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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:
Worriedmum54321 · 14/03/2020 11:27

Someone drove into my small hatchback with their SUV at a traffic lights. My car was undamaged, theirs was written off. So it can happen. It was because my car had a fairly high, hard bumper (old car, before the plastic ones came in) and theirs had a grille at the same height. It was a slow crash - probably under 10 mph.

On the other hand, I've had someone try to charge me £700 for damage which I was pretty sure I hadn't caused. I let them go through insurance and they decided I was not liable. So my advice would be stop worrying and got through your insurers.

Motorbike311 · 14/03/2020 11:30

@Manchestermanchester nope didnt go up. get your photos to your insurance company asap. do not settle anything yet

Original poster
Manchestermanchester · 14/03/2020 11:33

@Worriedmum54321 i reversed into him and he has a witness. I defo didn’t cause that damage but I will now have to declare it for the next 5 years or whatever.

I’ve sent the guy a message yesterday and he’s yet to respond.

OP posts:
DobbinAlong · 14/03/2020 11:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DobbinAlong · 14/03/2020 11:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Silvercatowner · 14/03/2020 11:43

@Manchestermanchester I am so much fun! I don't reverse into cars and then grumble about it though...

Original poster
Manchestermanchester · 14/03/2020 11:49

^you think it’s ok for people to pAy for damage they didn’t do?

OP posts:
adaline · 14/03/2020 11:50

@Manchestermanchester I have read them. If you're so convinced your right, then you can go through insurance and they'll take your side, won't they?

You have no proof you didn't damage his van.

Silvercatowner · 14/03/2020 12:07

you think it’s ok for people to pAy for damage they didn’t do

Leave it to your insurance.
Don't reverse into stuff.

VivaLeBeaver · 14/03/2020 14:16

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

You’re telling yourself that in an attempt to justify acting in the manner which you’re acting. Which you know is wrong and immoral. You have no way of knowing if the damage was preexisting. You’re trying to convince yourself of it to justify your shaky behaviour.

feelinguseless101 · 14/03/2020 14:20

A car drove in to me at low speed. Not a scratch on his car, mine was written off!

Knittedfairies · 14/03/2020 14:33

Time to call in forensic experts OP to ascertain whether the damage was there or not before you 'touched' the car. Or you could let your insurers sort it out.

FinallyHere · 14/03/2020 14:38

. I don’t need the stress.

This is pretty much what your insurance is for. Why would you not use them? They will be much more capable than you of assessing what damage your car did.

Your next premium may go up, but if the discover that you have 'settled' that will impact your record anyway.

It's pretty serious to not tell them, if you are subsequently accused of doing the damage.

wombat1a · 14/03/2020 14:45

Tell your insurance company, tell them you dispute the amount of damage, you suspect it was pre-existing. Let them deal with it, they are the crash damage experts not you.

wombat1a · 14/03/2020 14:47

Besides which if he goes via his insurance company and gives them your reg plate then they will contact your insurance company who will ask you if you bumped someones van on such and such a date. This won't help your case much if it goes that way as it will look even more like a hit and run.

Thesearmsofmine · 14/03/2020 14:57

Go through insurance. When we were involved with a dispute they sent someone out to look at the car to assess the damage.

Original poster
Manchestermanchester · 14/03/2020 14:58

I’ve let the insurance company know.

OP posts:
Original poster
Manchestermanchester · 14/03/2020 14:58

@Thesearmsofmine we’re you blamed?

OP posts:
Original poster
Manchestermanchester · 14/03/2020 17:08

@FinallyHere because I will need to put it on my next premium

OP posts:
Binglebong · 14/03/2020 17:33

If it's any comfort my insurance came out lower this year after I bumped someone and reported it last year. I think it was because they could see I did report it so was unlikely to be doing hit and runs!

Because I didn't claim I don't know how much the claim was for (I know he did and that some of it was physically impossible for me to have cause given I didn't hit him there!) so I just put unknown on claim amount.

londonrach · 14/03/2020 17:43

Just go through insurance

Original poster
Manchestermanchester · 14/03/2020 17:44

Thanks. It’s costing an extra £300. Unfortunately my car was also hit as well (I was asleep). Thankfully I found the offending car. So swings and round about a .

OP posts:
vegansprinkle · 14/03/2020 17:45

Honestly, you are not coming off well here OP.

You can't prove anything. Accept it rather than fight it. It is why we all have insurance.

Yabadee · 14/03/2020 17:54

Seems to be some careless Range Rover drivers in here from people’s stories!

I have another one. Sitting stationary on the motorway, and an asshole in a giant brand new Range Rover smashes into the back of me. Apologised straight away and admitted he was looking at his phone. Car was still driveable but been in the garage since Monday for repair. Estimate was 2.5k and cars only worth 3.5k 😔 were hoping it comes in lower as it was a family members car who has now passed away.

See if they contact you OP, if they do I’d go insurance and get them to fight it

Tistheseason17 · 14/03/2020 18:38

I'm kinda hoping your insurance company does pay him out. You reversed into him and he has a witness and you appear to have the ability to time travel and know what his van looked like before you hit it!

Quite amusing, really!