17-year-old son dinged my car while parking at home (punish, accidents, insurance)
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My son has had his license for about 10 months and has never had any tickets, never been pulled over, and has never been in involved in any accidents....until today. He went to Target to buy me some stuff, and returned home. In between the two parking spaces my husband and I own is a stone pillar. Today the parking space adjacent to mine had a minivan in it, making it a tight squeeze for parking. Unfortunately, my son turned too late and hit the pole. The car is fine, but has a 3-inch-wide dent and some small strips of paint were scratched off. I'm afraid I might have to replace the whole bumper for almost a grand..... Should I give him a warning this time, and make him pay in full for the next accident (hopefully there will NOT be another accident in the forseeable future!!), or make him pay me the sum it costs for the bumper? Thanks!
yes the dent and the sheared off paint is really an eyesore...And this SUV was purchased by my husband as a Christmas gift in 2011....
edit: yes the whole front part of the SUV is one assembly so the whole bumper must be replaced.
One of my twins did something similar about 4 months after getting his license. I could tell it really bothered him much more than it bothered me. We didn't replace the bumper because it was a 6-inch scrape.
I don't know that you should punish him because it was an accident. If he had done something reckless, I could see some kind of consequences.
He's not a really experienced driver, so you take a risk. It wasn't intentional. I don't know, it's only 3 inches... a warning would be fine. It's not like he ripped off the bumper. Or ask that he pay a portion if you insist on having it replaced.
I wouldn't punish him...it's called an "accident" for a reason. I would work out an arrangement with him for payment of at least part of the bumper or the deductible if you claim it on insurance. Taking responsibility for things, even when they are accidents, is part of driving and growing up.
I wouldn't punish him...it's called an "accident" for a reason. I would work out an arrangement with him for payment of at least part of the bumper or the deductible if you claim it on insurance. Taking responsibility for things, even when they are accidents, is part of driving and growing up.
This. He's not all that experienced as a driver, had permission to use the car, he wasn't high and he wasn't drunk. It's a 3" ding and no one was hurt. These things happen to the best of drivers.
I don't think you should make him pay at all. He's an inexperienced driver and you let him use your car. Your parking space is admittedly tight. It was an accident. Why make him feel worse about it? Also, don't you have insurance? If you don't have insurance on a car your kid drives, then that's totally your fault and you deserve to pay.
My son has had his license for about 10 months and has never had any tickets, never been pulled over, and has never been in involved in any accidents....until today. He went to Target to buy me some stuff, and returned home. In between the two parking spaces my husband and I own is a stone pillar. Today the parking space adjacent to mine had a minivan in it, making it a tight squeeze for parking. Unfortunately, my son turned too late and hit the pole. The car is fine, but has a 3-inch-wide dent and some small strips of paint were scratched off. I'm afraid I might have to replace the whole bumper for almost a grand..... Should I give him a warning this time, and make him pay in full for the next accident (hopefully there will NOT be another accident in the forseeable future!!), or make him pay me the sum it costs for the bumper? Thanks!
Tell him he can NEVER run and errand for YOU again. That will show him.
Seriously, let it go. The next dent might well be yours. Sounds like your parking situation is dicey and you own that problem. Lesson learned for him. A cheap one it sounds like.
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Should I give him a warning this time, and make him pay in full for the next accident (hopefully there will NOT be another accident in the forseeable future!!), or make him pay me the sum it costs for the bumper? Thanks!
