To feel terrible I did this?

[Harlowwolrah]

Today a car hit me as they went through a red light and I went through on green.

It was a genuine accident and the wife of the man who hit me was very upset and they were both concerned if I was hurt - I wasn’t. They didn’t speak great English and said they’d only been in the UK a short time.

Their friends showed up and this friend actually tried to say it was both our fault. They later rang me and asked to pay me and avoid insurance. I said no and that I had to go through insurance as who knows what the damage could cost and I wouldn’t have a courtesy car etc

I just feel terrible. They seemed like a nice couple and now I feel I’ve made life hard for them when they’ve just moved countries because their insurance will go up etc

Am I stupid to feel this way?

You are most definitely not stupid, and going through the insurance company is the right thing to do. You didn't go through the red light, they did, you have nothing to feel guilty for. It's their issue to sort, and trying the subvert the usual channels, via insurance, is super dodgy imo. They drove on a public road, caused an accident, so they need to deal with the consequences of that in the proper way. That's the deal when you drive on public roads in the UK and the reason why insurance is compulsory!

Don’t make my mistake and just do things properly through the insurance and medical help, if needed. In my case, a guy drove into my back at a junction. I didn’t want to make a fuss that I was injured because he was “so lovely”, after all, I’d be fine soon enough. Reality, I had a permanent injury that I’m still suffering with badly 10 years on. I never had it investigated until it was too late to prove that it happened that day. I should have sought medical treatment afterwards and claimed compensation but I didn’t want to because I thought of how nice he was at the scene of accident, as if he’d be paying out of his own pocket. I was such an idiot. We did go through the Insurance company for the car which was a good thing as I didn’t realise until the next day that there was a crease in my boot, which wasn’t visible until I tried to open the boot. Look after yourself and don’t be dull like me.

They will suffer an increase in insurance premium.

Their insurance will pay your costs.
They will, hopefully, learn to drive more carefully.

You have nothing to feel bad about.

You were right to go through insurance and shouldn’t feel any guilt about it especially as they ran a red light. They hit you, why should you have to go to a garage get quotes go back to the other party hope they are going to accept them and so on?

He definitely went through a red light. But why did he drive into you?? He can't have been driving that fast. He should have been able to stop.

Honestly premiums don’t actually go up that much as we have recently discovered. I wouldn’t worry too much.

I have gone through insurance. I just feel bad as I don’t want to make someone suffer finically

Stop feeling bad about it. Don't give another thought.
These things happen. That is why people have insurance. If they end up having to pay more for their insurance because of this, so be it. It is not your problem.
Their circumstances are irrelevant - they've only just arrived in the UK - so what? They could be really rich. You have no idea.

An elderly man, I think he was 85 if I remember correctly, drove into the back of my car at a red light a few years ago. He said he was confused and had been looking at the road sign and then he started having a go at me saying why had I stopped.. .well cos it was a red light.... He started off all pleasant and lovely etc.
Anyway, I live in another country, was driving just across the border in the neighbouring country. The man was also from the country I live in but due to some complicated reason he had his driving licence issued from the his country but had his car registered in the country we were driving in. Basically what he was doing was illegal.
All of this came out when I phoned the police because he wouldn't give me any insurance details and started shouting at me for being a foreigner.

Then his wife started phoning me up harrassing me not to go through insurance because the poor man would lose his licence and so on and so forth. Said sorry, but I have to and please don't phone any more. She started such a torrent of abuse at me about me being heartless and I'd ruined his life.
I said none of this is my problem, I've already gone through the insurance and put the phone down.

So no, I don't feel bad about it. If he lost his licence because of the incident I don't feel bad about it either. He ran into me at a red life because he wasn't looking where he was going - he was trying to read a road sign. It could have been a child he ran over if they'd been crossing at the time and he'd run the red light.

Same for these ones, they need to pay more attention to red lights.

You haven't done this to them. They did it by themselves when they drove through a red light. If they are not confident with British road systems, they shouldn't be behind the wheel anyway. Harry Dunn was killed because someone from America couldn't figure out which side of the road to drive on.

This.

Bloody lucky that their friend happened to be there. Also, perhaps I’m wrong, the whole ‘I don’t speak English, just arrived in the country’ sounds like a scam.

just curious why people are saying its a scam - how would they benefit financially if theyre the ones wanting to pay OP? (Not saying OP is wrong for the way theyve handled it, just curious how it could be a "scam"?)

So they just arrived in the country but somehow their friend just happened to magically show up right there, right after the accident? Ok.

Sorry OP but you’re sounding nuts. Why do you feel bad? You didn’t make them hit you? It’s their own fault. Do you always feel guilty about things that aren’t your fault?! Sorry but you sound like a bit of a doormat and if you were my friend I’d want to give you a good shake and tell you to stop being so ridiculous. Have a word with yourself and just get on with sorting out insurance.

you will get the £600 excess back when proved non fault. If you have motor legal protection it makes the process so much easier)
The couple probably were very nice OP but you would be breaking conditions of your insurance by not informing them of the accident. It can come back to bite you

You did the right thing OP, that’s what insurance is for and you’re not being horrible to them but it’s sweet of you to be concerned.

They went through a red light?! No accident, just plain carelessness and disregard. Absolutely go through the insurance

It is my biggest bug bear that people lie about who's fault an accident is.

I suspect as they have a UK liar advising them, this will go knock for knock unless you have evidence.

You are unreasonable for feeling bad but not unreasonable for standing your ground.

Good luck.

Do not feel bad. There’s a right way of doing these things and a wrong way. They want to do it the wrong way by offering you money. Let’s hope for your sake they are properly insured. The friend said you were at fault but how could you possibly be if they went through a red light.

They weren’t suddenly on the scene? We probably waited half an hour. In that time I called the police, swapped details and rang work etc.

You can claim your excess back and include and get receipts for taxis etc

Make sure you save you dash cam footage to the computer

Not sure how many times I can say I’ve made a claim.

I’m not a doormat. It’s just difficult for me to see people genuinely upset and crying and I think that might suffer financially.

I wouldn't feel guilty at all. They don't seem safe to be driving, caused an accident then tried to shirk their responsibilities.

You haven't done this to them. They did it by themselves when they drove through a red light. If they are not confident with British road systems, they shouldn't be behind the wheel anyway. Harry Dunn was killed because someone from America couldn't figure out which side of the road to drive on.
This ^ 100% You shouldn’t have any concerns, you were right to go through insurance.
By the way I agree with PPs that all these stuff “I don’t speak English. I just came to the country” is just an emotional blackmail.

Why on earth should you feel bad about it? It wasn’t your fault.
And my not-so-inner nasty cynic thinks they could have been trying it on by saying they were new to the U.K. - trying to guilt you into going halves. I’d be wondering whether they actually have insurance, not to mention a valid driving licence too - in which case it’s no wonder they want to stay under the official radar.

an old man went into the back of me, i stopped at a junction he just went into me, he smelled of booze, he gave me his address, and offered to pay cash so not to go through the insurance,
so many people are worried about claiming it seems, i got a quote and he sent me a cheque.