Fender bender advice needed

Brigitte0422

Hello, I was in a fender bender recently (mostly my fault). I caused slight damage to one side of the fender. The other side was already damaged. I am being asked to pay for a brand new fender. I think I am only responsible for the damage I caused (which could be repaired) or half the cost of a new fender. A new fender is pretty expensive and if I am responsible for that, so be it. However, then I want to go through insurance. The person does not want to go through insurance -- I think they were not insured to drive the car. Any advice on what to do? I want to be fair but not be taken advantage of.

thebiglad

If you caused the accident and the damage then regardless of whether they were insured to drive the other car you or your insurance company will be paying for the damage to be repaired.

For damage already present you are entitled to get some discount but it comes down to whether the bumper was previously scratched and now wrecked or just more scratched - the degree of discount you can seek ranges from 50% downwards. It is a tough negotiation as there are many other parts which can be claimed for - loss of use/replacement vehicle during repair, loss of earnings if car used to get to work etc. Basically just make a deal and move on - the cost of loss of no claims bonus will probably outweigh any savings you can make.

Best just to ask them to get 3 quotes and choose what you think is the most reasonable

If you are still not happy hire a motor assessor to look at the car and tell you, that will cost €150 (ish) but at least they may save you something on the repair cost and give peace of mind.

Tallon

Doesnt matter if the other side wasn't damaged by you, the fact is, the whole fender would need to be replaced anyway

Insist on going through the insurance, they should not have been driving with no insurance, simple

Don't pay anything just yet

si_guru

Report the accident to the Gards and your insurance compnay.. let them deal with it - that's the service you paid for right?

If the other driver causes any issues - go and see the Gards again.

thebiglad

This is bad advice - the other party is entitled to recover from you regardless of whether they had insurance - you will lose that one.

There may be a moral victory in having them prosecuted for driving without insurance but it will not help you financially.

Big Nasty

It's normally the person who causes the damage that is reluctant to go through their insurance. Why would the potential claimant not want to go through your insurance unless they were just being nice?

We're they just being nice? Didn't think so!

If you suspect they are not insured insist on going through your insurance or tell them to fack off. The only reason I say this is that every person that drives around uninsured makes your and my premiums higher and are effectively stealing out of our pockets for god knows how long so fup them!

Brigitte0422

Thanks for the advice so far. I do not know the make of the car, only that it is an 08, but will try to find out. The damage where I hit is a hole in the fender (tow bar/ball hit it). The damage to the side I did not hit was the light knocked out. I don't want to get the other person in trouble (if driving without insurance), but am not sure I can afford a new bumper -- I was told it could be around €800. They are taking the car to a garage for a quote. I have asked that they take the car to another garage that was recommended to me for another quote, but they have not yet agreed to this.

I have beed dealing with the person driving and have asked to talk with the owner to see if we could work something out to everyones satisfaction and am now waiting to hear back.

Based on the advice so far, I think I will insist on the second quote and try to bargain hard for a discount (due to previous damage) before going through insurance.

Tallon

You are being taken for a ride... go to a solicitor if they are refusing your requests!

keane2097

People driving without insurance ought to be prosecuted.

thebiglad

Tallon wrote: »

You are being taken for a ride... go to a solicitor if they are refusing your requests!

When this is eventually settled using this method come back to Boards and let us know how that worked out for you...

If you cannot afford €800 for a bumper you cannot afford to waste money on a solicitor.

Honestly you are getting terrible advice, forget moral indignity etc - this is your money, pay what you think is fair and that you can away with and walk away.

Big Nasty

thebiglad wrote: »

If you cannot afford €800 for a bumper you cannot afford to waste money on a solicitor.

Honestly you are getting terrible advice, forget moral indignity etc - this is your money, pay what you think is fair and that you can away with and walk away.

If the OP pays for anything then it's an admission of guilt. What if the other party come back then for personal injuries? Never mind that the fcuker may not be insured at all.

Tell them you're going through your insurance OP.

R.O.R

It's quite often cheaper to replace a bumper than it is to repair. An 08 car is more or less certain to have a full one piece plastic bumper - how does anyone propose to repair a hole in a one piece plastic bumper?

Cost does sound a bit high, but it all depends on what car it was and how pricey parts are. Professionally painted and fitted for €800 isn't totally outrageous.

Seth Brundle

thebiglad wrote: »

Honestly you are getting terrible advice, forget moral indignity etc - this is your money, pay what you think is fair and that you can away with and walk away.

You really think this is good advice? This is not a solution that would be recognised by the other driver and therefore not closed legally.
The simplest solution is to have the insurance company deal with it and to also report it to the Gardai (as who know what may arise in the future). This will remove the burden of dealing with the other party but may affect the OPs NCB.

Tallon

thebiglad wrote: »

When this is eventually settled using this method come back to Boards and let us know how that worked out for you...

If you cannot afford €800 for a bumper you cannot afford to waste money on a solicitor.

Honestly you are getting terrible advice, forget moral indignity etc - this is your money, pay what you think is fair and that you can away with and walk away.

But, I wasn't in any fender bender

It's not bad advice, I already said to go through the insurance... Other driver is an ass for not being insured

SilverBell

Brigitte0422

I had a friend recently who damaged a hire car. They presented her with a bill for around 900 euros. In the end, she made them an offer of about 400 and they accepted.

Perhaps this may be an option for you, otherwise you could say that you cant afford 800euros, and will have to "go through your insurance". That may help the other driver to come around, especially if they dont want the insurance companies to get involved.

I'm not advocating any particular approach, just giving you some more options hopefully.:cool:

Seth Brundle

Negotiating with them is a good idea but ensure that they sign off (in writing) on the arrangement without any admission of liability on your side.
I would also report them to the gardai for driving without insurance. Not for making a claim against you but for simply driving without insurance!