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Original poster

Just been hit by a car in Co-op

108 replies

KeyboardCat · 16/08/2022 19:40

I've just been hit by a car reversing into me in a co-op car park while I wasn't moving, waiting to go into a space that someone was leaving. It's only a small car park (one line of cars) so as I was waiting to reverse into this space a bloke reversed out of his and hit me.

He admitted fault, messaged me his details and said that we shouldn't go through insurance and he'll take care of any costs. He gave me his name and sent me his email address and it looks like he's a partner in a fairly high key professional company. Because of this (and the fact he has a 22 plate car) I'm thinking he's not short of a bob or two and would rather avoid the headache of going through insurance.

The damage isn't huge, a fairly sizeable dent to my back bumper, his car was fine. My DP is knowledgeable about cars and says it shouldn't take much to fix it just cosmetic.

I have never been in any kind of accident before, is it sensible to just send him the quotes and have him pay for it? I have high anxiety and could do without going through all of it too!!

Thank you for any advice.

OP posts:
No2incoming · 16/08/2022 19:44

Yeah that sounds reasonable! If he's happy for you to get quotes and just pay for it, sounds like it will be much easier especially if your DP can offer advice.

Roselilly36 · 16/08/2022 19:50

Personally, I would go through insurance, what if he changes his mind and refuses to pay for the damage?

Headbandheart · 16/08/2022 20:09

You must notify your insurance anyway- it is requirement to validate your policy that you declareyou’ve been in an accident

get an incident number recorded

expalin to them the situation and let them advise you. They’re usually really helpful on this sort of thing.

wlapdj · 16/08/2022 20:12

I'd do this, even an accident that isn't your fault can impact your future insurance premiums.

SweetPetrichor · 16/08/2022 20:12

You still need to inform your insurance since you have been involved in an accident, and it may be easiest to just let them deal with it.

TeacupDrama · 16/08/2022 20:13

I would'nt involve insurance if he is willing to pay up,as your insurance will go up next year even though not your fault apparently the algorithm says that being an innocent party in an accident still makes you an increased risk. Dents to bumpers can often be fixed by a body shop quickly.

Takeitonthechin · 16/08/2022 20:17

Always go through the insurance, this could turn out bad if not

Bellesboy1218 · 16/08/2022 20:21

Deal with it privately, will be much quicker and won't impact your premium. As others have said, non fault accidents can affect future policies

justasmalltownmum · 16/08/2022 20:27

Get a quote from a legitimate place tomorrow. Send it to him tomorrow with bank details. Tell him you can give him a day to pay before you contact insurance.

PoxyAndIKnowIt · 16/08/2022 20:27

It’s tricky because there’s a risk here if he doesn’t do what he says… that said, I’d avoid insurance if possible. Even if not your fault it’s a claim and your premiums go up.

I crashed into someone once. Left all my info (including insurance details) and said I’d pay for everything to avoid insurance, but then got a snooty letter from the woman’s insurance. After a while my insurance called me and said that her own insurance had covered it! Bonkers. That will have affected her premiums for years.

vipersnest1 · 16/08/2022 20:28

DO NOT allow him to do this privately. Before you know it, the cost will be hiked up for his damage whilst yours is downplayed.
This is a no-fault incident and as long as your insurance has a decent NC discount and / or legal protection you'll be fine.
(Just be aware though, that a year or so down the line your insurers might ask you to sign small claims documents as the other party hasn't paid up yet. It seems to be a game that many insurance companies are playing now. My car was hit while it was parked in a car park. I saw the whole thing. The other party's insurance eventually paid up after the threat of small claims court and that was the end of it.)
Good luck.

PoxyAndIKnowIt · 16/08/2022 20:35

Protected NC discount is a bit of a con. Sure, you’ll still get the agreed % discount from your premium, but they’ll hike your premium up to make up for it.

Snozzlemaid · 16/08/2022 20:36

It's so much easier going thought insurance.
You won't have to hunt around getting quotes and arranging a way to take car to garage for repair.
Insurance company/garage will arrange to collect your car and mine has always provided a hire car.
Is he willing to pay for a hire car so you can still get around whilst it's being repaired?
I've found it absolutely no inconvenience to me whatsoever when going through insurance.

Original poster
KeyboardCat · 16/08/2022 20:37

Thank you everyone, I'll sleep on it tonight as I'm still a bit shaky and feeling quite sick! Some great advice here, hugely appreciated :)

OP posts:
vipersnest1 · 16/08/2022 20:38

@PoxyAndIKnowIt, mine wasn't, on both occasions when I had a no-fault accident.

when2become3 · 16/08/2022 20:39

I would if he seems legit. I got hit and went through insurance, the garage had my car for 8 weeks 😂 it wasn't huge damage but they didn't have the staff to do the job. They started it about 4 days before I picked it up. This was with admiral and I couldn't take it to a different garage as it has to be who your insurance use.

I would get a quote from somewhere you trust because they will 100% do it quicker

CircleMessage · 16/08/2022 20:46

when2become3 · 16/08/2022 20:39

I would if he seems legit. I got hit and went through insurance, the garage had my car for 8 weeks 😂 it wasn't huge damage but they didn't have the staff to do the job. They started it about 4 days before I picked it up. This was with admiral and I couldn't take it to a different garage as it has to be who your insurance use.

I would get a quote from somewhere you trust because they will 100% do it quicker

Not true regarding having to take your car to where the insurance pick.

Admiral wanted my car to go to some random body shop in town after a deer hit but I said I wanted my car to go to the manufactures body shop and they agreed and the claim all went through fine.

Grumpybutfunny · 16/08/2022 20:50

Id let him pay, it sounds like a chips away kind of bump that if you were at fault you wouldn't bother repairing.

I've never known anyone ring the insurance and go hey I've reversed into a plant pot just to let you know.

Toddlerteaplease · 16/08/2022 20:51

I've done this twice. Both my fault. Always suggested by the other party and I was happy with that.

Toddlerteaplease · 16/08/2022 20:52

My excess was far more than the cost of the repairs. I just declared it on my next renewal.

4longweeks · 16/08/2022 20:55

I had the same thing happen a few years ago. Guy wanted to sort it privately and it looked like just some minor damage to the bumper. (very small KA) I took it to the garage for a second opinion and the what looked like minor damage was in fact the whole chassis twisted and the car was written off.

sunstoked · 16/08/2022 20:56

I’ve had similar - took it to a garage, got a quote and then they billed the person who had caused the damage directly. Much quicker and easier than going through insurance.

Tee20x · 16/08/2022 20:58

Just let him pay. It's not worth the hassle of going through insurance. I had a small scrape in a car park, misjudged my point of turn. Was leaving my details when the owner came back, we assessed the situation, minor cosmetic damage to both cars, literally could just wipe the graze off with a wet cloth. I offered to pay if they wanted to fix the car properly, but no further action on their part and all went along our merry ways.

when2become3 · 16/08/2022 21:01

@CircleMessage no way! I wish I had pushed it more then because our experience with the garage wasn't great. They said they would only have it 10 days which turned into 8 weeks!

If it ever happens again I will ask for this. Thanks!

piecesofham · 16/08/2022 21:05

Nooooo. My friend's mum had a similar small damage prang, agreed to sort it privately and got a quote/ was given a small amount, £250 or so for scratches and a dent. Later she went to renew or was contacted by them and there had been an admin error, the lady had claimed on her insurance for WAY more damage than there had been on the scene. It was a long time ago so the details are hazy but I think they'd sent her a letter telling her of the accident claim with her at fault that she hadn't received and it was a nightmare, her insurers were refusing to help saying she hadn't informed them or replied to their letter so they weren't going to cover it at all. I know it went on for months!

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