Wife in a fender bender - next steps

whitelightrider · 06-12-2012 6:52pm #1

Folks, my wife ended up reversing (slowly she said) into the back of a parked car a week ago. She and the driver got out and inspected the cars and he said it looked to be only a slight scratch, but took her details anyway.
Just wondering what normal procedure is here. Does he get a quote to repair if needed and let her know, or just get it repaired and give her the bill?

ABajaninCork · 06-12-2012 7:51pm

If he's taken her details, has she informed her insurance? You can be sure yer man's got in first....

whitelightrider · 06-12-2012 7:54pm

ABajaninCork wrote: »

If he's taken her details, has she informed her insurance? You can be sure yer man's got in first....

No because he said it just looked like a scratch.

ABajaninCork · 06-12-2012 7:58pm

And you believed him?? I made that mistake once, and once only.

NEVER take the other driver's word for the damage! It's only a scratch could run into a bill of several hundred. If it was only a scratch, then why take the insurance details? Did your wife take photo's of the damage??

Stheno · 06-12-2012 8:00pm

ABajaninCork wrote: »

And you believed him?? I made that mistake once, and once only.

NEVER take the other driver's word for the damage! It's only a scratch could run into a bill of several hundred. If it was only a scratch, then why take the insurance details? Did your wife take photo's of the damage??

Agreed, report this to your wifes insurance asap

whitelightrider · 06-12-2012 8:05pm

ABajaninCork wrote: »

And you believed him?? I made that mistake once, and once only.

NEVER take the other driver's word for the damage! It's only a scratch could run into a bill of several hundred. If it was only a scratch, then why take the insurance details? Did your wife take photo's of the damage??

No, it was dark when it happened. Ill get her to call them asap. Crap!

whitelightrider · 06-12-2012 8:22pm

But guys whats the story here, does he have the right to just get something repaired without first consulting us? Should be not provide us with a quote for damages before going off and getting work done?

ABajaninCork · 06-12-2012 8:29pm

The story is as follows:

You MUST inform the insurance. Whether you make a claim or not.

If the pair of you have agreed to cover any damage, then tell yer man to get three quotes. Go with the cheapest one. When the bill comes, pay it.

That's it.

I have a nasty feeling the other party has already called your insurance, though. Have you checked yet?

whitelightrider · 06-12-2012 8:31pm

ABajaninCork wrote: »

The story is as follows:

You MUST inform the insurance. Whether you make a claim or not.

If the pair of you have agreed to cover any damage, then tell yer man to get three quotes. Go with the cheapest one. When the bill comes, pay it.

That's it.

I have a nasty feeling the other party has already called your insurance, though. Have you checked yet?

No Ill get my wife to call them first thing. And if he has what can we do?

07Lapierre · 06-12-2012 8:42pm

If your wife admitted liability, the injured party decides where his car is repaired. Your wife has no say in the matter.

ABajaninCork · 06-12-2012 8:44pm

07Lapierre wrote: »

If your wife admitted liability, the injured party decides where his car is repaired. Your wife has no say in the matter.

And that's why ladies and gentlemen, the insurance advice is NEVER to admit liability! :eek:

Was the other driver in the car when your wife hit him?

whitelightrider · 06-12-2012 8:46pm

07Lapierre wrote: »

If your wife admitted liability, the injured party decides where his car is repaired. Your wife has no say in the matter.

Even without contacting us first?

ABajaninCork · 06-12-2012 8:50pm

whitelightrider wrote: »

Even without contacting us first?

Of course you'll be contacted. If only to tell you where he's taking his car to be fixed, and when to expect the bill...

Did your wife admit liability? And where was the other driver when the car was hit??

07Lapierre · 06-12-2012 8:56pm

whitelightrider wrote: »

Even without contacting us first?

Its his car. He doesnt even have to get it repaiered of he doesnt want to. He can use the money any way he sees fit.

whitelightrider · 06-12-2012 9:03pm

The guy was sitting in his parked car and my wife was reversing out and hit his. He admitted that it was pitch black where he had parked. They both stepped out and examined the car and he said there was no damage, apart from maybe a slight scratch. She gave her details in case he needed to contact her. Being a good citizen I guess.
Ill get her to contact Quinn Direct in the morning and see what has happened.

ABajaninCork · 06-12-2012 9:07pm

Oh dear...

kasper · 06-12-2012 9:54pm

did she give insurance details or just contact details?

shane. · 06-12-2012 10:34pm

wife in a fender bender.......great name for a song!!

September1 · 06-12-2012 10:39pm

Well, he could have taken details just in case damage was bigger then just a scratch and he would need to claim after all.

cobratom · 11-01-2013 3:13pm

In a similar situation. Wife rolled into the car in front. Both exchanged phone numbers, the girl in the front said there was no damage. Rang my wife today and said she went to two garages and they say there is damage underneath and the bumper will have to be replaced at a cost of €600.00. Wife said it was merely a bump and there was no marks on either cars. What to do!

djimi · 11-01-2013 5:04pm

cobratom wrote: »

In a similar situation. Wife rolled into the car in front. Both exchanged phone numbers, the girl in the front said there was no damage. Rang my wife today and said she went to two garages and they say there is damage underneath and the bumper will have to be replaced at a cost of €600.00. Wife said it was merely a bump and there was no marks on either cars. What to do!

Get a second opinion. Its highly unlikely that there is €600 worth of damage from an extremely low speed accident (which I presume is what you meant by rolled into?)

If in doubt tell them to go through your insurance and let the assessor take a look at it. If they are lying to you then the insurance assessor wont be long sorting it out.

J.R. · 11-01-2013 5:59pm

cobratom wrote: »

In a similar situation. Wife rolled into the car in front. Both exchanged phone numbers, the girl in the front said there was no damage. Rang my wife today and said she went to two garages and they say there is damage underneath and the bumper will have to be replaced at a cost of €600.00. Wife said it was merely a bump and there was no marks on either cars. What to do!

I got caught out years ago in something like this....but I was the looser!!!

My wife was waiting in a shopping centre parked in our Sierra estate. A lady sat into her 240 Volvo estate (a tank of a car then!) and slowly reversed out, hitting the front bumper of our car.

She got out & apologised and both checked car. Not a mark or scratch on it. My wife took her contact details anyway and told me when she got home. I checked the front of the car & looked inside engine bay....not a scratch or mark. I took it to a Ford garage for a check over, explaining what happened. They said it was perfect...no marks or damage.

Few months later when winter arrived both front headlamps slowly filled with water & began to tarnish. On closer inspection there were cracks at the back of the headlamps allowing moisture in.

I ended up having to replace them....very expensive (even in breakers) as they had full, dip, park & indicator in the one lens.

Wife in a fender bender - next steps

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