i have had an accident and not sure what to do

thepinkladez_2

ohreally wrote: »

Do you have a dropped kerb over your driveway entrance?

yes its a proper driveway etc and also my car was parked on it so it didnt look like it was empty.

thepinkladez_2

eco123 wrote: »

Someone ran gently into my front bumber & the damage cost £800, it's surprising to see the cost sometimes.

yes i think that may be the case i will def ask him to get 3 quotes thou to be sure.

thepinkladez_2

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

Regardless of where it was parked, you hit it, you pay. End of.

ok im aware of that if you had read the messages i have posted i was actually enquiring how many quotes to ask for etc. i do not have any intention of NOT paying for the damage caused. it was jut someone had mentioned the parking issue etc and i was wanting to clarify this so i know if i can claim on my insurance if need be.

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

The parking issue is irrelevant in this case.

2 quotes for the repairs would be fine. Personally I think £600 isn't far off the mark, a simple respray of a panel would be close to £200 alone, more if the paint is metallic. If the panel you hit has been creased the repairs would take much longer.

The bumper may have been damaged beyond repair.

At the end of the day, you've hit another person's car and damaged it. They will not be interested in saving money, they'll be interested in having it put right properly. You don't have any right to expect them to look for a cheap deal for you.

BenL

Its likely that the owner of the car has taken it to a main dealer as they want the best service possible as someone else is paying.

The cost maybe higher than you thought because of this.

The cars owner maynot want to have a "backstreet" garage taking the job on and want to make sure it is done as good as possible.

Sorry to hear about the accident but it all points to you having to payup.

MrsTinks

Sorry but whilst the owner of the damaged vehicle might not have any reason to try and save money then it is pretty much what they would be expected to do if the insurance company was getting involved.
I would ask him to get it quoted at a garage of your choice as well as the one of his choice you have had a quote from already. If there is little or no difference then have it done at the garage he wants. If there is a large difference then explain to him that the quote he obtained seem disproportionate and the work can be done properly for x amount as stated on the quote. Then either offer him the amount of the cheapest quote or advice him that you don't think its a proportionate cost and therefor will have to pass it over to the insurance company.
Not being funny but NEVER put in writing to him that you admit liability as some insurance agencies will automatically not pay out if you have done this.
I appreciate you admit its your fault, just dont put it in writing to anyone!
I'm not saying don't pay up but only pay what is fair and what it will genuinely cost to repair. If he has in the mean time whacked his bumper and is now asking for you to pay for it so he doesn't have to then stand your ground!
In future then I would start by knocking on the neighbours door and politely ask people not to park across your drive. Also worth thinking about is maybe putting a sign up telling people not to block the drive or you will consider legal action (in this case I think you can actually get the car towed as it's blocking you leaving) but do check with the police first

Good luck

monkeyspanner

As you caused the damage I'm afraid you or your insurers will have to pay. Personally I would put it through insurers as you don't know what the repairers will 'find' when they do the work. You may also be expected to pay for a courtesy car whilst the other driver's car is repaired particularly if this is what they would get if the claim went through insurance.

£600 doesn't seem far off for the description of the work but insurers don't pay the same scale of charges for the same damage. I had this recently when my car was damaged. Other driver wanted a quote wasn't happy when it was £500 eventually went through insurers and bill to them was £350 or thereabouts.

Nail_Lad

monkeyspanner wrote: »

As you caused the damage I'm afraid you or your insurers will have to pay. Personally I would put it through insurers as you don't know what the repairers will 'find' when they do the work. You may also be expected to pay for a courtesy car whilst the other driver's car is repaired particularly if this is what they would get if the claim went through insurance.

£600 doesn't seem far off for the description of the work but insurers don't pay the same scale of charges for the same damage. I had this recently when my car was damaged. Other driver wanted a quote wasn't happy when it was £500 eventually went through insurers and bill to them was £350 or thereabouts.

Agreed. Two ways to play this really. You could go hardball, fall out with your neighbours and deny everything. Tempting but I don't think you're that type of person and you still have to live near your neighbours.

Appreciate the issue with the driveway being blocked is an annoying factor but at the end of the day you did drive into a parked vehicle. If someone blocks your drive you don't have the right to shove him out of the way!

The next solution is to go through your insurance. Me personally I would have let the insurers sort it all. In fact that's what I did when I hit my neighbours car in similar circumstances one dark night with limited visibility and they had parked unusually close to the exit of my drive. Pride swallowed I admitted fault and handed over my insurance details. Its what insurance is for. The damaged vehicle will need to be repaired and even at cheaper bodyshops it'll be off the road for a day or two and the driver is entitled to a hire car. Plus as has been said other hidden structual damage maybe discovered which adds to the cost. I knew all this and went the insurance route.

The final solution which is the one it seems like you're going with is the paying him direct route. Fine, but unfortunately don't be too fussy about the quotes. You've agreed to pay him and pay him you must. Remember to what he's entitled - hire car etc. So, play it nice. Mention the fact his car was on your drive, appreciate the fact he has given you a quote but state you would like quotes from another 2 garages before agreeing on a payment. Bodyshop quotes can vary greatly. 3 quotes is the usual way and he should understand that. Then agree to pay the lower of the 3 and hope that sees an end to it and he doesn't start asking for more (like a hire car).

Good luck!

thepinkladez_2

thank you for al your helpful replies. Glad that the rest of you realise im not trying to NOT pay for the work!;)
just want to clarify the owner of the car hasnt actually got any connection with my neighbour other than he was collecting sometjing he won from ebay so whatever happens my neighbourly relations will not be affected.
some great advice given, i will def contact and ask for another couple of quotes plus photos where possible. If the price gets ridiculous i will just put it through insurance as after all thats what i pay it for! if driver gets really arsey and wont co opperate with extra quotes etc i will let you know! Maybe i will just have to get tough in that case!

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers!

tine wrote: »

Sorry but whilst the owner of the damaged vehicle might not have any reason to try and save money then it is pretty much what they would be expected to do if the insurance company was getting involved

This may be so but the insured party is under no obligation to use the insurer's preferred repairer. It is quite normal to insist that your damaged car be repaired at a business of your choosing.