Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Car accident involving colleague

201 replies

WrendaleCountryDogs · 28/01/2023 19:12

On Thursday, a colleague was driving into our work place car park and swerved to avoid a car coming out, and went straight into my car. Cctv shows she was going too fast and the other driver had right of way as it's a narrow entrance/exit and road signs show priority is to the one exiting the car park.
Anyway my car is damaged. I was parked in a bay and not in the car. I took car to garage yesterday and they said its going be around £800 to sort the damage. I've got my MOT in February and the car won't Pass based on the damage.
Spoke to colleague,.who I've known for years and we get on really well. I said we can go through her insurance or she can pay for it. She was very evasive and has now said she's not actually insured. She is also adamant she can't pay £800. This is probably true as she's got twin 2 year old and a 15 month old.

What the he'll do I do? I cannot afford this. Car is a 2010 and done over 150k miles. If the mot failed and it was to cost me £800 I'd scrap it and get another car. But it's not me that has caused this damage.

What do I do???

OP posts:
Sugarplumfairy65 · 28/01/2023 19:13

Contact your insurance company

MrsBunnyEars · 28/01/2023 19:15

Go through your insurance.

mrsbrownhat · 28/01/2023 19:15

Contact your insurance company and give them her details. No insurance, no excuse. Had you been in the car and injured what would have happened? Sorry, no sympathy with her.

Tamarindtree · 28/01/2023 19:15

Get a copy of the CCTV.

drpet49 · 28/01/2023 19:15

I’d report her to the police too for driving with no insurance.

Clymene · 28/01/2023 19:15

Oh well she'll get fined and lose her licence as well as having to pay for your repairs.

WestBridgewater · 28/01/2023 19:15

Report it to the police as they have no insurance.

GoodChat · 28/01/2023 19:16

Go through your insurers and let them deal with it.

Clymene · 28/01/2023 19:17

She can sell her car to pay for your repairs too seeing as she won't be able to drive anymore.

How incredibly stupid and irresponsible to drive without insurance with kids in the car too.

kweeble · 28/01/2023 19:17

You must go through insurance and she will face the consequences if she’s not insured; I would keep your workplace informed and ask for cctv footage.

WestBridgewater · 28/01/2023 19:17

Clymene · 28/01/2023 19:15

Oh well she'll get fined and lose her licence as well as having to pay for your repairs.

They’ll probably get 6 points and a fine

Morechocmorechoc · 28/01/2023 19:17

There's a time limit to contact your insurance. Do it asap

MyFlagMeansIceCream · 28/01/2023 19:18

yes you will have to go through your own insurance to get it fixed. I had to do this when my parked car on the road was damaged and I had no details for the other party. It's annoying as fuck as you will lose a couple of years no claims. She will be in proper trouble for no insurance though...

WeepingSomnambulist · 28/01/2023 19:18

Just be honest with her. Tell her, "I cant afford to pay for this so I will be going through my insurance. That's why I pay for insurance. I'll be giving them your details and theyll take it from there. They may contact the police if you really sont have insurance but I'm afraid that is my only option.
Either you pay for it or I call my insurance and you'll need to deal with the fallout of driving uninsured."

Just be matter of fact, say it and leave her to decide by the end of the day.

jputthekettleon · 28/01/2023 19:19

Completely her fault. Contact your insurance give her details. They may take her to small claims. Happened to my family member - the person that hit her seems to not be insured, not responding to insurance company so they are suing her so to speak. Not your problem hold your head up high! Whilst it’s going to be awkward she is the one who acted illegally then erratically with the driving.

Clymene · 28/01/2023 19:19

That's a shame. I thought it was disqualification @WestBridgewater.

AuntieMaggie · 28/01/2023 19:20

If it won't pass the MOT with that damage is it safe to drive now?

Unfortunately you need to go through insurance if she can't pay for it.

MissWings · 28/01/2023 19:20

Take her to the cleaners, sounds like she has no decency.

Stressybetty · 28/01/2023 19:20

She's driving without insurance and can't pay? What solutions has she come up with or does she expect you to just swallow the cost. Was there any damage to her car? Also wondering if when applying to park onsite you have to agree to have an insured car etc? We have a work carpark (civil service) and I'm sure I had to sign something and show our manager our driving licence and insurance cover note.

WestBridgewater · 28/01/2023 19:21

WeepingSomnambulist · 28/01/2023 19:18

Just be honest with her. Tell her, "I cant afford to pay for this so I will be going through my insurance. That's why I pay for insurance. I'll be giving them your details and theyll take it from there. They may contact the police if you really sont have insurance but I'm afraid that is my only option.
Either you pay for it or I call my insurance and you'll need to deal with the fallout of driving uninsured."

Just be matter of fact, say it and leave her to decide by the end of the day.

The insurance company won’t contact the police, the OP needs to report it.

TheMadGardener · 28/01/2023 19:22

WeepingSomnambulist · 28/01/2023 19:18

Just be honest with her. Tell her, "I cant afford to pay for this so I will be going through my insurance. That's why I pay for insurance. I'll be giving them your details and theyll take it from there. They may contact the police if you really sont have insurance but I'm afraid that is my only option.
Either you pay for it or I call my insurance and you'll need to deal with the fallout of driving uninsured."

Just be matter of fact, say it and leave her to decide by the end of the day.

Exactly this. You may be sorry for her as she is a friend who seems to have money troubles, but why should you be left out of pocket? Also she has done an incredibly stupid thing by driving without insurance. The consequences won't be good for her but that is her fault, not your fault. Tell your insurance the truth and let them deal with it, not you.

CouldOfIsntRight · 28/01/2023 19:25

Get a copy of the cctv as proof, report her to police as uninsured and speak to your insurance.
If you were hit on work property I’d be involving them too.

RicciardoPerez · 28/01/2023 19:29

Just a word of warning, when you go through your insurance and she is dealt with, she will try and play the victim and make YOU feel bad. Will probably cause an atmosphere at work too.

EspeciallyDetermined · 28/01/2023 19:30

Just say your insurers are dealing with it, you have given them all the information and all further communications will be through them. No need to go into lots of detail.

WrendaleCountryDogs · 28/01/2023 19:31

Her kids weren't in the car. I don't want her to lose her license as she'll lose her job too as we work rural and there is no transport. But I can't not go through my insurance

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread