Car accident claim. Looking for advice

terrylamps

Hi, my partner, who is a named driver on my policy (fully comp) was involved in a non fault car accident on Saturday. He had parked up leaving his dad in the car whilst he went to post a xmas card. The street is a cul-de-sac and he was parked on the opposite side of the street from the house he was delivering the card to (Pic below. He's A and she's B. There was a van parked at the end of the house next door to hers which would have obstructed her view of our car). He got back into the car and started the engine, put the lights and his seatbelt on. He'd just put the reverse lights on when the woman from the house next door started to reverse of her driveway (he'd seen her getting into her car with 2 passengers when he first walked down the path), so he knocked the reverse lights back off to indicate to her that he would wait for her to go and waited without moving an inch and basically she reversed at some speed into the left back corner of our car.

When she realised she'd hit the car she moved her car forward by about a car length, got out and said 'we'll exchange insurance details'. No apology or nothing. There were no witnesses apart from the passengers in both cars but i know they don't count. One of her neighbours came out from one of the nearby houses after it had happened to check everyone was ok. I'm hoping she tells the truth about what happened but is there any way she can get out of this by lieing about what happened?

Also, my insurance are arranging for out car to be repaired (we're with Churchill). It's still driveable but the damage needs repairing. Broken lamp cover, scratches to bumper, bumper knocked out on that side and slightly bent and the side panal has been dented with paint chipped of that as well. They have offered us a courtesy car with Enterprise but i'm not sure if i want to take the car after reading some horror stories. What are the pitfalls of taking the courtesy car? Its classed on my policy as guranteed hire car.

Thanks

terrylamps

Forgot to say that this was at 8pm.

Sgt_Pepper_2

Well if the witness/neighbour says both cars were reversing it could go 50/50.

Why should she apologize, it could be seen as an admission.

spacey2012

If your fully comp, why worry.
As you are now claiming from your insurance, you might want to start a 5 year diary of your uninsured losses and do not sign anything that says full and final.
Uninsured losses things such as increases in your premiums you will be paying for the next years.
Out of pocket expenses, taxis, busses, anything caused by this.
You insurance will negotiate with the other insurance, so expect them to make a 50/50 settlement.
This is outside your control as really you should have claimed from the other driver and made them claim from their insurance, but thats water under the bridge now.

chanz4

enterprise are fine, they are not credit hire

Quentin

Check for any high excess you have to pay if there is damage caused whilst you have it and make sure all existing damage is noted when you get the car.

terrylamps

She was reversing, my partner had not moved an inch from where he was parked. He put his reverse lights on to reverse but then realised that she was so he knocked them off and waited, still with the handbrake on. he was stationary, how can that be seen as 50/50?

terrylamps

Thankyou spacey, i'll do that and chanz.

I've been told we'll have to pay the £400 excess and they will claim it back from her insurance once she admists liability.

Sgt_Pepper_2

terrylamps wrote: »

Thankyou spacey, i'll do that and chanz.

I've been told we'll have to pay the £400 excess and they will claim it back from her insurance once she admists liability.

If, not once.

terrylamps

Thankyou Quentin. We'll do that.

spacey2012

terrylamps wrote: »

Thankyou spacey, i'll do that and chanz.

I've been told we'll have to pay the £400 excess and they will claim it back from her insurance once she admists liability.

If is the word on the excess.
Insurance companies love 50/50 they make more money, bit of a gentlemen's agreement.
The mistake has already been made and it looks like it's too late to stop it.
You should have sent her the bill for the damage and two higher estimates and let her decide to either pay it or claim it back from her insurance.
But you live and learn.
The question on the hire car, who pays the bill if they find you 50% liable.