Had a bump - bit of advise please

everlastingspirit

Hello

Hope you all had a good Xmas and New Year.

I had a bit of a bump on few days before Christmas (due to the ice) where i bumped into a car in front of me while tryign to stop at a roundabout. I had been going slowly and been leaving a fair distance for all those know-alls, i just hit a patch of ice and couldnt stop.

Now the bump wasnt very hard. The main bit it looks like I hit was their rear towing eye (cracked a small hole in my front plastic bumper not v serious). At the time we checked their car (an old y? reg 206) and there was no visisble scratches or dents, just theire rear towing eye bent downwards.

We both agreed no need to get insurance involved due to affecting claims, etc (although details swapped as precaution). I suspected a garage would just bend this back into place or replace towing eye. However i got a call a day later saying they had took it to a garage who said the bumper was broken and it would be apx £400 to replace (less if they can repair). Once hearing this i of course asked them to get a second quote and to drop me a copy of the quotes through the letterbox so i could review. I havent heard from them since although may be due to xmas holidays?

Now im guessing the garage they have been to would probably over estimate to be safe however this seems an awful lot for not a very big bump with no major visible damage (ie: bumper fully in place, etc). Can damage be hidden?

Is it worth getting my own garage to double check the damage. I dont want to mess them around however im not going to be ripped off if i find its not that bad. Ultimately i undestand its my fault (technically as i was behind) and i am not disputing i will pay to repair i just want to ensure its a fair price/work.

Also its not worth claiming on insurance as voluntary £100 and compulsory £250 (under 24 yes typically im 24 in 4 days time) which is only £50 below the amount they quoted. On top of that i ran a quote with the accident losing NCB and it would go up £150 on premium next year. Not worth reporting/claiming

Any previous experience or advice on this situation. I feel so bad eating into our house deposit savings

Ben

TEDDYRUKSPIN

Unfortunately for everyone in this situation, it is difficult to know what has been damaged. Although it may have been a light bump, sometime the internal bar behind the bumper can be slight bent.

£400 maybe the cost of straightening the main bar behind the bumper, spray painting, and other damage.

You should have used the insurance company.

Years ago, when a motorcycle went at roughly 50-60mph and crashed at my back, the bumper looked like it was not damaged too much. It still cost around £532 to fix (i.e. the other guy paid through their insurance as it was their fault!)

Inactive

The third party has probably decided to go through their insurers if you are messing them about, either pay them for the damage that you caused, or report the matter to your insurers.

mikey72

everlastingspirit wrote: »

Hello

Hope you all had a good Xmas and New Year.

I had a bit of a bump on few days before Christmas (due to the ice) where i bumped into a car in front of me while tryign to stop at a roundabout. I had been going slowly and been leaving a fair distance for all those know-alls, i just hit a patch of ice and couldnt stop.

Now the bump wasnt very hard. The main bit it looks like I hit was their rear towing eye (cracked a small hole in my front plastic bumper not v serious). At the time we checked their car (an old y? reg 206) and there was no visisble scratches or dents, just theire rear towing eye bent downwards.

We both agreed no need to get insurance involved due to affecting claims, etc (although details swapped as precaution). I suspected a garage would just bend this back into place or replace towing eye. However i got a call a day later saying they had took it to a garage who said the bumper was broken and it would be apx £400 to replace (less if they can repair). Once hearing this i of course asked them to get a second quote and to drop me a copy of the quotes through the letterbox so i could review. I havent heard from them since although may be due to xmas holidays?

Now im guessing the garage they have been to would probably over estimate to be safe however this seems an awful lot for not a very big bump with no major visible damage (ie: bumper fully in place, etc). Can damage be hidden?

Is it worth getting my own garage to double check the damage. I dont want to mess them around however im not going to be ripped off if i find its not that bad. Ultimately i undestand its my fault (technically as i was behind) and i am not disputing i will pay to repair i just want to ensure its a fair price/work.

Also its not worth claiming on insurance as voluntary £100 and compulsory £250 (under 24 yes typically im 24 in 4 days time) which is only £50 below the amount they quoted. On top of that i ran a quote with the accident losing NCB and it would go up £150 on premium next year. Not worth reporting/claiming

Any previous experience or advice on this situation. I feel so bad eating into our house deposit savings

Ben

Excesses are not normally payable for third party damage, it's just the loss of ncd that will affect you.

everlastingspirit

Inactive wrote: »

The third party has probably decided to go through their insurers if you are messing them about, either pay them for the damage that you caused, or report the matter to your insurers.

They were fairly reasonable on the phone when i explained i would like a copy of the quote(s) and said they would indeed pop it over to me - i have told them that i will pay/let insurance know dependant on cost and no problem ref: blame.

As i have said, i have no issue whatsoever in paying or admitting this is my fault. Im honest about these things but I just want to check over all the information before i part with my cash
(as i think most people would for such an amount)

Update: i have just tried to call them but no answer so sent them a text asking to call me with any updates, etc. We'll see?

Thanks for the constructive info and posts so far

Ben

everlastingspirit

mikey72 wrote: »

Excesses are not normally payable for third party damage, it's just the loss of ncd that will affect you.

Is that correct? I wasnt aware - as this may make it more financially viable to claim through insurance?

Ben

Inactive

£400 ( or possibly less ) seems very reasonable to me, I would just pay them and get it over with, if they go to their insurers, you will end up paying more in the long run.

Rexy

Keep a record of all phone calls and texts made.

Don't bother contacting them again, wait for them to contact you.

It is perfectly possible that they were trying to scam you, in that the towing eye was already bent, and/or there is no damage to the bumper.

For instance, my son had a silly accident where he pulled across to avoid another car, and his wheel damaged the wing of a car that was alongside.

We had a letter from her solicitor claiming whiplash, and damages to her car. They had properly exchanged insurance details and addresses at the time, and my son had contacted his insurance company. Pretty much a year later and we have heard nothing through the insurance company, quite possibly due to her not being insured, not licenced or something like that. Otherwise why would she have not have gone through her insurance company.

Anyway, to get back to your situation, by asking for a couple of quotes one of two things may happen, either they will go through their insurers, or you won't hear from them again.

To be honest, they don't really have to get you any quotes. They could just get the repair done and present you with a bill. You can then pay it, pass it to your insurers, or try and argue if it seems too high, but you will be on a very sticky wicket.

slyracoon

You must report the accident to your insurer even if you don't plan to claim. Most insurance T+Cs state that all accidents must be reported even if a claim is not required.

This covers you should you eventually need to go through the insurer or if for example the other party comes back in 6 months time and starts trying to claim personal injury etc. etc. If you don't tell the insurance company in good time they will try and wriggle out of any potential claim that arises from the accident.

skint-student-nurse

my advice is leave it with the insurers. We had a head-on crash with a car on a blind corner when it was icy on the day before xmas eve. OH said to me he wasnt going to bother with the insurers as the other car had the smallest bump ever on it but low and behold she reckons its going to cost over £1k as she needs a new bonnet...! that is not the case,turns out she wants the cash and laid down a few threats,needless to say,OH laughed at her and said that the insurers can deal with it and reported her to the police for possible extortion. Havent heard a peep since!

everlastingspirit

Ok so im feeling it may be worth reporting to insurers anyway. Especially if i dont have to pay an excess for a third party claim (i am full comp for info) -anyone able to double confirm this?
Particularly as cost wont be much different.

They were two youngish lads. Checked online and says they are insured but guess always mite not have license or tax, etc which might invalidate insurance.

I have already tried to call earlier - no answer so left them a text. If i dont hear by end of today would most people suggest i just pass details to insurance co?

Thanks for help...