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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 11:18 pm
by rsawatson
autolycus wrote:Legally and indeed morally you are right to have informed your insurance company. Practically, it will be an albatross round your neck for years, as you'll have to tell anyone whose car you want to drive, and they'll have to tell their insurer. Most insurers will probably ignore one claim or accident, but add in, say, a windscreen claim, and a genuinely no-fault claim... It's OK for Footman James to say what they have, but it's not them trying to insure another car.
I understood what you're saying happened, though the relevance of the other driver's deceleration isn't clear without knowing your acceleration or deceleration. But when two drivers on a roundabout each claim the other drifted out of position, and there are no witnesses, you'll need a very expensive expert to prove who hit whom - if indeed that's a meaningful concept at all. You were both moving, and your trajectories crossed. You may well be completely innocent, but unless the other driver has a sudden pang of conscience, why should he do anything other than claim that the mirror image of your scenario actually occurred? That he was pootling round the roundabout, when a car on his off side accelerated and crossed into his path?
Watch out for claims of betterment, too, and a corresponding request to contribute to the repair. If the wing's too rusty to knock out a relatively shallow dent, the insurer may try that one on.
Kevin
Unfortunately, you may well be right - you take a realist's point of view. I can only remain optimistic in the hope that 'justice' will be done. As I've said already, I can only wait to see what happens.
Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2009 11:59 pm
by d_harris
Car insurance and "justice" - don't make me laugh! Some on here will know exactly why I am bitter
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 7:37 am
by Dean
We don't know the other drivers claims history? Could be a reason for his attitude.... Not saying it could throw the blame his way, but I also don't know if it is taken into account.
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:27 pm
by bmcecosse
It will be settled 'knock for knock' - your Insurance Co will pay for your damage, and his will pay for his damage - and the 'black mark' will be against you.
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 3:41 pm
by ani
Oh so much gloom! I bet rsawatson never shares a story again
Whatever the ifs and buts and rights and wrongs lets all hope that it turns out the best way for the Moggie driver
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 4:11 pm
by alex_holden
ani wrote:Oh so much gloom!
I think it just shows how many of us have been wrung through the car insurance mangle at some point.
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 4:29 pm
by ani
I know exactly what you mean - I suppose the sharing can be looked on as a form of therapy
Insurance is such a strange thing - years ago you used to always stay with the same one because the premium got cheaper. Doesn't seem to do that anymore - so most people I know just find the cheapest each year and take advantage of the discounted on-line initial price. So much for loyalty:-( Never making a claim is obviously the best way - but we shouldn't be penalsed when we do - that's why we pay the premiums!!!! Sadly it's one of those necessary evils.
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 5:43 pm
by autolycus
ani wrote:Oh so much gloom! I bet rsawatson never shares a story again
To some extent it's an age thing: I envy the energy of the many younger members of this forum, but you can't help trying to warn people when their enthusiasm or optimism seems very likely to lead to disappointment. "Si jeunesse savait, si vieillesse pouvait".
I hope it doesn't put anyone off sharing their experience - we've all still got plenty to learn.
To the OP: make something positive of it: try to get it repaired by someone who'll let you watch him tap it out, so you can do it yourself next time.
Kevin
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 6:37 pm
by ani
Excellent advice
Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 7:38 pm
by bmcecosse
Even better - just repair it yourself! Doesn't look all that bad.
Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 10:49 am
by Geraldine
Yes, easy to do yourself, I did worse than you reversing into my garage, my husband brought home a mallet from work and beat it out in about 20 mins. Not perfect but nearly as as good as a garage would do and for free.
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 9:38 pm
by Ondergard
autolycus wrote:"Si jeunesse savait, si vieillesse pouvait".
My poor French gets as far as "If the young knew, if the old ....."
but what does the verb "pouvait" mean?
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 9:48 pm
by LouiseM
'Could'
Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 9:56 pm
by ani
Translated into English it would be something like this:
If only the young had the knowledge, if only the old had the ability ..... I think