5mph fender bender, how bad could it be

[StingerGT2Kev]

Kevin
blah blah blaah
Lawyer Legal Eagle
dkdjsl;djqdjw P.C.
Lawyers name P.C.

Subject: Request for POSSIBLE Legal Representation Regarding Traffic Ticket and Insurance Claim
Dear Mr. Potato Head,
I hope this message finds you well. I received your solicitation letter and decided to take you up on your offer for a free consultation. I’ve prepared the following synopsis to give you as many facts of the incident that I can while attempting to leave out any subjectiveness or wiggle room for interpretation. I was involved in a 5 mph “fender-bender” on December 12, 2024, which led to both a traffic ticket for following too closely and significant damage to my vehicle, as well as a citation for not having plates on my car and the day-trip pass expiring the previous day. On the day in question, I had only had the car for roughly 12 days, so the title hadn’t made its way into my possession yet, hence the reason for the plate infraction, which I’m sure will be dropped once I get my car back and get it registered (yes, I still don’t have my vehicle back from the body shop).
Here is a detailed account of the situation from my perspective:
On the day of the incident, I was driving my 2018 Kia Stinger GT2, traveling at a speed of approximately 5 mph in bumper-to-bumper traffic at a long red light, when the other driver in a separate vehicle, with expired tags and an expired inspection sticker, suddenly accelerated and brake-checked me. Given the wet road conditions from a recent downpour, I was driving cautiously and maintaining a safe distance. Despite this, the other driver’s erratic actions led to significant damage to my car, which was caused specifically by their tow hitch penetrating my grill.
After the citation was issued, I observed the other driver backing into a parked car, further demonstrating reckless driving behavior. Additionally, I have video evidence where the other driver admits there was a third vehicle involved, which she claims contributed to her decision to brake-check me. I believe this could potentially shift some responsibility to the third party and lead to shared liability for the damages.
The total repair cost for my vehicle is $10,837.58, with a $2,000 deductible.
Given the circumstances, I would like to explore all possible legal avenues to either dismiss or reduce the ticket for following too closely and ensure that shared liability is properly assessed regarding the third car involved in the incident. I believe that the other driver’s reckless actions and the lack of a police report significantly weaken the case against me.
As a 100% disabled veteran on a fixed income and with a 2-year-old child, the financial burden from this incident is especially significant for me, and I am hoping to find a way to address this matter with minimal impact.
I would appreciate your guidance on how best to approach this situation, especially considering the involvement of a third vehicle and the potential impact on my insurance rates.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you and discussing the best course of action. Please feel free to contact me at 555-555-5555 or by email at email@gmail.com.
Sincerely,
Kevin

 

[Ohiocruiser]

What is this? Photoshop? Where is over $10k damage?

 

[Ohiocruiser]

Kevin
blah blah blaah
Lawyer Legal EagleView attachment 89496View attachment 89493
dkdjsl;djqdjw P.C.
Lawyers name P.C.

Subject: Request for POSSIBLE Legal Representation Regarding Traffic Ticket and Insurance Claim
Dear Mr. Potato Head,
I hope this message finds you well. I received your solicitation letter and decided to take you up on your offer for a free consultation. I’ve prepared the following synopsis to give you as many facts of the incident that I can while attempting to leave out any subjectiveness or wiggle room for interpretation. I was involved in a 5 mph “fender-bender” on December 12, 2024, which led to both a traffic ticket for following too closely and significant damage to my vehicle, as well as a citation for not having plates on my car and the day-trip pass expiring the previous day. On the day in question, I had only had the car for roughly 12 days, so the title hadn’t made its way into my possession yet, hence the reason for the plate infraction, which I’m sure will be dropped once I get my car back and get it registered (yes, I still don’t have my vehicle back from the body shop).
Here is a detailed account of the situation from my perspective:
On the day of the incident, I was driving my 2018 Kia Stinger GT2, traveling at a speed of approximately 5 mph in bumper-to-bumper traffic at a long red light, when the other driver in a separate vehicle, with expired tags and an expired inspection sticker, suddenly accelerated and brake-checked me. Given the wet road conditions from a recent downpour, I was driving cautiously and maintaining a safe distance. Despite this, the other driver’s erratic actions led to significant damage to my car, which was caused specifically by their tow hitch penetrating my grill.
After the citation was issued, I observed the other driver backing into a parked car, further demonstrating reckless driving behavior. Additionally, I have video evidence where the other driver admits there was a third vehicle involved, which she claims contributed to her decision to brake-check me. I believe this could potentially shift some responsibility to the third party and lead to shared liability for the damages.
The total repair cost for my vehicle is $10,837.58, with a $2,000 deductible.
Given the circumstances, I would like to explore all possible legal avenues to either dismiss or reduce the ticket for following too closely and ensure that shared liability is properly assessed regarding the third car involved in the incident. I believe that the other driver’s reckless actions and the lack of a police report significantly weaken the case against me.
As a 100% disabled veteran on a fixed income and with a 2-year-old child, the financial burden from this incident is especially significant for me, and I am hoping to find a way to address this matter with minimal impact.
I would appreciate your guidance on how best to approach this situation, especially considering the involvement of a third vehicle and the potential impact on my insurance rates.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you and discussing the best course of action. Please feel free to contact me at 555-555-5555 or by email at email@gmail.com.
Sincerely,
Kevin

 

[Snicklefritz]

What a shit show! First of all, that is no "5 MPH" damage, no way not a chance. You need to post more pics from around and further back. These are not revealing. Your second one is a mess, how it was created and what it is supposed to show. No side brake vent!? Your CF hood is inside your windshield?! WTH is that "thing" overlapping your wheel? Is this some kind of trolling incident?

 

[StingerGT2Kev]

LOL I used AI on a couple picks but I don't remember using it on these ones. Lemme find the raw photos. And yeah, it was from 5 mph. The Suburban in front of me had a trailer hitch that stabbed through my grill DEAD CENTER so it hit the collision avoidance, the hood latch system etc. the hood wasn't even really damaged in the wreck itself. It's from me trying to drive it home and to the autobody shop and it flying up and hitting the windshield going about 45 Scared the ever living shit out of me but thankfully I could see under the hood when it happened.

Stby for more pics

 

[StingerGT2Kev]

What is this? Photoshop? Where is over $10k damage? View attachment 89498

What is this? Photoshop? Where is over $10k damage? View attachment 89498

Nah it's my Pixel 9 Pro Fold Magic something or another. I wasn't trying to make it look wprse than it was although the thought of someone doing that for clicks is kind of funny to me.....But no, unfortunately it was a very real, very precisely centered fender puncture as you can tell from the estimate.

As far as it being faster than 5 mph: I'm pretty sure my airbags would've deployed and if you haven't noticed (besides the shitty photoshop looking pics) there's no body damage....besides the front right headlight.

 

[Snicklefritz]

Nice "before" pictures. Where is the damage?

 

[StingerGT2Kev]

Edited to remove duplicates

 

[StingerGT2Kev]

Nice "before" pictures. Where is the damage?

Right below you....or above....I'm still figuring out this forums but I posted all the pics lol THAT's the damage. And if you would've looked at the post right above you you'd see the estimate. Shit punctured her good. The other car had ZERO damage, so little damage that there wasn't even a police report done, just a citation for following to close, but I'm gonna get her to take some responsibility since she brake checked me right after a storm as we were accelerating. My CEL wasn't even on, but my collision avoidance light was on

Best part is, she had expired tags and inspection sticker so she got cited for those and then proceeded to back her giant ass suburban into a parked car as she was yelling o"Byyyyyyye, thaaaaaanks so M-" crash. The look on the cop's face when he heard it (cause he was talking to me when she was leaving) was so priceless. It was a "I'm not suprised, but am very annoyed" kinda look lol

 

[Buzzman12]

I'm gonna get her to take some responsibility since she brake checked me right after a storm as we were accelerating.

Best part is, she had expired tags and inspection sticker so she got cited for those and then proceeded to back her giant ass suburban into a parked car as she was yelling o"Byyyyyyye, thaaaaaanks so M-" crash. The look on the cop's face when he heard it (cause he was talking to me when she was leaving) was so priceless. It was a "I'm not surprised, but am very annoyed" kinda look lol

Good reason to get a dashcam.
My car is hibernating right now during the winter, but I plan on installing one this spring.

 

[StingerGT2Kev]

Good reason to get a dashcam.
My car is hibernating right now during the winter, but I plan on installing one this spring.

Funny you say that.....Yeah, unfortunately, this happened after owning it for less than two weeks so I didn't get a chance to install it. I've got a small spoiler on the rear and the visibility out the rear is so bad I just went ahead and got a forward/Rear/Inside cam that attaches to the rear view.. It's pretty sick and they're on sale right now on Amazon if anyone needs more visibility like me

 

[StingerGT2Kev]

Do you have AWD or RWD? Yeah Canadian Winters are no joke! I was stationed in Juneau Alaska for a couple years and pretty much the only "performance car" you see was STI's and WRX's.

 

[Snicklefritz]

Edited to remove duplicates View attachment 89515

Sorry for my impatience sounding responses. That is pretty comprehensive picture "evidence", but doesn't look like ten thousand plus damage to me. If your front crash bar is damaged, yes that could add on another couple of thousand more. Your CF bits are real CF I presume, and that would add up to over ten thousand. If OEM grille and hood, etc., were being replaced it would be less expensive repair/replacement.

 

[Thomby]

I'm still figuring out this forums but I posted all the pics

Either attach the file (if you have it saved down) or paste it into the body of your post and delete (if you're copying it from another tab etc). Then on the attachment hit Insert --> Thumbnail and arrange how you want in your post. The thumbnail keeps things readable on mobile, and saves bandwidth, but lets people click for full size original.

the hood wasn't even really damaged in the wreck itself. It's from me trying to drive it home and to the autobody shop and it flying up and hitting the windshield going about 45

As unfortunate as an accident is, this part made me wince. There's a reason hoods universally have double latches (hood pop, then manual release) and aftermarket carbon ones use pins as a backup: even a small pressure difference applied over a huge area is a ton of force (sometimes literally).

 

[StingerGT2Kev]

Sorry for my impatience sounding responses. That is pretty comprehensive picture "evidence", but doesn't look like ten thousand plus damage to me. If your front crash bar is damaged, yes that could add on another couple of thousand more. Your CF bits are real CF I presume, and that would add up to over ten thousand. If OEM grille and hood, etc., were being replaced it would be less expensive repair/replacement.

All good. I didn't exactly nail the whole first impression part.

I had written a really long response to the next poster and tried to include pics of it now after not having it since December 12th.

Yes, it's all real CF final total was something like $9600.00. Apparently the tow hitch punctures my radiator yet I didn't even have a CEL afterwards, just the a annoying hood not closed over and over again.

Now, I'm getting the "collision avoidance system is blocked* and I still need to get it inspected to get it titled since I only had it sir about 19 days. Lets see if I can share this link without deleting my whole post again. Nope, so just put the first part photos.app.goo.gl/. wYoQGXHxMz9SL7R58

 

[D.J.]

Additionally, I have video evidence where the other driver admits there was a third vehicle involved, which she claims contributed to her decision to brake-check me.

but I'm gonna get her to take some responsibility since she brake checked me right after a storm as we were accelerating.

If there was a 3rd vehicle, in front of the vehicle you hit, how would this be considered a "brake-check".

It sounds more like the vehicle in front of you had to slow down because the vehicle in front of her slowed down, but you were unable to slow enough before colliding with her.




If you were in Ontario Canada, the fault determine rules would put you 100% at fault.






With only 2 vehicles!

 

[Snicklefritz]

Nope, so just put the first part photos.app.goo.gl/. wYoQGXHxMz9SL7R58

I can't get to anything with that, even taking the spaces out.

 

[D.J.]

I can't get to anything with that, even taking the spaces out.

I got it to work, there was a rogue "."

2028 Kia Stinger GT2 · Feb 10 – Aug 21 📸

Shared album · Tap to view!

photos.google.com

 

[Snicklefritz]

I got it to work, there was a rogue "."

2028 Kia Stinger GT2 · Feb 10 – Aug 21 📸

Shared album · Tap to view!

photos.google.com

Thanks. I could have sworn I did that. Works now for me too.

Anyway, that is some impressive CF collection! Good repair it looks like.