Some advice please......
Discussion
Just coming up to a 90 degree right hander on a housing estate when a chap in a sheddy astra van rounded the corner on my side of the road whilst looking out of his side window. 
Anyway, full of remorse very sorry etc and keen not to go through the insurance. So, bearing in mind I really dont need this at the moment do I:
Ring insurance in the morning, put a claim in, sit back and relax
Get a quote, get some cash off him and fix it myself
Or - Get a quote, get some cash off him and take it to a garage.
I am leaning toward option 1. Damage appears to be front wing, indicator, paint on bumper, possibly push the panel under the headlights in and the tyre took a knock. It drives fine but obviously could do with being tracked up.
And for your viewing pleasure:
Anyway, full of remorse very sorry etc and keen not to go through the insurance. So, bearing in mind I really dont need this at the moment do I:
Ring insurance in the morning, put a claim in, sit back and relax
Get a quote, get some cash off him and fix it myself
Or - Get a quote, get some cash off him and take it to a garage.
I am leaning toward option 1. Damage appears to be front wing, indicator, paint on bumper, possibly push the panel under the headlights in and the tyre took a knock. It drives fine but obviously could do with being tracked up.
And for your viewing pleasure:
Edited by Jonny_693 on Tuesday 15th March 21:05
Jonny_693 said:
Does it have to be a 'what car' thread to get any coverage these days?
I have been to local bodyshop at dinnertime who have provided me with a quote for £796.51
Something tells me this isn't going to go well......
My guess is that he'll be expected you to be happy with a couple of hundred to walk away.I have been to local bodyshop at dinnertime who have provided me with a quote for £796.51
Something tells me this isn't going to go well......
TBH, 90% of the time it will be less hassle to you to go through insurance.
Only time I have ever not gone through insurance is when someone we know hit the wifes X-Type, even then they were taken aback slightly with the cost. Not sure I would trust a stanger in these circumstances.
Jonny_693 said:
Something tells me this isn't going to go well......
You could be right there, especially if he decides to lie about the incident.Also perhaps he isn't insured...a good reason for not wanting to go through insurance.
If there is a dispute (he lies)& it goes to Court, my guess is that you would lose on what's called "balance of probability"....right hand bend, you're more likely to be on his side of the road than he yours.
I would contact your insurance company unless he turns up tonight with £800
If he does....he probably isn't insured
GKP said:
He'll have changed his story by the morning and it will probably turn out to be your fault.
+1.Happened to me, in the snow an old man span into me. Only small dent, he said it was his fault etc etc and now he's fighting it all the way to make it out that it's my fault. Like I used witch craft to make him spin. It's beyond a joke now.
Where to start with this one?
Yes, the car might be insured but who's to say he is the owner or insured driver?
His passenger doesn't count as an independent witness (I believe) so discount her.
Forget what's best for him (he's trying to get the upper hand from the outset). Strike while the iron's hot and keep pressing him.
Sadly, these days most people either A. are scared of a confrontation and admit resposibility to "shut you up" and/or B. give themselves enough breathing space to change the story or disappear.
Act now and good luck.
Yes, the car might be insured but who's to say he is the owner or insured driver?
His passenger doesn't count as an independent witness (I believe) so discount her.
Forget what's best for him (he's trying to get the upper hand from the outset). Strike while the iron's hot and keep pressing him.
Sadly, these days most people either A. are scared of a confrontation and admit resposibility to "shut you up" and/or B. give themselves enough breathing space to change the story or disappear.
Act now and good luck.
gforceg said:
Where to start with this one?
Yes, the car might be insured but who's to say he is the owner or insured driver?
His passenger doesn't count as an independent witness (I believe) so discount her.
Forget what's best for him (he's trying to get the upper hand from the outset). Strike while the iron's hot and keep pressing him.
Sadly, these days most people either A. are scared of a confrontation and admit resposibility to "shut you up" and/or B. give themselves enough breathing space to change the story or disappear.
Act now and good luck.
What are you suggesting I do, phone the insurance now? I have already found the chap on facebook as freind went to school with him so he shouldn't be too hard to find. I have sent him a message explaining the quote and that if I don't hear back by 5pm tonight I will go through insurance. Yes, the car might be insured but who's to say he is the owner or insured driver?
His passenger doesn't count as an independent witness (I believe) so discount her.
Forget what's best for him (he's trying to get the upper hand from the outset). Strike while the iron's hot and keep pressing him.
Sadly, these days most people either A. are scared of a confrontation and admit resposibility to "shut you up" and/or B. give themselves enough breathing space to change the story or disappear.
Act now and good luck.
Thanks for the responses so far, keep them coming
You could show some good faith and get a few body shop quotes (not that you should have to!) to prove the sorts of prices they're asking and if he balks, go through the insurance. But as has been said, he's more than likely going to have a very different view of what happened to you!
I have to admit, I do quite often think these insurance sanctioned video cameras in your car get a better idea with each passing day.
I have to admit, I do quite often think these insurance sanctioned video cameras in your car get a better idea with each passing day.
Jonny_693 said:
What are you suggesting I do, phone the insurance now? I have already found the chap on facebook as freind went to school with him so he shouldn't be too hard to find. I have sent him a message explaining the quote and that if I don't hear back by 5pm tonight I will go through insurance.
Thanks for the responses so far, keep them coming
Hopefully that's all positive and he'll be as good as his word. My concern would be that after a few days delaying you find yourself in the position of having to report it. I'd be worried that if the trail goes cold that helps him not you. The dealine you've set him sounds fine. He knows what comes next.Thanks for the responses so far, keep them coming
Again, good luck.
944fan said:
I think that if you have an accident you are supposed to notify your insurance anyway even if you don't to claim. I could be talking utter b
k though
I'm sure it says somewhere you have to but this will in all probability increase your premium for next year as you will have an 'incident' on your file.k thoughf
k 'em - try and get the cash and keep them out of it.Thinking though, how will you answer next year 'have you had any accidents or claims in the last 5 years.'
944fan said:
I think that if you have an accident you are supposed to notify your insurance anyway even if you don't to claim. I could be talking utter bk though
You do, and the police!k thoughOP - did you take pictures of the scene prior to moving the cars?
My advice would be to go through the insurance company, let them argue it, provide a courtesy car, collect your car etc.
more protection if the repairs go wrong, stops him being able to sue you in a years time for whiplash when he claims you hit him and you paid and didn't want to go through the insurance co.
Call police (non emergency) or pitch up to the local station with his details, call insurance company, say you need a courtesy car equivalent to a BMW 3 series, let them deal with it, collect your car, put you in a new car and stop any further action in the future!
I would report to police more so than your insurance. If he didnt take your insurance details then he definately cant make a claim against you so that much is safe, but if he reports it to the police first with his version it might sound like you did a hit n run.
He may well be insured but may not want to lose NCB or even have a claim against the policy for next year, as taking into account the excess he would have to pay with a claim, £700 cash is gonna work out cheaper.
He may well be insured but may not want to lose NCB or even have a claim against the policy for next year, as taking into account the excess he would have to pay with a claim, £700 cash is gonna work out cheaper.
The police aren't usually interested unless someone got injured.
Also, I don't agree that, on the balance of probabilities you would look more guilty than the other party.
On a right-hand bend, most cars would understeer to the left (away from the centre-line of the road) The car coming towards you (left-hand bend for him) would usually end up crossing the centre-line of the road onto your side.
Tim
Also, I don't agree that, on the balance of probabilities you would look more guilty than the other party.
On a right-hand bend, most cars would understeer to the left (away from the centre-line of the road) The car coming towards you (left-hand bend for him) would usually end up crossing the centre-line of the road onto your side.
Tim
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