Low speed fender bender
Discussion
Hi folks,
Looking for a bit of advice as this is my first shunt
Oblique junction, car in front of me started moving, looked to my right, road clear, pull away, car in front of me has stopped, crunch.
n/s front corner of my MX-5 impacted with o/s rear of his car.
Details swapped, etc.
Damage to mine looks to be limited to a wing and a bumper which I can get from a scrapper fairly easily and do myself as they are bolt on items.
Damage to his seems confined to the bumper (rear wing looked straight), but who knows what is lurking underneath.
I was a bit shocked at the time as you can imagine and said I'd get in touch with the insurance tonight. Chap was decent enough about it (in fact he seemed less pissed off than I think I would have been...).
Thinking about it today after a couple of restorative cuppas - would it be worth asking him to get a quote to see what it would cost to fix, and avoid insurance? Or am I supposed to declare it to insurance anyway - in which case they'll hike my premiums next year and I might as well go through insurance? If he goes to Mercedes, I can see a sprayed A-class bumper costing a fair whack.
If I do go through insurance, is there any benefit to me saying I'll fix my car myself?
Apologies for the questions, never had to do this before
Looking for a bit of advice as this is my first shunt
Oblique junction, car in front of me started moving, looked to my right, road clear, pull away, car in front of me has stopped, crunch.
n/s front corner of my MX-5 impacted with o/s rear of his car.
Details swapped, etc.
Damage to mine looks to be limited to a wing and a bumper which I can get from a scrapper fairly easily and do myself as they are bolt on items.
Damage to his seems confined to the bumper (rear wing looked straight), but who knows what is lurking underneath.
I was a bit shocked at the time as you can imagine and said I'd get in touch with the insurance tonight. Chap was decent enough about it (in fact he seemed less pissed off than I think I would have been...).
Thinking about it today after a couple of restorative cuppas - would it be worth asking him to get a quote to see what it would cost to fix, and avoid insurance? Or am I supposed to declare it to insurance anyway - in which case they'll hike my premiums next year and I might as well go through insurance? If he goes to Mercedes, I can see a sprayed A-class bumper costing a fair whack.
If I do go through insurance, is there any benefit to me saying I'll fix my car myself?
Apologies for the questions, never had to do this before
JQ said:
You are right, it does not cheer me up.I know it doesn't count for much but he seemed pretty genuine, and whiplash came up in the conversation and he said his dad had been stung for a big whiplash claim so he was not a fan.
Will my renewal go up in proportion with how much the other party claims?
BTW, I think that's a trick of the light, no dent AFAICS:
Besides, it's way higher than the MX-5 bonnet!
FreeLitres said:
That sounds like the kind of situation that our insurance fraud friends look for. Nice clear junction, begin to move out and - slam on the brakes. Car behind doesnt expect a stationary car infront. Ow, my neck... etc.
Do you think there might be any foul play here?
I did think that, and it is possible, but he seemed fairly straight down the line. Time will tell.Do you think there might be any foul play here?
I will give him a call later - couldn't remember my bloody insurance company earlier and might ask him if he wants to get a bodyshop quote. Can't see what the incentive is for him to do that though...
One other thing - will they want to write off my MX-5? S/H bumper and nosecone in black should be less than £200, but of course insurance company will price up new parts and budget for labour and spraying... In that case would I be better off getting a settlement and buying it back. Fix it cheap and put the money towards the increase in premiums and loss of value with it now being a Cat D?
AndrewW-G said:
Get a quote from a decent body shop, from the pictures it’s not clear if the Benz's bumper is cracked or not, if not, you may get away with the cost of taking it off, painting it and then putting it back on with new clips 
I think it will need a new bumper, and to be fair, why should he settle for any less, it wasn't his fault.
It's a very common accident type this, very unlikely to be any fraud involved, if
you're concerned ask your insurers to do a Hill Dickinson search.
That damage an Indy £1200-1500 a dealer approved £2000. If he decides to claim for whiplash he will be paid out, you say it's minor damage but I've seen plenty of successful (and some genuine IMHO) whiplash claims with less damage.
you're concerned ask your insurers to do a Hill Dickinson search.
That damage an Indy £1200-1500 a dealer approved £2000. If he decides to claim for whiplash he will be paid out, you say it's minor damage but I've seen plenty of successful (and some genuine IMHO) whiplash claims with less damage.
Somnophore said:
It's a very common accident type this, very unlikely to be any fraud involved, if
you're concerned ask your insurers to do a Hill Dickinson search.
That damage an Indy £1200-1500 a dealer approved £2000. If he decides to claim for whiplash he will be paid out, you say it's minor damage but I've seen plenty of successful (and some genuine IMHO) whiplash claims with less damage.
In this situation it's quite likely the driver had their head at an odd angle to look either way before pulling out, which I think would make a neck injury more likely.you're concerned ask your insurers to do a Hill Dickinson search.
That damage an Indy £1200-1500 a dealer approved £2000. If he decides to claim for whiplash he will be paid out, you say it's minor damage but I've seen plenty of successful (and some genuine IMHO) whiplash claims with less damage.
NiceCupOfTea said:
A couple more pictures - you can see that basically I've scraped down the side rather than hit the back of him. There was not really any impact as such. Hopefully this might contradict any whiplash claim, and hopefully no damage underneath the bumper...
His damage is going to cost at least 1.5k to fix, probably more like 2. New bumper and bumper mounts doesn't come to any less. Go through insurance and be done with it.
If you do go through insurance they will probably try to write off your MX5. For example this thread. http://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/forums/t/23058.aspx
Low speed prang when someone ran in it but the result was one written off MX5. But still it is up to you to decide.
Low speed prang when someone ran in it but the result was one written off MX5. But still it is up to you to decide.
LukeSi said:
If you do go through insurance they will probably try to write off your MX5. For example this thread. http://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/forums/t/23058.aspx
Low speed prang when someone ran in it but the result was one written off MX5. But still it is up to you to decide.
Bloody hell that is depressing. I am surprised that the costs of repairing the A-class might be that much - could it really be more than £800 or so to spray and fit a new bumper?Low speed prang when someone ran in it but the result was one written off MX5. But still it is up to you to decide.
Is there any way I can stop them writing off my car? If I go through insurance to repair the third party, can I say I will sort my car myself? I pay for repairs, and no Cat C/D on my car...?
Really don't want to go through what that chap with the white R-limited did...
NiceCupOfTea said:
Bloody hell that is depressing. I am surprised that the costs of repairing the A-class might be that much - could it really be more than £800 or so to spray and fit a new bumper?
Is there any way I can stop them writing off my car? If I go through insurance to repair the third party, can I say I will sort my car myself? I pay for repairs, and no Cat C/D on my car...?
Really don't want to go through what that chap with the white R-limited did...
Yup, you'd better believe it. Is there any way I can stop them writing off my car? If I go through insurance to repair the third party, can I say I will sort my car myself? I pay for repairs, and no Cat C/D on my car...?
Really don't want to go through what that chap with the white R-limited did...
New bumper cover and spray on my z3 - 1.5k. New front bumper on my wife's smart roadster - 1.2k.
These are main dealer prices of course, but who are you to tell him to go elsewhere?
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