Sorry, i'm not buying that. Want an ethical dilemma? Not everybody drives around in a POS because they LIKE it or because they can't back out worth a damn. Some people are SERIOUS hard up for cash. You don't know how that woman'* mind works and it'* wrong to make assumptions. Who knows, maybe she went into a kind of "shock" - oh great, here'* more of what I need, more repairs, etc. It'* like someone getting hit in a car accident and having NOTHING wrong with them physically but still tries to take the offender to the cleaners because they make a MISTAKE. now THAT'* WRONG, morally/ethically/whatever. I know what happened to Jim sucks but you can bet it'* probablly sucking for that woman now too. People make mistakes, and accidents happen. You really can't take someone to the cleaners or expect them to pay a fee that isn't needed. There'* no such thing as emotional pain and suffering for having your car scatched as far as legal goes lol!
Go ahead Jim, give her the check, but be prepared for her to do nothing about it. If she offers to pay it, great, you're that much better off. If not, oh well...as far as I know, on private property she has absolutely no obligation to pay for the damages.

Unbelievably frustrating to know that our world works in this manner. Private property or not, you should be held accountable for carelessness.

And dont say for one second that if this happened to you, you wouldnt be in the same position as me, cuz I dont buy that for one second

I'd say only ask for what'* her fault, milking it to pay for whatever else you have on a wish list, because she tapped you isn't right.

It doesn't matter if it is private property or not, traffic laws/fault standards apply anywhere the public is not restricted from entering in a vehicle. Now I'm not so sure she can be CITED, but she DOES have to pay.

Yea, you're right, it is frustrating that our world works in this manner. But that'* the way it is. Don't forget Dame that you are probably referring to the laws you know of, which would be US. Canada is generally a whole different ball game and as far as i know (however much that might be lol) you don't have to re-imburse because it'* on private property.

Jim: I have had my car kicked in, i have had it rear ended, and I have had the tires slashed all by my ex. Was I pissed? Hell yes. Did he have to pay for the vandalism (kicking/tires)? NO because it was in my driveway and they said to claim it on our house insurance. Sarah has had her car backed in to in the parking lot and she was SOL for having insurance OR the other person pay for it.
It'* just too bad. All i'm saying is if you are going to ask for the woman to pay, go with an open mind and don't go there thinking the worse of her, they are likely to pick up on that and become offense and be less willing to help you out. Just a tip from psyc. 101

Okay- my $0.02.

If you touch it up yourself and it doesn't come out the proper way it could look like your car was in a more serious accident then it was. This will kill your resale value. $350 is money well spent. Good luck whatever your decision.

Nice guy alert.

I called her up, told her not to worry about it. I have the 2 bottles of paint ready to apply and I have enough to deal with other...imperfections on my bumper.

She was eternally grateful, so thats the end of that. Thats all I needed. I guess politeness is worth $350 dollars

Good for you Jim for handling it like a real man! We're proud of you, and you're right, politeness and kindness goes a long way. Who knows? she may just be real uptight for $$, and being in that spot myself, it can cause a lot of anxieties. Good luck with the paint, and if you want/need it, we've got an electric buffer.

Thank goodness. I was hoping this was how you'd end it--I didn't post, wasn't looking for another PJ voices counter-majority opinion episode--but I think that this was the best way to end it, you never know what she was thinking then or now, but putting her out 350 because she didn't say you what you wanted to hear (granted it'* what any of us would expect to hear) or because you can, isn't the best way to go about it.

Is she your age/cute?