soulhalshall
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Post by soulhalshall on May 26, 2021 20:40:35 GMT
Hello. I wonder whether you could help me. I was reversing out of a parking space in a tight and busy car park this evening. I thought I had looked around thoroughly and had tacitly agreed with the driver to my right that it was my turn to go. I reversed at a normal speed and bumped into a gentleman who was reversing from the other side.
I thought oh that's a bloody annoying thing, what a pain. We got out of our cars and he immediately said it was my fault for a spurious reason relating to the angle of bump and as he had begun reversing first. I couldn't agree, I said. I was further into the central area but in general I felt it was bad luck and we should tend to our own repairs.
He was a taxi driver. He insisted it was my fault, took my number and photographed my insurance disc. I'm so bad at this sort of thing. We decided not to call police or anything, I don't know whether this was the right or wrong thing to do but the damage was only paint scratches. Keen to leave I said we should leave and he should call me with a report of his damage and we would go from there. But then I am sure I wasn't more at fault than him.
I have never met him before but our sons train at the same cricket club so I could meet him again. Can he claim money from my insurance company? What should my next move be?
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Mark of Carnage
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Post by Mark of Carnage on May 26, 2021 21:08:56 GMT
He's a taxi driver so all the more reason to do it by the book. Taxi drivers are notorious for these sort of prangs. He may well take the vehicle off the road for a couple of weeks and claim loss of earnings from you. Nice way to supplement his earnings and could become a sustantial sum. I'd go through your insurance company. I don't think you need to report to the police as you exchanged details but talk it over with the insurance company as I'm not 100% sure at that sort of thing and is important to get right.
I had a similar small bump many years ago with a taxi driver who slammed on his brakes. He wanted to keep it away from insurance but I went through insurance company and within 24 hours they had established he had a history of doing this and all parties agreed no further action. They didn't even record it as a non-fault claim. Think I was lucky.
The fact this fellow was throwing accusations of fault at you is not a good sign. I feel for you. These things happen and in an ideal world you would both just shrug your shoulders and forget it but alas this sort of thing brings out the worst in some people and is stressful. Hope it works out well and doesn't drag on.
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Andrewlang
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Post by Andrewlang on May 26, 2021 21:16:05 GMT
I'd agree with the above. Sounds like proof can't easily be determined so despite his bluster you're hopefully not liable.
Good luck with it.
Andrew
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Denton
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Post by Denton on May 26, 2021 21:25:59 GMT
I had a small bump into a car when I was 18, a lady slammed her breaks on, my fault either way.
Exchanged numbers but it was at about 1mph when I hit her, so no visible damage of any sort. Naively I didn't take any photos as she said it'll be fine
Next thing I know she's after £800 to repair the car and cover her loss of earnings. Went through insurance they didn't give her a penny, she tried claiming whiplash & much more damage than initially claimed
So go through insurance, they won't take any rubbish
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andyrt
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Post by andyrt on May 26, 2021 22:04:20 GMT
If no one witnessed the incident, it’s a he said, she said situation and I imagine any insurance claim will be classified as a 50/50 liability.
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soulhalshall
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Post by soulhalshall on May 27, 2021 9:49:07 GMT
Thanks folks, I always appreciate the insight of you on here. I had initially toyed with the idea of giving the guy a good will gesture of 50 euro but I came away from that quickly. Called the insurance company this morning and will see what the man does next, which I suspect will be trying to get me to cough up for his repairs which I would be foolish to do. My car is a desperate old thing which so the scratch is barely visible.
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soulhalshall
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Post by soulhalshall on May 27, 2021 11:49:54 GMT
In the interest of openness, I will update. The gentleman wrote to me today saying his repairs would cost 300 euros and has a witness to the incident (his pal who could not have seen but was nevertheless present in the car park).
I told him I didn't accept liability, he was welcome to go through insurance company but I would have to counter claim. I said maybe best if we called it bad luck and looked after our own repairs. I was just imagining I pay him some money and the next day he has whiplash or lost earnings or whatever. Added that I understand he has to do what's best for him (dishonest or not - I didn't say that). This sort of stuff quickly becomes very stressful doesn't it. I put a cricket 🏏 emoji at the end to see if that would help.
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lesj
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Post by lesj on May 27, 2021 12:15:56 GMT
It sounds to me that he is trying to pull a fast one.
Based on what you have said I would doubt the repairs would cost 300 Euros
He probably doesn't want to go through insurance for some reason( probably already made claims in the past )
I think you have done the right thing. Stick to your guns.
I don't quite know what the situation is these days but I would imagine that an insurance company would want 2 quotes for the cost of repairs
Some insurance company's have a contract with a certain garage to do all of their repairs
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soulhalshall
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Post by soulhalshall on May 27, 2021 12:46:02 GMT
He has now rowed back and said he doesn't want to make it a 'Big Deal', why don't we pay for each other's repairs. So seems he's not keen to claim and is no longer sure it was my fault. No chance would I pay for his repairs. Not any chance I'll bother repairing my car though either, lots of time spent driving on filthy country roads means mud will obscure my scratches. Not ideal for him as a taxi driver but what can we do. Makes me look back fondly on driving in Athens when every car wore scratches and dents which gave them character.
I am slightly paranoid that his son will smash one of my lights with a cricket bat next week. Sorry to go on.
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Andrewlang
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Post by Andrewlang on May 27, 2021 14:13:59 GMT
Hah, full of bollocks hoping he'd found a soft touch. Good for you.
Andrew
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Post by hoolaohanrahanrahan on May 28, 2021 11:20:10 GMT
As long as no one has said rubbish to their insurer, fantastic. Otherwise, even if you're not claiming, best lube up.
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moose
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Post by moose on May 28, 2021 13:33:30 GMT
Him now saying it’s not a big deal makes it sound all the more like he’s trying to pull a fast one by not going through the insurers. A scratch wouldn’t cause a taxi to be out of action, so he can’t claim for loss of earnings. Do you have photos of the damage to both cars?
If I were you, I would just continue to politely deny liability, not give him anything, and see what his next move is.
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TallPaddy
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Post by TallPaddy on May 28, 2021 20:34:04 GMT
I considered telling someone I would pay for damage to the tiny piece of plastic on his car that I had cracked in a rear end shunt. Thank god I didn't. When renewing the following year and getting the claim details to submit for quotes I discovered that my insurer had paid his £12,000. Possibly actual damage but I strongly suspect a fraudulent claim for whiplash etc. If someone says forget it and doesn't ask to swap details then fair enough but otherwise do not accept fault and contact your insurance co.
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soulhalshall
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Post by soulhalshall on May 28, 2021 21:14:51 GMT
I have no photos of anything unfortunately, I wasn't quick witted enough, on getting out of the car I tried to be very calm which I think led me to not be on the ball with photos.
He has not replied to me since I said I would not pay his repairs and we would have to arrange our own repairs and move on. There is cricket training tomorrow but my wife is doing the drop so he won't get a chance to bend my ear
I'm pathetic though, these sorts of things make me feel very anxious and paranoid, and I start to worry that the situation will somehow take awful turns.
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Post by kettlewitch on May 29, 2021 5:32:04 GMT
Might your wife be able to get a photo of the car during the drop off/pick up?
I totally understand how this appears to be making you feel - I am exactly the same - so would urge you to try to put it to the back of your mind now unless/until he responds to you. Chances are he is giving it very little of his effort and energy, so don't let him impact on yours any more than is necessary. 🙂
You are certainly not pathetic, you were caught on the hop (possibly played, even) and put in an uncomfortable position by someone else. It may now all come to nothing, but having contacted your insurers you are in a position to go back to them if required.
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