Advice on sorting out accident repairs

[Neil8p]

Someone hit the back of my wifes impreza today at a roundabout. It looks clear enough that the other party was at fault, and they want to try and sort it out without involving insurance companies. The bumper needs replacing and there is minor damage to the spare wheel wheel where the bumper bracket is mounted.

It seems they have a relative that works at a Nissan dealer. They have a bodyshop and they'd like us to have them look at the car. My main concern here is getting a good repair job and an appropriate courtesy car.

I'm not sure where I'd take the car yet, probably start with the subaru dealer as we'd get a loan car, and I don't mind getting a comparative quote from Nissan etc. but it'll take a week or so to organise. Thinking about it, if it turns out to be too expensive and they want to put it through insurance, where do I stand on informing the insurance company about an accident that happened a week ago? Should I inform our insurance now?

Thanks in advance

Neil

[Jasandjules]

Speak to AnniesDad

[Agrilla]

It almost certainly will be 'too expensive' - save the hassle. Let yours (or their) insurance deal with it, or Anniesdad or similar.

[catman]

The insurer will need to know, regardless of whether you use them or not. I would also be careful of trying to do a private deal. They are probably only interested in doing this at minimum cost to themselves, not what is best for you.

It certainly wouldn't hurt to speak to a good accident management company, for their opinion.

Tim

[CraigyMc]

Personally I can't believe you'd even consider this.

Do it properly, through the insurance companies.

C

[Fatman2]

I've just had a very similar incident. I was hit in the rear round a roundabout except the chap thought it was my fault so it has taken about 4-5 months to sort out.

I sustained damage to my rear bumper and rear wheel and need the alignment sorted out too. All in all it was quoted to cost a shade under £600 for a new bumper and wheel refurb for a 2008 Honda Accord.

I sympathise with anyone that has made a genuine mistake (and thus causing an accident) but you need to be sure that you get a proper job done on your car. If that means going through your insurance then so be it. I can't honestly comment on whether the Nissan bodyshop will do a decent job but if you have it done without using your insurance company then I doubt you'll have much come back if it goes wrong.

On the other hand if you go through your insurance they will try and get you to use their *approved* bodyshop. Just make sure you insist on using your own.