Had a bump in car...help please

[Xtro]

Hmm.

Managing to calm down now but have just had a bump with another car. No one was hurt and both cars even seem ok but wonder what you make of what the other driver had to say.

Firstly, it was my fault. Lets move on from that, I was trying to brake, it was icy and I rear ended him but luckily wasn't going fast at all (prob 15-20).

I had a teeny bit of sore neck and chest from the belt but other than that I was fine. The guy gets out of his car and walks over, he was calm and co-operative no problem.

I get out and check he and his missus (who's now emerged) are ok - yup both are absolutely fine, totally calm. He gets my details, and gives me his. Whilst he's writing his down, I look at the rear of his car and the front of mine. Hmm, both *look* fine, but its dark and I can only see what my headlights show up. He looks after he's written his details and says somethingn (after 2 secs of looking) like "hmm yeah its cracked, had this before, same thing Audi's crack straight away". I look real hard and see fuck all, my last 3 cars have been Audi's too but I don't mention it I don't even say it looks fine. He says his is a company car (I've checked the details he gave me, he's the owner of the business).

He then asked me if I want to take it to insurers - I've only got 3rd party fire and theft so I think "balls" and I prob wouldn't want to claim it anyhow so I say would rather not. I say mine looks ok. I said get a quote or something if there's something wrong and I say I'll check in daylight tomorrow. He gets in his car and I watch as they drive off - car seems fine, no noise, started immediate, can't see anything up with back end (no dints, nothing).

Mine starts up immediate, seems fine and 5 min drive home and nothing wrong. Have just tried to check it proper but will wait til daylight.

Ok dull story over - why am I worrying that he is going to fleece me? I didn't see any hairline crack or anything after looking at it really close.

I've never had the "pleasure" of claiming through insurance or whatever before. I've had a couple of bumps - one guy pulled out in front of me but I never heard from him again and my car was fine.

If he rings me up in next few days and says "ok it cost xxx fuckloads of cash" then nsorry but I have fuck all money - I DO want to sort it and it IS my fault. I've got no idea how much a new panel (if needed) woudl cost anyway? Its the bit below rear registration plate btw and is an Audi A2.

There were no 3rd party witnesses. I don't want to say "fuck off" if he comes back with a ridiculous quote, but where do I stand if he does? Also I'm worried - could he get a mate who has a garage to come up with a bollocks quote? Can I ask for another garage to check it out? etc etc.

Advice please and sorry for ramble I'm a little shaky still

tia

/edit: just to say - not had a drop of booze today and my car is a wanky citroen ax

 

[gmloki]

He may come back with a rediculous quotation. That said you are perfectley within your rights to insist that you pursue your own quotation also. So if you think he is taking the piss then stick to your guns and get your own quote

 

[Trem]

The thing is it WILL cost a shitload to replace that.

As long as you are ok then I don't care I'm afraid Xtro. I just love you to god damn much.

He will say its fucked yet I get the feeling it was done before you hit him or he justs wants a nice cheque off you. But there ain't much you can do, if you say fuck off it was fine he will then take a hammer to it and take you court.

I hit a car last Xmas, he just wouldn't pull out of a completely clear junction. 1 minute......2.......3, he just wouldn't go. Now I aren't proud of this and I aren't sure I truly did mean it but I kinda just let my foot off the clutch and twatted the back of his car. It shagged my wing but didn't do too much to his car.

I admitted it was my fault and gave him my details but I never heard from him again. I hope the same happens to you chum.

Let us know.

 

[JBP|]

tbh i would let the insurance deal with it,that is afterall what you pay insurance for

 

[Furr]

had a small bump into a post with my car, cant really see the damage just some stress fractures on the rear bumper, took it in for a quote just to see how much it would cost to fix... £400 quid!!!! bugger that!!!

then few months later hit a pheasant at *ahem* a little over 70, lets just say it cost £540 quid to replace the front bumper... thing about these new cars, made out of plastic and cost shit loads to fix...

 

[Brynn]

I had a bump bout a month ago - was a really icy road, was going about 15mph if that. The next thing i know im going sideways and i twat a parked car. A woman from the school comes down and says that it wasnt my fault they had contacted the council 5 hours ago to get the road gritted and it wasn't. Then the guy whose car i hit arrived, he slipped on the road over to me, then took my details. I called my insurance to register a claim (on his behalf) and they said that it would cost me 2 years no claims (of my 4).

Which is well sucky coz of it not being my fault, that is pretty wank. But im glad i have insurance.


Sorry i couldn't help X - try contacting your insurance anyway and see what they say. The guy *should* take it to a garage that is registered with his insurance company and they will say how much it is to fix.

 

[Tom]

Sorry about the accident Xtro, they're never nice. Speaking as someone who owns a rather nice car, if anybody, I mean anybody hit me, I'd take it straight around to the nearest Audi bodyshop, and use that as my quotation.

Think about it this way - the money you have saved not getting a fully comprehensive policy will be used to repair the car (and if its bodypanels, it will be very expensive on an Audi), so in theory you won't be out of pocket

 

[Trem]

Speaking as someone who owns a rather nice car

ITS A BIRDS CAR!!!

 

[Gumbo]

Or at the least a hairdressers....

/me hides the Elise

 

[Tom]

heh, I love it when ppl say I drive a hairdresser's car.

"So, what car do you have?"

"er vauxhall vectra"

"ah right"

 

[anattic]

Xtro - go through the insurance company just to protect yourself from getting fleeced. It's not just the car you have to worry about, it's also the 'compensation-neck' that has a habit of appearing a few days later.

I was in a fairly nasty accident in October (#2 in a 3-car shunt at the end of the M40), which wrote off my car (pics) and the Merc that hit me. Because I was in the middle of the crash, I had to deal (at least initially) with the guy who hit me and with the guy in front. The insurers have just dealt with it - taking a load of stress out of the process.

That is what you pay them for, after all.

 

[Wij]

You're insurance has third party on it. If he tells you some ridiculous quote then say you'll have to put it through the insurers after all. He might even decide he's misread the figure

 

[old.user4556]

Do the right thing, do it through the insurance.

If it's an Audi then he isn't going to get it done at Joe Average Coachworks and most likely an Audi approved bodyshop (this can be a problem if you have a specialist car like an Elise as insurers don't typically have a Lotus approved bodyshop on their list of approved insurers).

The problem with moulded rear bumpers is that if there is a tiny crack, or small scratch/dent then the whole f'cking thing has to get replaced. I'd say ballpark £400-£600 for the part/paint/fitting. Another problem (as I found out on my old car) is that the bumper looked ok after someone twated it, it was the bootfloor and the back panel that took most of the damage (ended up costing close to £1000 to fix).

I would be suspicious like you, he might keep it away from insurance now but he might rip the piss with his quotes. You could get your own one, but I reckon the insurance is the best route.

G

 

[Gumbo]

anattic, that does look nasty, ...I mean an MGF, you brought that up even after we've started the hairdresser jokes

Where's Summo?

Seriously I hope no-one was hurt too bad, you're right you know, this is why we pay insurance. In 12 years of driving, insurance companys have had about 12grand out of me, and never paid out a penny. Hopefully *touch wood* (leave it Wij..) I'll never need to claim. With the compensation culture around today though, you are definatly best off getting insurance involved to cover your ass from those who see a minor bump as a money making scheme.

 

[Trem]

heh, I love it when ppl say I drive a hairdresser's car.

"So, what car do you have?"

"er vauxhall vectra"

"ah right"

Well sir, I drive an Impreza.

Evo within the next month though.

 

[anattic]

anattic, that does look nasty, ...I mean an MGF, you brought that up even after we've started the hairdresser jokes

Yeah, I know (heard 'em all ) - it kept me alive tho'...

 

[Gumbo]

Petrolhead SubForum ffs!!!

Maybe we should have a freddyshouse trackday

 

[Brynn]

Well sir, I drive an Impreza.

Evo within the next month though.

can i get the skyline?

 

[Trem]

Sold it a few months back luv. Sold it on Ebay funnily enough.

 

[old.Tohtori]

Well sir, I drive an Impreza.

Evo within the next month though.

Get a custom paint, i mean, a one in the world paint, preferably mix it yourself and toss out the rest, make sure you have some decals on each f*cking part. Bumper, sidepanels, doors. Nothing much, but just enough that if someone were to even scratch the car, you'd have to do a whole repaint of the car, new decals, basicly do a evo makeover to fix the scratch

Ca'zhing!

 

[rynnor]

Hmm- you say it was a company car and he was driving it on Boxing day - I wonder if he is actually covered for domestic use on his insurance policy...

Additionally for limited companies like he probably has the Inland Revenue can get a bit funny about domestic use of a business assett that he has probably claimed tax back for.

In these circumstances I think he may well wander off if you say you will go through the insurance company... unless there really is something wrong with his car...

 

[nath]

Speaking as someone who owns a rather nice car

So you own an audi TT and you're a cameraman. You're very happy about these things - sweet mary mother of JESUS get over it will you?

 

[old.user4556]

*gets popcorn*

 

[Trem]

*touches Big G's area*

 

[old.user4556]

*pulls off mask in Scooby Doo style to reveal G is actually Wij*

HAHA!

 

[MYstIC G]

I'm Wij?!?!?!?

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[gmloki]

Xtro - go through the insurance company just to protect yourself from getting fleeced. It's not just the car you have to worry about, it's also the 'compensation-neck' that has a habit of appearing a few days later.

Couldnt agree more. I recently purchased a Cherokee 4x4. Few days after I got it I was sat in traffic and realised that that I was in the right turn only lane and wanted to go straight on. So I put it in reverse and bang. Must have been doing like 5 mph at the most. Just didnt see the car behind totally my fault. I told the guy to pull over and get all the details. Smashed his moulded Bumper on his rover and manaed to bugger up his radiator and air conditioning unit as well. Immediately I asked him if he was alright and if his wife was alright both agreed they were ok. I asked him to get a quote and would then decide to pay or put it through the Insurance.

Guy got back to me £3.5k from a local garage for repairs etc. So I phoned the local Rover garage up and low and behold they could do it for £800.00. Not satisfied with this the cheeky fucker then gets his solicitors involved.

• Driving at excessive speed (WTF!!!)
• Drving in a dangerous and hazardous manner(WTF)
• Driving without due care and attention (I agree)
• Client complains of Chronic Neck ache
• Client complains of Headahce and Nausea
• Client is hallucinating
• Client is distressed and has been off work for 2 weeks-We will be claiming for loss of earnings
• Courtesy Car Hire whilst vehicle off the road- 3 Weeks

2 weeks after this exactley same letter came from solicitors about his wife. In the end I left it to my insurance. They eventually did a medical and found nothing wrong with him or his wife. They also found inconsistencies in his claim. He put this down to stress

 

[Tom]

So you own an audi TT and you're a cameraman. You're very happy about these things - sweet mary mother of JESUS get over it will you?

I think you're the one that needs to get over it.

 

[Escape]

• Client is hallucinating

I had a bump bout a month ago - was a really icy road, was going about 15mph if that. The next thing i know im going sideways and i twat a parked car....

I was driving along an icy motorway at around 6am, when my car started to slide and swung around to face the side barriers. Managed to straighten out in the end, but using all three lanes during the manuever was kinda scary

I've since learned not to change gears on an icy road. Between gears, your car is likely to lose traction and slide! 2nd gear should be enough on bad roads...

 

[nath]

I think you're the one that needs to get over it.

I am "over it" - that's why it's getting nauseating that you constantly bring up the fact that you own an Audi TT (really not that special a car) and the fact that you're a cameraman and get to meet an exciting variety of c list celebs. Big fucking whoop?