Car accident - should i pay or use insurance?

Conor_3

anewman wrote: »

Don't understand that attitude myself. Damage to a car will cost the same to repair no matter what the age of the car. People shouldn't be expected to put up with damage to their car just because it's old.

My 23 year old car is a classic. It actually costs more to repair than a modern car due to the complete unavailability of parts. In fact, if you're driving an average car that's a few years old, there's a good chance this 23 year old is worth more than what hit it.

So just because it's old, it doesn't mean that it's worth less. And it certainly doesn't mean the owner likes it less than you do yours.

Wig

I know you sorted out now, but...

Ifanyone does ever sort out a claim outside of their insurers, make sure to get the third party to sign a waiver against any future claims for the accident. And to write in the waiver that the payment is ex gratia and without admittance of any liability. "full and final payment" etc

I did this and a few months later got a letter from an insurance co. asking me to either give them my insurers details or agree to settle the amount owed for the accident myself. The third party had changed his mind on repairing outside of his insurer and had made a claim.

I photocopied the waiver I had him sign, sent it to the insurer and never heard from them again. His insurer also probably gave him a ticking off for a possible criminal offence of fraud because he did not tell them he had already had a £100 from me. He would have been fine if he had told them the accident was a hit and run.