Minor Car Incident - Hit Someone’s Nudge Bar

Ls4m4ndo on 16/12/2019 - 18:49

G’day Guys,
While getting out of a shopping centre car park today I accidentally hit someone’s nudge bar (their car was about a metre over the line, as you can see in photos). All I can see that’s wrong is some paint from my car on their nudge bar but nothing more than that. The woman was really rude when talking to her and insisted I call insurance straight away to which I declined to give myself some time to think. Upon ringing her back she agreed to let me sort it out privately as my excess would be $1600 being under 25. However, I’m worried she’s going to claim she needs a whole new nudge bar even though the damage is minor (she keeps saying it’s crooked). Do you guys have any advice on the situation?

Photos: https://imgur.com/a/tYbcWhE

Automotive

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 16/12/2019 - 18:52
    +6

    She'll need a new nudge bar, who knows the damage underneath.
    LWYRUP

  • qwerty on 16/12/2019 - 19:00

    Just hope its the nudge bar only and not structural damage

    • s4m4ndo on 16/12/2019 - 19:03

      I only scraped it so I very much doubt there’d be any structural damage

  • brendanm on 16/12/2019 - 19:05
    +2

    Not sure if it's just the photo but it looks crooked.

    • s4m4ndo on 16/12/2019 - 19:09

      Based on the second photo? I think it’s just the way I took it, I’ve got a worse quality one that looks straight, and it looked fine in person.

      • brendanm on 16/12/2019 - 19:11

        Both the second and third photos.

        • LuffyTuffyFluffy on 16/12/2019 - 19:18

          The photo was taken a bit lopsided, resulting in a tilted angle. The depth of ground shows this.

  • spackbace on 16/12/2019 - 19:07

    If it's a new nudge bar it's ~$700-800 fitted

    • s4m4ndo on 16/12/2019 - 19:11

      Better than $1600 at least, hoping the dealer says it’s just cosmetic

    • This Guy on 16/12/2019 - 21:13

      It is an Isuzu. If the nudge bar is crooked so is the sub frame.

      • Euphemistic on 17/12/2019 - 09:00

        The nudge bar should be designed to bend before the frame.

  • PissLUR on 16/12/2019 - 19:16

    so is it 100% OP's fault?

  • LuffyTuffyFluffy on 16/12/2019 - 19:26
    +6

    I wouldn't be so quick to hand over the cash. She's also at fault for parking half a tire over the line, thus reducing the space for other to reverse park/exit.

    • gooddealmate on 16/12/2019 - 19:36

      My thoughts too. She's asking to be hit with the front end sticking out that far.

    • s4m4ndo on 16/12/2019 - 19:42

      Don’t know if there’s anyone I could actually argue that too, unless she’s willing to pay for some of the damages (I very much doubt it though)

    • loulou1 on 16/12/2019 - 20:37
      +11

      A car could be parked in the middle of the car park, you still are not allowed to hit it. If you hit a stationary object, you are at fault.

      • s4m4ndo on 16/12/2019 - 20:43
        +1

        Yeah that’s what I figured, car parks and trucks liked hers don’t mix well unfortunately

        • tsunamisurfer on 17/12/2019 - 00:25
          -2

          I think the same could be said about Drivers like you and Australian roads/car parks.

          • s4m4ndo on 17/12/2019 - 10:27

            @tsunamisurfer: I hit someone’s nudge bar at low speed, not like I endangered anyone. I think there’s plenty of worse drivers around than me

  • Third_Gear on 16/12/2019 - 19:29
    -4

    Say she hit you. She obviously can’t park.

    • Some Human on 17/12/2019 - 01:21
      -3

      Probably because she's a she.

  • Drakesy on 16/12/2019 - 19:47
    +1

    I'd assume she'd have to take on a portion of the blame or at least there's a legal opening there see https://www.lifehacker.com.au/2016/04/is-it-legal-to-hit-an-… . I design carparks for a living and clients are increasingly minimizing parking aisle widths to maximize parking spaces. In this case, and i've seen it a lot, those who buy dual cab utes and audi Q7's don't take the onus on themselves to get out of the aisle, severely hampering the maneuvering room, turning an adequately wide aisle into one that restricts the turning circle of the car.

    • s4m4ndo on 16/12/2019 - 20:47

      Yeah that’s exactly it, I drive a longish car with a fairly poor turning circle. Didn’t have much room to move and unfortunately scraped the car

      • Hirolol on 17/12/2019 - 08:05

        Sometimes people are just too lazy to go forwards and back a few times.

        • Drakesy on 17/12/2019 - 12:22

          If a three-point turn is required as part of the design process the centre would have to legally sign the area for compliance or put up signs restricting the area to small cars only. I'm assuming this wasn't designed with that in mind which is where the OP would have a leg to stand on.

          • Hirolol on 17/12/2019 - 17:19

            @Drakesy: Why would they legally need to sign stating 3 point turns are required?
            Which law are you referring to?

            The onus is on the driver to make judgement whether there is enough room.
            I am guilty of doing the same thing, although I do try and make an effort to just spend the extra 5 seconds to go back and forwards one more time.
            Sometimes you need to do a 3 or 4 point turn to get out of a spot.

            • Drakesy on 17/12/2019 - 19:14

              @Hirolol: Not a law per sae but stated in Australian Standards - more so if the OP was going down the inadequate design route

              AS 2890.1
              Section 1.4
              Table 1.1
              Shopping centres and high turnover carparks are at a minimum to provide a single manouevre entry and exit to car bays.
              3-point turns are only a permitted standard of entry for low turnover residential parking.

  • Seraphin7 on 16/12/2019 - 19:53
    -2

    Do you guys have any advice on the situation?

    Yeah, don't hit stationary objects.

    If you hit another vehicle, you're up for whatever repairs are necessary to return the vehicle to its prior state. The determination of "necessary" ultimately comes down to the opinion of the person's preferred repairer, often in conjunction with their insurance company.

    • salmon123 on 16/12/2019 - 20:31

      The determination of "necessary" ultimately comes down to the opinion of the person's preferred repairer, often in conjunction with their insurance company.

      *The other person's insurance company's preferred repairer (very few policies come with choice of repairer these days)

      No doubt the other person will want a new bonnet, engine (and nudge bar), but hopefully the other person's insurer is sensible and only gives them a used nudge bar.

      Also remember that the OP might be up for a rental car for a few days, which can easily run at $100/day when companies like right2drive are involved.

    • s4m4ndo on 16/12/2019 - 20:41
      +5

      Didn’t ask for future advice, mate. Perfectly aware I shouldn’t hit stationary vehicles, but accidents happen.

      • Seraphin7 on 17/12/2019 - 09:07

        Accidents do happen. Then you pay for them. Good luck, champ.

      • [Deactivated] on 17/12/2019 - 09:31
        +2

        accidents

        Collisions

  • Muzeeb on 16/12/2019 - 20:49
    -1

    Pity the owner was nearby. You could have just got out, made an assessment of no damage and then driven off. That's what normally happens around here.

    • s4m4ndo on 16/12/2019 - 21:02
      +8

      Having had that happen to me (although there was actually significant damage to my car) I wouldn’t do it to someone else

  • This Guy on 16/12/2019 - 21:12
    +2

    That is an Isuzu. That nudge bar is stronger than the sub frame. If you buy her a new one, the mechanic will make a comment about the subframe when they fit it. Move state and change your name. Or pay your excess. I won't judge.

    That said, I hope you took photos of your car. That damage looks pre-existing. Photo three shows a mark running two turds of the the bar. Photo two shows the black under coat behind the passenger side spot light mount (which could have been you), but also shows another two marks though to plastic behind the nudge bar.

    It's kinda hard to say you bent her sub frame when there are marks though to plastic behind the nudge bar.

    • s4m4ndo on 16/12/2019 - 21:26

      Yeah I thought there could be some pre existing damage there, I definitely don’t think the scratches on the right are from me. Here’s one of the photos of the damage to my car https://imgur.com/a/7Rc3NLR

      • spackbace on 16/12/2019 - 21:36
        +1

        Ouch that's a decent smack!

      • This Guy on 16/12/2019 - 21:46
        +1

        That top line looks like brick damage. The very bottom right damage matches the damage on your bumper.

        You marked their nudge bar. They hit a wall. They caused the damage.

        • s4m4ndo on 16/12/2019 - 21:52

          You can’t really see in the picture, but there’s a scratch on my headlight to the right of the dent, you don’t think that could’ve cause the top mark?

          • This Guy on 17/12/2019 - 00:00

            @s4m4ndo: Not if you bent that nudge bar. Ask Spackbace. Part of selling a car is kneeing the front or rear bumper and saying, 'gheeze, would you look at that self repairing bumper. It's to keep repair costs down at low speeds with soft objects!!!' (read: people).

            The light would have either cracked or moved long before you would have bent that nudge bar/sub frame. I doubt it is even that top smudge, as ~2010 camery's lights curved back (confirm this with Spackbace, the Toyota expert), while 2015+ dmax's have vertical nudge bars. Ignoring the lack of damage, to make the top right smudge with your light your rear tyres would have left the ground.

            To make that mark along the top of the nudge bar your car would have had to slide along to nudge bar half a metre while doing a sick wheelie. Congratulations on being so awesome!!!

            Of cause, I am just looking at photos on the internet talking rubbish. Go get a professional's opinion like a smash repairer's.

            • s4m4ndo on 17/12/2019 - 10:20

              @This Guy: Thanks mate, yeah getting professionals advice is the next step, now I’ll be able to defend myself if she says I hit it worse than I did.

      • Hirolol on 17/12/2019 - 08:07

        Have you fixed that yet?
        Something similar happened to my car.
        Poured hot water on it and I could easily push it out.

  • Some Human on 17/12/2019 - 01:22

    If I were her, I would be more concerned with the fact that someone has scribbled all over my number plate.

  • OzHunterNSW on 17/12/2019 - 09:53
    +1

    Oh come on —- it is called a nudge bar for a specific reason…. it gets nudged!
    I say there is absolutely no damage what so ever and as you say, the paint is your paint.
    Simply wipe it down, and put some wax on it. You will find it is back to new.

    • s4m4ndo on 17/12/2019 - 10:19
      -1

      Yeah that’s how I thought the situation would go, she’d just look at it a realise it’s just a scratch and not worry about it. Unfortunately for me she was a real (profanity) about it

      • mini2 on 17/12/2019 - 13:36

        If she's smart about it she could've milked a couple of hundreds off ya, sign a piece of paper stating the matter is settled/finalised and go on her merry way (and Christmas shopping courtesy of your couple of hunds). You've learned a lesson, she gets some cashola everybody wins.

  • Meerkatsrok on 17/12/2019 - 09:59
    +1

    I'd let her get a quote and then offer her 2/3 of it for her contributory negligence in parking like a mong. Let her insurer chase you for the rest.

  • Austaurean on 17/12/2019 - 11:45

    If this was on a govt parking space, she would risk getting a fine for not being in her space. the whole wheel is past the line… And no i havent read up on such matters article this, clause that etc…

  • HeWhoKnows on 18/12/2019 - 17:37

    The guy is a dick for parking so irresponsibly.

    I would not be too concerned as this driver has a lot more coming if this is how they park.
    Image how they drive????

    Dont woory OP
    You hgave done nothing wrong.

    Its this fool that is the cause of the problem
    There is a reason why parking spaces are marked so and the law says you must park wholly within the parking space.

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