Scratched car

opethf4an

Hello to everyone.
I have a little issue and need an advice.
Few weeks ago my girlfriend scratched other car on first bend on our estate. There`s a playschool just up to our house and a lot of cars cruising there in the morning. She just started from driveway to lift kids to school and roll out to bend and scratched other car which was on way to playschool. It`s nothing big-rear wheel arch bent and scratched with headlamp of our bus. The scratches are easy to remove by Atosol polish or stuff like that. Dent could be easily pulled out by any dent doctor. Ladyowner of scratched car didn`t call guards and i agree to fix that from my pocket. My girlfriend is "L" driver and rolled with maybe 10kph on clock.
I tried to contact with dents doctor,but they unfortunately wont get to my town to fix it. In that time the lady brought quotation from local garage for over 600.
As i am cars enthusiast i know that dent could b pulled out,especially if there`s no damage to the paintwork.
I found a garage which would fix it for 150-200e in traditional way(panelbeating,filling,etc).
I`ve send his number to that lady,but she wont visit him and drop the car to do the job `cause he didn`t do the quotation on paper.
I can`t afford to pay 700 for smth that`s worth 150 especially. Friend of mine fixed his `07 navara down there,he`s happy enough and i`ve proposed to that lady to take a look at this to prove.
What i have to do then?Maybe i should give her my policy number and don`t bother anymore?I don`t want to runaway from responsibilty but have i to agree and pay 700 for what i didn`t choose?
Most of those cars are in big hurry in way to playschool.
Tell me what i have to do with this.
Hope my linguistic skills didn`t perturb the sense
Cheers!

EPM

Hate to say it but it's the other ladys choice on this. She can decide where to get it fixed and you can't do a lot about it. Sorry...

guil

at the end of the day your gf damaged her car and she doesnt have to get it fixed cheap, if ya keep annoying her she can just go through your insurance

opethf4an

EPM wrote: »

Hate to say it but it's the other ladys choice on this. She can decide where to get it fixed and you can't do a lot about it. Sorry...

Strange indeed.
Maybe then send her to insurer?

Rodin

If you damaged my car, which is less than a year old, I'd expect it fixed at my franchised dealer where I bought it, where I've forked out for two services already.

You damage a car through poor driving, you have to pay up. Why should I take my new(ish) car to Joe's bodyshop to save the culprit a few quid?

CiniO

opethf4an wrote: »

Strange indeed.
Maybe then send her to insurer?

Call the insurer and ask how much would the premium would go up?
It might be much more worth to pay this 600, as premium risen insurance premium over next couple year might cost way more.

opethf4an

Rodin wrote: »

If you damaged my car, which is less than a year old, I'd expect it fixed at my franchised dealer where I bought it, where I've forked out for two services already.

You damage a car through poor driving, you have to pay up. Why should I take my new(ish) car to Joe's bodyshop to save the culprit a few quid?

You`re right,but that happened on narrow ,90 degree estate bend. My girlfriend drove with care,side by foothpath,and that lady didn`t slow down on the bend. Hard to say who should take responsibilty for this. Bigger damage is on other car,but thats not explain the blame.
In my point of view the blame is on both sides and we should cooperate then.

Forgot to add that i`ve got full comprehensive policy and no claim bonus protection.

EPM

Ha! Taking it to a dealer makes me laugh! Most dealers don't have on site bodyshops and send it to the cheapest bidder! Reputable body shop is the only way

CiniO

opethf4an wrote: »

You`re right,but that happened on narrow ,90 degree estate bend. My girlfriend drove with care,side by foothpath,and that lady didn`t slow down on the bend. Hard to say who should take responsibilty for this. Bigger damage is on other car,but thats not explain the blame.
In my point of view the blame is on both sides and we should cooperate then.

Forgot to add that i`ve got full comprehensive policy and no claim bonus protection.

You didn't write it in the beginning.
If you think it wasn't only your girlfriends fault, then contact your insurance company and give them detail.
Paint a diagram how it happend. Give details about speed limits, how road is wide, etc...
And then request insurance policy details from the other driver (and obviously give him/her yours).
Explain her, that you think it's the same her fault as your girlfriends, and that you are going to claim from her insurance as well.

Rodin

opethf4an wrote: »

You`re right,but that happened on narrow ,90 degree estate bend. My girlfriend drove with care,side by foothpath,and that lady didn`t slow down on the bend. Hard to say who should take responsibilty for this. Bigger damage is on other car,but thats not explain the blame.
In my point of view the blame is on both sides and we should cooperate then.

Forgot to add that i`ve got full comprehensive policy and no claim bonus protection.

Who witnessed this?

Owen

EPM wrote: »

Ha! Taking it to a dealer makes me laugh! Most dealers don't have on site bodyshops and send it to the cheapest bidder! Reputable body shop is the only way

+1, there's only a handful in the country who have their own bodyshop.

Del2005

CiniO wrote: »

You didn't write it in the beginning.
If you think it wasn't only your girlfriends fault, then contact your insurance company and give them detail.
Paint a diagram how it happend. Give details about speed limits, how road is wide, etc...
And then request insurance policy details from the other driver (and obviously give him/her yours).
Explain her, that you think it's the same her fault as your girlfriends, and that you are going to claim from her insurance as well.

In all likelihood the insurance will just 50/50 the costs. The OP will pay full price either way, unless they have witnesses.

DancingPriest

Rodin wrote: »

If you damaged my car, which is less than a year old, I'd expect it fixed at my franchised dealer where I bought it, where I've forked out for two services already.

You damage a car through poor driving, you have to pay up. Why should I take my new(ish) car to Joe's bodyshop to save the culprit a few quid?

Speaking as a franchised dealer, I'd rather have the repair done by a 'Dent Doctor' If you can do a repair without paint, never apply paint.
Those 'Dent Doctor' guys are very skilled in their line of work.
[EDIT] I'll spot a respray a mile off, I wont see a 'Dent Doctor' job unless it's a bad one and they rarely are.

Rodin

Fair enough. point taken. Still at the discretion of the wronged party.

It appears with no evidence to the contrary, that this L driver was escorting children to their school while being unaccompained. A clear breach of the law, and also meaning she is not at all insured for any accident taking place.

DancingPriest

Rodin wrote: »

Fair enough. point taken. Still at the discretion of the wronged party.

It appears with no evidence to the contrary, that this L driver was escorting children to their school while being unaccompained. A clear breach of the law, and also meaning she is not at all insured for any accident taking place.

Unless 'bus' is being used as the common slang term for 'car'.
[Edit] even unsupervised L drivers of cars are covered by insurance, I can't give any proof of this but if someone is more energetic they might be kind enough....

Del2005

DancingPriest wrote: »

Unless 'bus' is being used as the common slang term for 'car'.

More then likely an MPV.

[Edit] even unsupervised L drivers of cars are covered by insurance, I can't give any proof of this but if someone is more energetic they might be kind enough....

If someone is driving outside the terms of their licence, L driver unaccompanied, the insurance company has to pay all 3rd party claims. They are then perfectly entitled to claim any money paid out from the person who was driving outside the terms of their licence.

Don't think it's ever been done here yet.

Rodin

To my knowledge, L drivers are covered by insurance, so long as they are accompanied by the driver over 21 with the required experience.
If you're driving solo on L plates, illegally, can't see how you'd be covered by insurance

Rodin

Del2005 wrote: »

More then likely an MPV.



If someone is driving outside the terms of their licence, L driver unaccompanied, the insurance company has to pay all 3rd party claims. They are then perfectly entitled to claim any money paid out from the person who was driving outside the terms of their licence.

Don't think it's ever been done here yet.

Surprised the insurance company has to pay out, if the driver was unaccompanied. Thought you'd be on your own if you did that

opethf4an

Rodin wrote: »

Who witnessed this?

Actually i saw that from window in house. I saw,that my girlfriend rolled slowly to the bend,side by kerb,and other car rolled faster,they passed by ,then stopped. Not a great position to see more from 30-40m
There were our 2 kids in our car,and 2 kids in her car.

opethf4an

Del2005 wrote: »

More then likely an MPV.



If someone is driving outside the terms of their licence, L driver unaccompanied, the insurance company has to pay all 3rd party claims. They are then perfectly entitled to claim any money paid out from the person who was driving outside the terms of their licence.

Don't think it's ever been done here yet.

Thats right,MPV.

rocktavern

Sure don't most franchise companies send the cars out to 3rd parties, like dent doctors etc..... I know for a fact anything that comes to a mate of mine from a franchise garage is given a premium price......ask the franchise garage who they use and approach them directly about the ladies car.....

Rodin

opethf4an wrote: »

Actually i saw that from window in house. I saw,that my girlfriend rolled slowly to the bend,side by kerb,and other car rolled faster,they passed by ,then stopped. Not a great position to see more from 30-40m
There were our 2 kids in our car,and 2 kids in her car.

So it WAS an unaccompanied L driver carrying children then.

Del2005

Rodin wrote: »

Surprised the insurance company has to pay out, if the driver was unaccompanied. Thought you'd be on your own if you did that

They have to pay 3rd party claims, but are then perfectly entitled to take a civil court action to reclaim any money paid out. Because it's a civil court action it's up to the defendant to proof they where acting legally not the claimant.

Rodin wrote: »

To my knowledge, L drivers are covered by insurance, so long as they are accompanied by the driver over 21 with the required experience.
If you're driving solo on L plates, illegally, can't see how you'd be covered by insurance

It's a fully licensed driver who's held the licence for the class of vehicle being driven for over 2 years, excluding motorbikes who can't carry pillions on a learners permit. Doesn't mater how old they are.

Technically you are insured, same as bikers ignoring the 33bhp restriction, as they insure you in "utmost good faith" and never cancelled the policy. If they find out you lied, by driving unaccompanied/over 33bhp, then they can reclaim the money paid out.

Sitec wrote: »

Her insurance is not void because she doesnt have a full liscensed driver. Believe it or not Insurance companys still honour the customer even if they are driving on their own.

As said before they insurance company can, but AFAIK has never actually, reclaim any money paid out if you're driving outside the terms of your licence.

Del2005

opethf4an wrote: »

Actually i saw that from window in house. I saw,that my girlfriend rolled slowly to the bend,side by kerb,and other car rolled faster,they passed by ,then stopped. Not a great position to see more from 30-40m
There were our 2 kids in our car,and 2 kids in her car.

unfortunately I don't think a partner can be considered a witness. They are considered biased.

djimi

I get a cold chill when I think about a learner driver driving unaccompanied with children in the car...

opethf4an

Suddenly things started to go quick.
Today i picked up a call from axa -my insurer.
The lady has claimed from my insurance and it turned out that she has a independent whitnees (other driver on the rd)who saw my girlfriend on other line and speeding :O
Am i dreaming?
Girlfriend`s sure there were not any other car driving then.
That`s amazing to lie in that way.
Anyway insurer asked me did i say that i`ll cover costs of repairing in that day. I said yes,because i was affraid to call insurer cause herself drove unaccompanied.
I`ll have to meet with axa claims handler to take some pics and hope he`ll judge by way of damages that girfriend was on her line and other car cutted the bend.
Our car is damaged to front right and other on rear right ,this happened when girlfriend turned left on sharp corner so fronts of cars passed by no bother then when corner gets tighten to other car and she probably moved the weel to far and her boot catched our front.
Will make a draw with bend and cars position.

Edit
I is for my bus
II is for other car

Jimmy Bottlehead

If you've said you'll cover costs, that doesn't look good for you mate. Looks like you're up $hit creek without a paddle with regards liability.

opethf4an

Jimmy Bottlehead wrote: »

If you've said you'll cover costs, that doesn't look good for you mate. Looks like you're up $hit creek without a paddle with regards liability.

I`ve said i`ll find dent doctor to fix it.

guil

opethf4an wrote: »

Suddenly things started to go quick.
Today i picked up a call from axa -my insurer.
The lady has claimed from my insurance and it turned out that she has a independent whitnees (other driver on the rd)who saw my girlfriend on other line and speeding :O
Am i dreaming?
Girlfriend`s sure there were not any other car driving then.
That`s amazing to lie in that way.
Anyway insurer asked me did i say that i`ll cover costs of repairing in that day. I said yes,because i was affraid to call insurer cause herself drove unaccompanied.
I`ll have to meet with axa claims handler to take some pics and hope he`ll judge by way of damages that girfriend was on her line and other car cutted the bend.
Our car is damaged to front right and other on rear right ,this happened when girlfriend turned left on sharp corner so fronts of cars passed by no bother then when corner gets tighten to other car and she probably moved the weel to far and her boot catched our front.
Will make a draw with bend and cars position.

Edit
I is for my bus
II is for other car

in your first post ya said there was cars out side a playschool but now ya say there was no other drivers around, also the fact that your girlfriend hit very close to the rear doesnt go well for ya at all

opethf4an

guil wrote: »

in your first post ya said there was cars out side a playschool but now ya say there was no other drivers around, also the fact that your girlfriend hit very close to the rear doesnt go well for ya at all

I said that,indeed,but when that happened there weren`t any other car moving on that road.
Will see what the axa inspector will say.
Thanks for Your replies and help.

Rodin

I looked at your corner on street view.
That street is easily three cars wide.
The Almera parked across from yours is a good gauge.

If I had come around that corner, and someone hit me, I'd be pretty livid.
There is a good reason why people should be passing driving tests before being allowed on the road independently.