I was rear ended at very low speed...... Advice needed!

[driventofoodieheaven]

So I was involved in a very small bump today. I was waiting in my stationery car waiting to turn right at a junction, indicating!

A car went into the back of me at a very very low speed (estimate sun 10 miles and hour). It has caused a couple of light scratches in my bumper and slightly pushed it out of alignment on the fixing which I can push back in. He has admitted fault and was lovely. He said his clutch jamed.

I have contacted my insurance firm and they have already arranged a garage for me to get it looked at. His insurance has now rang me asking to use their garage. What is the usual practice who do I use? My insurance says they can recover costs.

Also I do feel a bit guilty as there really is only a couple of very small scratch and I pushed the bumper back on. I'm more worried that a fixing behind the bumper could be damaged, because there was a bit of a jault. Hopefully the garage won't just laugh, looking at it now you would barely know I have been rear ended as i have pushed the bumper back in. What should I do.

Also although I was fine after the bump, my neck and back are starting to feel a little stiff, surly it can't be an injury, the speed was probably below ten miles an hour!

[Initforthemoney]

Book it into your garage of choice.

Inform your insurance company.

Let them sort it out.

It’s what you pay them for.

[driventofoodieheaven]

Initforthemoney said:

Book it into your garage of choice.

Inform your insurance company.

Let them sort it out.

It’s what you pay them for.

Thanks for the advice, in 20 years of driving its the first time I have ever been involved in a bump so was not sure of the procedure and the other sides insurance firm was pressurizing me to use their garage. I was not sure on what would happen normally when I am not at fault.

Also given the lack of visual damage apart from the scratches I am worried they will laugh at it saying why did you bother! I just want it checked to make sure no damage was done behind the scenes given I hand to push the bumper back into its fixings at the side. Do you think thats fair!

[Cold]

Don't downplay the potential damage to your car until it's been inspected. It's very easy and very common to suffer deformation of the impact absorbing components behind the bumper skin.
They deform to absorb energy and to protect the car itself, but are one-use items.

[driventofoodieheaven]

Cold said:

Don't downplay the potential damage to your car until it's been inspected. It's very easy and very common to suffer deformation of the impact absorbing components behind the bumper skin.
They deform to absorb energy and to protect the car itself, but are one-use items.

Thanks, that is useful to know. I had not realized the benefits of the impact absorbing element was a one off use so to speak. I will definitely get it inspected. so it could be what lies beneath the surface! Better to be safe than sorry.

[nebpor]

I had a very similar situation to you 18
Months ago - my insurer admiral were trying to push me through their own “independent” claims management company, but I spoke to the other parties insurer (Churchill) and they asked to let them repair it at one of their centres, all work warrantied, with hire car etc so I let them

Got sterling service, a new rear bumper , zero hassle and no impact on my own insurance when I renewed the next year - this is on my 911

Don’t write off letting their insurer fix it - it’s quick and easy and saves everyone money

[PH_77]

Initforthemoney said:

Book it into your garage of choice.

Inform your insurance company.

Let them sort it out.

It’s what you pay them for.

Having been in a similar situation a few years ago, I contacted the other driver's insurance company after i'd asked him to admit fault to them. It sounds like they have already done this.

They agreed to pay for main dealer repairs, and sorted out a hire car. I didn't therefore have to pay my excess, and wait to get it back, and didn't temporarily lose my no claims bonus.

As others have said, don't underestimate the potential damage from a minor shunt. I hope you get a satisfactory resolution.

[driventofoodieheaven]

PH_77 said:

Having been in a similar situation a few years ago, I contacted the other driver's insurance company after i'd asked him to admit fault to them. It sounds like they have already done this.

They agreed to pay for main dealer repairs, and sorted out a hire car. I didn't therefore have to pay my excess, and wait to get it back, and didn't temporarily lose my no claims bonus.

As others have said, don't underestimate the potential damage from a minor shunt. I hope you get a satisfactory resolution.

Thanks for the reassurance all that I am not being overally fussy about getting it checked out, Yes luckily the other party admitted fault straight away not that he could not really given he went into the back of me when I was stopped! My insurance firm has been great so far with the garage and hire car company all ringing me up already. Not to bothered about paying me excess temporarily (although this has not been mentioned by my company as they said the costs would be recoverable).


I kind of want to use my insurance as it is all more or less set up to go and hire car, garage etc seem to dovetail well. The other party is with Hastings and just their manner on the phone does not fill me with hope, they called me mate at one stage!

[jamoor]

Personally if it looks ok and the scratches can be removed than I wouldn't bother with the hassle of getting it repaired.

If it's as minor as you say chances are the bits behind are ok or taking a bit of a hit and should be able to take another hit


Save the time and aggro.

The damage behind the scenes is what they say to make money

[loggo]

I had a similar thing happen many years ago in Exeter just a few scratches on the rear bumper what could possibly go wrong ? on your way I said there's nothing to bother about. 3 days later the exhaust system fell off ! I should get it checked by a garage.

[PH_77]

driventofoodieheaven said:

Thanks for the reassurance all that I am not being overally fussy about getting it checked out, Yes luckily the other party admitted fault straight away not that he could not really given he went into the back of me when I was stopped! My insurance firm has been great so far with the garage and hire car company all ringing me up already. Not to bothered about paying me excess temporarily (although this has not been mentioned by my company as they said the costs would be recoverable).


I kind of want to use my insurance as it is all more or less set up to go and hire car, garage etc seem to dovetail well. The other party is with Hastings and just their manner on the phone does not fill me with hope, they called me mate at one stage!

I wouldn't worry about a call centre worker being a bit informal. I would however think about having to declare making a claim on your own insurance policy at renewal time for the next 4/5 years. Yes you should probably declare an incident, but no claim made, not at fault is perhaps going to be better for you financially. You may have protected no claims of course, and renewal date is another consideration.

[jamoor]

loggo said:

I had a similar thing happen many years ago in Exeter just a few scratches on the rear bumper what could possibly go wrong ? on your way I said there's nothing to bother about. 3 days later the exhaust system fell off ! I should get it checked by a garage.

How were they related?

[milkround]

jamoor said:

loggo said:

I had a similar thing happen many years ago in Exeter just a few scratches on the rear bumper what could possibly go wrong ? on your way I said there's nothing to bother about. 3 days later the exhaust system fell off ! I should get it checked by a garage.

How were they related?

Some/many exhausts are held on with rubber bushings/bungs. If one or more is knocked off and damaged then it can put more pressure on the rest ofthe system causing a failure.

[longbrownlog]

I rear ended the other half last night.

[unbiased]

longbrownlog said:

I rear ended the other half last night.

First post. Bravo.

[T5R+]

longbrownlog said:

I rear ended the other half last night.

Did he enjoy it.

Sorry,

[driventofoodieheaven]

So I have had a long conversation with the 3rd parties insurance firm asking me to arrange repairs through them directly rather than using my insurance firm and then recovering the costs through them, they used a combination of persuasion, offering me £100 and telling me that my insurer may struggle to recover costs of the hire car and my premium will go up if I don't go through them directly. Now I was not at fault at all in this and the 3rd party has admitted fault! So my premium should not be effect because I am claiming through my insurance to recover the costs. (although it might go up indirectly anyway as I was involved in a claim of some kind)

TO my mind I want my company to represent me and look after my interests, Hastings obviously have an interest in keeping their costs down! thus the repeated calls!

[PH_77]

driventofoodieheaven said:

So I have had a long conversation with the 3rd parties insurance firm asking me to arrange repairs through them directly rather than using my insurance firm and then recovering the costs through them, they used a combination of persuasion, offering me £100 and telling me that my insurer may struggle to recover costs of the hire car and my premium will go up if I don't go through them directly. Now I was not at fault at all in this and the 3rd party has admitted fault! So my premium should not be effect because I am claiming through my insurance to recover the costs. (although it might go up indirectly anyway as I was involved in a claim of some kind)

TO my mind I want my company to represent me and look after my interests, Hastings obviously have an interest in keeping their costs down! thus the repeated calls!

I'd personally not rule out going through the third parties insurance company. If you were insured with Hastings yourself, and the 3rd party were with another insurance company then you'd happily pay your excess to Hastings, have a (hopefully not at fault) claim on your file for 5 years, and your car would be repaired and the works warrantied.

You now have the option to avoid paying your excess and then waiting to get it back, and also to avoid potentially having an unresolved claim sitting on your file at the point of renewal. You'll get a warrantied repair and will not have made a claim on your policy - you would therefore be seen as being a lower risk come renewal time.

Horses for courses. You would likely also have the option is to stipulate the repair garage going through the TP's insurance. Best of luck anyway.

Edited by PH_77 on Sunday 22 September 19:29

[moxy89]

good chance your insurance will rise regardless of fault or not, my parents were hit by a bus, smashed mirror off and a scrape, bus company admitted fault however due to they have been in a crash regardless of fault they had an increase. insurers said once you have been in a accident your more likely to be involved in one again. Load of junk but if they can squeeze a few more pennies out of you they will

[Leptons]

longbrownlog said:

I rear ended the other half last night.

This fair tickled me. Thanks