car accident advice

gm89uk

Had a very minor accident with a taxi today, maybe 30 quid paint job at most on a roundabout. He came across on a roundabout from my left and his back right hit my front left, both of us are claiming the other is at fault. The damage is so little that we were quite happy to just sort it out ourselves (maybe a 15 mph crash at most, no dent).

The problem is his passenger is claiming neck pain and is very upset, took down both our registration numbers and called someone for advice... and refused to talk to myself or the taxi driver.

The taxi driver states because of these redflags it's best to go through insurance for legal cover, as if she then comes and sues one day we'll be in trouble if it wasn't under insurance.

Is there anyway around this or is his advice correct?
Many thanks

DUTR

That's what insurance is for, perhaps in future both you and the other party will drive with more consideration for other road users and learn to share the road and avoid bumps where possible.
Just think a few moments wait and a curse and this situation could have been avoided.
PS I'm semi certain your insurance policy requires you to inform of all incidents, whether a claim is being made or not.

gm89uk

Unfortunately I was going around the roundabout as normal when this sprung out on me, I'm not sure how I could have avoided it myself. Nevertheless, thanks for your words of advice.

Car_54

You have to tell your insurers because (a) you are contractually obliged to and (b) the passenger will certainly claim.

In the absence of any other evidence, the insurers will probalt settle 50/50.

Fat_Walt

Car_54 wrote: »

You have to tell your insurers because (a) you are contractually obliged to and (b) the passenger will certainly claim.

In the absence of any other evidence, the insurers will probalt settle 50/50.

No dent and the passenger with whiplash.

By the time the taxi driver and passenger have stitched him up he'll be 100% to blame.

DUTR

.

Fat_Walt wrote: »

No dent and the passenger with whiplash.

By the time the taxi driver and passenger have stitched him up he'll be 100% to blame.

Indeed, as the vehicle suddenly appeared from the left! His front clipped the back of the other car, Don't know any skilled painter that is going to get out of bed for £30

gm89uk

I'll inform my insurers first thing in the morning. My front left (by the wing light clipped his back right, not strictly the front and the back) which is explained by the mechanism.

If the passenger becomes a witness for the taxi I won't have much chance of a 50:50 claim, and a 50:50 claim is probably the best I could hope for. Nevertheless, just ordered my dashcam. The vehicle was in a left turn only lane but then did not want to exit and rushed into my lane.

dacouch

Bearing in mind whiplash symptoms do not normally show until the following day, the taxi passenger must be able to predict the future

Hoof_Hearted

DUTR wrote: »

...perhaps in future both you and the other party will drive with more consideration for other road users and learn to share the road and avoid bumps where possible.
Just think a few moments wait and a curse and this situation could have been avoided.

Be careful not to fall off your high horse.

Unfortunately, given the situation, it will be safer to go through insurance as the passenger sees £££££.

m0bov

Should also report it to the police.

DUTR

Hoof_Hearted wrote: »

Be careful not to fall off your high horse.

Unfortunately, given the situation, it will be safer to go through insurance as the passenger sees £££££.

Not on a high horse, I've grown up long ago to know it is better to avoid than resolve who's at fault, I'd rather it was a could have been than it was.
I'm sure on many occasion we have seen or involved in near misses.