Rear shunt damage - options?

Car_54

JohnB47 said:

I've got the car make and registration, his name and his mobile number and we've been in touch via text. I realise now that I should have got more information and taken photos at the time. I must get a checklist of what to do, print it out and keep it in the car. Perhaps that will ensure that it never happens again!

He initially said he would have to check with his wife and now things have gone a bit quiet. I've sent him another text to say that I'm now thinking it would be best to go down the insurance route. If I don't hear from him by end of today, that's what I'll do. 

Presumably I need to get his insurance details before I contact my company? Or maybe I could go ahead with the info I have at the moment.

A checklist is a good idea, and I'm sure Google will find you some>

The minimum the law requires is for both parties to provide:

Registration number, name and address of both the driver and vehicle owner. If anyone is injured, insurance details must also be provided, or at least produced to the police ASAP.

Common sense should tell you not to accept just a phone number. Photos are always a good idea - the general scene, positions of vehicles, damage, etc.

JohnB47

Thanks. The other driver is ok to use insurance. He's being good about it. Curiously I'm now feeling bad about being so angry with him at the time. Some sort of delayed remorse, which is confusing. Why couldn't I be more grown up about it? Nobody was hurt after all 

I've filled in the insurance claim and it seems happy to have the info I could provide. A repair arrangement is under way too. Probably for the best. If I hadn't used insurance I would have been tempted to fib at every renewal and that would be an annual depressing reminder. Best to be honest, I realise now.

DullGreyGuy

JohnB47 said:
Curiously I'm now feeling bad about being so angry with him at the time. Some sort of delayed remorse, which is confusing. Why couldn't I be more grown up about it? Nobody was hurt after all 

It's an unsettling event, we all react differently and a lot of people care about their cars, for many its one of the most expensive things we own. 

Shortly after passing my test I drove into the back of a brand new Mercedes just being driven off the forecourt. I was lucky in that it was the garage driving it to the customer and not the owner themselves else I suspect their reaction would have been much worse.