(Fairly heavy) car park bump - insurance not involved yet!

[Nezquick]

ElectricPics said:

Nezquick said:

Gavia is correct - absolute poppycock.

No, it's not. Unusual, yes. Your ignorance of something doesn't make it untrue.

I deal with claims of this very nature for a living. I'm 100% confident I'm correct.

If you know of any instance where such a claim has been paid out then please enlighten me, but I'll guarantee the only reason it was paid is because the person dealing with it had no idea what they were doing.

[TooMany2cvs]

SlowAndDull said:

Looking at the questions asked by insurance companies, they've definitely changed since our total loss (2002 from memory). I would have to answer yes to Compare the meerkat's question: Have you had any motor accidents, claims or losses in the past 5 years, no matter who was at fault or if a claim was made?

Which is very different to the 'have you had any accidents, claims or convictions' back in the day.

Not that different - it's just making sure you understand that when they say "any", they mean "any", to try and head off any weaselling out.

[SlowAndDull]

The important difference is 'losses', not the any.

If asked have I had any accidents or claims I could honestly answer 'no' where the car was written off while I was 100s of miles away (so not involved in an accident), and the other driver claimed on their insurance.

If asked have I had a loss, I will honestly answer yes. Contracts are all about wording, so I will honestly answer any questions from the insurance company.

[Jonno02]

SlowAndDull said:

My view is that if your car was parked and she hit it, were you to deal directly with her insurance you have a) not had an accident and b) not had a claim.

This is the logical reasoning I used when my wife's car was written off outside our house, while we were away on holiday. I dealt directly with the other driver's insurance company and got paid out at a total loss - it was her insurance claim and not ours, therefore did not need declaring.

I'd be grateful if anyone can, as a matter of fact, confirm or refute this line of reasoning!

Yeah, that's wrong.

I had a car written off whilst I was in Poland. It was parked outside my house in Glasgow. I have to declare it. Think they've caught onto this sort of situation and as you said, changed their wording accordingly.

[Foliage]

Get 3 written quotes, pick one, tell her how much it will be to fix, get her to pay to have it fixed.

[beko1987]

Being a 2003 civic, which is worth about 50p on a good day, I'd take cash, and just leave it as it is...

No point in repairing it. People will see the damage as they approach junctions or start to think about pulling out and back off, people will park close to you in a car park, see that and think twice, adjusting their parking.

It's just turned into a WBOD, enjoy! Take the cash, nowt wrong with that and go on a night out/free fuel for a few month/tax/insurance etc

A taxi biffed SWMBO's old meriva once, massive scuff on the rear bumper.After finding them (had witnesses) I got £200 out of it and a handshake, then polished 80% of the damage out, and hid the other 20% with a black sharpie and a few layers of wax. Then she reversed it into a bollard 4 months later and put a crack in the middle, so no money wasted! We topped up our holiday fund, car was worth exactly the same tiny amount as it was pre-biff.

Mint modified/new car yes, 2003 Civic shed that will still drive and last just as well as it would have before, nah!

Has it been asked if she's fit yet?

[xjay1337]

I'd ask for the cost of the cheaper repair (let's say £500) and then keep the money aside for a while and spend it if necessary and the dent/scuff annoys you.

[nickwilcock]

"Fortunately, my colleague has already written off a 67 plate Mini AND done a big claim on her new E class coupe cab this year (!)"

Blonde?

"Get 3 written quotes, pick one, tell her how much it will be to fix, get her to pay to have it fixed."

Definitely. She caused the damage, she can pay to get it repaired. End of!

[anniesdad]

Nezquick said:

Gavia said:

JohnnyMc said:

ElectricPics said:

If your insurance is hit you can claim from her insurer for any rise in premiums caused directly by this incident. Most people don't do this and her insurer will almost certainly wriggle a great deal and try to fob you off but ultimately they'll pay up to avoid becoming liable to satisfy a judgement if you sued her for your future losses. If you have legal protection and/or uninsured loss recovery they can do this for you.

That is really useful - didn't know that! Thanks

The reason you don’t know that is that it’s complete and utter bks

Gavia is correct - absolute poppycock.

I agree, it's too hard to accurately quantify and for how many years do you go back to the at-fault insurers for your premium increase(s)? 3 years? That is the length of time you are normally obliged to notify any interested insurer about your accidents/claims.

I've not heard of anyone making such a claim and I've been in/around the accident industry for 25 years.

OP, if the at-fault party makes you an offer that you consider to be reasonable, take it and move on. That is her legal obligation satisfied, she is not obligated to use her insurers to pay you.