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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not pay for a car accident

162 replies

Manchestermanchester · 13/03/2020 19:45

I was reversing and touched a car at low speed (they were stationary). The guy instantly says he wants my insurance details etc. So I’m thinking agh excess and premium increase.

I then look at my car to find no damage. There is no way I could have caused the damage to his car. I drive a tiny car, it has plastic bumpers.

I’m refusing to pay for the repairs. I haven’t been provided with a cost etc. I would rather I went to my insurance company and asked them to prove the damage. People think I should just pay.

OP posts:
newyearsresolution2010 · 13/03/2020 23:25

My OH reversed my car into a parked car (rear passenger door). He was totally at fault and driving slowly.
The damage to her car was a huge dent in two places and it also split the metal. The bumper on my car had a small amount of paint come off it, no dents. He did all the damage to her car, even though mine was barely scratched.
I took photos as there were clearly marks and scratches he hadn’t done, and we went through insurance.
I didn’t know this at the time, but you don’t pay the excess if you don’t claim for your car. You only pay it if you claim for the damage on your car, so I didn’t.
Insurance went up about £60 over the year.

You did the damage, just go through your insurance!

newyearsresolution2010 · 13/03/2020 23:31

Oh and she wanted £800 to settle without going through insurance. The car was worth £500 and the insurance company paid her £500.

Lozz22 · 13/03/2020 23:50

I clipped someone's car. Low impact and only scuffed the front bumper of theirs and transferred the paintwork off mine onto the bumper of the other car yet it was still enough to cause a thousand pounds worth of damage to it. We exchanged insurance details and I admitted out right to my insurance company that although he was parked in a stupid place yes I did hit him. Sent the photos of both cars over as well. The worst part for me was that even though it was only a low speed clip against the car I miscarried my Baby later that night. At the time I never even gave it a second thought to go get checked out because of how minimal it was. I was in a bump a couple of years ago too. The guy in front had to suddenly slam on because the car in front of him had suddenly stopped to let someone cross the road. I slammed on too but It was raining and my car aquaplaned on the road and slammed straight into the back of his car. That time though even though I hit it pretty full on neither car had any damage well apart from a few chips out of my number plate and we both said that because neither of us were hurt and neither car was damaged we'd just shake on it and leave it at that. He did say to me not to worry about the dent in it because someone else had backed into him in a car park. Although He could've easily have claimed Id done it.

themarkofthemaker · 13/03/2020 23:57

my old man hit some little Peugeot in a range rover. He got a bent number plate, the other car was a write-off

LynetteScavo · 14/03/2020 06:42

Let your insurance company deal with it. I'm not sure why so many people are saying "you have to pay". As lng as you've handed over your details there's nothing more you need to do for now.

PlumsGalore · 14/03/2020 06:46

DS touched a taxi in Tesco car park, no damage to either, photos to prove it and two witnesses, my insurance paid the other person 5.5k for whiplash the spineless bastards.

You may not just be paying for his car damage, there are a lot of insurance thieves out there.

MyOtherProfile · 14/03/2020 06:51

It's a criminal offence not to give your insurance details at the scene of a car accident. I would give them and call your insurance to tell them what you've told us, and send the videos.

heartsonacake · 14/03/2020 07:34

YABVU. You need to inform your insurers (it’s a criminal offence not to) and let them sort it.

You have no way of knowing whether or not you caused the damage, but you are at fault and in the wrong for reversing into him.

adaline · 14/03/2020 07:38

You're clearly convinced you're right so why bother posting? Hmm

You have no idea whether his van had pre-existing damage and the fact that your car is damage-free is completely irrelevant.

copycopypaste · 14/03/2020 07:40

You have to inform your insurance company, I'm afraid there's no way out of that one even if there is no damage.

With today's cars some have parts behind bumpers that allow the bumper to move for small impacts which means no damage. Yours might have this and the other car doesn't, meaning that his car ends up with more damage and yours has nothing.

If he might be trying to claim for old damage. You can't prove it either way so need a specialist to look at both cars.

VivaLeBeaver · 14/03/2020 07:43

Don’t be an idiot. Just because your car doesn’t have any damage it doesn’t mean theirs won’t have even considerable damage, even at low speed. Depends on the angle, etc. Fair enough don’t pay cash but your insurance will pay out. You can’t prove it was pre existing damage and they will just pay, you will have to pay excess.

I’ve had this happen before. Someone hit my car, scraped the entire length of her car down the back corner of mine. Then tried to say the damage to my back corner wasn’t caused by her even though she had a scrape the length of her car and the damage on mine was at the same height and had paint the colour of her car on it. She was adamant she’d only have hit my tow bar not the actual car. Her insurance paid out.

SidsWife · 14/03/2020 07:45

I very slowly nudged a car a while ago while reversing. Not a single scratch on my car, huge dent in theirs. Insurance dealt with it, they wanted cash but I wouldn’t pay. Just as well, as I didn’t have to pay excess because I didn’t claim on my car so it didn’t cost me anything.

Original poster
Manchestermanchester · 14/03/2020 09:03

@SidsWife yes that’s what plastic does. Hard plastic can’t be cracked by soft plastic.

OP posts:
Original poster
Manchestermanchester · 14/03/2020 09:03

@VivaLeBeaver I’m not being an idiot. Their damage is preexisting.

OP posts:
Original poster
Manchestermanchester · 14/03/2020 09:04

@adaline yes wrong sub. Anyone can see the damage is preexisting.

OP posts:
Theresnobslikeshowb · 14/03/2020 09:10

It’s physics. Let the insurance company deal with it- that’s why we have insurance.

Original poster
Manchestermanchester · 14/03/2020 09:10

@newyearsresolution2010 Yeah you only pay excess after you get the car back fixed. Are you also putting the accident on your renewal?

OP posts:
Original poster
Manchestermanchester · 14/03/2020 09:11

@Theresnobslikeshowb I think it’s called crash investigators the people who determine who did what damage.

OP posts:
Outtedagain · 14/03/2020 09:12

Since you were in reserve you do not have a leg to stand on. Similar thing happen to me and the shitbag was paid out, albeit not much. Despite my arguing insurance company told me , but you were in reserve.

Original poster
Manchestermanchester · 14/03/2020 09:15

I’m waiting for the guy to contact me, that’s if they wish to settle. His insurance premium will also go up. I’m 100% sure that I didn’t do the damage. So yes let the insurance company decide. Also why should I have my premium increased.

For those who are saying I did the damage. Unlikely that my soft plastic did it.

OP posts:
marchez · 14/03/2020 09:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EyeShipMiceElf · 14/03/2020 09:29

All you need OP isn’t it after your poor Chimley business.
Just go through insurance and let them sort it out (hopefully)
I had someone crash into my parked car at work, witnesses saw it happen, had their registration. Insurance company gave not one fuck.

redwoodmazza · 14/03/2020 09:44

These days only a little damage costs a fortune with respraying etc. Usually it's a whole panel that needs to be done - not just a 'touch up' job.

onanothertrain · 14/03/2020 09:46

If the van owner reports to his insurer and they contact yours you'll be in the shit for failing to report an accident to them.

adaline · 14/03/2020 09:49

Anyone can see the damage is preexisting.

Then you can go through insurance and they'll deal with it, can't they? You caused the accident by reversing into him, so you'll be liable for any damage from the accident.

It's one of those things. It's why we have car insurance.