Help needed now! Someone drove into side mirror - should I claim?

agav

Hi all,
I need your help. My husband just had someone drive into our car and damage the side mirror, driver side. What do I need to do? My policy excess is £250 and I don't know whether I should call my insurer to have it fixed or fix it myself? Or will the other driver be charged for it as it was his fault?
I will be grateful for your help.

AgaV

fishpond

Ring a dealer/garage
Find out the cost to supply and fit a new mirror
Present the cost to 3rd party and see if they will pay it in cash before you claim on their insurance.
Simples!

balletshoes

is it the whole mirror and casing thats broken, or is it just the glass?

agav

Glass is fine it's the casing that's broken.

agav

I don't have the guys telephone number only name and registration. He didn't stop after hitting our car and my husband had to chase him. The mirror seems to sit fine, no glass broken only the plastic bit all around it.

Norman_Castle

Assuming you got the drivers name by speaking to him, did he accept he caused the damage?.

neilmcl

agav wrote: »

Glass is fine it's the casing that's broken.

Is it colour matched or just plain black plastic?

As above, get a quote for repair and present this to the other driver. If he pays, fine, if not claim against his insurance not yours.

If you can get a spare part off ebay for a few quid then I'd be inclined to take it on the chin.

forgotmyname

If the other driver reports it then you must report it. Otherwise your insurance may bump your premium or cancel the policy for non disclosure.

But with a £250 excess you would be silly to claim. Inform them for information purposes only a driver clipped your mirror and damaged just the mirror.

neilmcl

forgotmyname wrote: »

If the other driver reports it then you must report it. Otherwise your insurance may bump your premium or cancel the policy for non disclosure.

But with a £250 excess you would be silly to claim. Inform them for information purposes only a driver clipped your mirror and damaged just the mirror.

Only if he claims via his own insurer.

worried_jim

neilmcl wrote: »

Is it colour matched or just plain black plastic?

As above, get a quote for repair and present this to the other driver. If he pays, fine, if not claim against his insurance not yours.

If you can get a spare part off ebay for a few quid then I'd be inclined to take it on the chin.

I think that even if you claim off their insurance you still have to declare it to yours and as mad as it may seem this may effect your renewal rate.

agav

Well, I phoned my insurance company and they said that because there is no witness the fault will be 50/50. I cannot believe that. I didn't put a claim in yet as I thought I check first how much does it cost to replace the mirror. Ford wants £250! I maybe would be able to get the mirror cheaper but it needs to be installed and painted the same color as the car which is gonna cost. And if i don't claim on my insurance what happens if that plonker who drove into me claims? I don't know what to do. The guy never admitted his fault but said it's the same for us both (yea, right). I thought that the fact that he failed to stop would be proof of his fault, but apparently not.