I've just read the thread on what to do when involved in an accident and I remembered this several incidents which happened while I was parked on a favorite parking lot and wondered, "What should I do next time this happened?"

I just finished my clinic and when I went to the parking lot to get to my car, I noticed a big dent on the passenger side of the back of my accord with deep gashes on the paint and the side bar was malformed. I immediately went to the parking lot attendant and asked what happened to my car.

He said it was hit by a young man driving a pickup while they were backing up. He immediately showed me a paper where he copied the other person's license number which included the name, address, home phone number, cell phone number and home address.

I immediately called his cell number and talked to the guy. He admitted it was his fault and asked me if I can go to QC (I was at Makati at the time) so he can have it repaired by his mechanic. I told him it was too far away from where I live and work. He asked me for a quotation and, trusting him, told him I'll get it from a repair shop I frequent. I didn't have comprehensive insurance then.

The next day I took a leave from my work and went to the shop to get an estimate. I called up the guy again and relayed the quotation. I even told him could fax him the print-out from the shop.

Sabi nya okay na yun and asked for my bank account number so I gave it to him. He told me I'd have to wait for a month coz he applied it on his bank as a loan. Trusting the guy, I told him okay.

A month went by and he still hasn't deposited the payment so I called him up again. Aba, sya pa ang galit! "Bakit, hindi pa naman tapos ang buwan na to a!" he told me. I said I'll ask again on the first week of the second month after the accident.

The week came and I texted him asking why he hasn't deposited the amount yet and my car's paint really needed to be fixed since it's a sore on the eyes, not to mention rust could be starting to form.

After a week of not answering, I called his cellphone: not in service daw. I called his home number, lagi syang wala doon.

Hay naku. Pinagtaguan na ako.

What do you do when you're in a case like this? It seems I did all the wrong things.