Reversed into.

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Reversed into.

Postby Kathryn » Mon 24.07.2017, 23:38

So I get back to my parked car this afternoon to find this. :cry:
IMG_1326.JPG

IMG_1328.JPG

IMG_1331.JPG


Some lovely scrapes and a crack on the wheel arch. :(
I think it's just as well she didn't answer the first time I rang her, I was livid.

(But on the way home I did see a small car that had been rear ended by a BMW X5 and both cars were totalled, made mine look like a small scratch in comparison.)
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Re: Reversed into.

Postby Giniw » Mon 24.07.2017, 23:47

Awww shucks, sorry to read that! :/
I do hope you can join her and her insurance will cover the repair costs ...
On the positive side she might have sneaked away without anything so it may be OK ...
The wheel doesn't look damaged, does it?
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Re: Reversed into.

Postby lotusflasherman » Mon 24.07.2017, 23:56

Sorry to see that Kathryn but at least the driver has been honest and owned up to it, some would just drive off. Hope you make contact - and stay calm...

At least you didn't get the note that says "I reversed into your car in front of witnesses so I'm leaving you this note so they think I'm leaving my name & address - but I'm not!"
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Re: Reversed into.

Postby Kathryn » Tue 25.07.2017, 01:05

I think the wheel is untouched. (It's booked in for 4 wheel alignment on Wednesday, so I guess I'll find out for sure then)

I spoke to her husband, she was very conveniently putting the baby to bed. I've got all her details. I wanted to say something but all I managed was "I was livid" and "it may look like an old banger to you but it's actually a classic car"!!

I'm going to see if I can get a repair quote tomorrow, before contacting my insurance.
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Re: Reversed into.

Postby lotusflasherman » Tue 25.07.2017, 02:57

Kathryn wrote:I think the wheel is untouched. (It's booked in for 4 wheel alignment on Wednesday, so I guess I'll find out for sure then)

I spoke to her husband, she was very conveniently putting the baby to bed. I've got all her details. I wanted to say something but all I managed was "I was livid" and "it may look like an old banger to you but it's actually a classic car"!!

I'm going to see if I can get a repair quote tomorrow, before contacting my insurance.


:agree: I wouldn't contact your insurance yet... just get some quotes, she might want to do it privately using her excess plus a bit. Better to not tell insurance. My daughter has reported a couple of 'no blame incidents' to Admiral and seen her premium go up 30% at renewal as being "accident prone" even though she has 'protected no claim' and was innocently parked both times. I've recently renewed insurance on my Elan+2 on a Classic car insurance and the guy had info about claims for windscreen replacement on my Subaru insured with Saga - it seems name and postcode is entered on a big database and shared with all insurers. Bit annoyed as Saga excess on windscreens is so high I virtually paid for whole the windscreen myself ! (Saga do cover Europe for more months than I need as part of the premium so it's swings and roundabouts - great if I'm going abroad, not great if I crack a windscreen !)
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Re: Reversed into.

Postby Rambo » Tue 25.07.2017, 09:02

You're very lucky she has left details and owned up to it but it's a bummer all the same :(

I agree with Phil. Get some quotes and do it privately rather than through your/her insurance company.
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Re: Reversed into.

Postby HJ2 » Tue 25.07.2017, 09:38

If this would happen here in Delft (and it does!) you would not have found such a kind note + telephone number! :shock:
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Re: Reversed into.

Postby simonbuk » Tue 25.07.2017, 09:50

It doesn't feel like it but you were slightly lucky !! At least there are some decent people around still. Not much point 'having a go' at her though. Thank her for leaving the note, keep polite and she may pay for repairs without hassle from insurance with the potential of putting your insurance up.

Got back to my car once in the dark (not my Elan) and found the driver's door slightly difficult to open. Looked the next day and somebody had punted the door in and damaged the wing - no note left. T*ss*rs.
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Re: Reversed into.

Postby Bern » Tue 25.07.2017, 11:08

Oh no!!!

But as everyone else has said you were lucky that they left a note accepting the blame, and it doesn't look too bad.

I had somebody reverse into my my MX5 2 years ago, no note left. I'd just advertised it for sale was the really annoying thing, I then had to explain to those that called that it now had a cracked bumper, which wasn't great (also the headlight was pushed back, but I didn't mention that!)! I like to think that the note had blown away, but I'm probably being too generous there!

I used to work in an office overlooking a public car park, we once saw somebody drive into another car, get out and look around, then drive to another parking space. We left a note for the driver who's car had been hit, they called the Police.

I hope you get it all sorted soon :-)
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Re: Reversed into.

Postby theelanman » Tue 25.07.2017, 11:46

very nice to see a note left and guilt being admitted.....
the damage looks to be just a flesh wound so should be ok......
doesn't look like its cracked the fibreglass or gone through the paint
good luck with the quotes.........is there a specialist near you?.....
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Re: Reversed into.

Postby dapinky » Tue 25.07.2017, 11:59

I too would be upset (as in livid) - and human nature is to take it out on someone who is to blame for the situation.

Whilst it doesn't actually help, it would make you feel better. I hope that in the course of time the other party will see that any anger displayed is not actually a personal assault, but a venting of frustration, and we may all respond the same.

At the same time, she was at fault, she has complied with the law regarding her responsibilities, and has acted (so far) in a way which surprises many of us on here - are we realists or cynics? It's a sad reflection on modern society that many (probably most) drivers would try to get away with it if they were at fault.

Contrary to much of the above (although I fully accept where they are coming from with the advice), I would be very wary about dealing directly with the other driver. Don't discount the idea, but think it through.

First thing is to get a proper estimate from someone who is skilled in fibreglass repairs - if there is a crack, then it will need a proper repair, not just a skim of filler. Many garages are 'skilled' in bolting a new panel on and spraying it, not necesarily in repair work. Also, bear in mind that if the collision was hard enough to cause a crack, then there is a chance of unseen damage to the fibreglass under the paint in the panel, which you may not see at this stage.

Getting a metallic paint to blend in and match is a skill in itself, so I would suggest that any 'agreement' that the other driver may give initially to pay (if she thinks it will be just a matter of touching up a small area) will soon dissapear if presented with a large (realistic) estimate for a good repair.

There are good repairers out there, but I can't recommend one near to you as I have never looked into the area - if you have a local Lotus/TVR/Marcos garage, ask them for a recommendation - or (strange though it may sound) a boat repairer may well be the best route.

If you have a 'standard' insurance policy the process is the same as if you have a 'classic' policy, but the outcomes may be different.... a 'standard' policy is often less accomodating than a classic insurer, but don't let them bully you into accepting what they are prepared to offer you - you are NOT bound to get the vehicle repaired at their 'Approved Repairer' - and many garages would just say that new panels cannot be obtained, so they won't do the work (they work to very rigid costing and won't do any more work than they are paid for). It all looks repairable from the pictures, given the skills reqired.

I am happy to recommend the guy who did the repairs and paint on mine, but he is in Clevedon so a more local place would probably suit you better if you can find one.
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Re: Reversed into.

Postby TrevorB » Tue 25.07.2017, 16:07

Sorry to hear this Kathryn and obviously there has been lots of good advice already. I realise I'm a long way away but remember when I did this
viewtopic.php?f=18&t=20745&start=20#p296045.

Well there is a good guy up my way if it's any help.

Hope you get it sorted before Lotus Festival at Brands.

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Re: Reversed into.

Postby Steve A » Tue 25.07.2017, 20:32

:agree: :( sorry to see this has happened :roll:
I hope things work out for you, and sooner rather than later :wink:
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Re: Reversed into.

Postby Dave Eds » Tue 25.07.2017, 21:05

Maybe she just didn't see it!

It seems to be invisible on your avatar now too. :shock:

Everyone makes errors, you just happened on an honest person who has admitted theirs.
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Re: Reversed into.

Postby Rusty Wishbone » Tue 25.07.2017, 21:18

If the fibreglass has cracked, it is inevitably an insurance job. Repairs are costly Whoever pays, remember that you have the right to select the repairer. Maidstone Sportscars did a very good job on mine, but did take a very long time to do the repair. If you are a member of Club Lotus, you might ask them for names of good repairers in your area.

Also, think about a bit of mission creep. Are there any other parts of the bodywork in need of a repaint? It might be cheaper to get it done by the repairer while they have the lid off the paint tin.
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Re: Reversed into.

Postby Kathryn » Tue 25.07.2017, 23:24

Thanks for all your sympathy and advice! :D

It is unfortunately cracked along the top of the wheel arch and a longer crack than I first thought. There's also a crack on the door but that may just be in the paint. Looks like quite a hefty bill, I don't think she'd agree to pay and she hasn't offered to either.

I was told today to go through her insurer not my own. I've never made a claim against someone else before, the only claim I've ever made was my fault! :oops:

I had my usual guy (Cos of Sportomotive) look at it, I've got an idea of price but he's going to price it up properly and send me the quote.
Funny Rusty mentions 'mission creep' , I have damage to the clamshell on the front (other side of the car!) that was present although not as obvious as it is now, when I bought the car. We were only discussing it last month, but as it was purely cosmetic I was going to wait a couple of years before forking out for it. I think I'm going to get it all done, it seems silly not to.
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Re: Reversed into.

Postby Kathryn » Tue 25.07.2017, 23:28

Dave Eds wrote:Maybe she just didn't see it!

It seems to be invisible on your avatar now too. :shock:

Everyone makes errors, you just happened on an honest person who has admitted theirs.


I can see my avatar, can't anyone else?

Well I don't think she did see it! If she'd used her mirrors she should have done! I've found out it was a Ford Fusion. Isn't that like a big Fiesta?
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Re: Reversed into.

Postby Giniw » Tue 25.07.2017, 23:51

Kathryn wrote:I can see my avatar, can't anyone else?
Not visible from here either.
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Re: Reversed into.

Postby lotusflasherman » Wed 26.07.2017, 00:29

Kathryn wrote:I can see my avatar, can't anyone else?

Well I don't think she did see it! If she'd used her mirrors she should have done! I've found out it was a Ford Fusion. Isn't that like a big Fiesta?


You haven't displayed an avatar for some time... and the early Fusion was a small people carrier with quite a high rear window so wouldn't have seen the Elan out of it - but she would have if she'd looked in her door mirrors!
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Re: Reversed into.

Postby Dave Eds » Wed 26.07.2017, 01:19

Hope the Elan is as easy a fix as the avatar!
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