minor accident - advice?

[Elan_Matt]

Hi guys,

Someone's basically just reversed into the back of my car and my rear bumper and RHS light cluster will need to be replaced.

I've got fully comp insurance, but to keep that at a reasonable price (I'm only 22 and was previously on my dad's insurance) I have a massive voluntary excess. I'm sure the lady will argue that I reversed into her car, as she was obviously a bit upset, but I'm positive I was stationary when she hit me.

I've had a look at the parts that I will need on SJ sports cars, and they come to about £500, which is way less than my excess. I guess I should go through my insurance company anyway and see what they say, but in the unlikely event that I am found to be to blame partially, can I still pull out and pay for everything myself, rather than going through the insurance and lose my no claims for next year?

Any thoughts very much appreciated.

Matt

[Exbury]

If there is a dispute over who was at fault then you need an independent witness. Unfortunately people rarely stop for accidents now (which is stupid because everybody may need a witness for themselves at some point). If there was none there and you are both not admitting liability then you needed to have taken photographs as soon as possible of the scene, leaving the cars in place. From the shattered glass and the position of the cars they probably could have worked it all out (morale - always keep a £2 disposable camera in the glovebox). To be honest don't be nice about things anymore (bitter experience), leave the cars in the position they were hit, get those photos, try to get a couple of witnesses (or car registrations if possible – if you leave the cars blocking the road you may get those details ).

I could be wrong but it sounds like from your statement ‘i’m positive’ that you are not 100% sure that it is not your fault. If you use that statement you may find you are leaving yourself open. If neither of you can prove whose fault it is then I would suggest to her that she fixes her car, you fix yours. Otherwise both of you will loose your NC bonus, both of your will have a fault accident to your name and both of you will have to pay the excess anyway.

It may also get dragged through the courts (I have a MC accident going back 2 years where the other party is making up a pack of lies and I am awaiting court procedures to try to settle it).

If you do both go and not claim on your insurance, make sure you get a signed statement from her within the next few days saying that no party is admitting liability for the accident and that each party will take ownership for their repairs to their vehicle. If you dont get this statement then you will probably need to tell your insurance as the other party's insurance will probably contact them anyway. However, you may find if you tell your insurance that they may not re-insure you the next year.

eBay can bring up the occassional bumper for around £120ish and rear lights probably fetch around £60 each cluster 2nd hand. Just make sure that things like mounting brackets etc are not damaged also.

[Monty]

Matt, sorry to hear about the bump.

I have a rear bumper in red if u`r interested, there was also someone selling new rear lights on ebay for IIRC £120 maybe someone on here can give u a contact information.

[Elan_Matt]

Cheers guys.

You're right, I'm not 100% sure I'm not partially to blame, but the fact is that I saw what was coming in time and stopped reversing, whereas the other driver didn't and bumped into me. There were no witnesses, as it happened on a drive which we share. The lady quickly got into her car and drove it back to the spot in front of her house though, before I could take any pictures. I think that means quite a lot. I took some pictures immediately after that, but obviously her car wasn't in the same place it was when the crash happened.

I fear a long battle as to who was to blame for this and might even have to opt to repair mine myself just because I don't want to get caught up in something like that. I have phoned the insurance company and they said they would contact me, but I think in the end I will just have to pay for it myself.

Cheers for the info on the parts. If I manage to get the parts I need, does anyone know a good place that will be able to fit them to my car at not too great an expense?

Matt

[Exbury]

If you took photos of your car in postition, showing that you had left your car there and it shows that the other car is not there, you could argue that as you stopped and jumped out to take the photos, she moved here vehicle, in your opinion to avoid being able to show that she was in the wrong. If you want to fight it then I could suggest that you put your car in exactly the same place as can be seen in your original photos, and take photos of your reversing view and then get a similar car to hers and put it in her postion and take photos what she could see etc.

However it sounds like you do do with an arbitrator /neighbour that could let you both have your say. From the sounds of it though, I reckon the insurance company would settle 50/50. I would approach her and suggest you both get your own cars repaired otherwise you both stand to lose more over the long run from your insurance companies.

Whereabouts in Herts are you, I could stop by and have a look, its probably only going to be the bumper thats an issue to replace.

[Dico]

Matt -what colours your Elan? could be a cheap repair if its red.

Exbury, some good advice there. Whose is the Stag? Nice

Oh, I was informed by a chap at work that a woman hit my parked up landrover. No noticeable damage on the landy but you should see her car Looks like a trators gone down the side of it!

[Elan_Matt]

The Elan's BRG, so no cheap repair I guess

Have contacted the insurance company and sent them some good pictures which I hope they'll agree show that the other car hit me, rather than the other way round. Have also put the decision to have car repaired through the insurance policy on hold pending decision as to who was to blame.

Will let you know how I get on. Meanwhile, if anyone does have a spare BRG rear bumper and/or rear right hand side light cluster lying around... I could well be interested in buying it off you soon.

Cheers,
Matt

[Paul.P]

There's some light clusters on ebay at the moment !

[Elan_Matt]

Cheers Paul, but I think that one's for the wrong side

[theelanman]

Exbury, some good advice there. Whose is the Stag? Nice

dico
are you sure its a stag....I thought it was either an original opel manta or a vauxhall magnum......
cheers
g

exbury....go on...tell us what it is!!!!

[Exbury]

Stag, stag.?!?"?£......good eyes g,

Its my fully restored Opel Manta A series, er about to undergo a complete change after 3000 miles after the restoration. Are we mad or is it addiction.

Hopefully once the project is finished, it should have 200bhp (per tonne), LSD rear, vented discs all round, cruise, air-con and still look relatively standard........although already outfitted with Safety devices cage, harness, plumbed in fireEx, battery in boot.....I think I may have to build another completely new harness though!

lots of fun!!

Oh, one thing that is also very useful (just used it for my accident scene) is using Google earth to show an overhead if you are lucky to live in a clear area. Not sure about copyright law, but hey, it can help a great deal!

[Dico]

still look relatively standard

No it doesnt, looks like a stag

I was convinced it was a stag

Once got a manta in at my dads breakers with a 3.1 ltr V6 essex engine in it not for long though, went in my capri



off topic!