Crashed my car in lanes... what to do?

[mikey_zetec_s]

So the story goes...

Travelling down some single track, national speed limit, wet country lanes...

I beared left into a blid corner travelling at approx 25-30mph when a well known courier high sided van was coming the other way... I applied breaks and skidded on mud into the van ( i assume he applied breaks, skidded on mud and slid into me too)...

anyway... we got out, i filled in a card that most couriers carry in case of an accident, took details and we went on our merry way...

My car was damages as follows:
- Drivers side wing smashed and knock backwards, meaning i cant open drivers door
- Bonnet bent
- Bumber cracked and falling off
- Drivers side headlight smashed
- intercooler bent backwards (not sure if damaged)

There was not a mark on the van...

now people have been telling me its a 50/50 claim as no one can prove who was at fault, there were no police involved either. Now do i make a claim against the couriers insurance, and they make a claim against mine? or do we each claim against our own insurance...?

im confident that the courier wont make a claim as there is no damage to repair... so can i make a claim agaisnt the couriers insurance? and then it will nto effect the no claims bonus on me policy?

any advice would be much apreciated guys

Pictures of damage:



ETA - Pics removed

Edited by mikey_zetec_s on Friday 19th November 13:17

Edited by mikey_zetec_s on Friday 19th November 21:39

[Prof Prolapse]

I was under the impression it was a legal requirement to inform your insurance company of any accidents you have regardless of fault.

Since you've just posted a picture of your car complete with registration plate on one of the most popular car websites on the internet I would do so.

I would call them and ask?

Personally I would let the insurers deal with it. Never trust a company to do the right thing.

Edited by Prof Prolapse on Friday 19th November 13:17

[Spitfire2]

Sound very much like both of you were driving too quickly for the conditions.

I expect your NCB is toast I'm afraid.

[trickywoo]

You should phone your insurance and tell them what happened.

They will then manage the claim as they see fit.

[u13rr1]

You must contact your insurance company as he will have an obligation to report it to his employer and hence their insurance company. It will affect your NCB if you are found at fault, but regardless of fault your premium will go up next year.

And learn how to spell brakes (amongst a litany of other grammatical and spelling errors) or else the insurance companies will think you're an idiot.

[R11ysf]

You'll lose your NCB just by claiming. Even if there is no damage to his vehicle it will still affect your premium.

However, although it will probably go 50/50 you state it was a left hand blind bend and you skidded on mud into him, and presume he skidded on mud into you. Yet it doesn't take a genius to figure out that if you skid on a left hand bend then you skid into oncoming traffic. If he skids on a right hand bend (for him) he skids away from oncoming traffic.
I wouldn't be so positive on that 50/50 if I were you.

[mikey_zetec_s]

Prof Prolapse said:

I was under the impression it was a legal requirement to inform your insurance company of any accidents you have regardless of fault.

Since you've just posted a picture of your car complete with registration plate on one of the most popular car websites on the internet I would do so.

I would call them and ask?

Personally I would let the insurers deal with it. Never trust a company to do the right thing.

Edited by Prof Prolapse on Friday 19th November 13:17

point noted... pic removed

[saaby93]

Youre better off paying for the repairs yourself - buying a new wing etc
and driving more carefully

unless the van driver says something

[tomsugden]

No it's not. If you click on the picture that is still there, you can then see the other one, complete with reg no.

[martin mrt]

saaby93 said:

Youre better off paying for the repairs yourself - buying a new wing etc
and driving more carefully

unless the van driver says something

This!!!! Looks very minor and easily repairable damage with bolt on replacements

[Munter]

R11ysf said:

You'll lose your NCB just by claiming. Even if there is no damage to his vehicle it will still affect your premium.

However, although it will probably go 50/50 you state it was a left hand blind bend and you skidded on mud into him, and presume he skidded on mud into you. Yet it doesn't take a genius to figure out that if you skid on a left hand bend then you skid into oncoming traffic. If he skids on a right hand bend (for him) he skids away from oncoming traffic.
I wouldn't be so positive on that 50/50 if I were you.

Single track road though. So unless there was a passing place the van was sliding/stopping in then oncoming traffic is in the same lane as the op.

OP I think you're unlucky to hit a company wagon in that they'll probably report it as they have no reason not to. So I think you might as well start talking to your insurer as then everything is "above board". But wouldn't blame you for keeping quiet and seeing what comes in the post!

[bencollins4]

This is almost certain to go 50/50. Call your insurers and let them know as it is likely, despite what you say about there being no damage to the van, that he will be looking to make some sort of a claim against you.

If it does go 50/50, both insurance companies will pay for their insured vehicle and then they split the cost.

[mikey_zetec_s]

i think ill price up the cost of repairing it myself before i do anything...

i think the cost would be bumped up as all the bent/dented panels will need respraying if i went through the insurance... not lookign forward to my premium hike!!

[davepoth]

why was there mud on the road? if a farmer was moving machinery and hadn't put up signs warning about the mud they may well be liable...

[shouldbworking]

mikey_zetec_s said:

Travelling down some single track, national speed limit, wet country lanes...

I beared left into a blid corner travelling at approx 25-30mph

Clearly an appropriate speed for the situation

[Bluebarge]

If he is not a self-employed courier (ie it's a company van) his insurers have probably already been notified.

[mikey_zetec_s]

shouldbworking said:

mikey_zetec_s said:

Travelling down some single track, national speed limit, wet country lanes...

I beared left into a blid corner travelling at approx 25-30mph

Clearly an appropriate speed for the situation

Sorry but were you actually there? if i wanted comments on my driving skills, speed etc i would have asked... so unless you have anything helpful to say... dont say anything... im sure there are lots of other posts you can give you expert opinion in whether or not people comply with your recommended driving speeds!!
thats all for now

[pinchmeimdreamin]

Do you have a google image of where the accident took place ?

[hombrepaulo]

Driving to fast. Spent the first 6 years of my driving career on single country lanes in cornwall, coming round a corner to find someone coming the other way happened several times every trip and guess what? Never hit them once.

Edited to add that the other party will probably claim this too.

Edited by hombrepaulo on Friday 19th November 14:40

[Mannginger]

davepoth said:

why was there mud on the road? if a farmer was moving machinery and hadn't put up signs warning about the mud they may well be liable...

It's always someone else's fault isn't it? Call 0800 lawyers4u now!