unreasonable crash victim

Sniipe

A relation of mine was in an old van (05) and crashed into an older van (96). 100% my relations fault. They skidded on a bend and into the front side of the older van.

The 96 van ended up with a scratched panel above the wheel, a scratched door and a broken light.

So, he got a quote of €1400 for the damage. I was a little shocked. The van alone isn't worth that amount.

I was shown pics and the rusted and already scratched panels weren't badly scratched, but the light needed to be replaced.

My relation was able to source new materials for way less.

It doesn't seem fair that my relation was quoted so much. Is it a case of c'est la vie, pay up and don't crash again?

[thankfully, I've never been in a crash but I felt that their situation was a bit rich]

ba_barabus

Sniipe wrote: »

is it a case of c'est la vie, pay up and don't crash again?

Yes

Wibbs

Even if the other car was worth a tenner, that's got nothing to do with it. Your relative was in the wrong.

Miaireland

Your relative was in the wrong. The fact that your relative can source materials for way less is irrelevant. As long as the quote is genuine then he/she should pay. However I would get the driver to sign something saying this is full and final settlement in this matter to avoid getting a letter about an personal injury later on.

BrokenArrows

They can try and negotiate but if the person wants to repair their vehicle then its their right to have it returned to the condition it was before.

Im not sure how the law stands on repairing a already rusty and scratch panel.
You could fight and claim that you will only pay for repairing the exact scratches that were caused but thats impossible. Leaving a freshly painted section in the middle of a rusty door could be claimed looks worse than before!.

Best you can do is try and negotiate for the repair of the light and a bit of cash in hand for the panel.

the_syco

Miaireland wrote: »

However I would get the driver to sign something saying this is full and final settlement in this matter to avoid getting a letter about an personal injury later on.

I'd be wary of giving the other person ideas.

Pkiernan

BrokenArrows wrote: »

They can try and negotiate but if the person wants to repair their vehicle then its their right to have it returned to the condition it was before.

l.

Not if the value of the repair exceeds the value of the vehicle they don't.

crosstownk

Pkiernan wrote: »

Not if the value of the repair exceeds the value of the vehicle they don't.

True but I get the impression that the situation in the OP is being dealt with privately rather than getting the insurances providers involved.

Voodoomelon

Would that be a course to take, tell them let the insurance sort it out, they won't get more than €500. Then your relative can settle with the insurance company and lose nothing.

SteM

Miaireland wrote: »

Your relative was in the wrong. The fact that your relative can source materials for way less is irrelevant. As long as the quote is genuine then he/she should pay. However I would get the driver to sign something saying this is full and final settlement in this matter to avoid getting a letter about an personal injury later on.

Would a letter like this even hold up legally? How can someone sign a letter signing away their rights without knowing if there were going to going to be effected down the line?

Sniipe

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Would that be a course to take, tell them let the insurance sort it out, they won't get more than €500. Then your relative can settle with the insurance company and lose nothing.

Interesting.

They are looking to do the whole lot privately. Its a pity that the cost to repair the older van is more than the cost to replace it.

Yawns

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Would that be a course to take, tell them let the insurance sort it out, they won't get more than €500. Then your relative can settle with the insurance company and lose nothing.

Yeah except with insurance companies I wouldn't trust any of them. Have a look around here and you'll see people even have claims lodged when they notified for an accident only but no actual claim was put in.

The other side may also develop whiplash and the insurance company can payout a good few thousand.

enricoh

Tell them you can do 500 cash max any more u go through insurance who will write it off. I doubt they'll spend a fiver repairing it. Good chance? there's no doe etc n will take handy 500.

Voodoomelon

Yawns wrote: »

Yeah except with insurance companies I wouldn't trust any of them. Have a look around here and you'll see people even have claims lodged when they notified for an accident only but no actual claim was put in.

The other side may also develop whiplash and the insurance company can payout a good few thousand.

There's always that risk alright, but if it's a battered 21 year old van, they might chancing their arm and whilst some do claim false injuries, its a stretch for the average person.

If they tried to pull that and the OP's relative is lucky enough to have had no Gardai attending the scene, my attitude would be "what crash"?

I'm all for compensating people and they have every right to have their vehicle repaired, god knows i've been on the receiving end of this, but €1400 for a 21 year old battered van is having a laugh.

Victor

Sniipe wrote: »

My relation was able to source new materials for way less.

And fitting? And temporary vehicle during repairs?

Sniipe

Voodoomelon wrote: »

If they tried to pull that and the OP's relative is lucky enough to have had no Gardai attending the scene, my attitude would be "what crash"?

No guards were present.

Victor wrote: »

And fitting? And temporary vehicle during repairs?

yea, all needed extra

crosstownk

enricoh wrote: »

Tell them you can do 500 cash max any more u go through insurance who will write it off. I doubt they'll spend a fiver repairing it. Good chance? there's no doe etc n will take handy 500.

^^ This.