Always ring the Gardai in the event of a car accident

holyhead

I have learned a valuable lesson Basically I was stopped at lights when a car rear ended me as I took off. Went around the corner. I took a picture of his license plate and insurance disc with my phone. For some strange reason I cant fathom I never took a picture of my bumper. No one was hurt and the lad surrended his details readily and accepted liability. I didn't want to waste the Gardaí's time. The young lad didn't want to go through insurance. I wouldn't have liked to see him get slaughtered by his insurance company which given his age could well happen. It took me time to get two written quotes. Rang the chap and he re-directed me to his father. I assumed the father would ask me to forward on quotes to get the damage put right. The thread of the conversation was that he was reluctant to engage with me on this. He mentioned about the possibility of him or the missus coming in to have a look at the car but I don't hold out much hope. I have no concrete proof connecting the young lad to the damage done to my car.

So always ring the gardai and don't worry about going through their insurance. Put yourself first. Being nice about things doesn't always pay.

brian_t

How long ago did the accident happen.

Surely it's not too late to contact your broker and pass on the other drivers insurance details for a claim.

hullaballoo

This is one of those anomalous situations where most insurance companies insist that you call AGS, there is a statutory requirement* for you to do so but, when you do it, AGS are liable to tell you "dis a civil matter" and refuse to record any details. This is especially the case where there is only superficial damage to the cars.

*The statutory requirement may only be in the case of injuries, but it's nearly impossible to tell whether you've been injured at the scene of an accident because 1. the shock will produce adrenaline that numbs pain and 2. most frequently, injuries from RTAs are soft-tissue only and can take days to show any symptoms.

fl4pj4ck

if he's acting up just ring the insurance company and let them deal with it.

holyhead

brian_t wrote: »

How long ago did the accident happen.

Surely it's not too late to contact your broker and pass on the other drivers insurance details for a claim.

Late February. I filled out an accident form for my side. But as it stands it is my word v's his and I have no proof. Yes I have all his details, ins, phone #'s, address, license plate. Father owns his car. Based on what the father said the young lad told him he maintains my car's bumper was split and that he did not cause the damage.

Not sure if his insurance will entertain a claim without me having rung the Gardaí. There is a remote possibility the father will come in, look at the car, accept the young lad did it and pay up.

The damage will cost €525 to fix. Not the end of the world and the damage doesn't impact on driving the car. But still its the principle.

ABajaninCork

Just turn it over to the insurance. That's what it's there for. And in future? Put EVERYTHING through the insurance. Never take someone's word they'll fix the damage.

holyhead

I don't know how I can prove to his insurance company that he rear-ended me. Other than the fact that I have all his details and a picture of his number plate and insurance disc at the time of the crash. Pretty sure he had a passenger. Given that he was a young driver he MAY not have had a full license and in this case he would had to have had a full license driver in the passenger seat. No guarantee the passenger would give an honest a/c of what happened. Pretty sure there was a passenger. A young guy most like the driver's own age.

fl4pj4ck

why else would you have it then? don't worry, their investigator will likely figure out they're lying

holyhead

fl4pj4ck wrote: »

why else would you have it then? don't worry, their investigator will likely figure out they're lying

Cheers. I need to be more cynical going into the future unfortunately.

holyhead

Logged a claim with his insurance company and we will how it plays itself out.

kitchenkid

Easy to see how it happens - you just tell the insurance that he admitted to being at fault - and tell his father you have reported it to the insurance and in view of his attitude you are considering making a statement to the gardai. might slow down the young driver.

holyhead

Weirdly 10 minutes after making the claim his mother called in and accepted that the young lad was at fault. Seems he was slightly economical with what he told the father. She was very nice about it and they will sort it out.

ABajaninCork

Thought so....:P

yankinlk

so update the thread title then?

i never can understand when i see cars stopped at the side of the road waiting for AGS when its an obvious case of a rear end tip.

Skatedude

my car was damaged twice in the last few years, both times were when i was stopped at lights. first time someone rear ended me, and the other time someone clipped the side damaging 3 panels after running a red light as well as taking out a traffic island light which hurt a pedestrian.
Both times i called the guards, the first time i was told it was a civil matter and nothing to do with the guards. The second time i was again told by the guard that it was again a civil matter. i pointed out that the driver had run a red light and hurt a pedestrian. The guard told me it was none of my business and he would let me off with a warning for wasting guards time.

Pat Mustard

Skatedude wrote: »

The second time i was again told by the guard that it was again a civil matter. i pointed out that the driver had run a red light and hurt a pedestrian. The guard told me it was none of my business and he would let me off with a warning for wasting guards time.

He should get a sideways promotion for sentry duty at Áras an Uachtaráin. What a cowboy.

Graces7

interesting.

last year on the very narrow access lane i rounded a blind bend at low speed to see a car heaqded straight for me and making no effort to avoid collision.
i swerved into the side and there was a very small impact.

he was adamnt i had hit him. that he was stationary at the time. he looked spaced out and unfoussed.

i am elderly and was almost home and desperately needing the bathroom and we were blocking the lane. took many words for him to allow me to pass. no injuries and very slight damage d
ten minutes later he drives up to the house, on a private cul de sac, but stays in the car then drives off. next dat ags arrive, check the car et as he had beento see them. said they would be in toucch but never a word more from them.
lsndlord then tells me the man is a drug dealer well known locally.
next time i am trading at market, the driver staggers across the road and starts aggression. so i say i hope he has a good solcitor and he wobbles off to his car. i had no cell phone and folk had warned me not to involve.
i am sure he was stoned that day. and that ags knew and know that.
reading posts here makes me more sure. thank you.

i did not involve my insurance.

Graces7

QUOTE=Skatedude;89780178]my car was damaged twice in the last few years, both times were when i was stopped at lights. first time someone rear ended me, and the other time someone clipped the side damaging 3 panels after running a red light as well as taking out a traffic island light which hurt a pedestrian.
Both times i called the guards, the first time i was told it was a civil matter and nothing to do with the guards. The second time i was again told by the guard that it was again a civil matter. i pointed out that the driver had run a red light and hurt a pedestrian. The guard told me it was none of my business and he would let me off with a warning for wasting guards time.[/QUOTE]

i have notied a lot of drivers put their hazard lights on at traffic lightdss for fear of being rear ended and i do the same now.

with my incident the local garda was fine;was good when i was assaulted last year. seemed amused they had been contacted and was simply going through the motions. had the man made any attempt to swerve there would have been no collision

suse please poor typing; broken wrist