What damage could it do???
Discussion
gf, well ex now rear ended another car at a round about. She managed to get up to the not very high speed of about 3-5mph in the 4-5 foot she was off his rear bumper.
I will not go into how it was managed, etc. Excpet to say he was in left lane wanting to go right (wrong lane for start), but didn't indicate to do so, waited for a gap, ex 2nd guessed him that he would go onto roundabout when clear (there was a car in the inside lane of roundabout) for anyone using the left hand lane this was fine. He moved off and abruptly stopped (due to him not being able to get across both lanes, we hit him from behind at said slow speed.
Now there was no damage to bumpers, maybe a inch long scruff (could have been dirt) and that was it. Thought nothing of it and get through a letter of their solicitor seeking damages, WTF!!!
What kind of damages can be done at that speed?? The other person tried to see if his bumper was loose by giving it a hard pull, nope. So Im a miss as to what they are claiming for???
What would you lot do if when we look at the claim, they are trying to pull a fast one, you know whip lash, the works?
Im not wanting to try and get out of it but 4-5 foot under normal acceleration couldn't do much damage to their car or them, could it, I just don't want to loose my 3 years no claims because of someone trying it on.
What would you lot do??
Forgot to say he was in a 05 Nissan 'big bumper'something or other and us in a 98 punto.
>> Edited by ProPlus on Tuesday 7th February 12:07
I will not go into how it was managed, etc. Excpet to say he was in left lane wanting to go right (wrong lane for start), but didn't indicate to do so, waited for a gap, ex 2nd guessed him that he would go onto roundabout when clear (there was a car in the inside lane of roundabout) for anyone using the left hand lane this was fine. He moved off and abruptly stopped (due to him not being able to get across both lanes, we hit him from behind at said slow speed.
Now there was no damage to bumpers, maybe a inch long scruff (could have been dirt) and that was it. Thought nothing of it and get through a letter of their solicitor seeking damages, WTF!!!
What kind of damages can be done at that speed?? The other person tried to see if his bumper was loose by giving it a hard pull, nope. So Im a miss as to what they are claiming for???
What would you lot do if when we look at the claim, they are trying to pull a fast one, you know whip lash, the works?
Im not wanting to try and get out of it but 4-5 foot under normal acceleration couldn't do much damage to their car or them, could it, I just don't want to loose my 3 years no claims because of someone trying it on.
What would you lot do??
Forgot to say he was in a 05 Nissan 'big bumper'something or other and us in a 98 punto.
>> Edited by ProPlus on Tuesday 7th February 12:07
I would engage in a meaningful discussion with my insurance broker and be robust in my assertion that no personal injury could have occurred. Point out that if necessary you will produce an expert witness who will confirm that the impact could not have been hard enought to cause personal injury and that this is confirmed by the lack of structural damage to the vehicles. Say that you'll demand top-line medical evidence from an independent medical practitioner with experience of accident injuries and that when the injury is disproved you'll be reporting the other party for, basically, attempting to procure a pecunary advantage by deception. At least that will make them think about it a little.
Would that be directed to their Insurance company or to themselves directly?? We have their phone number, etc and if its a simple case of a scuff being removed I would much rather it be paid for outside of the insurance. But any other claim and I think I will be looking into the route you have just suggested.
I was presented with a bill for about £300, supposedly caused when I gently reversed into a front bumper.
I'm certain no contact was made. The driver tackled me at the time. I pointed out there were no contact marks....even the encrusted salt on my bumper was intact. He insisted on swapping details and I agreed, to get rid of him.
His insurers insisted the damage was valid, but god knows what he had repaired. My insurers paid it without referring back to me.
I was not pleased.
I'm certain no contact was made. The driver tackled me at the time. I pointed out there were no contact marks....even the encrusted salt on my bumper was intact. He insisted on swapping details and I agreed, to get rid of him.
His insurers insisted the damage was valid, but god knows what he had repaired. My insurers paid it without referring back to me.
I was not pleased.
mybrainhurts said:
I was presented with a bill for about £300, supposedly caused when I gently reversed into a front bumper.
I'm certain no contact was made. The driver tackled me at the time. I pointed out there were no contact marks....even the encrusted salt on my bumper was intact. He insisted on swapping details and I agreed, to get rid of him.
His insurers insisted the damage was valid, but god knows what he had repaired. My insurers paid it without referring back to me.
I was not pleased.
hopefully that will not happen as I intend to contend it and find out what they are claiming as I would rather pay something like that then lose 3 years no claims because they are being cheeky and making a claim for nothing.
Is it possible the the mounting brackets for the bumper have been damaged? I remember years ago when my mum reversed my dad's car into a pillar. The bumper looked fine. You wouldn't know anything had happened until you looked at the indicators which were smashed. The bumper must of given way to smash the indicators.
mybrainhurts said:
I was presented with a bill for about £300, supposedly caused when I gently reversed into a front bumper.
I'm certain no contact was made. The driver tackled me at the time. I pointed out there were no contact marks....even the encrusted salt on my bumper was intact. He insisted on swapping details and I agreed, to get rid of him.
His insurers insisted the damage was valid, but god knows what he had repaired. My insurers paid it without referring back to me.
I was not pleased.
Same to me, even told direct line he would submit a bent claim and claim for personal injuries they did
all, said well his insurers paid out and he has a doctors note Still i have his address and one day he will suffer personal injuries for the loss of five years NCB
>> Edited by hanse cronje on Tuesday 7th February 13:30
Moo Moo said:
Is it possible the the mounting brackets for the bumper have been damaged? I remember years ago when my mum reversed my dad's car into a pillar. The bumper looked fine. You wouldn't know anything had happened until you looked at the indicators which were smashed. The bumper must of given way to smash the indicators.
He grabbed hold of the bumper and gave it a few hard/sharp tugs and the thing didn't move, the only thing that could be seen was a dirty mark on their bumper. Considering the punto was intact (you breath on it and the panels buckle) I don't see how any damage could have been done.
Cooperman said:
I would engage in a meaningful discussion with my insurance broker and be robust in my assertion that no personal injury could have occurred.
Couldn't agree more...Get your insurance company advised and on-board ASAP. If it was me, I'd be calling them right now...
They will probably ask why the accident wasn't reported sooner. Worth saying it was hardly an accident, it was nothing more than a 'nudge' and that both parties agreed at the scene there was no damage. Hopefully your insurers will accept this and offer cover.
The last thing to be doing, IMHO, is contacting the third party or their solicitors. The minute you admit any form of liability (even by making an offer to settle) you could have a lengthy and expensive legal battle ahead of you. Without the protection of your insurance company, the third party could have a field day on bogus damage to their car, personal injury, sleepless nights through trauma, uninsured losses, solicitors' fees, hire car whilst their car repaired etc etc.
You are worried about the no-claims - AFAIK some insurance will not touch your no claims if you reimburse their costs. For instance, if your insurers cough up £200. You repay them £200. There hasn't actually been a claim, as such. Might be worth asking them the question..
Not wishing to paint a negative picture or to scaremonger, but it pays to be cautious, IMHO...
>> Edited by SS2. on Tuesday 7th February 13:50
SS2. said:
I would engage in a meaningful discussion with my insurance broker and be robust in my assertion that no personal injury could have occurred.
Couldn't agree more...Get your insurance company advised and on-board ASAP. If it was me, I'd be calling them right now...
They will probably ask why the accident wasn't reported sooner. Worth saying it was hardly an accident, it was nothing more than a 'nudge' and that both parties agreed at the scene there was no damage. Hopefully your insurers will accept this and offer cover.
The last thing to be doing, IMHO, is contacting the third party or their solicitors. The minute you admit any form of liability (even by making an offer to settle) you could have a lengthy and expensive legal battle ahead of you. Without the protection of your insurance company, the third party could have a field day on bogus damage to their car, personal injury, sleepless nights through trauma, uninsured losses, solicitors' fees, hire car whilst their car repaired etc etc.
You are worried about the no-claims - AFAIK some insurance will not touch your no claims if you reimburse their costs. For instance, if your insurers cough up £200. You repay them £200. There hasn't actually been a claim, as such. Might be worth asking them the question..
Not wishing to paint a negative picture or to scaremonger, but it pays to be cautious, IMHO...
>> Edited by SS2. on Tuesday 7th February 13:50
Well since the incident was exactly that and their final words were 'it looks fine we will be in touch if anything is spotted' and the letter came through yesterday evening. I truly hop its a simple case of Im over reacting and they are simply asking for a scuff to be repaired, but I would have thought they would have contacted us direct instead rather than go via the insurance company.
when I reversed and gently bumped the car behind - no damage, the passenger of that car tried to claim injury. But NU my insurers have got tough on injury claims and sent out an expert to examine my car which of course had no damage. Luckily the other person only lived two streets away and my mum persauded him to go past their house on his way back to base to look at their non damaged car. Upshot no claim for injury as NU told their insurers thay would only be prepared to fork out £200 tops, other party obviously thought having time off work to visit specialists wasn't worth bothering for £200!
there has been, here in the north west, (Bolton was featured on the radio item) a scam where people deliberately, in the tattiest road legal (insured, mot'd)car possible, set off from junctions and the like and then stop so you run into them and then they claim. They do not make a fuss just exchange details and then go on their way, the following day you get the usual caustic letter from their pet solicitor.
it is thought that it is a way for criminal gangs to attain funds
the item featured a man who ran into someone. The scamsters claimed like hell their neck hurt, unfortunately for the scamsters they went to the same out of town shopping complex as the victim who saw them, photographed them and proved they were lying (following the claim) resulting in a police investigation and conviction
it is thought that it is a way for criminal gangs to attain funds
the item featured a man who ran into someone. The scamsters claimed like hell their neck hurt, unfortunately for the scamsters they went to the same out of town shopping complex as the victim who saw them, photographed them and proved they were lying (following the claim) resulting in a police investigation and conviction
A friend of mine did the exact same thing in an N reg Punto about three months ago.
The car he bumped at the roundabout was slightly scratched, where as his Punto was written off! He said he was going less than 10mph too.
The bonnet just buckled and the wings popped out!
Back to your incident, if the other car only had a scuff I would imagine he's going for whiplash injuries. Bloody compensation society!
The car he bumped at the roundabout was slightly scratched, where as his Punto was written off! He said he was going less than 10mph too.
The bonnet just buckled and the wings popped out!
Back to your incident, if the other car only had a scuff I would imagine he's going for whiplash injuries. Bloody compensation society!
Quick update, the other person now says the boot won't lock and the lights keep flashing, does this seem right to anyone out there and what kind of costs do you think that will incure?
I have half a find to get him to get written statements from main dealers faxed across stating the problems that they have described and what kind of price they are quoting to get the 'damage' to be repaired.
Is this the wrong kind of action to do?
Si
I have half a find to get him to get written statements from main dealers faxed across stating the problems that they have described and what kind of price they are quoting to get the 'damage' to be repaired.
Is this the wrong kind of action to do?
Si
from memory vehicles must be designed to survive a crash at this kind of speed without damage (Thatcham requirement - i'm sure Thatcham themselves could be worth a look). the amount of damage will depend on the vehicles involved but i'm assuming both vehicles are reasonably modern.
i would be very suspicious of boots not locking due to accident damage simply as the bumper (assuming a modern plastic bumpered car) and its mounts would be severly damaged to push the main body in white. lights flashing could be down to bumper mounted lights shorting but claiming a low speed bump has caused it sounds far fetched to me.
if we are talking electric locking of the boot then the flashing lights could suggest a short in a wire, again without pretty heavy damage i can't see how a small bump could do this. the cynic in me wonders if these were existing problems?
i would be very suspicious of boots not locking due to accident damage simply as the bumper (assuming a modern plastic bumpered car) and its mounts would be severly damaged to push the main body in white. lights flashing could be down to bumper mounted lights shorting but claiming a low speed bump has caused it sounds far fetched to me.
if we are talking electric locking of the boot then the flashing lights could suggest a short in a wire, again without pretty heavy damage i can't see how a small bump could do this. the cynic in me wonders if these were existing problems?
bumpkin said:
from memory vehicles must be designed to survive a crash at this kind of speed without damage (Thatcham requirement - i'm sure Thatcham themselves could be worth a look). the amount of damage will depend on the vehicles involved but i'm assuming both vehicles are reasonably modern.
i would be very suspicious of boots not locking due to accident damage simply as the bumper (assuming a modern plastic bumpered car) and its mounts would be severly damaged to push the main body in white. lights flashing could be down to bumper mounted lights shorting but claiming a low speed bump has caused it sounds far fetched to me.
if we are talking electric locking of the boot then the flashing lights could suggest a short in a wire, again without pretty heavy damage i can't see how a small bump could do this. the cynic in me wonders if these were existing problems?
Their car was an 05 nissan mine is a 98 punto and mine is fine.
when you first reported it to your insurance co did you have any witnesses or photos of the 'damage' to each car? if the letter is from the other party's solicitor just forward it to your insurers and let them deal with it it's possible they have an accident report from the other party's insurer which won't tie in with any injuries or damage they are now claiming.
chrisbb said:
when you first reported it to your insurance co did you have any witnesses or photos of the 'damage' to each car? if the letter is from the other party's solicitor just forward it to your insurers and let them deal with it it's possible they have an accident report from the other party's insurer which won't tie in with any injuries or damage they are now claiming.
As there was no damage to either car or person, it wasn't reported and just assumed to be a very lucky escape.
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff