Accident not my fault - not done through insurance, other party disappeared! Help!

Ldoggyg

I had a minor bump last month. I was parked in a petrol station when this other guy reversed into the side of my car (1981 BMW 635 CSi) and put a dent in rear panel and driver door. He didn't want to go through his insurance so I got it repaired and told him how much it would be (£360). He agreed to pay up but now his phone is no longer working! I have address (in Kent or I would go round there) and his registration but don't know what to do. Any help please?:mad:

Quentin

If you have any legal cover, see if they will help you, if not you can write to him and ask him to settle up within 14 days otherwise you will take legal action. If he ignores this then issue a county court summons via MCOL.

Next time don't be so naive! (Either go straight to their insurer, or if you are prepared to let them pay, then get them to pay a proforma invoice from your garage in advance)

DD265

Silly question, but the answer might help.

I thought you had 3 years in which to make a claim, in which case why can't you go to his insurance company now?

soolin

DD265 wrote: »

Silly question, but the answer might help.

I thought you had 3 years in which to make a claim, in which case why can't you go to his insurance company now?

I assume since the other party had said he would deal with it personally that OP does not have other party's insurance company details.

lisyloo

I thought you had 3 years in which to make a claim

You have 6 years to make a claim for property damage and 3 years for personal injury for adults (it's different for children).

Because of witness memories, car damage, people moving home, people selling cars, it's generally best to get property damage sorted ASAP.

in which case why can't you go to his insurance company now?

Third party insurers won't always just accept a claim from a third party.
If the driver refuses to co-operate then that can still mean taking court action and that means against the individual not the insurer.

The good thing is that most petrol stations do have CCTV so it would be worth asking if that can be retrieved.
Another reason for acting ASAP rather than waiting. The recordings may already have been recycled.

BenL

Run the numberplate through http://www.askmid.com/ for £3.50 and then contact the other parties insurance company to put in a claim.

This would be the process if you were insured for 3rd party only as a in a lot of cases your own insurance company wouldn't help you out (as you've not paid a comp premium)

The 3rd party insurance company will then contact the owner of the vehicle for their side, if they ignore it the insurance company will probably side with you and give you the money.

Ben

lisyloo

if they ignore it the insurance company will probably side with you and give you the money

Anecodtally (posts on here) that's not always what happens.
Sometimes they say they can't do anything if their policyholder won't report a claim.

I couldn't say which was probable.

omen666

I can always check their address details against UKinfo v14 if that helps. If so PM me the details.