Had a bump - might be getting ripped off - way out?
Discussion
Had a bump about 5 days ago in rush hour in London. Me hitting the back of another car. We didn't swap insurance details only mobile numbers because the damage to her car was non-existant and mine came off far worse, and I knew that even though she had slammed the anchors on to shout at someone it was my fault (no blame admitted to at the scene though).
She told me at the time that she was happy with that because she didn't want to go down insurance route blah blah (yeah right).
Well, the text that I expected to get just came through and she tells me she has whiplash and that her car has been to a garage and now needs £1500 worth of work (which I know is very easy to rack up at the 'right' garage).
What I want to know is. Where do I stand? She only has my name, mobile number and Reg. number, nothing else.
I know for a fact that she is now screwing me for all she can get but where do I legally stand? The thought had crossed my mind of ignoring the text or replying saying 'Sorry wrong number blah blah'.
Any help appreciated.
Thanks
ETA: thanks for the advice guys I'll be following it up through insurance and sending them pictures of the cars. Cheers.
She told me at the time that she was happy with that because she didn't want to go down insurance route blah blah (yeah right).
Well, the text that I expected to get just came through and she tells me she has whiplash and that her car has been to a garage and now needs £1500 worth of work (which I know is very easy to rack up at the 'right' garage).
What I want to know is. Where do I stand? She only has my name, mobile number and Reg. number, nothing else.
I know for a fact that she is now screwing me for all she can get but where do I legally stand? The thought had crossed my mind of ignoring the text or replying saying 'Sorry wrong number blah blah'.
Any help appreciated.
Thanks
ETA: thanks for the advice guys I'll be following it up through insurance and sending them pictures of the cars. Cheers.
Edited by lindrup119 on Tuesday 22 October 11:38
Yeah phone your insurers, they'll make sure that everything is fully verified and wont pay out a penny more than they absolutely have too.
Also the only reason that I wouldn't want to go through insurance if somebody else had hit my car is if I wasn't insured myself, so her willingness to not involve insurers is suspicious in itself.
Also the only reason that I wouldn't want to go through insurance if somebody else had hit my car is if I wasn't insured myself, so her willingness to not involve insurers is suspicious in itself.
lindrup119 said:
When I say bump I really do mean bump. So it's not whiplash it's whipcash.
Is that honestly what you would do though in my situation?
If she had said £500, I would have paid up and kept it off the insurers books.Is that honestly what you would do though in my situation?
But she has said £1500 and has said whiplash.
This could go very bad, I'd call the insurer.
If you try and dodge it she'll call the police.
They can match your phone number with car quite quickly, a bit of CCTV etc.
Then your up for fraud, avoiding insurance and other bad stuff.
Yep, speak to your insurers, that's what they're there for. It's a pain however you look at it, but at least through them your costs are limited to the excess (in the short term). If she didn't want to go through insurers initially then she might not want the record of the accident, so might just call off the whole claim anyway.
t happens, its why you pay insurance, let them deal with it. Whilst your claiming might as well get your car fixed too?I think she does have insurance she just didn't want to have to go through it all as there was no visible damage to her car apart from paint abrasion. She seemed like she had her head screwed on but she's obviously realised that she can get a holiday out of this now.
I've decided it's probably best to go through insurance (thanks guys just need reassuring) and am now prepared to get bummed by my own premiums for the next decade (I'm only 22
)
One more thing though, is there anyway I can get my insurance company to make sure she doesn't take everyone for a ride and go to this ridiculous garage.
The possibility that there is damage underneath the bumper is highly unlikely and there were no cracks in any of the fittings, lights, number plate, bulbs were fine (all these need replacing according to the PDF) and the bumper itself just needed a respray.
I'm guessing this is a £400/500 job maximum but I understand how these things work and 500 very quickly morphs into 5000. Is there any way I can avoid this?
Cheers
I've decided it's probably best to go through insurance (thanks guys just need reassuring) and am now prepared to get bummed by my own premiums for the next decade (I'm only 22
)One more thing though, is there anyway I can get my insurance company to make sure she doesn't take everyone for a ride and go to this ridiculous garage.
The possibility that there is damage underneath the bumper is highly unlikely and there were no cracks in any of the fittings, lights, number plate, bulbs were fine (all these need replacing according to the PDF) and the bumper itself just needed a respray.
I'm guessing this is a £400/500 job maximum but I understand how these things work and 500 very quickly morphs into 5000. Is there any way I can avoid this?
Cheers
spikey78 said:
Someone will have gee'd her up to claim 'compensayshun'.. phone your insurers (she's got enough of your details to claim..) and prepare to be a amazed at them paying out 3 or 4 grand on your behalf
Been there, got the T shirt I'm afraid
I'd say this has happened, wouldn't be surprised if she had 'had a few' before the accident. Been there, got the T shirt I'm afraid
Just go by the book now, she's started the ball rolling and your insurance co won't be happy if you don't pursue it now.
Do an online quote with the accident and claim, my partner had an accident very similar to your a few years back, the driver who caused it was stoned for sure. Admitted liability, then it all changed with a letter from his insurance co. The difference in insurance afterwards was minimal.
Mr2Mike said:
Tell her that she clearly reversed into you, your car is a write off and that your neck and those of your 4 invisible passengers are feeling very stiff. That seems to be how insurance companies like to work these days.
Quite like this idea. No witnesses. Why not, she wants to screw you.I wonder if insurance companies take note of this "I'm not going through my insurance company etc etc", as you're obliged to inform them of any incident, even if you don't intend to claim.
Second - collect evidence (witnesses, photographs) - you never know when you'll need them.
End of the lesson.
Second - collect evidence (witnesses, photographs) - you never know when you'll need them.
End of the lesson.
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