Questions about an accusation about driving into a car door

thelurch

Just after a bit of advice really,

On saturday morning my wife reversed out of our driveway and went off to work. I had already gone to work.

When I returned there was a note through our door saying that my wife had driven into the door of her car denting it which had been parked opposite our house ( on the pavement grrr!). She said that a neighbour had heard the bang and knocked on her door to tell her.

She is just house sitting while the owners are away.

When my wife returned from work I mentioned it, she is adamant that she didnt touch it or go anywhere near it.
We checked her car and there isnt even a scuff mark, crack or anything.

Then the car with dent came back and the whole door is stoved in, the panel is creased, and paint has flaked off!.

This neighbour is the one neighbour in the area that likes to cause the odd issue with various people from time to time

I told her that we would like to talk to the neighbour who lives about 7 houses along on the opposite to us to get his story. But we then found out he went on holiday that morning for 2 weeks.

I dont think he would have any reason to lie about what happened but I cannot see how that much damage was caused by our car which has colour coded plastic bumpers with absolutely no damage.

The owner of the damaged car is happy to wait, but speaking to the guys at work, they are saying that to be able to claim on insurances they must be notified within 48 hours?

If my wife admits liability now then we will have to pay £250 excess on our policy. But it looks like the car will need a new door skin etc which will be far more.

If the witness is willing to put pen to paper to say he saw my wife do it then we will have to admit liability but this will be in 2 weeks time.

My wife is fully insured so thats not the problem, its just paying out £250 and having our no claims damaged for something that may of may not have been done by my wife and comparing the 2 cars for damage, its difficult to understand how our car did the damage.

Whats our best course of action? Just admit liability, start the ball rolling or wait until the neighbour comes back and find they will now not be willing to put their name to a witness statement and find they were mistaken.

We can barely afford the £250 excess but I dont want to wait and then find that insurance companies wont pay out as it should have been reported within 48 hours. If thats the case and the witness is telling the truth, then we will have to say it happened 2 weeks later than it did.

Any help would be gratefully received

Chris

Sandoval

If she didn't bump your neighbour's car then obviously don't pay up. Why would you?

Random thoughts on the subject though: I'd imagine that the corner of a bumper would cave in the thin metal of a car door without suffering much/any damage to itself. Was the neighbours car damaged before? Why would the neighbour in question and someone else say your car did the damage if it didn't? Did these people actually see the incident?

And don't take this the wrong way as it's not my intention to slag off your wife, but is she the best of drivers? Could she have hit the car and not realised? Or even known she has hit it but is keeping quiet out of some misplaced sense of guilt?

dacouch

If the only claim from your policy is for the other person's damage then you do not normally have to pay your excess

Quentin

You don't have to pay your excess for a third party claim against you.

As far as the claim against your wife is concerned, she should just pass on any correspondence received about this to her insurer, and not get involved in discussing this with the third party or witness - (other than to deny any knowledge of the allegation if that is the case) - and let her insurer deal with this. Don't get involved in lying about the date of the incident, as this fraud could lead you to having your policy cancelled, and having major problems getting insured elsewhere.

thelurch

All valid points which we have discussed at length.
I just had concerns as the witness happened to be the one person in the neighbourhood that is always involved when there's any hassle going on.

I just wanted to know what the rules are with regard to how long you have to make a claim with the insurance company, I've spoken to one of my colleagues at work who used to be a mechanic, I showed him a photo I had taken of it and he thought it would be a minimum of £1000 for new door skin and respray etc

Quentin

The "injured party" has 6 years to make a claim off you for damage.

You ought to inform your insurer asap about any incident that could lead to a claim.

thelurch

Thanks for all your comments, this is the first potential driving claim for both of us having both driven for 20 years each.

So it looks like we are going to have to bit the bullet.

Do we just give the third party our insurers name and number etc.
Should my wife contact our insurers too or leave that to the third party insurers to do?

Quentin

You should give the third party your insurance details if asked for them.

As previously posted, you will need to inform your insurer of the incident asap.

It is up to the third party how they take this further (they can claim off their own insurer or direct off you). If they claim off you directly, just pass on any correspondence unanswered to your insurer to deal with. (If they claim verbally, don't admit liability, but ask them to contact your insurer).

BLT_2

Im at loss to understand why you are biting the bullet if you do not think your car caused the damage. Usually if you stove in the complete side of your car yours tends to come to an immediate stop.

It is also doubtful that a car with that amount of damage would not have attracted at least a bit of paint from your colour coded bumpers.

Gordon_Hose

If your wife didn't cause the damage then don't admit liability.

Hintza

Gordon_Hose wrote: »

If your wife didn't cause the damage then don't admit liability.

Sounds like they have a witness though.