Contesting a quote for an accident

Nijinsky

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to help someone out, whose husband has just been issued a £2,000 quote.

The husband drives a van. He was approaching a roundabout, an ambulance flew through the roundabout and a car in front slammed on the breaks. The husband swerved, but it was too late.

I've advised to see if there's any CCTV footage to look at and see if they think they can contest it.

I'm not too hopeful anything can be done about this one. The husband has gone into the back of someone and regardless of the circumstances, the husband is going to get the blame isn't he?

Even if an argument can be made that the Ambulance and car in front created the accident, it's still the husband's fault for not seeing the danger and reacting in time isn't it?

DullGreyGuy

The allegations will be long and numerous. Always have to leave sufficient braking distance for the road condition and be paying attention so you can see the vehicle infront do an emergency stop for what ever reason. 100% at fault for the accident. 

No idea if the £2k is the damage to the van or the third party. 

swingaloo

You are correct, it was the husband fault. He just needs to let his insurance deal with the claim.

lisyloo

He is 100% to blame. He should have allowed enough space for this eventually, it's all in the highway code.
No doubt on liability.

Costs for vehicle repairs, hire cars can be high.
They have 3 years I think to make a personal injury claim.

An advanced driving course would be a worthwhile investment as planning ahead is what they deal with.
It's not that expensive as the people that do it are charities (ROSPA & IAM).

DE_612183

In what sense do you think you can contest it?

The car in front stopped - your friends husband didn't.

Nijinsky

Thanks for everyone who's replied. None of the replies surprise me.

The husband thinks he was put in an impossible position. The girl in front panicked and stopped suddenly as she saw the ambulance approaching, but did not need to stop as it was not in her pathway.

She kept apologising to him saying it was her fault. No police were called. They just exchanged details.

I don't think anymore can be done apart from letting his insurance deal with it, so he will just have to wait and see what happens.

Car_54

Nijinsky said:.

I don't think anymore can be done apart from letting his insurance deal with it, so he will just have to wait and see what happens.

Correct - nothing he can do, and so no point worrying about it. His insurers will deal, and it will be recoded as an 'at fault claim'.

oldernonethewiser

Nijinsky said:

Thanks for everyone who's replied. None of the replies surprise me.

The husband thinks he was put in an impossible position. The girl in front panicked and stopped suddenly as she saw the ambulance approaching, but did not need to stop as it was not in her pathway.

She kept apologising to him saying it was her fault. No police were called. They just exchanged details.

I don't think anymore can be done apart from letting his insurance deal with it, so he will just have to wait and see what happens.

He wasn't though. Car in front stopped suddenly and he was unable to stop quickly enough.  From the way people drive it is not uncommon but the insurers will deal with it.

DullGreyGuy

I mean ultimately tell the insurers the scenario and they'll consider if there is a "crash for cash" type scenario going on but that typically involves someone cutting infront of you to narrow the gap and secondly doesn't involve them afterwards saying its their fault. 

LinLui

Nijinsky said:

Thanks for everyone who's replied. None of the replies surprise me.

The husband thinks he was put in an impossible position. The girl in front panicked and stopped suddenly as she saw the ambulance approaching, but did not need to stop as it was not in her pathway.

She kept apologising to him saying it was her fault. No police were called. They just exchanged details.

I don't think anymore can be done apart from letting his insurance deal with it, so he will just have to wait and see what happens.

Not at all. Approaching a roundabout everyone should be slowing / braking / preparing to stop. In the scenario described she had seconds to decide what to do, and braking was the sensible and correct thing to do if she could not be confident that she could clearly pull out - especially since the law says to give way to emergency vehicles. If he went into the back of her he was travelling too fast and/or too close. It was not her fault, and his position was not impossible. 

Car_54

LinLui said:

Nijinsky said:

Thanks for everyone who's replied. None of the replies surprise me.

The husband thinks he was put in an impossible position. The girl in front panicked and stopped suddenly as she saw the ambulance approaching, but did not need to stop as it was not in her pathway.

She kept apologising to him saying it was her fault. No police were called. They just exchanged details.

I don't think anymore can be done apart from letting his insurance deal with it, so he will just have to wait and see what happens.

Not at all. Approaching a roundabout everyone should be slowing / braking / preparing to stop. In the scenario described she had seconds to decide what to do, and braking was the sensible and correct thing to do if she could not be confident that she could clearly pull out - especially since the law says to give way to emergency vehicles. If he went into the back of her he was travelling too fast and/or too close. It was not her fault, and his position was not impossible. 

What law is that then?