To claim through insurance?

[loverofbono]

So yesterday I was driving along minding my own business and a young girl pulled out of the end of a road right into the side of my car! She got straight out and apologised over and over saying how sorry she was etc. I was pissed off obviously, especially considering I had two small children in the back. But I told her accidents happen, not to worry and we exchanged numbers and I took a few pics. Later on that day she texted to say that her Dad wants to pay to fix my car and can we please not go through insurance as it will put up her premiums? The damage is over three panels and it will take considerable time and money to fix id imagine. I'm thinking insurance is best in this case?

Yes always go through insurance. There could be additional damage as well. Is the dad going to buy you new car seats for the kids and for a hire car while it’s being fixed too?

Go through insurance it’s what it’s for. And yes you need new car seats, and hire car costs are through the roof.

you're also still supposed to report any incidents you’re involved in to your insurance even if you don’t intend to claim

Insurance.
I got crashed into in May.
It is August before my car can be fixed - and I'm guessing that could slip yet.

I work in insurance, you need to go through insurance, it will put her premiums up but that's life. Also even if you don't go through insurance you should still tell them.

3 panels the cost is going to be steep to be done right. I'd go through insurance.

Definitely go through insurance. Her premium increase really isn't your problem, she should have been paying attention pulling out of a junction. Any problems with any repairs are then up to your insurance company to resolve via the warranties they give. Three panels worth of damage is not minor and you will need a courtesy/hire car and new car seats.

Insurance.

I would also say insurance in this case because of the level of damage. I have had someone hit my car recently and have just let him get it fixed as it wasn’t much damage and there’s a good chance someone else will do it again soon in a car park as seems to be my luck at the moment.
the frustrating thing is this is not your fault and yet your premiums will also rise at the next renewal.

I would go through insurance, DS was in an accident with a young driver, not too much damage so he want to pay . DS had the car repaired never saw a penny of the other driver and was left out of pocket.

Exactly this. You have no idea who the dad will get to fix the car either.

Insurance every time.

Family member has just had a courtesy car for over 6 months as it took that long to get the replacement panels. It also needed a respray.

Is the dad going to pay for a hire car for weeks, potentially months?

Insurance - that's what it is there for.

You could get in trouble with your own insurers if you don't report it, and as other have said, you don't know who the girl's dad will get to do the job.

Thanks everyone, my husband said there could be a chance she's not insured maybe that's why the Dad is so keen for him to pay for it? If that was the case I'd hate to potentially get her into trouble but I do think I'll be calling my insurance company in the morning!

3 damaged panels - depending on what car you have, you're potentially into write off territory. The cost of the repairs being uneconomic relative to the value. It's really expensive, that's one reason insurance has gone up so much.

I think you need to say to the dad, if it was just a single dent/scrape then you would have considered it but the damage is too extensive