Guys, Please help.
I woke up this morning and found a grease box that sat next to my car pushed down and there was a little scratch on the rear bumper where it fell. Its pretty obvious that it was caused by the box falling down. I'll post pics as soon as I get to my camera.
Also, City of Austin had some people working on my street and they dug up some crap which threw mud all over my car. God I so wish I had a garage.
I think they might have dropped the grease box as well, can I call my insurance and claim it as vandalism? I'm really not sure what I'm supposed to do now. Please help. I tried calling city of austin but that doesn't really help at all. :bawling:

How bad is the damage? Can you prove it was the cities fault??

I can prove the mud on the car was the cities fault but the people working there obviously denied having anything to do with the grease box. The damage is thankfully not too bad just a couple scrapes on the bumper...could've been a lot worse if it fell directly on it. My guess is that the box caught the bumper on the way down and scraped it a little. I don't think there is any way to prove that the city did this except for the fact that they were working on the road right next to my car.

Is there anyway to post hi res pics on this website?

If it's not that bad I would go after the city cause it could go real bad real quick.

Wait, You would or wouldn't? I'm working on getting these pics uploaded, stupid imageshack

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/9742/img2757lv1.th.jpg (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/%5BURL=http://img131.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img2757lv1.jpg%5D%5BIMG%5Dhttp://img131.imageshack.us/img131/9742/img2757lv1.th.jpg%5B/IMG%5D%5B/URL%5D)

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/9742/img2757lv1.th.jpg (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/%5BURL=http://img131.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img2757lv1.jpg%5D%5BIMG%5Dhttp://img131.imageshack.us/img131/9742/img2757lv1.th.jpg%5B/IMG%5D%5B/URL%5D)

Before your file a claim with your insurance why don't you just take some pictures, wash the car, then try to buff it out? A little rubbing compound will probably help something like that.

Maybe ask the city for a car detail?

Before your file a claim with your insurance why don't you just take some pictures, wash the car, then try to buff it out? A little rubbing compound will probably help something like that.

Maybe ask the city for a car detail?

+1 They do sell really good scratch removers. Ask the guys in the detail forum for any suggestions.

Just wash it, that will come out with a wash. If not, I guarantee you that a replacement trim piece is a lot less than your deductible.

If the damage were greater, I'd advise you to call the city and request the info for the people working on your street. Then call them for reembursement. But IMO, the damage is so minimal, that won't even be worth it.

Before your file a claim with your insurance why don't you just take some pictures, wash the car, then try to buff it out? A little rubbing compound will probably help something like that.

Maybe ask the city for a car detail?
How would I go about asking the city to pay for a car detail? I'll ask the guys in the detailing forum as well. Its more than just the trim piece though...It is pretty hard to tell from those pictures because the sun was shining so bright, but if you follow the maroon streak you'll see the scrapes I was talking about, I'm sure it will come off with a good buffing...or so I hope. This sucks.

How would I go about asking the city to pay for a car detail? I'll ask the guys in the detailing forum as well. Its more than just the trim piece though...It is pretty hard to tell from those pictures because the sun was shining so bright, but if you follow the maroon streak you'll see the scrapes I was talking about, I'm sure it will come off with a good buffing...or so I hope. This sucks.

If you have taken all the previous actions and you are still not satified with the results THEN and only then proceed in calling the city for workers information and fail a complaint.

PS. I had a buddy w/ a Mustang get hit by a city tri-met bus, they barely paid the cost to get it repaired so good luck on this.

For the extent of the damage, IMO it is not worth trying to get compensation. Life is not always fair, sometimes you have to pay for others mistakes. I don't think they meant to do that... if they did it would have fallen on your hood.

For the extent of the damage, IMO it is not worth trying to get compensation. Life is not always fair, sometimes you have to pay for others mistakes. I don't think they meant to do that... if they did it would have fallen on your hood.
You're right, I'm just going to get it washed and maybe buff it up a little.

+1. Good decision. Stuff happens, fortunately this time the consequences are minimal.

Yeah shit does happen, just be thankful you didn't let Eddie Griffin borrow your car. :devillook

Yes thankfully the damage is pretty minimal.
islang: Undercover brother needs to stop driving.

SilverBeam, your sig pic is awesome. I've seen it 3 or 4 times now and laughed every time.

Yeah shit does happen, just be thankful you didn't let Eddie Griffin borrow your car. :devillook

I saw that, how freakin embarrasing would that be.

Dude, it really doesn't look that bad. It could be worse. My bumper is pretty nicked up from all of the parallel parking in NYC.

Consider it a christening. :cool


Oh, on the topic of nicks and parking, what has become a problem is the spare wheel that sits on the outside of SUV's or the SUV bumper themselves. The problem is that when they park in front of you they end up backing up into your hood or grill becuase the wheel or bumper sits much higher than your hood. Needless to say it does damage, especially for lower front end cars. When I'm looking for a parking spot and one is available behind an SUV I just keep looking.