Advice on Rear car bump...

Phil_OAFC

Hello guys,

Never had an accident before but after some much needed advice.
Motorway was closed earlier for highway works so was diverted into A roads where we are pulled up at red lights, hand brake on...then bang!

Car hit us from behind, must have been only 10mph max but it was a big car (vectra) and put it this way we knew we'd been hit.

Got out to check damage, small scuff to bottom of back bumper and small dent... That was it.

The person who hit me was a nice Asian chap who apologised and told me to ring him and he will sort it out for us. Our car is 18 month old worth about 13k currently, 19-20 new. I'm annoyed at the scuff because it's my car and he's marked it but that's not my main concern.

I got all his details, and I've since 'looked him up' and believe the details to be genuine. I sadly, in the busyness of the moment didn't take a picture of the scene, or record him accepting liability, but have his details, he doesn't have mine.

Here's the main concern: My wife was in the car, 13 weeks pregnant, she feels fine at the moment no twinges etc, and bizarrely even at a slow speed, I am developing a sore neck/shoulder blade area. It was 10mph max, it sounds ridiculous, but it was a big car and we knew it had hit, a bit of a shock shall we say.

The guy was nice, and I would hate to 'do him over' as you hear a lot of these days, but with my wife's condition and developing neck sore ness can anyone give me advice on what's best to procede?

As I see it I have 2 options;

1) Ring him in the morning and take £50 for minor bumper inconvenience - it's not even worthy of a new bumper it's just a shame it's a scuff on my pride and joy.

2) Ignore his number and contact insurances, mainly not due to the actual car damage but what if there is any baby issues in a weeks time? If this option do I tell my insurance? Or go straight to his?

I'm not into the whole claim society but part of me feels the need to protect my family in case of complications? Or am I being silly?

I don't want to open a can of worms or risk myself being increased insurance or higher risk, but I also feel it wasn't my fault and certainly would be absolutely devastated if a jolt affects the baby etc.

At first I was swaying to sorting it privately, now I'm tempted to get my wife checked out and inform insurance and let them deal with the situation.

We're also private people who don't like hassle, I'd hate to go through insurance and he gets hold of our name, knows where we live and causes us any future problems. There were about 4 other lads in his car, I'd be worried of them all getting details on us and coming to 'even the score' or can they not get our details?

I genuinely appreciate your opinions on where I should go.
Funny thing is, had I hit them I could easily see 5 claims and me taken to the cleaners.

Thank you in advance guys.

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth

Question.

Are you fully comp?

Answer

Use your insurance, that is why you pay for it.

If not fully comp. Good luck.

rs65

Phil_OAFC wrote: »

I genuinely appreciate your opinions on where I should go.

Probably the doctor, if you have concerns.

Jamiesmum

I took a hit from the rear last week on an A road too. Rear passenger side panel all scratched and a crack to the bumper. Guy admitted it. All gone through the insurers.

The garage said they need to strip the back to make sure there is no damage done underneath the bumper (there wasn't on mine). Had a ache in my shoulder for 2 days but it went fairly quickly.

No claim for whiplash, though insurers will ask you if there is any injury and you can ring them back at a later date if anything occurs. Best bet is go through the insurance, that it was it's there for. £50 probably ain't gonna fix your bumper.

Get your wife to the hospital, she'll get a scan you guys can see the baby and get your mind at rest. She should of gone anyway, no matter how small the accident.

19lottie82

Why mention the guy was Asian?

And why would you take £50 for the "inconvenience" , if you're not going to do any repairs?

Enterprise_1701C

Just one thing, it is entirely up to you but you are supposed to inform your insurers of ANY accidents.

What happens if he is not so nice and decides to go to his insurers saying you did something wrong?

You could just inform them of it stating you are not at the moment making a claim but that you know you have to tell them it happened.

Phil_OAFC

Blackbeard_of_Perranporth wrote: »

Question.

Are you fully comp?

Answer

Use your insurance, that is why you pay for it.

If not fully comp. Good luck.

Thanks for the reply.
I am fully comp, I could do without an increase in premium though that's why I'm on a website like this

Phil_OAFC

Jamiesmum wrote: »

I took a hit from the rear last week on an A road too. Rear passenger side panel all scratched and a crack to the bumper. Guy admitted it. All gone through the insurers.

The garage said they need to strip the back to make sure there is no damage done underneath the bumper (there wasn't on mine). Had a ache in my shoulder for 2 days but it went fairly quickly.

No claim for whiplash, though insurers will ask you if there is any injury and you can ring them back at a later date if anything occurs. Best bet is go through the insurance, that it was it's there for. £50 probably ain't gonna fix your bumper.

Get your wife to the hospital, she'll get a scan you guys can see the baby and get your mind at rest. She should of gone anyway, no matter how small the accident.

Thank you for taking the time to give me your advice and opinion!

csgohan4

Phil_OAFC wrote: »

Thanks for the reply.
I am fully comp, I could do without an increase in premium though that's why I'm on a website like this

If they are at fault and your insurers can fully reclaim all costs it won't affect your NCB. If it increases your premiums, then your provider is taking you for a ride, move elsewhere.

Phil_OAFC

19lottie82 wrote: »

Why mention the guy was Asian?

And why would you take £50 for the "inconvenience" , if you're not going to do any repairs?

You're definitely looking for a bite back with that reply. Not one bit of help regarding my situation just nit picking at where you can.

I was painting a picture of the scene, because believe it or not in this day and age you do have to be careful and 5 men jumping out of a car speaking any different language can be a daunting situation, it makes you feel vulnerable not knowing what they are actually saying and whether the details you have received are actually correct. To be fair that vulnerability and the fact of there being so many of them probably stopped me getting some important pictures etc, it all added to the busyness of the situation. But I see what you're trying to indicate and trying to with your comments and that is what is wrong with the world, it should be possible to describe a person without someone jumping on the goody two shoes bandwagon.

And why would I take £50 if I'm not going to replace the bumper? The £50 was said in jest, but the person has still hit me and still added marks to a £13,000 car at current worth. It's still highly annoying.

Thanks for your reply though, just a shame it was dissapointing that you didn't actually want to assist me in any way but to try and manipulate a situation

Jamiesmum

Guy who hit me was asian too! Guy who wrote off my last car was a Chinese man. I've been bumped by a pregnant woman too.

Idk why people need to pick up on descriptive words just because they're foreign. No different to saying I saw this really dumb blond in ASDA today. I saw a college student pulled over for being on her phone yesterday. An old man asked me for directions last night.

It does set the scene, someones foreign people don't understand our roads. Sometimes old people shouldn't be driving. A mum may be distracted by kids in the back. All adds to why the accident may have happened.