Job Discussion Forums

[ssjup81]

Hi all. So, about two or three weeks ago, I had a very small fender bender, if you could call it that. I was backing out of the parking lot at the conbini and tapped, barely, a parked car in the side parking area of the lot. I backed up so far because I didn't feel I had enough space in front of me to start turning in fear of tapping the car in the space next to me.

Of course the cops were called and stuff. We swapped information, the norm. When the police were investigating, they were having a tough time even finding where I'd bumped the other guy's car. It took forever to even find the scratch on mine (even in the sunlight) and the same with his car, but to be fair, it was night and they were using their flashlights, but unless you were looking for it, you wouldn't notice or see it. They found the scratch, no dents on the bumper or anything since I was going super slow anyway since I was backing out.

His insurance company is now saying that I have to pay for the repairs, understandable, it was my fault and I'm not going to deny that fact. I misjudged the distance, but they want me to shell out ￥80,000 for a blue scratch on a light-colored car that's barely noticeable unless you have bionic eyes or know exactly where to look for it. My insurance could pay this, but that'll cause my insurance to go up and I personally don't want this and feel that ￥80,000 is beyond excessive.

I'm not even sure what I should be asking here....I guess I'm venting, but has anyone ever been in this situation? Even in the US I've never had this type of experience, so this is new for me. I guess I'm a bit perturbed because up until this point, I've never had anything negative on my driving record in my nearly 16 years of driving, and now I'll probably have some type of a negative on my record....well, for Japan anyway.

Could this be a case where I'm being screwed over because I'm a foreigner? I don't like to think about that type of thing and not the type to think that anything negative that happens is because I'm a foreigner and everyone is out to discriminate against me....or could the other party just be greedy?

[Maitoshi]

Even for small stuff, it can get quite pricey, particularly since they need to match the paint and likely need to paint a whole panel to make it look like nothing ever happened. As you admit fault, chalk this up to experience and try to be extra cautious so that you don't have to worry oh this kind of stuff too often. 80,000¥ in 16 years? I say you've gotten off cheaply. Just my 2 yen, though

[ssjup81]

Well, I was including my US time too. I've only been driving in Japan for almost two years now. Maybe about 1 1/2 years.

Oh and I found out that they want to remove the entire bumper, hence the price I suppose. Seems it would be cheaper to paint it than to remove and replace the bumper.

[Big_H]

If it was your paint that got onto theirs, couldn't you (or they) use some paint polish to take it out? It's cheaper than dirt.

Then again that is if the damage really is as little as you'd mentioned

[mitsui]

You were told the higher price. They don`t care how much it costs you.
If you just hit a wall (as I have done) you could pay less.
More if you get a new bumper or less if it is just a paint job.

I paid 40,000 when I hit some frozen snow and made a dent. It
cost me 40,000 and that was a rock bottom price.

[fluffyhamster]

You think they're going to use much independent judgement, do anyone a favour and NOT do things by the book, regardless of cost (=just profit for the insurers)? Welcome to Japan!

[ssjup81]