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?

Understandable to feel bad but.... it does sounds a bit dodgy. They should have insurance, sounds like they might not. It was lucky you were ok, they should have been paying attention, there are traffic lights all over the world. And just imagine, what if it had been a child crossing the road? Or someone with a visual impairment? Maybe after this experience they might be more careful. If you don't tell your insurance provider you could be the one getting in trouble.

They crashed into YOU, they went through a red light, and YOU feel "terrible that I did this"? Seriously, what is wrong with you?

Even if they thought they had a right of way (which they didn't as they were joining the road - it looks like they are anyway) there's such a thing as brakes so they could have at least tried an emergency stop. You've done the right thing.

It's no accident going through a red light, which is why you don't!

You aren't being unreasonable for going through your insurance.
A similar thing happened to my partner. Young driver hit him. Young drivers fault. The lad initially apologised, wanted to arrange for his mate to sort.
My oh didn't really trust him so contacted the insurance. In the meantime the lad had already contacted his insurance claiming he was the one that was hit and he'd also suffered whiplash.
The damage on our car proved who was at fault be we still had to use our legal cover and after 2 years and the threat of court the lad admitted liability.
His insurance covered our excess and the ncd was reinstated.
Insurance all the way, that's what we pay it for.