Damaged car - Anything else I should be doing?

marktron

Really stupid, clipped my mirror off another guy (06 Toyota Corolla) who was parked. The road was narrow and there was an oncoming car who was a bit too far over the line so I didn't quite make it through.

Took my passenger wing mirror off as well as his driver wing mirror.

I went to some of the houses along the road but no-one knows who owns the car (though it was speculated that they probably didn't live there, especially as the area is so close to the town centre). I've left a note apologising along with my name and number on the windshield. I've also emailed a toyota dealership with the details for getting a replacement and getting it fitted.

They've not phoned yet (probably won't until they notice tomorrow morning tbh). Is there anything else I should be doing and does anyone know how much it's likely to cost?

Additionally, I've also got to replace my own. Any ideas for the price of a Mark 5 VW polo passenger wing mirror?

Any help appreciated.

colm_mcm

I think you did everything you reasonably could.

For your own car, if you have colour coded mirrors - do you still have the cover cap? I'd say a breakers yard for your own one.

marktron

marktron wrote: »

Really stupid, clipped my mirror off another guy (06 Toyota Corolla) who was parked. The road was narrow and there was an oncoming car who was a bit too far over the line so I didn't quite make it through.

Took my passenger wing mirror off as well as his driver wing mirror.

I went to some of the houses along the road but no-one knows who owns the car (though it was speculated that they probably didn't live there, especially as the area is so close to the town centre). I've left a note apologising along with my name and number on the windshield. I've also emailed a toyota dealership with the details for getting a replacement and getting it fitted.

They've not phoned yet (probably won't until they notice tomorrow morning tbh). Is there anything else I should be doing and does anyone know how much it's likely to cost?

Additionally, I've also got to replace my own. Any ideas for the price of a Mark 5 VW polo passenger wing mirror?

Any help appreciated.

I wish every motorist was like you. Fair play.

As Colm said, you've done all you can do. Price wise for the mirrors. 30-50 for the corolla from a breakers. I replaced a passenger mirror on my corolla (01) when I had it. 180 painted from Toyota. Couldn't get one from a breakers for the life of me. Not sure about yours seen as its a newish model.

ikeano29

Fair play for trying to get in touch with parked car.

Why do you have to fix your own when the oncoming driver was in the wrong over line on your side?

ironclaw

ikeano29 wrote: »

Why do you have to fix your own when the oncoming driver was in the wrong over line on your side?

Its not their fault you hit a parked car. OP could have stopped and should have anticipated etc etc. Trust me, you have no leg to stand on legally unless they actually physically rammed you into the other car.

And I don't say that in a 'high and mighty' sense as I've actually been in the same position myself a few years back. Other car was fine however, I just took some paint off my own.

Del2005

No harm in dropping into a Garda station and reporting it. You've done so much to try and contact the owner to get caught for not reporting a crash to the Gardaì

Tommyboy40

Good on you for trying to contact the other driver. If only more people were like you

Galadriel

I would report it to the local Garda station just as precaution, the note could have blown off or got damaged in the rain, nothing more you can do really!

marktron

Quick update on this:

He called me this afternoon. Very nice guy. Commended me on leaving a note actually (apparently it's a common problem for the road due to the width but people routinely just drive off and leave it be).

I got on to the dealership for him in advance of this but he doesn't want to use them at this time. A friend of his is a mechanic so he'll be hoping to sort something second hand. The mirror cap appears to be intact (stupidly I have it with me as I picked it up along with my own and wasn't really sure what to do with it at first, I thought it was totally broken but it's actually ok [maybe] so he's going to arrange when I can drop it out to him or when he could get it off me later) so we're hoping that that will keep the price down.

He's heading off for a week tomorrow night so he'll get back on to me when he's back and we can straighten it all out then.

Feeling fairly happy with how it's all panned out now (bar the embarrassment of having done it in the first place). Going to look into sorting my own tomorrow. Thankfully my girlfriend is happy to drop me into work for the next few mornings at least so I don't have that to contend with too.

Thanks everyone for your advice.

marktron

ikeano29 wrote: »

Why do you have to fix your own when the oncoming driver was in the wrong over line on your side?

From a purely logistical point of view, I have no idea of the reg, make, model, or even colour of that car.

And as was said earlier, I shouldn't have gone really.

I'm taking comfort in the fact that it could have been so much worse.

I didn't hit a person is the big thing really for me.

Second is that I didn't do significant damage to his car. It's perfectly drive-able and technically, doesn't even have a scratch on it. (No mirror is the bit that's probably worth focusing on though).

In 5 years of driving it's the only time I've ever done something like this so I'm not going to beat myself up about it. But I am going to be more careful.

jon1981

Fair play to you marktron. I woke up to a smashed to pieces driver side wing mirror and no note or attempt to contact me.

If the driver happens to frequent these threads and is feeling a touch of guilt, feel free to pm me...

Blue Ford focus owner!

colm_mcm

The cover cap is the only potentially expensive bit. You could pick one up in any colour from a breakers (if he's ok with that) and clip the old cap on.

FYI mirrors from 02-mid 04 are different to the ones from mid 04-07
Hatch, estate and saloon all same IIRC.