Very first accident

Spectreon666

I got into my first accident today. Basically my friend was getting out of my car which was parked, and opened up the car door without looking behind to see if there was a car coming and it was hit by an incomining car. The damage to the other car was a broken mirror and smashed window on the drivers side. The damage to my car was a dent on the side of the door frame and on the frame next to the front passenger do where it was bent in a bit. The door closes but the dent is rubbing off the passenger front door. I wasn't thinking straight afterwards and so I gave my details and got their name and phone number but failed to ask for their policy number. They asked me did I accept responsibility. So after thinking it was my door that opened into them by accident while they where driving along and the second the door opened it was hit hence not giving the other car anytime to stop, I presumed it was me at fault and not them so I accepted the responsibility. Very very very stupid thing to do i know but I was a bit shocked what had happened and a bit flustered about it.
Im going to the garda tomorrow to report the accident. ANd will report it to mu insurers on monday. What else can I do besides getting the other persons details and such. Their son is a Garda apparently, but should they report this accident aswell to their local Garda and not to their son?
Thanks for any help!!!

tuxy

I know you are not meant to admit liability at the scene of the accident. But sounds like it was 100% your fault. Your insurance will probably pay out on this fairly quickly and that will be it.

L1011

Your friend opened the door in to the path of an oncoming car; you're liable... report the accident to your insurers ASAP - some (Quinn anyway) load you heavier for not reporting accidents quickly. Nearly all have 24 hour report lines. Do NOT wait until Monday or you might get a call tomorrow from the insurers asking why you've failed to report it.

Not having their details doesn't matter all that much, they're bound to have reported it and their insurers will provide details to theirs. You don't have to involve the Guards at all if you don't want to - there is no compulsion to.

Spectreon666

I figured it was my fault thats why I accepted responsibility but I realised soon after that I just dug myself a grave that I just fell into and cant get back out again. I just want to report it to the garda as peace of mind. Im with FBD Insurance but as far as I know they dont have a hotline!! I have a no claims bonus potection cover, what does this mean towards my insurance?

L1011

Checking there, FBD are very 1980s and don't have a claims dept. outside of Monday-Friday. Useful that!

1890 618 618 first thing Monday morning then. If you've NCB protection it shouldn't affect your insurance with FBD but you can't really move providers and say you've not had an accident (as you have, NCB gone or not).

As goes digging a grave - if you're at fault your at fault, doesn't really matter that you admitted at the scene as its entirely clear cut. Although you still shouldn't, whats done is done.

snowman707

Spectreon666 wrote: »

I got into my first accident today. Basically my friend was getting out of my car which was parked, and opened up the car door without looking behind to see if there was a car coming and it was hit by an incomining car. The damage to the other car was a broken mirror and smashed window on the drivers side. The damage to my car was a dent on the side of the door frame and on the frame next to the front passenger do where it was bent in a bit. The door closes but the dent is rubbing off the passenger front door. I wasn't thinking straight afterwards and so I gave my details and got their name and phone number but failed to ask for their policy number. They asked me did I accept responsibility. So after thinking it was my door that opened into them by accident while they where driving along and the second the door opened it was hit hence not giving the other car anytime to stop, I presumed it was me at fault and not them so I accepted the responsibility. Very very very stupid thing to do i know but I was a bit shocked what had happened and a bit flustered about it.
Im going to the garda tomorrow to report the accident. ANd will report it to mu insurers on monday. What else can I do besides getting the other persons details and such. Their son is a Garda apparently, but should they report this accident aswell to their local Garda and not to their son?
Thanks for any help!!!

a bit confused here, driver's door on injured party, passenger door your car, where exactly were you parked?
must have been parked at opposite side of street, if so why was the other car close to you if coming from your rear?

Bluetonic

snowman707 wrote: »

a bit confused here, driver's door on injured party, passenger door your car, where exactly were you parked?
must have been parked at opposite side of street, if so why was the other car close to you if coming from your rear?

Not hard to figure out it was most likely in a car park.

halkar

There are a lot of narrow one way streets with cars parked on both sides.
You should have checked your mirrors and advice when the passenger gets out of the car. However other driver should have anticipate the hazards on the road he\she is in and leave adequate gap between parked vehicles and his\her car (these are in the driving tests).
I am not sure which side insurance cos favour.

slavetothegrind

this very thing happened to my OH years ago.

She was deemed in the right as other vehicle hit her while she was stationary.

So don't give up, write a good detailed report and include any pictures you took at the scene.

Your insurers will be making the call on liability, not you.

Best of luck to you!

snowman707

halkar wrote: »

There are a lot of narrow one way streets with cars parked on both sides.
You should have checked your mirrors and advice when the passenger gets out of the car. However other driver should have anticipate the hazards on the road he\she is in and leave adequate gap between parked vehicles and his\her car (these are in the driving tests).
I am not sure which side insurance cos favour.

I always remember this been drummed into learner drivers years ago, after all it was the op's car that was hit, we contested a kinda similar claim a few years ago & ended with each party fixing their own damage.