared the details in a post on the r/legal subreddit and said both parties agreed to handle the damages privately rather than involve insurance. They didn’t file a police report or exchange insurance information, only sharing their names and license plate numbers.
The driver said the damage appeared relatively minor, consisting mostly of scratches and scuffs. However, it required a complete bumper replacement, and they figured it would be cheaper to pay for the repairs themselves.
They also said they paid for the other driver’s Uber rides to and from the repair shop and paid the shop directly for the work.
The Other Driver Wants More
Rear ended somebody and paid $3k out of pocket to fully replace their rear bumper in a minor fender bender. Now they’re wanting to get an internal inspection too. What should I do?
by
u/SpellHuman8669 in
legal
The driver shared a screenshot of the repair estimate, which listed a total of $2,931.82. The work included replacing the rear bumper cover, an impact bar, parking sensors, and other parts.
Now, the other motorist is asking them to pay for an internal inspection of the vehicle. Since the repairs have already been completed, the driver questioned whether any additional damage could actually be linked to the accident.
In a comment, the driver explained that there was no written agreement requiring them to pay for another inspection. They had agreed to the original repair bill, and the driver thought paying it would be the end of the situation.
Reddit Users Offer Advice
One commenter said the driver should have gotten a signed release stating that the payment settled all claims related to the accident. The driver responded that they tried to get one, but the other motorist refused to sign it until an internal inspection was completed.
Another commenter suggested getting an itemized copy of the repairs and asking whether the other driver had pictures of the original damage. They also recommended finding out whether the repair shop identified any additional damage that wasn’t fixed because it wasn’t related to the accident.
The commenter advised the driver to wait and see if the other motorist actually asks for more money. If they do, the driver could explain that they believe paying for the accident-related repairs should have covered their responsibility. They also pointed out that the other motorist could potentially take the matter to small claims court if they disagree.
The driver hasn’t provided another update, so it’s unclear whether they agreed to pay for the additional inspection or whether the dispute has been resolved.