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Original poster

Involved in (small) collision - need advice please

78 replies

wondering1101 · 01/12/2018 18:30

About half an hour ago on my way home this evening and going round a bend, my car and the car coming the other way came into contact.

We both stopped. The other person’s car has white scrape marks but no dents down the left hand back door. Mine has a dent, some black paint marks and some actual scratches in the paint on the front right hand wing.

Instead of exchanging insurance details, the other person suggested we both get quotes at the local garage, and split the cost down the middle. I said yes. She said we don’t know who is at fault and that was also my first thought when it happened. My dd reckons I was close to my side of the road but she could be wrong.

Initially, before she realised that her car was also scraped (but not scratched like mine is), the other driver was going to pay for all my damage, but when she saw her white paint marks she came up with the split the cost down the middle thing. Her friend was telling her not to talk (in their language but I understood) ie. don’t offer to pay all this person’s costs.

So I have to contact her this evening and we are going to the garage together.

Have I done the wrong thing / right thing?

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 01/12/2018 19:01

I had similar damage (slightly worse) repaired on my drive by Chips Away. IIRC, it was around £250.

It's difficult as I'm guessing there are no independent witnesses to say who's fault it was.

Nicknacky · 01/12/2018 19:03

Contact your insurance company and give them the information you have.

If they can’t establish fault then I imagine they would go 50/50.

But one of you crossed the centre line so one of you is at fault.

Original poster
wondering1101 · 01/12/2018 19:03

No, no witnesses.

Is it illegal not to inform insurance companies?

I guess I hate confrontation Sad.

OP posts:
Trottersindependenttraders · 01/12/2018 19:04

Another saying go through the insurance - that’s why we pay it. She may well be genuine but I’d be suspicious that she wanted to split 50/50 immediately and visit a garage of her choice.

Original poster
wondering1101 · 01/12/2018 19:04

Am newly divorced and have never dealt with this kind of thing on my own.

OP posts:
PotteryLady · 01/12/2018 19:05

I was driving down a slip road when someone pulled out of a space and scraped from the front to back of car - £1800 worth of damaged. Lucky had a witness because after he admitted at the scene it was his fault as soon as insurance was involved tried to say 50/50. People are twats!

Nicknacky · 01/12/2018 19:05

It’s not illegal but will be part of their terms and conditions.

redsummershoes · 01/12/2018 19:05

it's not illegal not to inform your insurance, but unwise as it might make it difficult to defend a claim should the other side claim more (expensive) damage to their car or health issues as result of the collision,

PotteryLady · 01/12/2018 19:06

Did you get their number plate?

Original poster
wondering1101 · 01/12/2018 19:06

No I didn’t because I am officially stupid.

Genuinely Sad.

OP posts:
RatRolyPoly · 01/12/2018 19:07

If it were me, in the absence of any suspicious circumstances or red flags I'd go with it. Unless you're quite sure you're not at fault and are prepared to risk your premiums going up when it's your word against hers... If she seemed genuine enough and I had no reason to suspect anything going on I'd go with it and play it by ear going forwards.

Original poster
wondering1101 · 01/12/2018 19:07

Though they live on a road near me and I could hunt the car down as it were.

OP posts:
Original poster
wondering1101 · 01/12/2018 19:09

She did seem genuine but it is the thinking about it later that might change the outcome I suppose.

OP posts:
RatRolyPoly · 01/12/2018 19:10

You're not stupid, you know who she is and where she works, don't worry about the numberplate.

It will say in your policy that you have to tell your insurance. I told mine about someone hitting me once (no damage) and they couldn't have sounded more surprised that I was bothering! I didn't make a claim for anything - obviously - but I was pleased I told them. Although they acted like I'd massively wasted their time taking my phone call.

Original poster
wondering1101 · 01/12/2018 19:29

Sorry more questions

Should I pay for my own damage and leave it at that, in case it turns out that her scrapes, for whatever reason (possibly fabricated), end up costing loads? If I don’t contact her I don’t think she will be contacting me.

Can I tell my insurance company about the collision but that we are settling our own claims (if that’s what I decide to do). In that case would they want her name and number or not and would they increase my premium anyway.

Sorry, I knew I would be crap at this if it happened and it has happened and I am all over the place. Luckily it wasn’t bad.

OP posts:
Original poster
wondering1101 · 01/12/2018 19:31

If I do inform my insurance company - do I tell her?

What happens if it turns out my damage is a lot more than hers and she then refuses to pay 50/50?

OP posts:
Original poster
wondering1101 · 01/12/2018 19:32

Honestly it is the fear of possible confrontation that I find the hardest.

And of course I don’t have much spare cash.

OP posts:
drquin · 01/12/2018 19:41

Right, phone your insurance company now. You need your policy number - on the certificate, and a few details of what happened. Ideally also other registration details.

That in itself takes away all the confrontation, all the "what if" questions you're making up.

Insurance company then deals with it.

You can still pay for the damage directly, if that's what you want.
But if your damage turned out to be bigger, and you need insurance company to pay for it, they may choose the garage, so you need to have told them.

OR

Take your chances that the other driver is honest enough, and you're talking minor costs each.

But don't spend any more time stressing about it, that's not helping you.

Original poster
wondering1101 · 01/12/2018 20:56

Okay so I texted the lady saying that I do have to go through the insurance company as I don’t know how much my damage will come to, and I may not be able to afford to do it in the way in which she wanted. I asked her for her number plate and full name and address.

I gave her all my details in the text.

What do I do if she doesn’t answer?

I tried to ring the insurance company but they closed at 5 pm (accident happened at about 5.45 pm) so I will ring them in the morning.

Am I letting myself in for a load of awful stuff now Sad. Possible abuse from this woman and a massively increased premium next year. How much do they generally increase premiums by?

OP posts:
FoonaLagoonaBaboona · 01/12/2018 22:50

When someone went into my car (and tried to blame me!) I got into a panic and basically let her tell me she was claiming off my insurance. When I calmed down and got home and thought it all through a driving instructor friend of mine told me to go and make a police report . Just so it was all on record, I did that and phoned my insurance, they basically told her to do one! but I know I had peace of mind in reporting it .... With no witnesses either.

CleanHonestGoals · 01/12/2018 23:00

Ring and report it with the police and then ring your insurance company when they open.

MintyT · 02/12/2018 07:03

If you report it and don't go down the insurance route it will still increase your insurance next year as a 'loss' as it has happened and you have not claimed I would go to the garage and get s quote then decide. Remember you would have to pay your excess if you use the insurance. For that little dent I wouldn't bother. But it won't cost a lot anyway

Original poster
wondering1101 · 02/12/2018 08:24

Aargh I am so lost.

The lady has not replied to my text and I don’t think she will.

Would it not be too late to try and do it through the insurance later, if I don’t report it today?

Do you think the garage won’t want to replace the entire panel @MintyT?

Part of me is now tempted to fix my own damage and not get in touch with the lady at all. She is unlikely to get in touch with me as she has no dents, and was averse to using her insurance company.

On the other hand, at least if I have told my insurance company, I will have a comeback if she does try anything on.

Am annoyed with myself for not telling her friend that I understood what she was saying in Urdu I think it was - as my ex speaks a similar language. People make false calculations by speaking in another language and making the assumption that you won’t understand Angry.

OP posts:
Original poster
wondering1101 · 02/12/2018 08:27

Thanks for everyone’s replies by the way Smile.

OP posts:
Finallymorethananumber · 02/12/2018 09:09

Ok you say she is local so go and find the car. Get the reg and take pics of the damage. Then you can go on askmid.com from your phone to get her insurance details/check she is insured. Contact your insurance with these details and your policy number, job done.