Just had a prang - no idea what to do, help!

[CarAccidentHelp]

So just driving slowly into big car park, 5mph or slower as usual, car ahead (30meters at least) is stationary on left side (is all one way obv) and stays with no signals completely stationary for whole approach and i've slowed right down. I assume he is on the phone, he's not indicating or moving - so I indicate and start going past him to the right (loads of room) almost as soon as I am level with him he swings his car right and right into me. He isn't indicating. Jumps out and shouts "I can't believe you just did that to me!", I said "I think you'll find you just drove into me!" we circle cars taking pictures. I am clearly nosed ahead of him and he is into my side front door, which I think shows I was almost past him when he pulled into me - he should have seen me/used mirrors/indicated. He was very aggressive and angry. I did ask ppl behind but they didn't see it.

Anyway we swapped phone numbers and names and I'm home. Been driving 4 years and never had an accident so not sure what I do next. Am insured etc. Help!

Sorry if rambling, am shaky.

So do I text him with the claim reference number and my insurer name?

Do I tell him I'm not claiming as damage is minimal or will he use that in some way?

It's his fault. Stationary to movement without indicating.

However. I overtook a stationary bin lorry just before lights: the bastard lorry drove off as I was overtaking, lights changed, I was left stranded on the wrong side. Bloke came towards me and took my wing mirror off.

So I bought a dash cam.

No, don’t contact him. Let your insurance company deal with it.

I think you'll be alright. The insurance companies are not silly. He could well be a scammer, given your description and they're wise to that too. Several people we know have had this.

I've texted him to say i've contacted my insurers (given name of company) but won't be claiming as damage is minimal. I didn't want him to think I didn't have insurance or had just ignored it. As I said he has my address (I didn't know what I needed other than his name, reg and number) and I started to worry if he is angry he could just turn up. I am probably overthinking it all.

Noef that sounds nasty! Maybe a dash cam is a good idea. I was amazed he acted as if I had driven into him when he clearly hit me!

Have you told your insurance company you don't want to make a claim? Have they advised you what happens if he claims against you? I think you need to speak to them again and tell them your concerns

Why aren’t you claiming? His insurer will pay for the damage and you pay the excess - which you can then claim back

Even a Sammy bump can add up to 100’s

I had a wing dent - £1600 via insurers
DD’s friend scraped his on a post £900 damage

Claim!!

Your premium won’t go up for a none fault claim

Had an accident in car park and was told as it is effectively private land not a highway effectively it was 50 /50 as far as insurance companies are concerned . that night have changed now . Actually it was my naïve fault it was a one way system - always had been and I assumed other drivers would stick to it . So I looked right as I pulled out and a driver avoiding a queue came from the wrong way . I foolishly said I was sorry . But I still did not get all the blame. Don't worry they are experienced at looking at damage so they will know what happened. Unfortunatele as I found out more recently even if you are 100% not at fault your insurance will probably still increase .

Your premium won’t go up for a none fault claim
This isn't necessarily true unfortunately

If he is a scammer would they tell me?

So should I call and change to say I am claiming? Won't that look bad now? What am I claiming for, a check up cost or something?

Just tried to call and has to be Monday to Friday 9-5pm, typical!

He's just sent a text
"I have notified my insurance company passing on your details (ref number). they have advised me to get quotes for repairs.

Fuck. I should have done quotes for repairs shouldn't I. Do I now look like I am guilty or something? Fuck.

You need to get your car looked at, get quotes for any necessary repairs (your insurer may have approved repairers but there's no harm getting your own quotes) and advise your insurer.

Don't panic, you've notified your insurer. You've absolutely done it all right so far

Any correspondance should be left to the insurance company. That is what you pay for. Ignore his communication. The insurance co. will assess your car. Why on earth would you not claim?

How much damage was done to both cars?

I've never had to get quotes for repairs myself (I've had a few too many bumps). My insurer (or theirs) always arranged my car to be collected and they then sent repair quotes to my insurers who verified then repairs were carried out.
Definitely claim, someone scraped my front bumper it cost £1200!!! to repair, I also hit someone in an obvious crash for cash scam and my car didn't look too bad but cost over £4k! Your premium will go up regardless if you're found and fault or not and regardless of whether you claim.

OK, so I need to book an apt with a garage over the weekend? Then I call insurers first thing on Monday and just say I've decided to get quotes and will claim? I'm not massively car proud so it doesn't bother me having a scratch but it does sound like he is going to try to claim, doesn't it? I guess if he has done this loads before then they will know from his previous claims and I will be told if they decide he is a scammer?

All such a massive waste of time, isn't it! If he is a scammer I hope this gets him caught. If not I hope he uses his mirrors and indicates when moving off in future.

No you just inform your insurers and they take it from there. They'll usually have specific garages they use for repairs. You don't need to get the quote yourself.

Either way you're not claiming on your insurance. If he is found at fault then his insurance will pay. If they deem it 50/50 then you can opt not to get the work done at all.
There is a chance your insurance could go up regardless of who is found at fault.

Don't do anything until you've spoken to your insurers please - this is what you pay for. Speak to them again. They will let you know where to take your car, etc. Just have a relaxing weekend and don't engage in any correspondence with him. I've had two people drive into me in different car parks - one reversed into me as I was preparing to reverse park, the other drove into my parked car as they misjudged the space. The first one, my insurers sorted out the repair and the other driver's insurers admitted liability after a few weeks so I got my excess back. The second time it was clearly the other drivers fault and I just contacted their insurers. If you say you don't want to claim it makes it sound as though you were at fault.

If you don't own the car outright you need to be careful that repairs meet the standard expected by the ultimate owner of the car.

Phone the insurers when you can. Explain it all. Send pics and then leave them to it. You don’t even need to be in contact with him as the insurers talk to his insurers.
They’ll also tell you what to do re quotes and things.