help please car accident

Iamthesmartestmanalive

gwarren wrote: »

my reply

yes I do sympathise with them and he was an idiot but that wasn't my question.
the judge decided his penalty, and if you read what I put it wasn't MY ACTIONS, but I am paying the penalty.
After 20 years driving and never a point on my licence, you have read it wrong IMO

Not true as he wasnt prosecuted for all his crimes including theft which you seem to have let him off with

For me this is you basically admitting liability for his actions in part

As for the extra cost,it may be hire cars etc or other out of pocket expenses

Either way you owe this money or at least your son does and one of you should pay up

Your post stinks tbh of a mother who fails to see their little angel as anything other than that

gwarren_2

Sparky67 wrote: »

As I've said previously, I think that's why your insurance have paid out but are looking to recover their losses - you have "permitted" the use of the vehicle and the insurers will have to pay up, but their policy with you doesn't cover your son, hence that's why they are looking to recover their losses from you. As I said previously, if he had been charged with TWOK it might have been different.

He has been punished by the law, but you are right in that you are now being penalised although you did nothing wrong. I would make sure your son makes a contribution to the cost of the repairs.

Your son did a very silly thing and was lucky in that no-one was seriously hurt or more damage was done. There's many decent parents out there, who do their best to ensure their kids are well brought up, but they then nevertheless do something stupid as a teenager! I don't think you are looking for sympathy or trying to get out of it, but as a parent of a one-time wayward teenager, I can understand your frustration at being punished for your son's moment of madness. Fortunately for most of us, the stupid things our kids get up to as teenagers don't end up costing us the best part of £1K!

Lets hope that this teaches him a lesson!

Thanks I wasn't looking for sympathy just answers, yes I am going to make him pay, as it was his stupidity. I don't paint him as any picture as other people suggest, but then people only see what they want to, and as you say it was my frustration from the insurance people.

cyclonebri1

gwarren wrote: »

Thanks I wasn't looking for sympathy just answers, yes I am going to make him pay, as it was his stupidity. I don't paint him as any picture as other people suggest, but then people only see what they want to, and as you say it was my frustration from the insurance people.

I think too many people have jumped on your back here.
It was obvious to me though that this would happen after reading your first post. People do tend to make 2 +2 =22.

It was quite clear that you knew the seriousness of the situation and made no attempt to justify your sons actions which really should not give rise to suggestions of "casting him out".

But I do think you made the mistake that has been suggested, ie, you did not inform the police that he had taken the car without consent.
This exact same thing happened to a freind of mine some years ago but he decided, after being advised of the insurance issue, that to let the police prossecute was the best way of teaching his son a lesson.

Riq

I think the extra cost could have been a hire car, I had mine for almost 2 weeks as they were busy so couldn't do my car promptly. The hire car added around £450 to the bill.

Quentin

Also other miscellaneous expenses incurred:

eg. postage/telephone/possible lost wages/compensaton for inconvenience and time wasted arranging quotation/repairs, delivering car etc etc

silvercar

if you had accepted your son being charged with TWOC, the insurance wouldn't be involved. As you didn't pursue this, the insurers have to accept third party liability and as he wasn't insured on the vehicle they have to pay and reclaim from you. At least this won't count as a claim on your insurance policy as its not your accident and you didn't make a claim.

For your son, how many points has he got? Once he gets to 6 points he has to redo his test (theory and practical). Even if he was awarded 3 points these will stay on his licence when he passes his test and if he gets another 3 points within 2 years of passing will have to retest. If he needs to get insurance on his own car or on your policy this accident will have to be declared and will impact heavily on his premium.

Happychappy

I agree the Op's son has done a very stupid thing and has paid in so far as the magistrates court judgement, maybe not as sufficiently as people would like, but that is the wishy washy state of justice today.

It is very difficult for the parent to support a charge and make a complaint of theft against the son, knowing that this one stupid and idiotic act could have had not only serious ramifications on the day of the accident, but also if the son gains a conviction for theft, this would follow him round for many years to come, affect his job prospects etc, etc so I can sympathise with the parent, but in no way condone the actions, just sometimes you have to see the difficulty of a parent to stand back and say "lock him up" when with an older head and years of life experience, they know a theft conviction will affect his whole career and life ahead for many years ? so a difficult choice and one fortunately I have not had to face, but one I have dealt with on many occasions ?

The posters who say make him pay are absolutely right, and make sure the payment are completed in a very short time so he has to work hard to pay it back, not £5 per week, as this is only like a court fine, and they do nothing to focus the mind.

gwarren_2

thanks for the replies it has made things a lot clearer, at least from the sensible ones.

gwarren_2

For your son, how many points has he got?


he received 6 points

judy2357

Hi I have 2 sons and a daughter, one of my sons has always been daring and bit of a rebel and so I understand how you are feeling. On the one hand he needs to be taught a lesson, but on the other you dont want him to get into trouble. Probably I would be tempted to pay myself in the meantime but would ensure that the money was paid back eventually. Im assuming that your son does not have the money.