An accident thats your fault - how would you respond?

Mojisola

beachbeth wrote: »

My question really though is "how would you react if you caused an accident and the other party had tried to be amicable".

I certainly wouldn't have behaved as she has done but I wouldn't have expected very much from someone who started out by switching drivers!

Quentin

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

I don't know if it's different for business motor insurance. But after making a few no fault claims in the past, the premiums have never gone up.

They do these days (for private motorists) - but it's at renewal, not mid term.

Jamie_Carter

Quentin wrote: »

They do these days (for private motorists) - but it's at renewal, not mid term.

That should be illegal. If a claim isn't your fault, and they have claimed off the other party's insurance company, they why should you be penalised?

beachbeth

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

She is obviously trying to be difficult. I would report her to the police, explaing that they switched drivers (there may be CCTV evidence). And take it through your insurance. £20 is an absolute joke.

If her son wasn't insured, and they had caused you serious injury, then he could have been locked up.

Don't let people like this get away with it. It's because of them that our premiums are so high in the first place.

This is what I thought. Its wrong if he wasn't insured to drive and the more people that are caught the better for the rest of us legal drivers. The rest of us pay more than we should because of people driving illegally. My daughter is still suffering from a car accident a few years ago because she hurt her back and it still isn't 100%. She had this recent accident just outside our house and there isn't any CCTV. She had just called in to us and was leaving for home. Her little dog was lying asleep on the front seat too and was hurled forward hitting her head on the front dash (I know: - the dog should have had a dog seat belt on. My daughter has got one but obviously doesn't always put it on).

She's going to do everything through the insurance and just tell the absolute truth. Whether they'll believe her about the driver I don't know but its not our problem. She'll get her car repaired either way and my husband won't have to do it.

Quentin

Jamie_Carter wrote: »

..... why should you be penalised?

They say that having any incidents on your history makes you more of a risk than someone with a spotless history.

beachbeth

Quentin wrote: »

They say that having any incidents on your history makes you more of a risk than someone with a spotless history.

Its daft though isn't it. There you are all parked properly (hypothetically speaking) and minding your own business, some idiot isn't looking where they're going and bashes into you and it makes you more of a risk!

We bought our present car in 2005 and have had 3 people crash into it and 1 person who nearly crashed into it (she was looking left only and we were coming down the road from her right). One of the bashes we received was whilst the car was parked and unoccupied and so we don't know who did it! I don't think we're more risky than anyone else, just unlucky. :cool:

Jamie_Carter

Quentin wrote: »

They say that having any incidents on your history makes you more of a risk than someone with a spotless history.

They say lots of things as an excuse to put our premiums up.

Personally I think the insurance industry needs a huge review by the government.

londonTiger

there is a review called for. but dont expect too much.

probably get same pastym old civil servants to write out a drab report and will be on the news for a few days and that would be it. Nothing will come out of it.

I thik insurance companies have a cartel thing going on. They cut up the market in demographics and decide on whose going to vy for which market so you never get compeition. And don't bit for tyhe demographic outside theirs, they'll just give stupid inflated quotes.

E.g. admiral insures younger drivers, they own that demographic with their other insurance comnpanioes (bell, diamond, elephant) to make it look like there's compeition.

If I search for a quote the lowest I'd get is quotes from these 4 admiral group companies. the rest are around £600+ more expensive, and these 4 admiral group companies give me quotes which are all £10-30 of each other

rs65

beachbeth wrote: »

Its daft though isn't it. There you are all parked properly (hypothetically speaking) and minding your own business, some idiot isn't looking where they're going and bashes into you and it makes you more of a risk!

We bought our present car in 2005 and have had 3 people crash into it and 1 person who nearly crashed into it (she was looking left only and we were coming down the road from her right). One of the bashes we received was whilst the car was parked and unoccupied and so we don't know who did it! I don't think we're more risky than anyone else, just unlucky. :cool:

I'll bet after your first non-fault accident, you would have said you are no greater risk and then you had two more. Yes, you have been extremely unlucky but clearly are a greater risk.

Anyway, back to your point. My response would be to accept the £20. You agreed an arbitrary amount of £30 and she has now chanced it by an arbitrary amount of £20. Neither were scientific and £10 is not worth the stress of arguing against the likes of the person you have described. Definitely not worth making a claim and having to disclose it for several years.

System

Didn't she realise that switching drivers was a criminal offence? Trying to save £10 knowing that you might go to the police was silly, but unfortunately if you "remind" her of that you might then be guilty of blackmail, which would be your offence.
The safest thing is probably just to take the £20 and keep quiet.
No deal at the roadside is worth anything unless you get cash on the spot.