Was rear ended this morning...

[pgilc1]

.... guy drove into the back of me this morning on the way to work at traffic lights. 'Luckily' i had a tow bar which protected my car from much worse damage.

So he jumped out apologised and said to get a quote to repair it.

So i got a quote this evening for £350 to replace and paint the rear diffuser and to remove and repaint the rear bumper and refit, but hes taken a real gunk as he seemed to think it would cost much less, so hes thinking about it overnight as to whether to put it through his insurance.

Annoying i guess in that i think he thinks i'm pulling a fast one in some way, but it does annoy me that people seem to think £80 will fix a car! :confused:

I suspect he'll want a 'friend' to look at it next as he'll think he can get it done cheaper.

No real point to the thread, just a moan!

[MX5huggy]

Rear diffuser??

Is it one of those new fangled double deck ones? If not maybe you could upgrade you will need all the downforce you can get this weekend.

[withabix]

No. Insist that it's done professionally and through his insurance.

Don't forget, you might wake up with a stiff neck in the morning...

[pgilc1]

Rear diffuser??

Is it one of those new fangled double deck ones? If not maybe you could upgrade you will need all the downforce you can get this weekend.

LOL, no its the fancy name for the little plastic bit on the lower part of the rear bumper on a BMW five series.

I'm not a chav - honest!

[hewhoisnotintheknow]

just say you will go through insurance

[pgilc1]

No. Insist that it's done professionally and through his insurance.

Don't forget, you might wake up with a stiff neck in the morning...

Yeah you're right i will - but these things always start with 'no problem i'll pay for it' then end up with people entrenched.

I just reported it to police so that i have an incident number just in case.

[harveybobbles]

Get a few quotes from a few different places so he can see you're trying to get the best orice...

[Pew Pew Pew Lasers!]

Sorry to see you think that a towbar will reduce the damage to your car. What it will in fact have done is transmitted much of the force of the impact past the chassis at the back, which will be designed to absorb that energy, to the rest of the chassis.

If I were you I'd get that car inspected front to back. The damage could be more severe than you think.

[hewhoisnotintheknow]

Sorry to see you think that a towbar will reduce the damage to your car. What it will in fact have done is transmitted much of the force of the impact past the chassis at the back, which will be designed to absorb that energy, to the rest of the chassis.

If I were you I'd get that car inspected front to back. The damage could be more severe than you think.

the bump doesnt sound bad enough for that to apply

[anewman]

the bump doesnt sound bad enough for that to apply
Better safe than sorry :)

[Pssst]

Its just business. Get to your doctor asap with whiplash and get your claim for damage to car and personal injury in. Take a few days off work also if necessary.

[anewman]

Its just business. Get to your doctor asap with whiplash and get your claim for damage to car and personal injury in. Take a few days off work also if necessary.
Don't forget your 4 mates and pet dog who were "in the car at the time" and also all have whiplash :rotfl:

[Pssst]

Don't forget your 4 mates and pet dog who were "in the car at the time" and also all have whiplash :rotfl:

Yes..OP,what area do you live? I could have been in the back. We'll split it.

[cyclonebri1]

Its just business. Get to your doctor asap with whiplash and get your claim for damage to car and personal injury in. Take a few days off work also if necessary.


It's fraud actually,:eek:, unless you're joking of course:rolleyes:

But don't forget the priceless antique tea service you had in the boot :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: ;)

[Sirbendy]

Agreed on force transmission - get the car properly checked - better safe than sorry if it's been compromised. It's a pain, but just because the external pannelling looks OK doesn't mean it's unaffected.

My car got rearended too...boot lid, bumper, rear panel looked totalled..but then I found the doors were out of line and wouldn't open/shut..the chassis took the force and twisted. Get it checked out for safetys sake. :)

All a towbar will do is ensure more damage to the vehicle that hit.

[roswell]

Its nothing personnal its business through no fault of your own he has damaged your car call your insurance company and report the accident, his excess is likely to be more than your quote for repairs and why should you have a "cheap fix" when its not your fault ? As mentioned suspention components could fail prematurely due to the impact or chassis legs may be dent dont get stuck chucking your money for repairs after his loss of attantion.

You could find any multitude of problems latter on its best getting the whole car on a jig and checked, i was rear ended in december adn cosmeticaly i need "A bumper" the other car actualy went under me I had major alingment and geometry problems, a set of tyres that had 5 mm of tread on wore out the inside edges in under 1000 miles post accident.

[Brooker Dave]

Don't forget your 4 mates and pet dog who were "in the car at the time" and also all have whiplash :rotfl:

I was over the road at the time and saw the whole terrible event, I now have post traumatic stress disorder, and will need a 6 figure payout and a year off work to get over it all, please add me to your claim.

[MrSmartprice]

Don't delay - report the incident to your insurance company straight away and let them sort it out. It's what you pay them for. They will suggest where to get quotes from as they will have approved repairers. Otherwise go to the place you want, not somewhere 'cheap & cheerful' to keep the bloke's costs down.

Remember here that you are the innocent party. Sod the other bloke! Do it by the book and make sure you get a proper repair. You can claim for a replacement car too.

[Tozer]

It's fraud actually,:eek:, unless you're joking of course:rolleyes:

But don't forget the priceless antique tea service you had in the boot :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: ;)


I really hope these guys are joking....

[Hintza]

You have made a reasonable offer, if he messes you around then just go straight to your insurer.

[julia24]

always keep yourself right and get the shunters details a lot of whiplash occurs that goes unmentioned get a gp to verify and prescribe ibuprofen for a few days for any stiffness

[pgilc1]

Better safe than sorry :)

Indeed - the body guy last night noticed that the towbar is longer sitting completely straight, so there may be some damage underneath to the towbar OR the car underside.

[lee12]

Just a thought is he insured??? did you know if you look up askmid .. you can check if he has insurance or not

[Lum]

Just a thought is he insured??? did you know if you look up askmid .. you can check if he has insurance or not

That database isn't as accurate as you'd like to think. That said if it comes up as him being insured then he most likely is, which will be one worry off your mind.

Personally I would find a 3rd party solicitor to handle the claim rather than going through my insurance as there's a lot less hassle that way and no risk to your no-claims if the other insurance company doesn't pay out, or doesn't pay out until after your renewal, (careful though, most of these companies offer cheap cover against this situation for about a tenner and if you don't take it out and the other guy doesn't pay you will end up liable for the whole cose.)

In my experience it's a gigantic hassle either way, but less hassle when you keep your own insurance out of the loop as much as possible. I've been rear ended 3 times so trust me on this one.

A for you people suggesting faking whiplash, I really hope you're not serious as it's this sort of thing that puts everybody's insurance up.

[pgilc1]

Took all your advice - got the car checked out properly. It turns out there is damage behind the rear bumper and the towbar is very slightly out of line. That could mean its weakened so it needs to be replaced too, along with the rear bumper and a rear beam.

Total cost = £1720.77.

Spoke to him this morning so hes getting me his insurance details this evening.

Going to the docs today. Have a stiffness in my neck which i'd like recorded if nothing else at this stage.

Thanks for the support and advice everyone!

[asbokid]

Its just business. Get to your doctor asap with whiplash and get your claim for damage to car and personal injury in. Take a few days off work also if necessary.

Don't bother with your GP...That will limit the quantum of your claim. Present yourself directly to the nearest A&E department. Demand to be "treated" immediately. Pay no attention to the genuinely sick dying around. Jump the queue in front of them. Obtain a diagnosis and treatment plan. File claim on immediate return. Sit back. Relax, but remember to claim for non-insured loss of earnings as you "recover". Flick through a Thomas Cook brochure to decide how to spend the compensation. Belize is free of swine fever so far.. You could probably sue Thomas Cook if you do catch it..


.

[catwoman84]

i had the same thing happen to me a couple of weeks ago and the guy just wanted to give me money to get it fixed! I went through my insurance and glad i did because i ended up with a courtesy car and in the hospital with whiplash.

i would definately advise you to ring your insurance asap.better to get it done properly

[catwoman84]

if you know his reg then ring your ins and put in a non fault claim. my ins found him through his reg and were able to get in touch directly with his ins.

[catwoman84]

and i would def put in for whiplash becuase mine is still hurting and twingey and the hosp said it will never go away really! great!!

[roswell]

and i would def put in for whiplash becuase mine is still hurting and twingey and the hosp said it will never go away really! great!!

Thats the thing with whiplash people make fun of it havent experianced it i know how you feel even after 14 physio appointments its as good as it will get somedays no pian other days i may as well have had the crash again.

[Crazy Jamie]

and i would def put in for whiplash becuase mine is still hurting and twingey and the hosp said it will never go away really! great!!How can they give a prognosis like that after a few weeks?

[Lum]

I don't know, but I'm still suffering nearly 5 years later, and after the MRI scan at the end of last year, they told me I'm stuck with it for life.

[roswell]

One thing to the OP get it noted you want a full geometry check before you get the car back ask them to confirm this request.

[socrates]

In this case where he is totally at fault I would deal with HIS insurance company and NOT yours.

This way you will be able to demand a car equivalent (or so) to your car NOT the Micra that your repair shop will give you.

Also if you mention your 'stiff neck' and the 'pins and needles' it is very likely that his insurer will make an offer over the phone.

If you put the claim through your insurer - it will (until the claim is settled in full) go down as a claim so if your policy is renewed in the middle of everything - which it could be as these things take months - then your premium will rise.

Simple rule - where they other party has accepted liability always go through their insurer not your own and demand a like for like car - or reasonable substitute.

[Hadrian]

Always carry (and use) a disposable camera in your car and ask if he doesn't mind his pic being taken beside his car. If he says no then summits afoot! That's after you've photo'd the damage and tried unsuccessfully to include him! Photo all the damage and the surrounding area to include your/his car. Make sure his number plate is photo'd also. Memory is often faulty esp after an accident. People often say get it done by some garage or other and I'll pay you, personally I'd always go for an insurance job them you have come-back if it's not done correctly. Good Luck.

[mealone]

I have been a passenger in two cars that have been rear ended and it has left me with two herniated discs in me neck, my neurologist wants to operate but I am terrified because they go in from the front by cutting your throat.

I have perminant nerve damage to my right arm/hand and I am in constant pain, even taking a drink of water is difficult because I cant tilt my head back.

Whiplash isnt funny, the last accident was 12 years ago yet I am still suffering.

[cyclonebri1]

I have been a passenger in two cars that have been rear ended and it has left me with two herniated discs in me neck, my neurologist wants to operate but I am terrified because they go in from the front by cutting your throat.

I have perminant nerve damage to my right arm/hand and I am in constant pain, even taking a drink of water is difficult because I cant tilt my head back.

Whiplash isnt funny, the last accident was 12 years ago yet I am still suffering.


Indeed, whiplash isn't funny, when it's genuine. The problem is with so many folks jumping on the whiplash claim bandwagon it lessens it's seriousness in most folks eyes,:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

[mealone]

I didnt claim in either accident because I didnt know how bad the damage was, I kept thinking I would get better and didnt have an MRI for nearly 3 years and by the time I got the results it was to late, over 3 years had gone by.

I did have many xrays in the first three years but they were inconclusive.

[Sirbendy]

In this case where he is totally at fault I would deal with HIS insurance company and NOT yours.

This way you will be able to demand a car equivalent (or so) to your car NOT the Micra that your repair shop will give you.

Also if you mention your 'stiff neck' and the 'pins and needles' it is very likely that his insurer will make an offer over the phone.

If you put the claim through your insurer - it will (until the claim is settled in full) go down as a claim so if your policy is renewed in the middle of everything - which it could be as these things take months - then your premium will rise.

Simple rule - where they other party has accepted liability always go through their insurer not your own and demand a like for like car - or reasonable substitute.

I went through my insurer when mine was done, as his didn't get back to me for days..but I have guaranteed NCB and won't be affected. I got like for like..I'm with Admiral. I only went with them as they did the "protected" and then the "guaranteed"..

[Sirbendy]

Always carry (and use) a disposable camera in your car and ask if he doesn't mind his pic being taken beside his car. If he says no then summits afoot! That's after you've photo'd the damage and tried unsuccessfully to include him! Photo all the damage and the surrounding area to include your/his car. Make sure his number plate is photo'd also. Memory is often faulty esp after an accident. People often say get it done by some garage or other and I'll pay you, personally I'd always go for an insurance job them you have come-back if it's not done correctly. Good Luck.

and that is good advice. I took a lot of pics on my ipaq..my vehicle, his, occupants, plate etc..and then e-mailled them to my claims adviser.