Just been rear ended...
Discussion
Weirdly the same thing happened to me last weekend! Perhaps it's catching.
Anyhow the other driver admitted fault at the scene. I took down details: name, address, phone numbers etc. Also I took a written statement describing the circumstances of the collision and absolving me of any responsibility. I got the other party to agree to everything in it and sign the bottom as a true account etc.
Transpires I didn't need it but everything like that helps. My advice is to be nice! Check they're OK first and foremost and just be calm and approachable about the whole thing. It was, after all, only a car on both sides of the incident. If you go at the other party screaming and shouting, they're more likely to want to drive off/have nothing further to do with you - which increases the chances of a legal mess up down the line.
Anyway I reported to my own insurers; was given a hire car the next day and still have it! I haven't paid any excess (other party admitted fault to their insurers when submitting their side of the claim). And I now have a replacement car - so have two cars at my disposal. It's like being rich, without being rich.
Best approach, at the scene, is to be nice and to avoid the accusatory approach: "Are you all right? Yes? Good; that's the most important thing - everything else is just bits of metal. Shall we find somewhere to discuss this? Great; I'm sorry but I think that was your fault. You agree? Yes, I know it sucks but these things happen. I just need to get your details and guess that you wouldn't mind signing an account of what happened? Good, it's just for my insurance company"
Works better than: "How dare you hit my precious (whatever, Hyundai or something) you stupid (swear word). I'm going to demolish your house with my forehead then throw the pile of bricks at you."
Anyhow the other driver admitted fault at the scene. I took down details: name, address, phone numbers etc. Also I took a written statement describing the circumstances of the collision and absolving me of any responsibility. I got the other party to agree to everything in it and sign the bottom as a true account etc.
Transpires I didn't need it but everything like that helps. My advice is to be nice! Check they're OK first and foremost and just be calm and approachable about the whole thing. It was, after all, only a car on both sides of the incident. If you go at the other party screaming and shouting, they're more likely to want to drive off/have nothing further to do with you - which increases the chances of a legal mess up down the line.
Anyway I reported to my own insurers; was given a hire car the next day and still have it! I haven't paid any excess (other party admitted fault to their insurers when submitting their side of the claim). And I now have a replacement car - so have two cars at my disposal. It's like being rich, without being rich.
Best approach, at the scene, is to be nice and to avoid the accusatory approach: "Are you all right? Yes? Good; that's the most important thing - everything else is just bits of metal. Shall we find somewhere to discuss this? Great; I'm sorry but I think that was your fault. You agree? Yes, I know it sucks but these things happen. I just need to get your details and guess that you wouldn't mind signing an account of what happened? Good, it's just for my insurance company"
Works better than: "How dare you hit my precious (whatever, Hyundai or something) you stupid (swear word). I'm going to demolish your house with my forehead then throw the pile of bricks at you."
creampuff said:
TypeRTom said:
crashed into the back of me at 20-30mph. My car is worth about £2k and damage is to the rear bumper and tailgate.
The van may have been going at 20 or 30 beforehand but not at the time of impact. More like 10mph at the time of impact. 
MagneticMeerkat said:
Best approach, at the scene, is to be nice and to avoid the accusatory approach: "Are you all right? Yes? Good; that's the most important thing - everything else is just bits of metal. Shall we find somewhere to discuss this? Great; I'm sorry but I think that was your fault. You agree? Yes, I know it sucks but these things happen. I just need to get your details and guess that you wouldn't mind signing an account of what happened? Good, it's just for my insurance company"
Yeah that was pretty much my approach - although he's a tool for crashing into me shouting could only make the situation worse. I was just glad he actually stopped and gave details without fuss. His van dropped all its coolant so I don't imagine he'd have got very far up the road anyway!Anyway - latest on the situation is that <some AMC> have sorted a courtesy car for me. I had the quote from the bodyshop on Friday and it was ~£2400 so it seems highly likely that it will be deemed uneconomical to repair. The car is being inspected on Thursday.
Edited by TypeRTom on Tuesday 9th September 18:49
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