Today I got to test something...

[SilentDeath]

and that was the safety of my Saab.

Car cut me up on a roundabout, but I was expecting it so slowed down.... he had already moved into my lane twice on the roundabout.. after I stalled at the lights :/

Then, rear ended.. cracked bumper, grill and paint wasn't looking happy either.. but mine not even a scratch.. not even on the plastic bumper.. how can the bonnet bend one one car.. and not even a scratch on the other??

Think the bloke was distracted by his child... its not mobiles that should be banned... was only a slow collision though. I took it to the dealer (was on my way there anyway..! where I had the pleasure of paying £8 for a sump drain bolt.. ) they had a quick look and said no hidden damage.

We exchanged details and agreed that it was 100% his fault.... So..







Should I tell my insurance anyway, even though there is no damage (to mine), and just to let them know he was at fault? or will that make me pay more next year...
No idea how insurance claims work.. I assume he will tell his, and give all the information including my details.. and it is up to me to inform my insurance that he was at fault?

[hitman67]

Watch out, often people will say it is there fault at the scene but it isn't in writing, next a letter drops through the door saying you were at fault.

Don't inform them unless it goes nasty.

[Tumble]

If there's no damage to your car, let it go.. and besides, if he rear ended you, then he aint got a leg to stand on. So it's his problem whatever the score tbh.

[Howard]

That's interesting.. My mate destroyed a Saab with his Landy Defender when he rear ended it, Landy barely had a scratch on it

Glad the barge is ok though

[capt sensible]

Hitman makes a good point - I was reversed into by a Transit. In front of three witnesses who all agreed that I had done everything I could to warn the driver (horn, lights etc) and get out of the way and was not in any way at fault. All very civilised on the day then a few weeks later, a court summons, alleging that I had driven into him!

Fortunately I had taken the precaution of noting the contact details of the witnesses, and although the other guy had his day in court, he got trashed.

The motto of the story is, makes sure you get and record as much evidence as you can / photos, addresses of witnesses, even a quick sketch to jog your memory.

Hope it doesn't happen to you, though

[BUFF]

You should at least report it to the police though otherwise you could get done for failing to report an accident.
Personally I would also tell your insurance company too in case he spins porkies to his - get your side of the story in first.

[SilentDeath]

spoke to him today, as he is 3rd party he is not going through his insurance.. and since there is no damage on mine I will not be either. Not sure if I will notify them yet..

how does one report it to the police? should I use their local phone number?

Whilst there were witnesses.. plenty.. noone stopped..

I still cant belive that my plastic bumper was able to bend his metal bonnet... without any visible scratch or anything...!

there is no way anyone could belive it was my fault unless he managed to convince them that I was reversing at the exit of a busy roundabout.. lol.

[Zak33]

glad Trollhatten's finest did the job

[hitman67]

My mate destroyed a Saab with his Landy Defender when he rear ended it,

Yeah but those are tougher than mountains. A good friend of mine managed to demolish 14ft of dry stone wall with one and drove it home, never do that with a fiesta...

[[GSV]Myocardial]

Personally having had a similar experience (woman drove round the front of me as I was pulling out of a junction and to avoid hitting the oncoming car steered her side into my car while I was stationery, said it was all her fault then tried to claim off my insurance) I would get something down in writing straight away.

My suggestions whenever you have an accident are:

Take photo of other persons damage and yours.

Once you get home and have calmed down, write out what happened in words and draw a little comic strip type diagram with before, during and after the accident type pictures.

Inform Police of the incident

Inform Insurance - even if you are making no claim, otherwise they can invalidate your insurance

Put everything down in writing including your further conversations and send a letter recorded delivery to the other party, and if they are being funny with you then even send a courtesy copy to the insurance company.

Sit back in the knowledge that there is nothing more you can do.



I've personally just written off my own car (little back end slip off a roundabout and a lamp post) and even though I have already scrapped the car and will not be claiming against insurance for the car and I have contacted the County council to pay for the lamp post, I let the insurance company know asap that I had been involved in an incident. They will make it an open and closed case with no payment and you haven't claimed so it should not affect your premium too much.

If it all goes pear shaped and the other person lies and tries to claim against you then will be armed with all the information about the accident. It doesn't take 5 minutes and then just put it in a file with your V5, MOT cert etc

If you however fail to inform the insurance company and later get taken to court over it the insurance company could invalidate your policy , leaving you with legal fees and a lot of hassle to sort the mess out.

Now I am on a traders policy so have to be a little more careful than most but personally if I am in the right then why shouldn't I go about the whole thing in the correct manner.

[wazi]

you can get symtoms of whiplash upto 8 weeks down the road ( so you legal advisers will tell you)

[Rave]

You should at least report it to the police though otherwise you could get done for failing to report an accident.
Personally I would also tell your insurance company too in case he spins porkies to his - get your side of the story in first.

You're not obliged to report an accident to the police unless someone has been injured. However you definately should always tell your insurance company. Someone rear ended me once while I was stationary at some lights. I informed my insurance company, and then her insurance company sorted out my claim (they actually called me to sort it- I was amazed, and pleased). There was no increase in my premium the next year.

[BUFF]

You're not obliged to report an accident to the police unless someone has been injured.

Not what http://www.collisionreporting.gov.uk/Law/default.asp says nor indeed from my mother's recent experience.