should I pay for accident?

CynicalScotsman

One word.... YES

You caused the accident, not the other driver.

Quentin

mlfworkman wrote: »

If the person I had the collision with has no insurance, and therefore is driving illegally, what happens then?

It has nothing to do with your liability for driving into him, if that's what you are thinking.

And of course doesn't have anything at all to do with your obligation to inform your insurer about what happened, and the damage done.

mlfworkman

Quentin wrote: »

It has nothing to do with your liability for driving into him, if that's what you are thinking.

And of course doesn't have anything at all to do with your obligation to inform your insurer about what happened, and the damage done.

No, that is not what I'm thinking.

What I'm thinking is this. He will not be "going through his insurer to my insurer" if (as seems the case) he has no insurance. I dispute both the extent of my liability and also the damage he claims was done- it is minimal damage which doesnt' seem to line up with where my car may have gently nudged against his. So as he told me, he would rather go with me to a body repairer, get a price, then agree how much if any I should pay towards it. He also said his car is so old it may not even be worth fixing. I will get the opinion of the body repairer as to whether I caused the damage or not. This was a minor bump and nothing else. He was certainly concerned in case my car had any damage- he knew he was also in the wrong. I understand the need to inform insurers of any minor scrape. But in terms of a claim, since he will not try to claim against my insurance (partly because it might reveal his lack of insurance), it is up to us to decide liability and how to resolve it. Any thoughts on that?

Quentin

Him having no insurance is nothing to do with this. So he can claim directly off your insurance!

You started this thread to ask if you were liable to pay for the damage.

How many opinions do you think you ought to have on this?

mikey72

mlfworkman wrote: »

................................. Any thoughts on that?

He speaks to his mates, they look you up on askmid, he puts in a claim, you lose your ncd, and your new insurer cancels your policy for non - disclosure.
The police don't want to know, and don't take any action against him.

slyracoon

Based on your description you are liable. Dosen't matter if its a lane or an A road, you reversed into the road and struck another car.

You need to tell your insurance company even if you don't plan to claim. If he goes direct to your insurer to claim you'll find they will hike your premiums etc. due to non-dsiclosure of the accident.

You also need to learn to reverse into your parking space and drive out forwards, this ensures maximum visibility.

mustrum_ridcully

Highway Code
201 - Do not reverse from a side road into a main road. When using a driveway, reverse in and drive out if you can.

This isn't law, but in situations where the HC says should / should not and do/do not it can be used to establish liability. Also do/do not is far stronger advice than should/should not - it's in effect just below must / must not (which refers to specific laws)

Inactive

Quentin wrote: »

How many opinions do you think you ought to have on this?

I think that the OP is just waiting for someone to tell him/her what he wants to hear..:D

marleyboy

mlfworkman wrote: »

No, that is not what I'm thinking.

What I'm thinking is this. He will not be "going through his insurer to my insurer" if (as seems the case) he has no insurance. I dispute both the extent of my liability and also the damage he claims was done- it is minimal damage which doesnt' seem to line up with where my car may have gently nudged against his. So as he told me, he would rather go with me to a body repairer, get a price, then agree how much if any I should pay towards it. He also said his car is so old it may not even be worth fixing. I will get the opinion of the body repairer as to whether I caused the damage or not. This was a minor bump and nothing else. He was certainly concerned in case my car had any damage- he knew he was also in the wrong. I understand the need to inform insurers of any minor scrape. But in terms of a claim, since he will not try to claim against my insurance (partly because it might reveal his lack of insurance), it is up to us to decide liability and how to resolve it. Any thoughts on that?

Its quite possible he does not want to go through his insurers for the very same reason you dont. As it stands, the blame lies in your hands. I think the idea of going to a body shop with the other driver is a good idea. It will show you he is not trying to overcharge for the damages (THAT YOU INFLICTED). If you start playing trumps with him, he will more likely just say "Tell you what, let your insurance company deal with it and I will let mine." Making the costs treble for you, on top of losing you NCD.

You might have convinced him he was also in the wrong, but that wont wash with his insurers, nor would it wash with us on MSE, who know only too well the person at fault in this case is the driver reversing their car out of a private driveway onto a public road, (highway, lane, dirt-track or anything else you want to call it).

£20 quid is a steal, personally I would have been happy to pay that. Rather that then go through an insurance company.

mlfworkman

Inactive wrote: »

I think that the OP is just waiting for someone to tell him/her what he wants to hear..:D

It may seem like that, but I really don't suffer from the need to get anonymous people to approve of actions I've already decided to take.

I was only trying to get full and frank advice from a range of people to see what the consensus of opinion is.

Thank you to all who took the time to give me advice in this thread.

I have now fully resolved the issue and your advice was most helpful.