Just had someone go into the back of  my (new shape) Felicia estate at a roundabout. Didnt have the handbrake on and was shunted forward about 5' with a loud bang but to my surprise when I got out there was no obvious damage other than the towing eye cover had popped off. On closer examination the sides of the bumper may be a few millimeters out of alignment and the centre of the rubber strip just a little dislodged/loose again only few mm nothing I would worry about. The other car was an old Polo or Golf similar height bumpers and also nothing obvious damage wise.

 

The tailgate opens fine  and there does not appear to be any movement in the boot floor.

 

My question is  could there be any hidden damage? Alignment? bumper internals or brackets etc

What/how  should I check or should I ask a bodyshop?

 

Thanks

It would be a good idea to remove the rear bumper and see if the body and rear exhaust are intact. Depending on the speed of impact, there could be some hidden dents. But why are you worried about if it's not your fault and you are insured?

I agree with Ricardo on removing the bumped to check for damage; the rear bumper can spring back into shape and hide damage behind it. A low speed impact that hasn't caused any dents to anything behind the bumper is unlikely, IMO, to cause alignment or other issues; though it may damage the mountings for the bumper.

It would be a good idea to remove the rear bumper and see if the body and rear exhaust are intact. Depending on the speed of impact, there could be some hidden dents. But why are you worried about if it's not your fault and you are insured?

 

I'd agree, drop the bumper off and have a look, but take lots of pictures as you do it in case you have to claim.

 

I can see why he doesn't want to claim if he can help it, insurance in the UK's a scam, even a none-fault accident puts your premiums up next year. A car you like will probably be written off for next to nothing because it's "old". Sometimes it's easier, and better karma, to be able to say to the other bloke "You didn't mean to, it hasn't really done any damage, don't worry about it."

 

I did this a few years ago when someone destroyed the front of a BMW on my towbar. Bloke was only insured third party, so would have to sort his own car out (think it was dead to be fair), I gave mine a good looking over roadside and told him I wasn't bothered about claiming if he wasn't. 

I can see why he doesn't want to claim if he can help it, insurance in the UK's a scam, even a none-fault accident puts your premiums up next year.

We have a saying in here for such things. In an aproximate translation it would be "robbed and f*cked both ways"... But why pay insurance if you say it's a scam? They are few, you are many.

 

Sometimes it's easier, and better karma, to be able to say to the other bloke "You didn't mean to, it hasn't really done any damage, don't worry about it."

Yeah, we have a "mutual agreement" in here in case of minor damage and no casualties. No police and no insurance involved on condition the guilty part admits his guilt in writing and signs he agrees to repair the damage or pay cash in one week max. But it's tricky. Sometimes you want to do good and the guilty part decides to forget his promise. You then have to sue him... etc.

Edited 30 December, 201510 yr by RicardoM

Because if you're not insured "they" have the police on their side who impound your car, give you 6 points on your licence, a big fine and they're "approved recovery company" then charge you a few hundred quid to get your car back after you've insured it.

 

Then your insurance cost goes up because you've had a conviction for driving without insurance.

 

Nice work if you can get it eh?

 

When it happened to me, it wasn't a written agreement or money or anything, I just basically said "I can see you're having a **** day, I'm not going to make it worse. It never happened."

Because if you're not insured "they" have the police on their side who impound your car, give you 6 points on your licence, a big fine and they're "approved recovery company" then charge you a few hundred quid to get your car back after you've insured it.

 

Then your insurance cost goes up because you've had a conviction for driving without insurance.

 

Nice work if you can get it eh?

To me there's nothing 100,000 men armed with convincing objects and nooses couldn't cure. Just to give an example when enough is enough...

We're not that organised in this country, shame really, a decent uprising would sort a lot of **** out.