Car insurance claim going to court

[HuntD]

No point going into technical details but I was involved in a minor car incident where there was no damage to my vehicle but the other party made a claim, liability was disputed and now we have a date for court.

Neither of us have hard evidence so it is just our opposing words.

My solicitor tells me his is amazed that they are taking it to court and that he has asked them what on earth they are thinking, but evidently they are adamant they will win.

I am just wondering how common this is, what are the chances they will back down in the coming weeks, and does anyone have any advice for the day in court?

[Retroman]

Details of the accident and liability dispute (what you say / what they say / what really happened) would be helfpul

[jezzaaa]

HuntD said:

No point going into technical details but I was involved in a minor car incident where there was no damage to my vehicle but the other party made a claim, liability was disputed and now we have a date for court.

Neither of us have hard evidence so it is just our opposing words.

My solicitor tells me his is amazed that they are taking it to court and that he has asked them what on earth they are thinking, but evidently they are adamant they will win.

I am just wondering how common this is, what are the chances they will back down in the coming weeks, and does anyone have any advice for the day in court?

A former girlfriend of mine had this. We were expecting a courtroom, but essentially it was the two people involved, his lawyer, her lawyer and the judge/magistrate in a small conference room. The judge was eminently sensible, listened carefully to both sides and asked some clear questions to both parties...finished and pronounced his judgment within a few minutes. It was good to see such an effective process.

[photosnob]

I know a girl whos recently started her pupillage as a barrister. She does road traffic accidents atm. I think she gets something like £60 for an appearance so it's not exactly big money to send someone to court to argue it out. I know if they lose then you have the other sides costs. But again it's worth them rolling the dice sometimes.

[Heres Johnny]

jezzaaa said:

A former girlfriend of mine had this. We were expecting a courtroom, but essentially it was the two people involved, his lawyer, her lawyer and the judge/magistrate in a small conference room. The judge was eminently sensible, listened carefully to both sides and asked some clear questions to both parties...finished and pronounced his judgment within a few minutes. It was good to see such an effective process.

Like a less theatrical Judge Rinder?

[98elise]

jezzaaa said:

HuntD said:

No point going into technical details but I was involved in a minor car incident where there was no damage to my vehicle but the other party made a claim, liability was disputed and now we have a date for court.

Neither of us have hard evidence so it is just our opposing words.

My solicitor tells me his is amazed that they are taking it to court and that he has asked them what on earth they are thinking, but evidently they are adamant they will win.

I am just wondering how common this is, what are the chances they will back down in the coming weeks, and does anyone have any advice for the day in court?

A former girlfriend of mine had this. We were expecting a courtroom, but essentially it was the two people involved, his lawyer, her lawyer and the judge/magistrate in a small conference room. The judge was eminently sensible, listened carefully to both sides and asked some clear questions to both parties...finished and pronounced his judgment within a few minutes. It was good to see such an effective process.

Small claims is very similar. in my case the judge just as you described, totally fair an unbiased and uncovered the truth very quickly. The other side basically admitted they pulled out blind from a parking space because another car flashed them.