Broke neighbor's windshield: moral dilemma

[JohnnyO]

You did the right thing.

Car windows are freakin expensive.

If you ever have to smash the glass to get into your car brake the front windshield it is by far the cheapest. (Oh and never lose your car keys on a remote fishing adventure)

[REDVAN]

If you never told him, would he have known it was you? Obviously you did the right thing by fessing up, but I don't agree with the posters who say it is your responsibility to pay no matter what. If the guy is trying to extort money from you then for sure go to insurance.

OR what you could do is get some quotes, and give him the amount of the cheapest one. He can get his car fixed wherever he wants but you have paid your portion in case it is more expensive.

[Tron_fdc]

I drove over the front end of a parked car (couldn't see it; yet another benefit of having a massive truck) in the Talisman Center parking lot a few years ago. I had the opportunity to drive off, but I've been the victim of hit and runs and it seriously sucks if it happens to you. I left a note, and it turned out to be one of the lifeguards who worked there, so chances are I would have been caught if I had of fled the scene. Her old man fixed it, and charged me $80 for parts, on what would be well over $1000 if it was done at a shop.

Tell the guy to get a quote from 3 different glass repair companies, and take the lowest quote. It's what insurance companies do, and it'll save you some coin.

[Asian Lilliputian]

Thank you for all your sensible comments. Redvan's sentiments most closely matches mine. I wish he was a little less unrelenting and more compromising. Yes, I did cause the damage, but he should've matched my goodwill in equal proportions. Ultimately, however, I paid the full amount his repair-shop wanted. It's an old van and the deductible is around the same, so it's better not using insurance. It's an expensive lesson, to be sure.

Originally Posted by REDVAN

If you never told him, would he have known it was you? Obviously you did the right thing by fessing up, but I don't agree with the posters who say it is your responsibility to pay no matter what. If the guy is trying to extort money from you then for sure go to insurance.

OR what you could do is get some quotes, and give him the amount of the cheapest one. He can get his car fixed wherever he wants but you have paid your portion in case it is more expensive.

[ken0042]

Just curious, how much was the bill?

[MaDMaN_26]

Well everything has pretty much been said, but speaking as a person that has been hit/damaged in parking lots 3 times and never had anyone own up to it, to date I have a big dent/scratch on my roof (who knows how they managed that one, but I think some put something heavy on it while they unlocked their vehicle and then dragged it off), A gouge in my passenger door from another persons door and some one backed into my rear end breaking my taillight and scratching/denting my trunk and bumper. Funny thing is I make a point of parking in wide spot and out of the way, I'd rather walk the extra 100 feet... but I don't know what it is about some city folk, I come out and even though there are 20 empty spaces around me some one will have parked right tight next to me... like they were worried their vehicle would get lonely...

Anyway I'm getting off track as it is a subject that I have issues with ... but speaking from someone that has had thousands of dollars damage done to his car without anyone claiming responsibility I think what you did was rare, upstanding and speaks volumes towards your integrity as a human being.

(Besides if I heard or saw my neighbor mowing his lawn and then saw my broken window a few hours later I'd put 2 and 2 together and come knocking)

[HOOT]

I would asy phone around to different repair places, get some quotes and tell him this is what the avgerage is of 10 places or whatever you choose. Now heres an extra $20 for your trouble it will only take an hour for them to replace it.

Good on you for telling him!

[Kipper is King]

You did the right thing by confessing.

[mrdeeds]

It hurts, but you did the right thing.