My car slipped on black ice and I hit my neighbors mailbox. Gave her my insurance info. She said my insurance wanted her to pay upfront and she didn’t have the money.

I said I would buy the mailboxes and pay my handyman to put them in but it would be after the 1st of the year because the mailbox wouldn’t be in until 12/29 and he had family plans.

On 12/29 she called me but I couldn’t answer because my daughter was sick. I texted my handyman and asked for him to arrange what day he could come and install. He holder her he had the mailbox and arranged for Friday 1/2 to install when he was back in town.

On 12/31 she texted my sarcastic text messages that I didn’t care. I told her my daughter ended in the hospital and I couldn’t return her call which is why my handyman reached out to arrange a day and time.

She said out of respect I should have called her back. That I should be ashamed of myself and be more apologetic (I’ve already had two 30 minute calls where I profusely apologized.)

I told her to go through my insurance if I wasn’t doing it fast enough. She then sent this text, “And you are the homeowner that plowed over my mailbox. So completely disrespectful and sinful!! You should be ashamed and embarrassed and apologetic. Call (handyman)??? You are pathetic.”

In then sent this and blocked her “I’m returning the mailbox. Go through insurance. You have the info. I didn’t have to buy them and pay (handyman) to put them in. He told you he’d be there on Friday and I told you the same thing. That obviously isn’t good enough. So go through insurance.”

AITA for making her go through insurance after she started calling me names?

Edit to add info:

Her mailbox is still usable and she is still getting mail. It just had a crack.

She picked the mailbox and it would arrive until 12/29, she knew that but wanted that specific mailbox.

I sent the handyman over to fix her leaky sink as an “I’m sorry.” I’ve also dropped off treats and homemade bread as an I’m sorry.

I have answered all her calls except the 12/29 call. I used that iPhone feature where you can text and the phone will tell the person calling. I said “my daughter is sick, handyman will reach out to schedule.” He reached out and scheduled for 1/2.

She texted on 12/31 that I should have called her personally and that I should be ashamed. Told her my daughter ended up in the hospital with RSV and I thought it was resolved because she had a date the handyman was coming. She texted back “Okayyyyy. You’re pathetic” the she kept going with I was sinful. Told her to go through instance.

One more edit:

I am a female with absolutely no tools. I pay the handyman to fix things. If I knew how to do it, I would have done it. But I’ve learned I make way more working my job and paying someone do it right the first time is more cost effective.

Update: Someone advise that I contact my insurance company to see if she made a claim. She did weeks ago and said she’d be turning in receipts. My handyman reached out and asked if he could buy the mailbox from me since it was a nice one instead of me having to return it. I gave it to him for the inconvenience of his schedule being canceled. While we were talking he said she had requested copy of receipts even though I was paying him directly.

Also, I already had a claim open because there was damage to my car. So the deductible has to be paid anyway. This will not cost me extra and I have accident forgiveness…and one less neighbor I have to wave to lol