Broken Wing Mirror Advise needed.

Trying_to_hold_back

Had an incident yesterday, whereby I was driving down a road (10mph) and the car coming in the opposite direction (going to fast, and in the middle of the road) smashed my drivers wing mirror into my car, cutting my hands and leaving shards of glass over the dashboard.

He then drove off, whereby I turned around and followed him down the road and challenged him.

He firstly said that he wasn't going too fast, but then apologied, and his wife asked what I wanted to do, and I said I would be find out how much the wing mirror would cost to repair and would be in contact.

I was then advised to report it to the police, and have no contact with the driver, as he drove away from the accident, which I have done, but I have just contacted my insurance company, and they have said it'll go down as a 50/50 as it can't be proven that he was going to fast, and no other witnesses (there was but I had to drive away to follow the driver) and I have to encur the cost of my excess which is £300.

I'm a little annoyed, as I feel i am being penalised for an elderly mans incompetent driving.

Has anyone got any advice?

Quentin

If there is no likelihood of a claim off the third party, it might be cheaper to get a mirror from a scrapyard and DIY??

Although you would have to pay the excess in full, if the liability is agreed as 50/50 you will be able to claim 50% of it back off the third party's insurers. (Along with 50% of all your other uninsured losses)

Trying_to_hold_back

Thanks Quentin I may look up that option now!!

I'm just so annoyed that the insurance company have given in so easily, when the driver admitted it at the time!! It just seems so unfair!!

Was there anything different I could of done? Was advised that I should of called the police (and wasted their time) that I probably wouldn't be in this position now, but I it seemed a bit drastic!!!

maninthestreet

Not worth bothering with the insurance for just a wing mirror, unless there is some bodywork damage as well - I assume your window was open in order for you to have received cuts to your hand.

mcjordi

what car is it? a wing mirror will almost certainley be less than £300 from a breakers..

*j*

If both vehicles were moving it's very hard to apportion blame.

If one is stationary it is easy to apportion blame.

*j*

Quentin

Trying_to_hold_back wrote: »

Was there anything different I could of done? Was advised that I should of called the police (and wasted their time) that I probably wouldn't be in this position now, but I it seemed a bit drastic!!!

The police wouldn't be interested in coming to the scene (though had he not stopped you could/should have reported the failing to stop).

If you think the third party will stick to his word, then pursue him directly (ie. don't make any claim off your own insurance). Though there is not much credence given to "at the scene" admissions.

Trying_to_hold_back

I have reported him to the police, as I had to drive a further mile down the road, before he stopped.

But I think I will follow your advice, and track down a wing mirror and fit it myself, and put the whole incident behind me!!

Aargh, still angry though :-)

dizzie

Hi,

This has happened to me before, only the driver continued in the other direction and I didn't go after him, so I shelled out for the repair myself. Repair jobs can vary massively in price depending on how "posh" the wing mirror is.

If it is just the glass and the housing is okay, you can sometimes get the mirror glass at a motor shop to put back in yourself, which is very cheap. If that's the case, it isn't worth the hassle of taking any further action. Most expensive job is going to be if it is an electric operated mirror, with colour coded housing and the whole thing is broken.

Here's what I'd do.

1. I'd get a price for repair from your local garage - then you know what you are dealing with - ps don't tell the garage that it could be an insurance job or they may whack up the price!

2. Speak to the other driver about it - tell him you have got a price for repair of £x if you do this yourself and ask him whether he would prefer:

(a) That you go through the police because he failed to stop at the scene of an accident where you not only suffered damage to your car, but injury to yourself (if you were cut because your car window was open) and then deal with his insurers as part of that process.

(b) To pay you for the repair directly - and if so within the next 7 days.

Take pictures of any cuts you have and don't tell him that you have not got any witnesses.

Trying_to_hold_back

Thanks Dizzie....

As you can probably tell, i'm extremely frustrated, but i'm also a bit of a whimp......although yesterday with the adrenalin pumping, i had no fear, and would of challenged anyone!?

But I think i'm just going to put the whole sorry affair behind me, and although the wing mirror is electric, the casing is chipped, and internal element cracked, i'm going to go for the easy option and just get the mirror, as I'll just wind myself up!!

I believe in Karma....!!

Thanks for all your advice.

Strider590

Trying_to_hold_back wrote: »

Thanks Dizzie....

As you can probably tell, i'm extremely frustrated, but i'm also a bit of a whimp......although yesterday with the adrenalin pumping, i had no fear, and would of challenged anyone!?

But I think i'm just going to put the whole sorry affair behind me, and although the wing mirror is electric, the casing is chipped, and internal element cracked, i'm going to go for the easy option and just get the mirror, as I'll just wind myself up!!

I believe in Karma....!!

Thanks for all your advice.

Get yourself onto Ebay and search one out, bound to find one for less than £50.