Car rolled back into mine while queuing in traffic

chunky_munky

The driver gave me her name, address and telephone number. She admitted it was her fault. She said she'd prefer to give me cash or a cheque as she thought it would not be worth claiming through her insurance (that's if she's got any!!) :rolleyes:

She told me to ring her once I had an estimate of the repair cost. I rang her yesterday and told her I had been quoted £260. Asked her if she now wanted to claim through insurance. She said it wasn't convenient to talk so she would ring me back today. She hadn't rung, so I tried ringing her several times on her mobile but she didn't answer. I rang her home number and left a message for her to ring me but she still hasn't rung. I've got a feeling she's avoiding me!!!

Thought I'd write to her enclosing the written estimate.

Any other ideas or suggestions, please?

silvercar

Put a claim in through your insurers. They will notify her and she can either pay up or put it through her insurers. At the end of the day she should inform her insurers whether she claims on her policy or not.

Taggie

Did you get any witnesses?

Hubbie had this happen to him once and when the driver got home and saw her son, he told her to change her story and say hubbie went into the back of her, the insurers would believe that more than the other way round. Anyway we went round her house, appealed to her better nature and she told the truth, we were very lucky.

This sounds like it could go the same way. Have you contacted the police? that might be a good idea and tell them everything, hopefully that should help you.

Are you Comprehensive or Third Party, if Comp, your Insurers will sort it out, if Third Party you will need to find out if you have legal cover, usually a small amount on top of the premium and they will help you out.

Good luck and hope you get it sorted.

nearlyrich

Maybe she doesn't want to tell her OH? I agree with Silvercar, put it through your insurance but be aware that she could say you ran into her and it could get messy.

scheming_gypsy

she's probably told her husband and he's said that if she rolled back into you to pretend that you hit her. She's a bit too scared to try it and is avoiding you hoping you'll go away.

scheming_gypsy

although it might not have been convenient cos her husband was telling her what a stupid cow she is

zorber

Make sure you report it to the police as it looks better that its been reported before other party changes their mind about what happened.
This way the police can ask her why she didnt report it and why her version of events may be different also puts pressure on her to tell the truth.

chunky_munky

Thanks for all your replies!!

What if she hasn't got any insurance? We've got Comprehensive insurance with a £200 excess, so if she's not insured or not going to pay, would it be better to pay the £260 repairs ourselves rather than have a claim which could affect future claims/premiums? Do I have to tell my insurer anyway?

My Mother-In-Law was in the car with me. I haven't contacted the police, I was giving her the benefit of the doubt! Would they be interested now?

I don't think she's got an OH but she could change her story anyway. When I spoke to her the next day, she said she didn't know how it could have happened because her car was in neutral!! It was on a packed solid, two lane bypass. I was sounding my car horn as I saw her car rolling back. It didn't look like she was going to stop as she then moved on with the rest of the traffic.

I've never been involved in anything like this before so this is all new to me!!!

moonrakerz

zorber wrote:

Make sure you report it to the police

If there were no injuries the police won't be interested.

chunky_munky

Well, she eventually telephoned me with her insurance details so I rang them.

They said she had reported an alleged incident to them, where a third party claimed her car had rolled back into theirs but she had no recollection of the incident and her car had not rolled back. :eek: Amazing!!!

So after admitting full liability at the scene and offering to pay cash, she has completely changed her story!!!

I rang her to ask what was going on. She said when she got home and thought about it she is sure her car couldn't have rolled back because the handbrake was on. I told her that I clearly saw her car rolling back and sounded my car horn to alert her. She said she didn't hear it!!!

I reminded her that my Mother-In-Law was in the car with me and witnessed everything but she was still adamant that she didn't think anything had happened and she had only stopped because I was "jumping around in the middle of the road". She now says she didn't see any damage to my car.

We don't want to claim for the repairs through our own insurance and then 'try' to get her to admit liability. It's probably not worth making a claim.

scheming_gypsy

scheming_gypsy wrote:

she's probably told her husband and he's said that if she rolled back into you to pretend that you hit her.

i did tell you.