Listen up, folks, let me tell you a story. At first glance, it seems like complete nonsense. But in fact, a man was one step away from being found guilty of something he hadn't done. And I believe an honest man's name must be cleared.
This incident took place in the most ordinary parking lot of a Sillamäe apartment building, where our esteemed driver Vadim Runk, a man of utmost responsibility, was parking his work vehicle, a small Citroën Jumper van.
And then, imagine, a neighbour appears.
«You scratched my KIA, dear Vadim. Please respond through insurance.»
Vadim is, of course, bewildered. He looks at the KIA: there's a scratch. He looks at his Citroën: clean as a whistle. He turns to the neighbour:
«Let's compare the damages. Where is the height of my bumper and where is the height of your scratch?»
But the neighbour, a man who has already decided who is guilty, shows little interest in comparison. He preferred a brief conversation through the intercom. Let the insurance company handle it. Well, handle it they will.
But Vadim proved to be a practical man. Instead of arguing in a raised voice, he took a tape measure and started measuring. And then something interesting came to light.
The damages on the KIA were at a height of approximately 48–54 cm from the ground. All Citroën parts that could theoretically have touched that spot were positioned significantly higher. It made for a rather strange picture.
If the neighbour's version is to be believed, the van somehow managed to scratch the car without leaving the slightest trace of contact on itself. No scratch. No friction. No foreign paint. In short, physics began to ask strange questions.
Then Vadim turned to me. I asked him to take additional photos, double-check the measurements, and record everything as detailed as possible. After that, all that remained was to calmly line up the facts and apply knowledge of Estonian law.
The alleged victim, however, went to the police.
The main witness in this story turned out to be neither the neighbour nor anyone's assumptions. The main witness was the tape measure. Based on the photos and measurements, I prepared a detailed objection for the insurance company. Point by point, I explained why the proposed collision version does not hold up technically, highlighted the lack of causal connection between the vehicle damages, and drew attention to the objective measurements.
Without emotions.
Without loud accusations.
Only facts, photos, and centimetres.
And what do you think? Some time later, a response comes from PZU:
Police did not establish Citroën's involvement in the incident. Applicant withdrew further claims. Case No. 1365325 closed.
That's it. He withdrew.
Result:
✔ Driver Vadim Runk is fully exonerated.
✔ No payouts for someone else's damages.
✔ Company reputation saved.
✔ Insurance case closed.
But the moral is simple, folks.
Sometimes the fate of a case is decided not by big words or someone else's confidence. Sometimes it's decided by a tape measure, a couple of good photos, and a well-written letter.
Because in insurance, as in life in general, it's not enough to say: «He did it.» You also have to prove that he actually did it.