Car Insurance Dispute Help PLease

Lemmin83

Hello, During a shopping trip I returned to my car. The bay in front was empty and so pulled forward into that space in order to make a right turn onto the one way system of the car park, HOWEVER once I had emerged from the bay I had to stop as I could see clearly another driver reversing up the wrong way towards me. I applied my hand brake and continued to watch the driver, slowly revers towards me, getting nearer and nearer, after around 15 seconds the driver began turn as to go into the space I came from. I continue watching the driver unable to move anywhere, he then continued turning until adjacent to my car . As he still had not looked up at his mirrors and I sensed an impact I began honking the horn constantly. The driver continued, slowly to reverse very close to my car. As he was completing his turn and straightening up I heard a scrapping at the rear of my car, Suprise suprise he had reversed into my car :mad:

At this point I parked my car in a nearby bay and confronted the driver for his insurance details. At this point the driver was shocked, he was totally oblivious to hitting my car, believe he did not see my vehicle at all. The actual collision did not occur until approx 30 seconds after I had applied the handbrake. I noticed a lone witness and approached him for his details, hesitantly the man gave his details. I took photos and left.

HERES the problem I have, I reported it to my insurance company, even though my car had minor scratches in case the 3rd party tried to claim. The driver is now claiming I quickly pulled out on him from the chevroned area next to the space (despite the fact a photo clearly shows a parked car behind this area so how could I have come from here?)

The witness has only given basic details and said not to be contacted, with him stating I came from the chevroned area

I noticed a camera positioned nearby and so tried to gain a record of the incident. After 3 hours of waiting I was told the camera was facing the wrong way.

How can I stop this guy from making a claim against me, and if necessary dispute any decision?

Help please

Quentin

You cannot "stop" him. Your insurer will sort out any dispute, so refer the third party to them, and pass any correspondence you get over this to them unanswered.

Both sides telling different accounts is something both insurers will be used to!

Although your witness asked you not to contact them, he did give his details, so you have nothing to lose passing these to your insurer. He might reply to any enquiry they make, and help them resolve this in your favour.

forgotmyname

Your word against his, Sounds like the witness doesnt want to know or saw it differently.

Either way you premium is likely to rise now, It must be declared for 5 years.

Leave it to your insurers and just answer the questions / fill the forms in and get on with your life. Its only a car.

NBLondon

Sounds like he drove past, spotted an empty space and then reversed to grab it, while you were driving forward through it to get out.

It sounds incredible that he managed to reverse for more than 30 seconds without looking what was behind him, at least to see how close he was to the space he was aiming for.

It's often difficult to grasp the positions from a written description (I had to read this 3 times to realise where the impact was) so draw a map, with measurements, showing the one way system and add that to the photos for the insurance company.

Bravehearted_2

Assume others are stupid, protect yourself - I'd have been honking and yelling when I noticed he wasn't paying attention.

Might have even reversed out of his way.

AlexisV

The witness has only given basic details and said not to be contacted, with him stating I came from the chevroned area

I'd still contact him. Worse he can do is put the phone down (and hopefully get some bad karma from it).

Lemmin83

Thanks for replies.
Yes NBLondon 30 seconds is a long time, I was watching him the whole time he was looking over his right shoulder the whole time, not checking any other mirrors and I was to his left!
Which would also explain how he managed to miss the lines of the bay on the left side
I did pass his details to my insurance, it was his statement he asked for no more contact and from what I can gather from my insurance company it isnt a full, clear account

Yeah it may only be a car but its more the damage to my premiums, judging by the renewal from current insurer I'm guessing they have paid him out which really is annoying, after chasing video evidence, showing photos which clearly show his story to be false.

I guess I just wanted advice if there is a way to challenge my insurer if they've just gone down the, accept blame, ask client for no further info or contact regarding the verdict?

Is there anyway of doing this?

Lemmin83

I suppose the other part that winds me up is he stopped in front of an empty to reverse into the one I came from. I know it was empty as I ended up parking in it to go get the blokes details

If there is no way, then like you say I hope Karma takes a nice chunk out of his !!!

forgotmyname

From your description i cant visualize how the cars were positioned.