Car crash, what next?

Nono Toure

About 2 hours ago I was stopped at traffic lights, and then bang, a fella smacked right into the back of me! The force was so powerful I got rammed into the guy in front of me. He was going at least 30 miles an hour. He said he wasn't paying attention!

Guards were called. The guy admitted fault to guard.

Now, my car is old, not worth much, but to me it's worth loads, I've spend over a grand on it in the last 6 months. I even spent 200 euro on it 3 days ago!! But it's probably worth 500euro book value. It's taxed & NCT'd.

I presume the insurance company will only pay about 300 euro for it? It's written-off. If so, that's ridiculous, seeing as I've put a lot into it!

Also, the car in front of me, only has a small scratch, he said he was gonna claim! Am I liable for his damage even though I was pushed into him?

It's so annoying. The guy behind me who hit me has literally fcuk all damage to his car, only a small bump, mine is shagged and written off, so I'm totally out of pocket due to someone's stupidness.. My neck is fckn sore too.

I don't speed, I feel I'm safe on the road too, all my discs on windscreen are up to date, and now I'm outta pocket big time, all the hassle, and probably have a claim against me even though I did nothing!

Fcuk sake.

ComfortKid

Well if you want more than €300 for it,go see a doctor about your neck pain.

porsche boy

the car in front of you will claim off you, your insurance company will claim that cost from the fella thet hit you as well as for the value of your car as it appears to be written off.

Donedeal & Adverts will be able to give you a realistic value of your car. When the insurance company offer you a settlement amount (which will be lower than the actual value) ask them how they came to that amount. If they say thats the trade value of the car tell them you are not in 'the trade', you are an end consumer and point out the cost for a similar car on donedeal or the like. They might relook at the case and offer a few quid more.

Im presuming your fully comp here so another thing to do is get on to them 9am tomorrow looking for a rental while this situation is resolved. Its not your fault someone rear ended you, you still need to get to work and drop the kids to school and do shopping and look after your frail mother, ya know.

good luck.

Nono Toure

ComfortKid wrote: »

Well if you want more than €300 for it,go see a doctor about your neck pain.

I don't want to go down that road, but my neck is sore!

goz83

Ok, so first of all, you need to gather the details. Name of Garda who attended scene. Names and insurance details of both drivers if possible, but the Gardai will have these for the insurance company. Contact your insyrance company and give the details you have. The car in front would claim from you, but most likely this will end up being recovered from the car behind you. Get seen by your GP to make sure you're ok. Anything you have spent on the car can be used to increase the pay out, but only slightly. I lost thousands in property damage because they don't pay out what the car is worth to the owner. Good luck

porsche boy

also definately go to your GP about your neck pain. it might not be too sore now because your buzzing on adrenaline but you wait until you've slept on it. it can feel like riger mortise has set in.

goz83

:rolleyes:

ComfortKid wrote: »

Well if you want more than €300 for it,go see a doctor about your neck pain.

Nono Toure

porsche boy wrote: »

the car in front of you will claim off you, your insurance company will claim that cost from the fella thet hit you as well as for the value of your car as it appears to be written off.

Donedeal & Adverts will be able to give you a realistic value of your car. When the insurance company offer you a settlement amount (which will be lower than the actual value) ask them how they came to that amount. If they say thats the trade value of the car tell them you are not in 'the trade', you are an end consumer and point out the cost for a similar car on donedeal or the like. They might relook at the case and offer a few quid more.

Im presuming your fully comp here so another thing to do is get on to them 9am tomorrow looking for a rental while this situation is resolved. Its not your fault someone rear ended you, you still need to get to work and drop the kids to school and do shopping and look after your frail mother, ya know.

good luck.

Thanks for that. Ya I'm fully comp, am I entitled to a rental car? If so, who is charged? My insurance company or his?

I don't want a claim against my name on my own insurance!

king_of_inismac

Nono Toure wrote: »

Thanks for that. Ya I'm fully comp, am I entitled to a rental car? If so, who is charged? My insurance company or his?

I don't want a claim against my name on my own insurance!

Contact your own insurance. You claim off yours and then they'll claim off his.

You are entitled to a rental car. You just need to ensure that he has accepted fault AND his company have accepted fault. Then you know they'll pay for your expenses.

Insurance (yours and his) so you'll really have to push them for everything.

Best of luck!

Nono Toure

king_of_inismac wrote: »

Contact your own insurance. You claim off yours and then they'll claim off his.

You are entitled to a rental car. You just need to ensure that he has accepted fault AND his company have accepted fault. Then you know they'll pay for your expenses.

Insurance (yours and his) so you'll really have to push them for everything.

Best of luck!

We're both with the same insurance co. I hope that makes things a little easier, as opposed to dealing with 2 companies. He has accepted fault, he admitted it to me & guard twice.

king_of_inismac

Nono Toure wrote: »

We're both with the same insurance co. I hope that makes things a little easier, as opposed to dealing with 2 companies. He has accepted fault, he admitted it to me & guard twice.

I was in the same situation. To be honest, I think its worse. I found the company (a series of numbers), were in no rush to process the case or admit fault because if they did, they'd have to pay for a rental car for me for the entire period.

They said I could get a rental, but if they ultimately didn't settle, I could be left with the bill.

I should say in my case the other party accepted liability at the scene and then changed later. It was a nightmare!

blond45

get your neck checked out, i got rearended thought that i was ok but that evening and next morning dear god the pain.

Nono Toure

blond45 wrote: »

get your neck checked out, i got rearended thought that i was ok but that evening and next morning dear god the pain.

Cheers, will do tomorrow.

Nono Toure

king_of_inismac wrote: »

I was in the same situation. To be honest, I think its worse. I found the company (a series of numbers), were in no rush to process the case or admit fault because if they did, they'd have to pay for a rental car for me for the entire period.

They said I could get a rental, but if they ultimately didn't settle, I could be left with the bill.

I should say in my case the other party accepted liability at the scene and then changed later. It was a nightmare!

That's crazy! Well the guy that hit me admitted fault, so hopefully he doesn't change his mind. If he does, the guard has it on record.

delthedriver

Op. you were rear ended. The guy who hit you is at fault. His Insurance Company are obliged to deal with the matter. Take good care of yourself. Try and get some rest now, and deal with the issues tomorrow.

BreadnBuddha

Of course, you were stopped at the lights behind the other car WITH your handbrake engaged, right?

Remember that. Definitely remember that.

Go to the GP tomorrow. I got hurt in an accident and figured I'd be grand and sure I was only a bit stiff from it. 8 years later I regret it. My neck and back have never recovered.

There's a big difference between a chancer looking for a payout and actually being hurt. You might not be aware of damage or injury yet but if you don't get checked out properly, do exactly what the doc says and put it all on record, you won't have a leg to stand on if it turns out you've genuinely been injured in the accident.

The body is a sensitive machine but resilient machine. You might be alright right now but damage may have occurred and if it has as a legitimate result of an accident, why should you have to pay for years from your own pocket. I pay €60 a month every month for medication and sometimes more for treatment all because I didn't want to make a deal out of my injury at the time.

If I could do it differently now I would.

Not everyone who claims an injury is a cheat and a tosser so don't be a victim of the stigma. Get yourself properly assessed.

Expect your insurance company to be total dicks about all of it.

Nono Toure

delthedriver wrote: »

Op. you were rear ended. The guy who hit you is at fault. His Insurance Company are obliged to deal with the matter. Take good care of yourself. Try and get some rest now, and deal with the issues tomorrow.

Cheers dude.

Nono Toure

BreadnBuddha wrote: »

Of course, you were stopped at the lights behind the other car WITH your handbrake engaged, right?

Remember that. Definitely remember that.

Go to the GP tomorrow. I got hurt in an accident and figured I'd be grand and sure I was only a bit stiff from it. 8 years later I regret it. My neck and back have never recovered.

There's a big difference between a chancer looking for a payout and actually being hurt. You might not be aware of damage or injury yet but if you don't get checked out properly, do exactly what the doc says and put it all on record, you won't have a leg to stand on if it turns out you've genuinely been injured in the accident.

The body is a sensitive machine but resilient machine. You might be alright right now but damage may have occurred and if it has as a legitimate result of an accident, why should you have to pay for years from your own pocket. I pay €60 a month every month for medication and sometimes more for treatment all because I didn't want to make a deal out of my injury at the time.

If I could do it differently now I would.

Not everyone who claims an injury is a cheat and a tosser so don't be a victim of the stigma. Get yourself properly assessed.

Expect your insurance company to be total dicks about all of it.

That's awful ****ty about your injury and having to pay out for it yourself now after all these years!

I'm gonna go to the doc tomorrow, and I'll see what he says. At the moment it's sore, not too sore, but tomorrow or next week could be worse. If it's not sore and the doc says it's fine I won't claim for injury coz I hate that kinda ****.

As for my insurance co., ya I'm expecting them to be awkward anyways and mess me about for a while seeing as he's also insured with them.

goz83

BreadnBuddha wrote: »

Of course, you were stopped at the lights behind the other car WITH your handbrake engaged, right?

Remember that. Definitely remember that.

OP, only tell the truth. If your handbrake was engaged, then of course, remember to say so. If it wasn't as is so often the case, then telling a lie could get you caught (which is likely) and will only end badly. It's called insurance fraud and at best, your claim is thrown out. Any damage assessor will know if your HB was engaged, or not.

I have been in your situation twice. I am currently suffering with chronic back pain, because of another driver being careless and rear ending me.

Stick to the facts and you can't go wrong.

tossy

I rear ended someone about 10 ish years ago, totally my fault. His car was worth about 500 euro and as a result it was an economic write off. I subsequently got a solicitors letter from him and was outraged appalled etc how dare he... blah blah blah..

My insurance company at the time was AXA (still with them) and they were great about it, had the same guy dealing with the case all the time so was always speaking with the same person, never got that feeling of having to start from the start again that you get sometimes dealing with large companies.

To be honest if i was in the position of the guy that i rear ended would claim for personal injury also, he was minding his own business stopped at a set of lights and this ejit hit him from the back, his insurance company wrote of his car and gave him a cheque for 500 euro - a working man with kids etc now through no fault of his own has no car and 500 euro in his pocket and has to find a replacement car, i didn't bare any grudge or ill will against him.

Nono Toure

tossy wrote: »

I rear ended someone about 10 ish years ago, totally my fault. His car was worth about 500 euro and as a result it was an economic write off. I subsequently got a solicitors letter from him and was outraged appalled etc how dare he... blah blah blah..

My insurance company at the time was AXA (still with them) and they were great about it, had the same guy dealing with the case all the time so was always speaking with the same person, never got that feeling of having to start from the start again that you get sometimes dealing with large companies.

To be honest if i was in the position of the guy that i rear ended would claim for personal injury also, he was minding his own business stopped at a set of lights and this ejit hit him from the back, his insurance company wrote of his car and gave him a cheque for 500 euro - a working man with kids etc now through no fault of his own has no car and 500 euro in his pocket and has to find a replacement car, i didn't bare any grudge or ill will against him.

I'm in the same boat as the guy you hit. Car is a write-off, worth shag all in terms of money, but to me it's worth loads, 500 euro wouldn't get me a bicycle let alone a replacement car as good!

I don't want to claim personal injury, but I will if I need to.

Does anyone know if I'm entitled to a rental car? Or do people only get a rental car if their own car is getting fixed?

kirving

I was rear ended this time last year too, by a guy who wasn't paying attention. Whatever you do, even if you feel fine, go the doctor. Happened to me on a Sunday night, woke up Monday fine, but for the rest of the week, I was in bits, and to be honest, I still put some pains in my back down to that accident. I'll have zero luck if that ever is confirmed though, as I didn't go to the doctor at the time.

The guy in front is right to claim, even a good kick to a bumper can and will break plastic clips underneath designed to stop it from rattling, etc.

Argue with the insurance company, my dad did recently after his car was deemed an economic write off after being rear ended. Knowing the car for 10 years, putting a new clutch in a short time beforehand and full service history count for nothing it seems. Ended up having to take the settlement, but insurance company allowed him to keep the car too, which can be repaired for a lot less than in the insurance co. appointed garage.

Nono Toure

Kevin Irving wrote: »

I was rear ended this time last year too, by a guy who wasn't paying attention. Whatever you do, even if you feel fine, go the doctor. Happened to me on a Sunday night, woke up Monday fine, but for the rest of the week, I was in bits, and to be honest, I still put some pains in my back down to that accident. I'll have zero luck if that ever is confirmed though, as I didn't go to the doctor at the time.

The guy in front is right to claim, even a good kick to a bumper can and will break plastic clips underneath designed to stop it from rattling, etc.

Argue with the insurance company, my dad did recently after his car was deemed an economic write off after being rear ended. Knowing the car for 10 years, putting a new clutch in a short time beforehand and full service history count for nothing it seems. Ended up having to take the settlement, but insurance company allowed him to keep the car too, which can be repaired for a lot less than in the insurance co. appointed garage.

That's handy enough, I didn't know I might be allowed to keep the car. It could be wrecked underneath (bent chassis etc) but in terms of damage I can see it's gonna cost more to fix than it's worth in their eyes, but 2 new bumpers, a bonnet and boot is what is wrecked that I can see, and if I could get those parts from a scrap yard it's not too bad, but as I said the job would be more than 500 euro, so either way I'm outta pocket and all the hassle is so annoying.

kirving

Horrible isn't it. I can understand why genuine people feel tempted to go down the injury route. Also, your insurance won't be affected since both cars should claim from the one behind.

Nono Toure

Kevin Irving wrote: »

Horrible isn't it. I can understand why genuine people feel tempted to go down the injury route. Also, your insurance won't be affected since both cars should claim from the one behind.

Horrible is right! I understand it could have been a lot worse, thankfully nobody was injured badly, that's the main thing, but there's no provisions (I think) in place for people who have older cars and they're worth a lot more to them than the bloody book value that the insurance company gives out!

Like your dad, I've spent lots of money on my car recently, over a grand in 6 months, even 200 euro a few days ago, but none of that will matter!

Hopefully a claim won't go down against me, that'd just sicken me even more!

goz83

Nono Toure wrote: »

I'm in the same boat as the guy you hit. Car is a write-off, worth shag all in terms of money, but to me it's worth loads, 500 euro wouldn't get me a bicycle let alone a replacement car as good!

I don't want to claim personal injury, but I will if I need to.

Does anyone know if I'm entitled to a rental car? Or do people only get a rental car if their own car is getting fixed?

Ask your insurer about a courtesy car first. Shouldn't be a problem.

Nono Toure wrote: »

That's handy enough, I didn't know I might be allowed to keep the car. It could be wrecked underneath (bent chassis etc) but in terms of damage I can see it's gonna cost more to fix than it's worth in their eyes, but 2 new bumpers, a bonnet and boot is what is wrecked that I can see, and if I could get those parts from a scrap yard it's not too bad, but as I said the job would be more than 500 euro, so either way I'm outta pocket and all the hassle is so annoying.

If you're near south Dublin and you want to keep the car, I highly recommend taking it to GVD Autos. If there is no chassis damage, you may well get it fixed for under €500. Pm me for details if you want.

Nono Toure

Does anyone know what happens if they say my car is only worth 400 euro and it'll cost 800 euro to fix, will they make me scrap it? I don't want it scrapped, I'd like to be able to fix it, but I'm not sure yet how badly damaged underneath it is...

Also, my insurance company aren't being too helpful, they are also the insurer of the guy who crashed into me! Crash was 2 days ago, and they keep saying they can't get in touch with the guy to see if he was at fault! So what happens if he decides never to answer his phone? It's 2 days on now, and I've no car and not a fcuk do they give.

MugMugs

Nono Toure wrote: »

Does anyone know what happens if they say my car is only worth 400 euro and it'll cost 800 euro to fix, will they make me scrap it? I don't want it scrapped, I'd like to be able to fix it, but I'm not sure yet how badly damaged underneath it is...

Also, my insurance company aren't being too helpful, they are also the insurer of the guy who crashed into me! Crash was 2 days ago, and they keep saying they can't get in touch with the guy to see if he was at fault! So what happens if he decides never to answer his phone? It's 2 days on now, and I've no car and not a fcuk do they give.

If the vehicle is beyond economical repair, they will settle the value of the vehicle with you and let you buy it back for the salvage amount.

You can then repair it if it's not too badly damaged.

Re their lack of empathy with respect to this incident, he who shouts loudest generally gets heard.

If you become a suffering pain in their ass, they'll want rid of you.

They'll attempt phone contact and to write to their client to confirm occurence.

Be patient

And by the way, if you're injured and genuinely injured, you're not doing yourself any favours by not claiming.

My brother took that mind set years ago and is now trying to pay for his slipped disk himself and out of pocket every time it flares up and he doesn't go to work.

If you're hurt, claim for it. If you're not, then don't

9935452

Nono Toure wrote: »

Does anyone know what happens if they say my car is only worth 400 euro and it'll cost 800 euro to fix, will they make me scrap it? I don't want it scrapped, I'd like to be able to fix it, but I'm not sure yet how badly damaged underneath it is...

Also, my insurance company aren't being too helpful, they are also the insurer of the guy who crashed into me! Crash was 2 days ago, and they keep saying they can't get in touch with the guy to see if he was at fault! So what happens if he decides never to answer his phone? It's 2 days on now, and I've no car and not a fcuk do they give.

It will be written off and you get a check for 400. They will give you an option of keeping the car for salvage value of 50 to 100 euro.
The one problem comes from if it is a cat A or B write off which means it is unsafe to repair. Any chassis damage and it could be down this route.
They wil only pay out when they recieve a certificate of destruction

To Elland Back

Nono Toure wrote: »

Also, my insurance company aren't being too helpful, they are also the insurer of the guy who crashed into me! Crash was 2 days ago, and they keep saying they can't get in touch with the guy to see if he was at fault! So what happens if he decides never to answer his phone? It's 2 days on now, and I've no car and not a fcuk do they give.

Let's reverse the situation as an example.

Would you be happy if some other person rang up your insurer stating that you were in the wrong in an accident and that they accepted his word and settled a claim against you?

They have a duty to ensure that a client is liable for an accident before they pay a 3rd party (you in this instance) and they must talk to him in order to do so. If the client keeps ignoring the calls, insurers will have no option but to settle with you and hold their client in breach of policy conditions

Nono Toure

9935452 wrote: »

It will be written off and you get a check for 400. They will give you an option of keeping the car for salvage value of 50 to 100 euro.
The one problem comes from if it is a cat A or B write off which means it is unsafe to repair. Any chassis damage and it could be down this route.
They wil only pay out when they recieve a certificate of destruction

Well if that's the case I'm fcuked, all thanks to someone else not paying attention and me having to bear the brunt of it all, while he drives away!

Nono Toure

To Elland Back wrote: »

Let's reverse the situation as an example.

Would you be happy if some other person rang up your insurer stating that you were in the wrong in an accident and that they accepted his word and settled a claim against you?

They have a duty to ensure that a client is liable for an accident before they pay a 3rd party (you in this instance) and they must talk to him in order to do so. If the client keeps ignoring the calls, insurers will have no option but to settle with you and hold their client in breach of policy conditions

No, I wouldnt be happy! But he won't answer their calls. I told the insurer that the guard got a confession out of the driver. I gave the guards name and his station.

9935452

Nono Toure wrote: »

No, I wouldnt be happy! But he won't answer their calls. I told the insurer that the guard got a confession out of the driver. I gave the guards name and his station.

The person who hit you is required to inform his insurers that he had an accident.
Did you get a phone number of the lad who hit you. It might not be a bad thing to see if he answers the phone to you, you might only be inquiring how he is after the accident and then ask has he contacted the insurance company about the accident.

My advice is if you have a local friendly garage who will hire you a car , hire the car, inform the insurance company that you have hired a car since they dont want to provide you with one and the bill will go to them when they get in contact with the other person.
By a friendly garage i mean one that wouldnt charge you if the insurance company refuse to pay for the hire car. A deal could be done with the garage to buy the car, taking the hire price off the purchase price of the car.

To Elland Back

Nono Toure wrote: »

No, I wouldnt be happy! But he won't answer their calls. I told the insurer that the guard got a confession out of the driver. I gave the guards name and his station.

Not good alright, but like I say, they will only tolerate that for so long before they have to settle with you

anniehoo

Nono Toure wrote: »

That's crazy! Well the guy that hit me admitted fault, so hopefully he doesn't change his mind. If he does, the guard has it on record.

Makes no odds if the guards have it on record as I found out a few years back. I too got shunted from behind into another car in front. It was in very slow moving traffic on a slight incline. It was barely a tip and there was no damage to any of the cars. Buuut the guy behind pulled out and in front of the first car after it happened, so I called the guards to be on the safeside.

He admitted liability to the guards on the scene then. Months later I get a call from my insurance company saying the the guy in front was claiming. Long story short....this went back and forward for over 2 years with the guy in front getting a substantial amount of money for "medical issues" and my insurance company splitting the cost 50:50 with the guy behinds because they couldn't prove I wasn't partly to blame either despite me asking multiple times for an assessor to come out and writing at least three accident report forms. When I asked why the garda report wasn't sufficient they said the garda just noted the incident and took names and that was it. Crazy!

Nono Toure

anniehoo wrote: »

Makes no odds if the guards have it on record as I found out a few years back. I too got shunted from behind into another car in front. It was in very slow moving traffic on a slight incline. It was barely a tip and there was no damage to any of the cars. Buuut the guy behind pulled out and in front of the first car after it happened, so I called the guards to be on the safeside.

He admitted liability to the guards on the scene then. Months later I get a call from my insurance company saying the the guy in front was claiming. Long story short....this went back and forward for over 2 years with the guy in front getting a substantial amount of money for "medical issues" and my insurance company splitting the cost 50:50 with the guy behinds because they couldn't prove I wasn't partly to blame either despite me asking multiple times for an assessor to come out and writing at least three accident report forms. When I asked why the garda report wasn't sufficient they said the garda just noted the incident and took names and that was it. Crazy!

Jesus that's awful sh1tty.... Well hopefully same doesn't happen to me!