Possible Claim Insurance for Hitting Parked Car
Discussion
Looking for advice re possible insurance increase. Sorry it is quite a long story.
I was driving my wife's car a couple of weeks ago and reversed into a space at the side of the road outside a restaurant we were going to, I had just switched off the engine when a Volvo drew up alongside with the driver gesticulating, I put down the window to hear what he was saying, he said I had hit the car behind me and in his words, moved it four feet.
Now there was a post box at the side of the road which I was watching so as not to hit and while I was pretty sure I hadn't hit the other car there was doubt in my mind.
Anyway my wife and I got out of the car and looking at her's and the VW Polo behind and could see no damage to either. The Volvo driver then reappeared again saying quite loudly that I had moved the Polo four feet, he and I had a discussion regarding the total lack of damage to either car. The owner of the Polo, a young woman who was working in a shop nearby, then came to see what was happening, Mr Volvo again spouted his claim that I had moved the car four feet, I was becoming annoyed at this parrot by this time.
The lack of any damage was pointed out again, the Polo owner then pointed to a couple of scratches on the bumper of her car, these looked to be from bags etc being put in the boot and did not coincide with any part of my wife's car, which had a tow ball sticking out and would surely have put a hole in the bumper. I also approached a couple sitting outside the restaurant and asked if they had seen me hit the car and they said no, I didn't get their details, which I should have.
Mr Volvo then started saying that there could be damage which was not visible, and even asked how I would feel if the petrol tank fell out of the young woman's car due to damage I had caused, it was getting ridiculous by this time and a crowd was forming, so I suggested we go into the shop and I give the woman my details which I did, while Mr Volvo continued to spout his story and get right on my tits.
If there had been visible damage I would probably have accepted I hit the car and offered to pay for it, but there was nothing I could see to be repaired, so we contacted the wife's insurer to advise there might be a claim and to get my version of the event recorded. Particularly as after we had eaten, and driven of turned and were coming back we saw a Nissan Quashqui reverse into the Polo (what's the chances ?) and drive off, fortunately people sitting outside the restaurant also saw it and the owner of the Polo was told of the event, I gave our insurer the details of the Nissan.
Upshot is the wife's insurer has sent someone to inspect and take pics of her car and to date we have not heard of any claim being made.
So to the point - If no claim is made, is my wife's insurance likely to go up on the basis that we have advised the insurance company of the 'incident'.
I was driving my wife's car a couple of weeks ago and reversed into a space at the side of the road outside a restaurant we were going to, I had just switched off the engine when a Volvo drew up alongside with the driver gesticulating, I put down the window to hear what he was saying, he said I had hit the car behind me and in his words, moved it four feet.
Now there was a post box at the side of the road which I was watching so as not to hit and while I was pretty sure I hadn't hit the other car there was doubt in my mind.
Anyway my wife and I got out of the car and looking at her's and the VW Polo behind and could see no damage to either. The Volvo driver then reappeared again saying quite loudly that I had moved the Polo four feet, he and I had a discussion regarding the total lack of damage to either car. The owner of the Polo, a young woman who was working in a shop nearby, then came to see what was happening, Mr Volvo again spouted his claim that I had moved the car four feet, I was becoming annoyed at this parrot by this time.
The lack of any damage was pointed out again, the Polo owner then pointed to a couple of scratches on the bumper of her car, these looked to be from bags etc being put in the boot and did not coincide with any part of my wife's car, which had a tow ball sticking out and would surely have put a hole in the bumper. I also approached a couple sitting outside the restaurant and asked if they had seen me hit the car and they said no, I didn't get their details, which I should have.
Mr Volvo then started saying that there could be damage which was not visible, and even asked how I would feel if the petrol tank fell out of the young woman's car due to damage I had caused, it was getting ridiculous by this time and a crowd was forming, so I suggested we go into the shop and I give the woman my details which I did, while Mr Volvo continued to spout his story and get right on my tits.
If there had been visible damage I would probably have accepted I hit the car and offered to pay for it, but there was nothing I could see to be repaired, so we contacted the wife's insurer to advise there might be a claim and to get my version of the event recorded. Particularly as after we had eaten, and driven of turned and were coming back we saw a Nissan Quashqui reverse into the Polo (what's the chances ?) and drive off, fortunately people sitting outside the restaurant also saw it and the owner of the Polo was told of the event, I gave our insurer the details of the Nissan.
Upshot is the wife's insurer has sent someone to inspect and take pics of her car and to date we have not heard of any claim being made.
So to the point - If no claim is made, is my wife's insurance likely to go up on the basis that we have advised the insurance company of the 'incident'.
In my experience anything you tell your ins company will be logged on their industry-wide database and will appear in your history of 'incidents'. You will have to spout this information, chapter and verse, for the next 3-5 years when applying for any car insurance.
From what you say, it really sounds like a scam. I have no advice for what to do unfortunately but will be interested in how this pans out.
From what you say, it really sounds like a scam. I have no advice for what to do unfortunately but will be interested in how this pans out.
To be fair to the Polo owner, if this argument was going on about my car, I'd be worrying too. As for the Volvo driver, what an absolute idiot. It just isn't possible to move a car four feet, with a tow bar attached & the polo's handbrake on(?) with no visible damage, or for you to not notice, either the sound, or the sheer weight your car is now reversing with.
Good luck OP!
Good luck OP!
Thanks
I agree, the Polo owner was completely innocent in this and was rightly concerned about her car, and the Volvo guy was spouting nonsense that was just likely to get her more concerned.
Looks like it will just go away apart from my wife's insurance going up because I reported the incident.
Hey Ho, that's life.
I agree, the Polo owner was completely innocent in this and was rightly concerned about her car, and the Volvo guy was spouting nonsense that was just likely to get her more concerned.
Looks like it will just go away apart from my wife's insurance going up because I reported the incident.
Hey Ho, that's life.
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