Last night I was babysitting until close to midnight. Everything was fine, and at some point during the night, I heard glass break. There are a couple of bars around the corner, and I figured the glass breaking was dropped beer bottle. I literally sat near the window all night, and could see my car parked across the street. The dogs were calm as well; one of them saw rabbits across the street near my car and started spazzing out. Other than that, they didn't see anything either and start barking to alert of me strangers. MB and her boyfriend get home, we chat, she pays me and I leave. I get down to my car and get the surprise of my life: someone broke my driver's side mirror, and the glass I heard breaking was my mirror shattering. As I stated before, I sat in front of the window, and didn't see anyone physically touch my car with their hands on foot. I did see a dark blue or black SUV drive past in the northern direction of the street, turn around in MB's shared driveway (she lives in a stacked duplex and has neighbors underneath her) and drive south on the street. After that I heard the glass break.
I have insurance on the car, but because my car is older, I only have liability, not comp coverage. I'm thinking what happened is someone either hit me by accident or was drunk and hit me, not realizing what they did. I was babysitting in the city where I work (different from where I live) and the area of town where I was at isn't seedy or a bad neighborhood. I don't have a mirror on my driver's side, and taking it to the shop would be at least $500-600, according to a friend of mine. The pay wasn't that bad, but now I am wondering if I should stop babysitting for them because of what happened. It wasn't their fault, but I'm now out of a mirror, can't afford to have it fixed (it was completely destroyed) and I'm lucky that's the only thing that happened. I like this family, but what if I babysit again during the same time period, and something worse happens next time?
 |
| Hecki Dunno |
I have insurance on the car, but because my car is older, I only have liability, not comp coverage. I'm thinking what happened is someone either hit me by accident or was drunk and hit me, not realizing what they did. I was babysitting in the city where I work (different from where I live) and the area of town where I was at isn't seedy or a bad neighborhood. I don't have a mirror on my driver's side, and taking it to the shop would be at least $500-600, according to a friend of mine. The pay wasn't that bad, but now I am wondering if I should stop babysitting for them because of what happened. It wasn't their fault, but I'm now out of a mirror, can't afford to have it fixed (it was completely destroyed) and I'm lucky that's the only thing that happened. I like this family, but what if I babysit again during the same time period, and something worse happens next time?
Sorry to hear about your car. Did you park in the street on their driveway? Either way, I'm sure it's annoying to have to deal with this. I would tell the family. They may surprise you and offer to pay all or part of the cost. You may also look into finding the part yourself online and just using a mechanic to put it on. I did that when someone hit a car I was borrowing. I found the mirror online for under a hundred bucks and the mechanic put it on for a smaller fee. It didn't cost 500.
ReplyDeleteOtherwise, I wouldn't go back for a babysitting gig. It's not your employers faults, but something could happen... unless this was a 1 in 10 thing and nothing ever happens again.
Since that could happen anywhere I'm not sure not babysitting at this location will protect your vehicle, but with bars there the risk is elevated. Is there somewhere safer in the vicinity you can park and have MB pick you up/drop you off at?
ReplyDeleteHuh? Shit happens sometimes. If its a safe neighbourhood, I would just think you were unlucky in this case. If i were the employer, I would not pay to have it repaired.
ReplyDeleteJesus! You're as mean as me (albeit in a more British way.)
ReplyDeleteBut I have to agree; I don't see the employer paying this.
Ha! How did I give away the Britishness?
DeleteIt's the "u" in neighborhood. ;)
DeleteI agree with the above.
ReplyDeleteAs long as you are happy with the family I don't see a reason why not continue to work with them. Things like that happen in life, that's why ppl have insurance to help out. In your case, since it's an older car, just go online - I bought my mirror for 39 bucks on amazon, (i drive a 2008 chevy malibu) checked on you tube how to install it and it was done in 20 min. I am just a regular girl with no knowledge about cars and I did it myself. The only thing I needed was a screwdriver.
Use the power of knowledge that's on the Web.
And don't blame the family, it has nothing to do with them. JUST bad luck.
ITA, No need to spend beaucoup cash. Look up the mirror online and buy it. As to the reimbursement . Most families wouldn't. I get it. If you worked in any other job and your car got damaged the company wouldn't pay.
ReplyDeleteI would just ask to park in the garage...tell them what happened and ask if you can park there from now on when working.
ReplyDeleteThirty something, for me I could tell by the way you spelled neighborhood :)
Oh dear, if my kids are going to rely on me for help with homework in future, they're not going to be acing spelling bees. I didn't realise/realize american neighborhoods were 'u'less.
ReplyDeleteAlso, colors. We took out the "u"s just to further rebel against the monarchy. 'Murica!
DeleteWhatever friend told you it was $500 was way off base. Either your friend has that as a deductible with their insurance company, had the housing as well as just the the mirror replaced, or the mirror replaced was on a Bentley.
ReplyDeleteGo to auto parts store, get just the mirror and not the entire housing AND the mirror, then take it to an auto body shop. they will only charge you for their labor. it should take just a few minutes.
If you have any DIY or mechanical inclination just do it yourself. I did mine on one car when the mirror cracked, and replaced it as well as the housing on a different car that belonged to my best friend after she was hit by a car in a parking lot. Neither one of them cost more than forty or fifty bucks for the parts and took fifteen to twenty minutes to uninstall old and install the new.
Yikes! It’s too bad that you can’t have insurance cover the replacement and repairs for your car. Anyway, were you able to have it replaced soon after? I hope you have, and that you don’t encounter this situation again. Take care!
ReplyDeleteDoug Lowe @ M & M Glass Ltd
I think the admin of this web site is actually working hard in favor of his web site, since here every data is quality based information.
ReplyDeleteToyota Pickup Truck Side Mirror Glass