Car Accident - Really worried

[CHOCOLATEPEANUT]

3 weeks ago I had a car accident. I was in a narrow outside lane with a bus lane in the inside. I had just come off the roundabout and was slowly approaching the lights when a bus went past on the inside at speed and knocked off my wing mirror. The kids were in the car and it really shocked them. I ran after the bus that had stopped at the lights with the remains of my mirror and the drive came out and said "You must be over" we went to my car and saw that it was on the line. My car is a large wide car and these were narrow lanes. The driver apologised and asked if we were all ok and I went back to the bus and he gave me all his details and i gave him mine. He apologised again and said ring this number and dont worry it will all be ok the company will sort it. I said it was the last thing i needed as we were going on holiday.
I drove behind the bus for some way as it was heading my way and when I passed it I looked and saw no damage to it.

I then phoned the no given and a man at the bus co said he would come out and look at the car and get the repairs sorted while we were on holiday. The next day the day he said he was coming, I rang to see what time as we were preparing to go away. He then told me he had looked at cctv on the bus which shown I was over the line. I disputed this and he said well you need to come and see this and started talking about me getting legal advice. I was stressed and said look I have not got time to look at cctv i will get the repairs done myself as I need the car back on the road when i get back from hol. The man said he was sorry and that was that.

i then did a stupid thing and rang the ins and thinking it was the easiest way to just get the car sorted said I had parked it on the shopping car park and retd to the damage. I paid the excess and the car is nw fixed.I dont know why I lied I think i was just stressed about the hol and thought if i mentioned the bus they might start saying we should fight it and I just wanted the car sorting.

Anyhow today I got a letter from the bus ins co saying that they want to get the bus repaired and i will have to pay whilst its out of service. I did not see any damage on the bus and I have not admitted liability. I have asked to see the cctv and explain how they can prove that any damage was caused in this incident whhich was now 3 weeks ago.

I am really annoyed with myself for not telling the ins the truth as i think they have pulled a fast one and are continuing to do so

my dh is not happy that I told the ins a lie and said were in a mess (he has just been made redundant and we just found out at time of accident hence why i was so stressed.

i am sick with worry how can i fight this without the ins on my side as i cant afford for repairs yet alone for the bus to be out of service which they want to charge me for to

As I said above, I think your best bet is to come clean with your insurers.

You can obviously now give them a full account of the true facts. However if there were no witnesses, and leaving aside the CCTV which may or may not have been recorded/retained (and even if it has been, you may not be able to see the road markings from it) it may well be your word against the bus drivers. Given what's happened thus far, your insurers might be unwilling to pursue the claim for you if they don't feel certain of your honesty.

However its possible the bus co, once they realise they are dealing with your insurers and not you direct, may back down. This would obviously be the best possible outcome.

Please got to CAB for some free advice before speaking to your insurance company. You can find your local one here www.citizensadvice.org.uk/getadvice.htm

They may also be able to refer you for a free appointment with a solicitor in your area, and if you may be eligible for legal aid if you have a low income.

Don't focus on the line, and don't admit liability if you were over the line - the bus driver should still have avoided you. If the bus driver was behind you then it seems it was his fault.

As far as I can see the insurance company has an obligation to cover the bus company's costs if they agree that you are liable, but the could still take action against you for insurance fraud, and possibly recover the money they paid you for repairs in the first instance.

Just try to stay calm and take this slowly. It is incredibly important that you get legal advice before talking to your insurance company.

Sorry should have added - don't say something like this to the bus company 'Well I can see it would have been my fault if I had been over the line, but I am sure that I wasn't' as if they later prove that you were over the line you have effectively conceded that the accident was your fault, which it doesn't seem like it necessarily was.

You should also be aware that you might find it hard to get insurance in the future, as all insurance share access to a database to deter fraudulent claims. I really think you need to get some legal advice quickly.