Well, without fail, my truck finally got bashed. I thought it would take a little longer since I just took delivery of my 2006 XLT Supercab in February.

I went over to my girlfriend's house to pick her up to go out to dinner, and she lives in a culdesac with a billion kids. I ALWAYS cruise in there at about 5-10 mph cause the kids are always running around like banshees just let out of their cages for five minutes...

As I pull up to her house, I have to navigate around a couple of bicycles on the driveway (not her kid's bikes, either)... I go in the house for a few minutes and we come out and get in the truck to leave.

I start the truck up, check all my mirrors, tap the horn and slowly back out of the driveway as cautiously as I can. Successfully, I put the truck in drive and start to pull forward. I'm not even past the house next door when all of a sudden I loud boom comes from the driver's side door. I stop the truck and get out to find a little kid had come hauling out of the driveway next door and bashed into the driver's side door with his bicycle, leaving a dent on impact and a scratch across the side of the truck about two feet long...

Luckily, he was ok. No tire marks or broken bones. The mom and dad (and five siblings) were all outside when it happened. The dad comes up and says, "oh, it looks like it's all fine..." And, I say, "Well, everything except for the side of my truck. Are you going to be able to take care of that?" Then he actually got indignant and said, "well, at least my kid's head didn't get smashed."

Not wanting to blow things out of control, I basically told him that it was good everyone was ok and that we'd talk about it later and he agreed...

In the meantime, my brand new truck is now sitting in my garage with a dent and scratch where there was none before... I hope the guy doesn't decide not to stand up on this. If my kid bashed someone's car, I'd fix it right away, no questions asked.

It just sucks that no matter how careful you are, chit still happens. Sometimes, I think I'm a chit magnet!!!

Oh well, at the very least, I don't have a hurt kid on my conscious. My fault or not, that would be a bad thing to go through...

E

 

As I was reading my post, keep in mind that I didn't fret about the truck until after I checked on the kid... I don't want anyone to think I was being heartless...

E

 

If the guy doesn't make it right with you just file a claim against his homeowner's policy to recover your insurance deductible. It's great that his kid is fine, but he still has a responsibility to repair the damage caused by his urchin!

 

I didn't think that.

That really sucks. Hope the guy comes through for you.

I had a real close call with a kid yesterday. Almost hit him. Was pulling into a street where there is a 7-eleven. The kid comes running out of the parking lot into the street without even looking. I had to slam on the brakes not to hit him. The weird thing is, is that I knew the people. They kept apologizing to me that he was wrong, but still. It was the scare of my life. I know it's not the same situation, but you're right. These kids come out of nowhere.

Anyway, how much damage do you think?

 

I'd go back and pound on the father big time, but thats just me.

I am glad the little one was okay, but the parents must take responsibilty for thier kids actions....

 

It's hard to even estimate. The dent is on the lower lip of the driver's door. Maybe about the size of a fist with a good scratch from there all the way across the back door almost to the rear wheel well...

It always seems that body shops make mountains out of ant hills when it comes to this stuff...

 

Yeah, I'm hoping it doesn't come to having to pound him...

My GF has lived next to this family for over a year. Their daughters are good friends and they always seem cordial enough. My GF says she's sure he'll come through, but, you just never know when it comes to having to pay money voluntarily... If push comes to shove, I'll file in small claims, but, hopefully, I won't have to go that route...

 

I agree!

 

If he doesn't want to pay, strap a tire onto the front of your truck, wait for him to back his car out of hte drive, and run into the side of it hard enough to dent hte **** out of hte door, then say, oh, I had a tire on mine kinda like your kid had on a helmet. All looks good to me!

 

you should have called the cops to get a report....I would have....mainly cause I do not trust anyone.....no one is good for their word anymore these days....

 

It's too late for you now, but I strongly recommend that anyone in the same situation immediately call their local law enforcement agency and file a report. Not only was there property damege (even if it's under your local minimum $$$ to file an official report) but the fact that a kid bounced off your truck means that some shyster lawyer now has the ability to come after you for medical bills.

There may not be a legal recourse to get dad to pay if there is no report taken. In this area, if the accident happens on private property or is under $500 damage, the officer does not have to make an official report, but at least there is a record of you having called in and the officer responding to the scene.

 

Yea you may be at their mercy now.

You go back and he can play dumb.

"Who are you? My kid did what? Where's your proof"

Never leave without proof.

Hope it works out

 

ALWAYS call the cops, no matter what. At least you know where he lives, and there were other witnesses besides you and the dad.

 

x4.

He's going to screw you

 

Kids in trucks are a bad combination for sure...

i was on my way back from WV on Sunday and I stopped in Dover, OH to go to find a place to take a break and go to chuch on my way home Sunday night.

I stopped at a gas station to look at a phone book and was talking to someone getting directions when I heard this riding lawn mower coming around the corner of the building wtih a couple of girls on it about 10 and eight years old.

The slowd to a stop in the parking lot and got off and must have jammed it into gear and it was on a crash course to rake right up the passenger side of my 04.

Luckily, the ten year old grabbed the steering wheel and jerked it away from within inches... talk about a near miss.

The girls were giggling about it and stuff, needless to say, I was not doing any giggling.

I had a drunk hit my Ranger after owning it for ten days a few years ago and screwed up one side of it, was on the same angle as the lawn mower, parked and everything. Except he was driving an ex-police diplomat and doing about 55mph.

Where is a forcefield when you need one? I want that added to my keyfob. Lock the doors, activate the forcefield.