First accident. How hammered will I get for it do you think?

[Bazzlad]

Hey all,
I had the joys of my first accident on Sunday, a silly, small, yet costly accident.

I pulled on to a local pub car park (night time, unlit).
A friend of mine was already there in his car. He "jokingly" reversed at me.
I slowly reversed to get out the way, and despite checking (and I did check, just not my blind spot) there was a car behind me.

We collided at a massive 5mph.
I got out and apologised.

Looking at her car, I'd only, slightly, struck her back bumper, on the right hand side. It was hanging off on that corner by a few cms.

I asked if we could keep it out the insurance and I'd pay for the damage.


She got a quote. It was for £699.
Apparantely - according to my mechanic friend, the biggest cost was the fact that she had a slight dent in her wheel arch.

So, due to the cost it's going to have to go through the insurance.

My car, a Rover 75, is fine. 0 damage.

Now, I'm 23, have been driving since feb, and drive a Rover 75 2 litre turbo diesel.

How badly for it am I at renewal? And, is there anything I can do to minimise this?

[staffsMike]

Well when I wrote my car off I lost about 20% for the 2 years no claims I had, and about £50 on top of that, pretty much what i expected tbh.

The real worrying thing from your post is that you are a mere 23 and driving a rover 75? Insurance companies should be paying you to drive that

Meaning no offence of course

[finlay666]

I had a similar thing with mine, mind you could always say she hit you (joke)

If you do it privately it will cost you....but is it worth it?

[Bazzlad]

Originally Posted by staffsMike

Well when I wrote my car off I lost about 20% for the 2 years no claims I had, and about £50 on top of that, pretty much what i expected tbh.

The real worrying thing from your post is that you are a mere 23 and driving a rover 75? Insurnace companies should be paying you to drive that

Meaning no offence of course

HEY!

I love my 75:

Good points:
Decently cheap, economical, dodged the green taxes, bmw engine, low maintenance, a bit luxurious (compared to my two Golfs), won't really depreciate any further.

Bad points:
It's a Rover.
It's an old mans car.


Good FAR out weighs bad

[staffsMike]

A Diesel! ..

[Bazzlad]

You'd prefer the petrol engine? (that was made by Rover!)

[staffsMike]

Of course, but I have an irrational love for metro's so don't worry about it

[samcross]

Originally Posted by staffsMike

I have an irrational love for metro's

I'm never taking advice from you again

[joshwa]

Was the quote she got from somewhere that does work for insurance companies? Coz you tend to get two different prices depending on where you go - I recently got a quote from a decent independant for some repair work (dented door, respray etc) £350, then got a quote to see how much it could end up being if it had to go through insurance - the price was around £1k. You could offer to get your own quotes and get it done for her if you think you can find somewhere cheaper.

[shaithis]

The problem with that is most people will take their car to the manufacturers dealership, which will always quote insurance prices.

And to be perfectly honest, I feel that it is fair. I know I would trust them over anyone else to get the OEM parts and match the paint perfectly.

[staffsMike]

Originally Posted by shaithis

The problem with that is most people will take their car to the manufacturers dealership, which will always quote insurance prices.

And to be perfectly honest, I feel that it is fair. I know I would trust them over anyone else to get the OEM parts and match the paint perfectly.

I agree, I mean it's perfectly fair that she gets her car fixed to a high standard regardless of who is footing the bill. I doubt she would take kindly to your offering to get it fixed cheaper anyway

Originally Posted by samcross

I'm never taking advice from you again

[idimmu]

that sucks man

if you dented her rear wheel arch on a crease, then its scrap and will need seriuos sorting... hence the repair costs. the ammout of body work i throw out (i do parts for a small car company) is unreal, just because someones dropped it or banged it on a crease


hopefully it shouldnt be too bad on your quote, but it counts as a claim, and removes no claims discount?

hopefully it will get sorted for you

[Behemoth]

Harsh that is. I remember when a woman drove into my car at work in our car park, she had whitnesses as she was reversing into a space talking on her phone so she had to come in and tell me she'd hit my car.

She said she'd pay up for the bumper to be resprayed and gave me her details, I got a quote of £300 as it would have needed a full bumper respreay and when I phoned her to tell her she said sorry she wasn't going to pay for it, it was done on private property and I didn't have a leg to stand on

[Jay]

Originally Posted by Behemoth

Harsh that is. I remember when a woman drove into my car at work in our car park, she had whitnesses as she was reversing into a space talking on her phone so she had to come in and tell me she'd hit my car.

She said she'd pay up for the bumper to be resprayed and gave me her details, I got a quote of £300 as it would have needed a full bumper respreay and when I phoned her to tell her she said sorry she wasn't going to pay for it, it was done on private property and I didn't have a leg to stand on

You go to her house, ask her again and if she says no smash the place up.

[samcross]

Originally Posted by staffsMike

Bet it still had an 80 year old driving it

[dave87]

Originally Posted by Behemoth

She said she'd pay up for the bumper to be resprayed and gave me her details, I got a quote of £300 as it would have needed a full bumper respreay and when I phoned her to tell her she said sorry she wasn't going to pay for it, it was done on private property and I didn't have a leg to stand on

As far as I am aware, the road traffic act covers anywhere a person can reasonably be seen driving their car - i.e. it covers the likes of private car parks.

I believe it is under the same act that all parties using a car on the road (as defined in the RTA) are required to have a minimum of third party insurance, and as such would suggest they are liable for their actions, no?