Car accident with uninsured driver.

[Stickly]

Today we (I was a passenger) pulled out of a car park and a car reversed into my side door. There is a large dent and deep scratch in the door, the door is difficult to open/close, and there Is damage to paintwork above front wheel. The whole door needs replace basically.
Now, at the time things were a bit heated as we had our child in the car and we said we will get insurance details messaged over. Suffice to say this did not happen and after a bit of digging it transpires he is uninsured.
I feel so torn here for the young driver as I'm sure it will mean a ban. We did get an estimate from our garage for approx £5000 and said if this could be provided today then we would leave it at that. We have been guilt tripped by the boys parents and I think they don't believe our quote. I have checked with others and the quote sounds right.
I'm looking for reassurance here. I feel terribly guilty but also angered that my child was endangered. Should we have let this be dealt with privately? Do you think the quote is correct? It's all very difficult as we see these people regularly but I think the parents loyalty to their son is clouding their judgement .

This will teach him a very valuable lesson. Don’t back down - actually I don’t think you can now you’ve rightly reported it to the insurance company.

@ErrolTheDragon His car. He claims he didn't update his insurance from his old one. Who knows if that was insured either!

hope you can get some sleep, accidents can replay in your mind even without all the extra stress you've been subjected to.

If he's old enough to drive then he's old enough to sort out insurance and accept the consequences of not doing so. Your neighbours are doing their son no favours.

As you have already reported it there is not much you could do now anyway , even if you wanted to and that is what I would tell his mother .

If the parents already queried the quote you got, I'd guarantee they were never going to pay in full to fix your car privately. I think you've done the right thing.... you could be thousands out of pocket otherwise!

My friend's child was killed by an uninsured driver. These people need to be taken off the road. The rest of us pay our insurance, pass our test. Take responsibility for our actions.

@porridgecrumble That is just awful. I'm so sorry. You've all made such valid points and now that I've woken with a fresh head I feel much calmer about our decision. If I took them being neighbours out of the equation there would be no qualms about it. I've been saying for weeks he was an accident waiting to happen and actually think I should've raised the speed he has been driving in/out at before now...but too late.
I know the parents must be torn here but I'd be terribly dissapointed if it was my son...and I'm speechless at being told "it could happen to anyone". That was the time to disengage from the conversation for sure!

This is awful that the parents are guilt tripping you

Why wasn't he insured, why were his parents so negligent, what if he had killed someone

You are doing the right thing, this is not your problem

It couldn't "happen to anyone". Most parents would not condone or excuse their child driving without insurance which as many have said is illegal, immoral and downright dangerous.

Knowing this they are being cf and piss poor neighbours then trying to guilt trip you and complaining about the cost of putting things right. They and he are lucky it was a prang and not something more serious.

Why on earth should he get away with it? The rest of us have to pay for insurance.
If you’re old enough to drive a deadly weapon, you’re old enough to take the consequences of idiotic behaviour.
Block the parents and if they continue, report them for harassment.

Ok - so he’s completely careless and irresponsible then. Not being insured and driving like an idiot even though he can’t see. Doesn’t have a leg to stand on and deserves everything that’s coming.

you say you’re neighbours, did this happen at home?

and as for his parents I’d probably be suggesting that the only reason they should have to contact you is to apologise for their son’s reckless and inconsiderate behaviour. And even with an apology you’re not prepared to help him shirk his responsibility.

Am I weird? But what parent lets their 17 year old drive without insurance? Presumably he lives at home and his parents have seen him driving like a boy racer... I'm definitely not 17 but still check my partner has insurance up to date. If he lied to his parents, then even more reason for them to be angry at them not you. All you did was get hit. It's everyone else who seems to have made questionable choices...

Imagine if this was serious and someone was injured or worse. He deserves the book to be thrown and so do his parents. Cease all contact with them now and only deal with your insurer. Tell them you will not be speaking to them regarding the matter anymore.

If he is 17 how would have had a previous policy? He probably just stopped paying.

His parents are now harassing the witness/victim.

Report it to the police via 101. You really shouldn't keep quiet about a young inexperienced driver, using a car uninsured. It's dangerous, and leaves others out of pocket in accidents.

the parents comments about how there was no need for insurance etc

What kind of idiots are those parents? 1) it's the law. 2) he's just proved why there was need for insurance!

Do not feel guilty. The people who are ruining his life are his parents for not guiding him properly.

His parents need to step up, not step in! Bloody idiot child needs a firm hand because he'll cause more damage down the line
Glad you're all ok OP ... awkward about being neighbours but they're in the wrong

I can see not reporting it if it was a minor repair for £200-300 max, but this is far too much not to be playing it by the book.

If they feel that the quote you got of £5000 is too high and they don't want you to go through insurance, what exactly do they think is going to happen?

Ah so they knew their son was driving without insurance, now he's had an accident they're thinking "ah it's only the neighbour I'm sure we'll talk her round" would they be harassing a man if he'd hit him I wonder?
100% go through insurance that's what it's there for, he chose to drive without insurance therefore it's his problem

Have you chased it up? If not do it now as a no insurance prosecution has a six month limitation of proceedings.

You need to respond one more time.

My child was in my car. Your child could have killed him, am I supposed to ignore that? It is being dealt with through proper channels, let's not make this any more distressing than it already is!

I won't be responding to any more messages

Just say to the parents it’s too late now as the claim has been made & report is done

I’d turn a blind eye to a lot of things, if people aren’t harming anyone else or themselves. But driving without insurance isn’t harmless, and it doesn’t “happen to anyone”. It’s against the law and that law is to protect any victims of an accident.

It’s a good message to send but remove the second sentence. No one was even injured let alone nearly killed, you don’t need to catastrophize.
There is a large dent and deep scratch in the door, the door is difficult to open/close, and there Is damage to paintwork above front wheel. The whole door needs replace basically.