A tale of Insurance woes and dishonesty.

[Devon Sue]

My OH was on his way to work on his motorbike, it was a foggy morning and he was rriding cautiously as just before joining the A38 was a shop where people regularly pulled in. He was at a sensible speed, aware that some idiot might be ignoring the 30mph speed limit and the fog and ram him from behind, however the vehicle that hit him was in the middle of the road, no lights, and reversing as he had overshot the parking spot he wanted. The bike was a write off but fortunately all he damaged was his thumb. The police attended and were made aware that there was a witness to the incident and his details had been given to the car driver. As it took place on the border of police areas another car arrived and took over as OH was taken to hospital in an ambulance to be checked over. The policewoman from the second station phoned a couple of days later and made reference to a female independent witness and said there was no other witness. She stated that as she had already written her report she could not add further details. Turned out that the so called independent witness was there to meet the car driver and the actual independent witness details had not been handed over. We knew that he was from the bakery delivering to the shop and being parked on the other side of the road had seen everything, fortunately he was local and we made contact and he was willing to make a statement if required.

We ended up having to take the driver and his insurance company to the small claims court to recover the cost of the bike. They had the nerve to claim the OH was "the author of his own misfortune" and would not be meeting the claim. In court we had all documentation, including true witness statement and a very clear hand drawn map of the location and position of the vehicles. The solicitor for the insurance company said what a good map it was and could he have a copy, my comment to OH was to the effect don't you dare, let them provide their own.

It took almost 4 years to the day, but they cancelled the final court hearing at the last minute, after attempting to change to a different location, and paid the claim in full. We suspected that either their case had collapsed because the driver was no longer in contact with his "witness", and/or had no evidence

 

[Rimswell Wanderer]

A good idea is to make sure that the friendly chat and details swap is done at your van with the door open. I did this a few months ago in my Lanny, and my dash cam picked up every word.

Good idea Jim

 

[Mick Kennedy]

I had a very different, heartwarming experience in France a couple of years ago. I side-swiped a parked French car with my motorbike rack on our tag axle motorhome when turning out of a tight street (Photo attached showing considerable damage to the car). The van was still new to me then and I had no appreciation of how far the rear-end swung out when I turned. Anyway, we stopped and I went back to see the damage (almost nothing to my motorbike rack) and then started knocking on doors to find the owner. Turned out the guy was away from home, working, but a neighbour gave me his number as I was leaving a note on the windscreen. I texted the guy with an apology, a photo of the damage and telling him we would continue our journey southwards but to please e-mail me with a bill, which I'd prefer to just pay rather than involve insurers (for all the reasons stated in previous posts). After some time he texted me back thanking me for my honesty and telling me not to worry about it, he would repair it himself and urged us to just enjoy our time in his country and wished us a wonderful trip! We were very touched and grateful and told him so. Heartwarming stuff.

 

[TonyEmm]

A common feature of a lot of the comments on here is how many minor prangs have occurred while reversing out of parking spaces.

That’s exactly why, where possible, I reverse in to closed spaces and drive out forwards. It’s much safer than reversing out into traffic…

 

[SpeedyDux]

A common feature of a lot of the comments on here is how many minor prangs have occurred while reversing out of parking spaces.

That’s exactly why, where possible, I reverse in to closed spaces and drive out forwards. It’s much safer than reversing out into traffic…

Some top specification newer cars now have a blind spot and cross traffic warning system that helps prevent the reversing-out collisions. Not enough cars have this driver aid and you wonder how foolproof it might be. I agree totally that reversing into parking spaces is better practice.

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[Bessy765]

My insurance company having given me a quote for the coming years cover, I informed them that the next day I had been bumped by someone coming out of a petrol station drove into me whilst I was stationary on the main road in a line of traffic. As no discernible damage to her car and only minor scratches to mine said as the excess was £300 I would not be pursuing a claim. So no cost to either side. Got an email next day. As I had been involved in a no fault accident caused by the other party my quote went up by £275 on a £325 quote. When I questioned it it was (because having been involved in an accident I was more likely to have another one) to which I replied I was quite happy to take legal advice as to how they came to and could prove that this was so and to justify the increase. Quote was revised to £10 less than the original quote

 

[Wickenman]

Funsters, take care out there, don't fall in to my trap, it's a bit of a Karma tale but one worth sharing.

A few months ago, some angry pissed off young lady swerved around me at a petrol pump whilst I was getting LPG and was coming back from paying. I got in my MH and instead of waiting, thought, sod it I will make that. I didn't, my rear end clipped her car causing a few scratches to her 10 year old fiesta. So light was the impact I never heard it until whilst waiting to move out teh garage a wild banshy of a women was banging on my window ffing and blinding. I obviously stopped, her first words were "I am insured you know" I said it's fine, calm down, come off the ceiling and we will sort it. I swapped details with her and she said she will get some quotes to repair and send me the bill. I said I would be happy to sort, by this time we were friends having used the haggers charm on said lady. I said seeing as the damage is so minor, I would rather just sort for her. I even offered to help her find someone. FFW 14 weeks, she never made any contact, disappeared off the face of the earth not even wanting free money? I suspect, she wasn't insured and the possibility of me going to my insurers and uncovering this was too much for her. Result, unresolved claim, no damage to my van at all.

FFW to December 10th.
Im in Buxton, stationary at a junction, a women in her 50s in a Micra, with steamed up windows, in very bad weather was driving towards me, she didn't bother to turn the steering wheel until the last minute and clipped my MH. She stopped and I pulled up in front of her. My first words, "are you ok?" yes yes I'm so sorry she said. I was just a bit stressed with the bad weather, have I done much damage? My MH was covered in snow on the frond end it was freezing cold, we exchanged details and I said because you are so cold, get back in your car, I'll have a look at it when I arrive at the campsite and if there is any damage I will let you know. She said she would rather not go through the insurance if possible. When arriving on site, I had a look and there is minor damage, scratching and some painting to be done. Someone local said about £185 to repair so not too bad.
I then texted said women, no reply.
I then texted again, (see attached text, second one asked her to please respond).
Still no reply.
I therefore sent a letter 3 days ago recorded delivery asking her to either pay up or provide the details of her insurance company.

Today I received a letter from her insurers accusing me of harassment, and they have informed her if I make contact again to go to the police. Fuming, I responded to the letter (email) and rang the insurers who apologized for the way they had worded the letter but stated that she was denying all knowledge and suggesting she was not at fault for the accident. This now means the scenario would be that I have to pursue the matter through my own insurers with very little evidence. The only outcome will be knock for knock leaving me to foot the bill. the horrible thing is a motorist stopped to be a witness but she said, no its ok, it's my fault, so he drove off.

So note to self and other funsters.

1) always always write down what you should do in an event of an accident and do not venture from it no matter how nice the person is or how they present themselves.
2) Get statements from any witnesses present and contact details even if said culprit admits everything
3) Get photos!!! as many as you can, at the scene, If I would have done so life would be so much easier.
4) Get a dash cam!! the better it is the easier it will be.
5) Take insurance details at the scene.
6) Don't be nice like me, people will do anything they can to get out of something. Be firm and factual.


stay safe out there funsters, a lot of T**TS out there.

Regrettably I live near the bash cash capital of the UK where a certain part of the local community see income from this valuable pastime as an alternative to the lottery. My car and MH insurance is nearly 300% more than a nearby postcode area, although I live in the sticks I have to endure the wonders of the postcode area where the nearest large town has the highest claims history in the UK. Despite having no claims history for many decades, if at all, I have been refused insurance by reputable insurers on two counts, 1) the postcode, and 2) it being an expensive vehicle with a history of theft.

I have lost count of the number of fake claims I've had made against me and totally agree with the points 1-6 above, I have a very sophisticated dashcam (Thinkware - brilliant bit of kit) front and back on both cars and my MH.

Last year a boy racer took the back end off my car whilst trying to cut in behind me where he didn't have a chance; after listening to him shouting and raving on how I'd reversed into him I pulled out my phone and asked if he'd like to review the footage, instant change of attitude!

I can't stress strongly enough that being nice is the last thing you should do in the event of a third-party incident, of course there's no justification for being rude or angry, but its vitally important to follow 1-6 above, always.

As well as the many false claims I've also had several very near expensive misses with third-party insurance companies, here's just one; if you're thinking I'm unlucky or exaggerating, nope, it's a fact of life in the area I live in!

Whilst stopped at the lights a guy rolled into the back of my car at such a low speed I didn't notice until he repeatedly flashed me to pull over, the damage amounted to him having knocked the plastic cap off my towball, no visible damage on his vehicle whatsoever. The day after I had a visit from the local cops who interviewed me under caution for racially abusing and harassing the driver, fortunately I'd taken the details of a nearby witness who confirmed that nothing of the sort had happened; on the contrary the cops told me later the witness was surprised at how polite and calm I'd been when confronted with someone who had completely lost it! Over the coming months I had a devil of a fight with my own insurers, who I hadn't contacted as there was nothing to notify, but who were going to agree a knock for knock with the other driver, which included a huge sum for the whiplash, etc., the driver and his four passengers had suffered, Surprise, surprise, he was on his own.

Insured driver beware!

 

[Roger J Holman]

All very interesting. A few years ago I drove to our local Waitrose, and slipped into a parking space. I very acrefully oopened the drivers door as there was not much space, but the plastic trim on the outside of the door came in contact with the door of the car beside me. Immediately, two young people leapt out and accosted me. I am 5'10" tall and an ex Royal Marine, but the accosting male was about 6'4" and angry. "You have damaged my car! the whole car shook when you hit it!" All attempts to defuse the situation came to nought. I examined the area which would have been the contact area, and could find no mark, nothing. I invited the large young man to point out where any damage was, but he declined, "You point it out and I'll tell you if you are right"! I was prevented from re-entering my vehicle to get my shopping bag, and was threatened with the police, to which I replied "Please do."

I eventually went into Waitrose and did my shopping, and emerged to find the neighbouring car had moved (removing all reference to any contact point) and the large young man was preventing me from entering my car. I went to the passenger side and entered that way, sliding across into the drivers seat. I started up, at which point L YM draped himself across the bonnet (L.R Discovery) in an attempt to stop me moving off. I moved forward Very slowly, and left the car park.

When I got home I immediately telephoned my insurance and reported the incident (Note; did not start a claim report!) and sat and waited. No contact from the Police. No further contact from Insurance.

It is clear that these people were sitting in their car waiting for a poor old lady, or man, to touch their car, and then to attack them with accusations of damage. A more timorous person would have been seriously upset.

 

[JaG]

Oh Paul, so sorry she did that to you, and in a Micra too. Could have been worse...it could have been an Autotrail Club owner. .
Hope you did not say to her, 'Oh I feel so sorry for you. I suppose someone must own a Micra. Ring any bells?
Seriously, hope you get it sorted.

 

[gus-lopez]

He successfully claimed the repair cost off the company as they hadn’t secured the gate for the weekend and left it loose.

I'd have charged your lot with using it without permission at twice the cost claimed.

A common feature of a lot of the comments on here is how many minor prangs have occurred while reversing out of parking spaces.

That’s exactly why, where possible, I reverse in to closed spaces and drive out forwards. It’s much safer than reversing out into traffic…

Yes ,I always reverse in even when against a brick wall in supermarket car parks then just pull out blocking the road whilst I load it in the boot.

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[Googlebot]

I'd have charged your lot with using it without permission at twice the cost claimed.

I do see your point, however if it was a windy day it could have killed someone walking along the pavement.

In fact, I have seen such an incident in high winds with awful consequences.

Firm admits failure in storm debris death - BBC News

Tahnie Martin was killed by falling wood from a Wolverhampton shopping centre during Storm Doris.

www.bbc.co.uk

So you could say they got away lightly with a car door.