Just crashed, when do I ring insurance?

Hi folks

Silly question. Just crashed (not at fault). Other driver took away in ambulance. My car still driving.

Do I ring my insurance company now, or do I wait until I can contact the other driver first?

Never been here before so unsure what to do.

Cheers

Midnight_EG

Ring now in the event that the other drive does and screws you

kaahooters

here this list will be helpfull
https://imgur.com/a/0eiUsWc

Del2005

Ring them now and give the other drivers details and you are done, apart from waiting for the claim.

upthepoll

were the guards at the scene? make sure you know what guard attended and that they have confirmed that you were not at fault

punisher5112

Get photos, lots of photos preferebly in place of collision.

You can ring them when you get home.

Is it a bad crash?

Witnesses if any get if possible and is there CCTV anywhere close.

downwesht

Get checked out by doctor.You may have a bump or bruising that may cause you pain later.I cannot stress enough go to the Doc!I was glad I did when I had an accident.

What Username Guidelines

downwesht wrote: »

Get checked out by doctor.You may have a bump or bruising that may cause you pain later.I cannot stress enough go to the Doc!I was glad I did when I had an accident.

Just to echo this - I always thought injuries appearing later were just people chancing their arm - but you could be sore tomorrow, worth it for peace of mind. And take it handy this evening, sounds serious enough to have an ambulance involved, you can get a delayed effect.

TCM

Presumably if the other person has been taken to hospital the gardai have attended the scene of the accident and taken a brief statement from you. However if not go to the nearest garda station immediately and report the accident. Also contact your insurance company without delay.

upthepoll

downwesht wrote: »

Get checked out by doctor.You may have a bump or bruising that may cause you pain later.I cannot stress enough go to the Doc!I was glad I did when I had an accident.

no offence but you sound like a daytime tv advert for an ambulance chaser!!!

punisher5112

Kkv how bad a crash we talking, hope all involved are ok. Meant to ask this 1st.

What Username Guidelines

upthepoll wrote: »

no offence but you sound like a daytime tv advert for an ambulance chaser!!!

I got rear ended, the only damage was chipped paint and was still sore the next day. This seems to be a lot worse given an ambulance was involved. Adrenaline is a hell of a drug, wait til it wears off.

mickoneill31

upthepoll wrote: »

no offence but you sound like a daytime tv advert for an ambulance chaser!!!

My missus had a small crash a couple of months ago. She was fine on the day. Since then she's had to be on strong enough pain killers, has had an MRI showing some damage and is still sore today.

seamus

As downwesht says, if it was severe enough for the other guy to end up in an ambulance, then get yourself down to the GP. You're not trying to scam anyone out of money, you're just looking after your own wellbeing.

I would recommend that you take out a pen and paper right now, and write down a detailed description of what happened, from a minute beforehand, to the point where you got home. Everything you noticed, everyone you spoke to, what they said, how they looked, and so forth. Every detail of those few minutes.

This is not for legal purposes, but your memory will start to fail you over the next 48 hours and the facts will become increasingly muddled around the same time that everyone starts asking you specifically what happened.

If you have this document to refer back to, then you're less likely to get yourself in a muddle.

After that, if you haven't already been speaking to a Garda, then you need to do that. If there was a Garda at the scene, he will have asked you to present your licence and insurance at the station. When you do that, make sure you get the details of that Garda; the insurance company will want it.

Then ring your insurance company.

McCrack

If you suffered an injury you are entitled to be compensated. Speak with a solicitor for advice.

Wildly Boaring

Photos.

Garda details - name station number

Witness details.
Especially if anyone witnessed them admitting liability

Ring insurance details from home


IS THE C5 OK?

Paulzx

What Username Guidelines wrote: »

sounds serious enough to have an ambulance involved, you can get a delayed effect.

Unfortunately a requirement for an ambulance is not always a genuine indication of a serious accident (not saying it applies to this incident).

Paulzx

McCrack wrote: »

If you suffered an injury you are entitled to be compensated. Speak with a solicitor for advice.

Maybe see your doctor first before the solicitor?

Unless of course the legal profession are medical experts now as well

ELM327

Wildly Boaring wrote: »

IS THE C5 OK?

I have to admit this was the first thing I thought of when I saw that all involved were ok and saw the name of the OP

Wildly Boaring

Wildly Boaring wrote: »

IS THE C5 OK?

It's never been happier.. but the Ford Galaxy I bought, on the other hand...

Cheers for the replies folks.

I'm angry that I paid for a dash cam, then the one time I need it, I don't have it with me. Typical.


To give a bit more detail, the other driver was parked on the side of the road, almost completely off the road (there wasn't a full hard shoulder but enough that you'd get by without any real inconvenience, and they were parked at a gate to a field). Road was wide enough, also. I was approaching from behind the other driver, and they pulled out to do a U-Turn. They obviously didn't see me at all (strong sunlight I presume). I beeped and braked, and tried to go into the oncoming lane (there was no oncoming traffic, which is presumably why they chose that moment to pull out).

My hope was that they'd realise there was something coming, and react by braking to a stop, and I'd go around them, and it'd all be a 'well that was lucky' and everyone would move on with their lives. Unfortunately, I just didn't have the space necessary to stop, and she continued with her movement, so we met each other in the middle of the road. I went straight into the side of her.

My airbag went off at my legs/knees, but not at the steering wheel. Her driver side 'curtain' airbags went off along the top of the door windows. Immediately I knew I felt fine, but was completely numbed with a 'pins and needles' feeling all over my body. I presume adrenaline.

I got out and knocked on her windscreen and asked if she was okay. She muttered yes, but she looked a bit shook. I tried to open the drivers door of her car to check on her but it wouldn't open (her car is a write off).

I opened the passenger door and leaned in and asked was she okay. She was visibly shaking, but said yes. I very gently squeezed her knee and arm, and asked could she feel me doing it, and she said that she could feel me, so that was a relief for me. If she couldn't feel that then I figured she might be in trouble.

At this point other people came over and i took a step back. I walked away and tried to take it all in. Three or four people were talking to the other driver. One of them rang the Gardai.

A lady approached me and said she was driving in the car right behind me, and seen it happen. Agreed that I wasn't at fault, thankfully. I got her contact number and name and she headed off as she was going somewhere.

Gardai arrived and took a brief statement from me, took my driver's license and insurance details. I don't recall seeing the garda talking to the lady at length in the car at all (who at this point was in the passenger seat, with the assistance of the other people, I'd guess), but when I told the Garda what happened, she said the woman driving the other car had the same story. So I feel a bit relieved at that, (that she isn't trying to put the blame on me, thankfully).

The Galaxy busted it's windscreen washer bottle onto the road, the bonnet is damaged, front bumper etc. (i hit her hardest at my front passenger side, but as i hit her she obviously moved across the whole front of my car, so i have the whole front damaged, but lesser damage on the driver side). An ambulance arrived and two paramedics went through things. One talked to me, and was polite. Offered me the opportunity to go to the hospital, but I felt grand (despite the pins and needles all over still being there, i did start to feel a bruise on my left leg where the airbag must have hit it). Paramedic asked what happened (unsure if that was for his forms, or just if he was making small talk). Asked had I any pains, any allergies, when I last ate, etc. At this point the other driver was put into the ambulance (she wasn't stretchered, i didn't actually see her getting in, but i believe she walked).


Tow truck arrived and took her car away. Mechanic driving the tow truck gave mine a quick look, and agreed it'd be safe to drive (by this point I'd moved my car off the road, and i reversed it, drove it forward, revved it, turned the wheels both ways etc. so i was confident it'd be okay anyway).

I drove off and that was that. Home I came.


This is the part of the post that's making me feel bad: i actually do have some pains and sores, but I don't want to be 'that guy'. I started to notice these coming on on the drive home, so I made an appointment with my GP. Unfortunately he won't see me until monday, so im not sure if i should bother heading to A+E or if i'll just leave it and if im still sore on monday then it's probably an issue, whereas now it could just be minor sores from the impact that could be gone tomorrow.

My neck is very stiff and sore, i suppose 'tense' would be the way to describe it, but I presume (guessing here obviously) that might be just from the seatbelt gripping me at the point of impact? I don't currently feel injured or such (i'm still walking around, albeit, uncomfortably).

On one hand, I really don't want to be the 'money grabbing prick' that everyone hears of in claims. On the other, if i do actually have a prolonged soreness, I don't want to screw myself by not attending A+E. I also don't want to go near A+E as I feel I'm abusing the system if I do that. There are people literally dying in there, and there's me strolling in with a sore neck, whistling away to myself.. seems wrong).

I've a busting headache but hopefully the headache tablets will knock that out. It's a very surreal experience. I'm just glad, firstly, i'm not at fault, and secondly, that I was in my car and not in theres, as, at least i got to see it all unfold. I'd say the sudden, completely out of nowhere bang of the airbags going off and my car hitting that woman will stay with her for a long time.

I have her phone number but unsure if I should contact her or not..? I don't think she lives in the area. The garda at the scene gave me her phone number and insurance info.

Iseedeadpixels

What Username Guidelines wrote: »

Just to echo this - I always thought injuries appearing later were just people chancing their arm - but you could be sore tomorrow, worth it for peace of mind. And take it handy this evening, sounds serious enough to have an ambulance involved, you can get a delayed effect.

Happened to me a week after the crash, really bad back pain, 600 euro later on physio fee's I'm raging

What Username Guidelines

[Deleted User] wrote: »

This is the part of the post that's making me feel bad: i actually do have some pains and sores, but I don't want to be 'that guy'.

That’s the exact reason why I always thought delayed injuries were fraudulent, but there’s a very good reason for that. Once the adrenaline wears off you realise what hurts. Given the pins and needles feeling and headache, I personally wouldn’t wait until Monday and would try see someone sooner. Even just for peace of mind that everything you’re feeling is normal. Sounds intense.

Iseedeadpixels

Iseedeadpixels wrote: »

Happened to me a week after the crash, really bad back pain, 600 euro later on physio fee's I'm raging

Surely if its only a week after the crash, you could get that money back (via insurance?).

SteM

You won't be abusing a+e. They have triage there, you won't skip in front of someone dying, don't worry. Go if you feel you need to. Best of luck.

Mech1

Go to A&E go now, bring a notebook and pen. keep filling in the details as they come to you however small they seem to you.

Get well soon!

punisher5112

Kkv go rest and you may well feel worse tomorrow. Don't go driving or doing anything strenuous.

Take a Panadol if needs be or stronger if worse.

Go see your doctor tomorrow.

somesoldiers

Happened me a few weeks back, My Mrs convinced me to go to the doctors and get anti1inflammatories, I gave in for a peaceful life, next day I was sore but have been fine since.the doctor said muscular pain can be delayed

AMKC

I was out walking early in the weak and witnessed a rear end crash. The one at fault was going too fast and the roads did not look great either. Id say the roads were greasy so that would not have helped neither would tyres that looked to have lost the best of there grip. The Women in the car she crashed into was in shock but otherwise seemed ok and there was no damage to her car a Galaxy. The other women's car to was in bits. Say what you like new cars are built tougher and stronger than cars from even a decade ago.

AMKC

AMKC wrote: »

neither would tyres that looked to have lost the best of there grip.

Funny you mention that. I expected the Gardai would have taken a look around the car/s for tyres (thankfully, mine are all decent).


I also expected, especially as the other driver was taken in an ambulance, to be breathalysed, but I wasn't.

Ghekko

Do you have an out of hours doctor you could see over the weekend as opposed to spending half the day in A&E? She caused the accident. I'd be inclined to see if she contacts you instead of ringing her.

Samuel T. Cogley

Watch that headache, you may not have a bump but it's worth getting checked out. As above if you have VHI then try to go to a swiftclinic save you some time.

Heroditas

For an accident of this severity, I would think you'd be best not contacting her and leave it to the insurance companies and Gardai.

antodeco

Don't contact her. People can claim intimidation very easily.

Ring your insurance company so it's logged and off your mind. They will deal with it all.

Get to the doctor.

Something to be aware of, you more than likely have "legal cover" with your insurance. Be prepared for a call from them as they will want to find out what happened, should you need to claim personal injury.

mgbgt1978

That is assuming the OP is fully comp and not 3rd party.
Even if they are fully comp it would be in their own interest to claim off the other driver (through a solicitor) rather than put a claim through their own insurer.
The 'through a solicitor' bit is just that the other driver's insurer will simply fob him off if he tries to go it alone.

downwesht

In no way was I suggesting that you go to a Doc as a means of getting compo.I rolled a car and walked away fine!Until I got a serious headache,took 1 month for the internal brain swelling to subside,even with doc prescription.

Iseedeadpixels

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Surely if its only a week after the crash, you could get that money back (via insurance?).

Car at the time was a piece of crap and not much damage done, stupidly I let her away with it without taking details...hindsight etc etc etc

My insurance is 3rd party, but again I wasn't at fault, and it seems (based on the time at the scene) the other driver isn't disputing liability, so.. I should be okay?

somesoldiers

Deleted User wrote: »

My insurance is 3rd party, but again I wasn't at fault, and it seems (based on the time at the scene) the other driver isn't disputing liability, so.. I should be okay?

Id be ringing your crowd anyway... 5 minute phone call could save some heart-ache further down the line..

Eggs For Dinner

If the other party is still in hospital, his insurers are unlikely to accept liability until they can have a chat with him for his version of events. It is a courtesy which I'm sure you would expect from your insurer if the roles were reversed. If he has reported it in, you should be fine

sunnyt

As everyone else here has said you need to call your own insurance company. This will actually help you as your insurance company will deal with theirs and help get things sorted. You were involved in an accident and this needs to be logged. When you renew your insurance they ask you about previous accidents and you will have to disclose this and it will be fine as you have nothing to hide as you weren't at fault....it might not appear that way if you don't log it! If this drags on you cannot change insurance while you are involved in a claim, regardless of fault. Write down your version of events while they are fresh....email them to yourself. Hopefully you won't need it but just in case. Hope things get sorted quickly for you.

Looks like they've no insurance.

seamus

FFS.

You'll need to make a claim with MIBI so.

Diemos

What Username Guidelines wrote: »

I got rear ended, the only damage was chipped paint and was still sore the next day. This seems to be a lot worse given an ambulance was involved. Adrenaline is a hell of a drug, wait til it wears off.

This is strange, I was rear ended, and the damage was a lot worse than chipped paint. Towbar mangled, bumper and boot pushed in. I didn't have any after effects.
Could be different seating positions lead to different impacts on the body....

Diemos

Deleted User wrote: »

Looks like they've no insurance.

Scumbag, sorry to hear that. As stated above your insurance company can go to the MIBI.
The book should be thrown at scumbags like that when they are caught. :mad:

mgbgt1978

sunnyt wrote: »

As everyone else here has said you need to call your own insurance company. This will actually help you as your insurance company will deal with theirs and help get things sorted. You were involved in an accident and this needs to be logged. When you renew your insurance they ask you about previous accidents and you will have to disclose this and it will be fine as you have nothing to hide as you weren't at fault....it might not appear that way if you don't log it! If this drags on you cannot change insurance while you are involved in a claim, regardless of fault. Write down your version of events while they are fresh....email them to yourself. Hopefully you won't need it but just in case. Hope things get sorted quickly for you.

They won't. He has 3rd party only, and therefore his Insurer has nothing to do with this incident.

What Username Guidelines

Diemos wrote: »

This is strange, I was rear ended, and the damage was a lot worse than chipped paint. Towbar mangled, bumper and boot pushed in. I didn't have any after effects.
Could be different seating positions lead to different impacts on the body....

It was only bit of stiffness but I did see it coming, with nowhere to go, so probably tensed up. It was years ago, but I do remember it being very very loud and being convinced the whole boot was gonna be destroyed, even got it checked out after because I was convinced there was damage underneath.

So a bit of an update: I rang the other driver directly, and we chatted for a little while. Seems like a nice person, in fairness.

Turns out there is insurance in place. The Garda at the scene gave me insurance information that was correct, but had the wrong actual insurer named. So when I got through to the insurer on the phone, they had no record of the policy or reg plate on their system, and they said the name I gave is too common, so they need an address or date of birth to try to narrow it down (I had neither).

Thankfully enough, after a short phone call (to the other driver) I got the right insurance company name, and when I rang them, they immediately accepted liability.


Can I ask ye folks, the phone call I had was very friendly, but also had a stern undertone of 'this is how we do it' and little room given to deviate from their plan of action.

I'm curious, they told me a repair centre will contact me and they'll take the car, and give me a replacement car to use. They'll need time to 'put an estimate on it, and order the parts, and carry out the repair'. However, have I not got the option of not repairing it and pocketing the repair costs?

I know it might sound a bit tight, but I've a funny feeling the repairs are going to cost as much as the car is worth (possibly more!). I've had simple bumper fixes in the past, that were 'cash jobs' and cost €400. This needs a whole front bumper, new bonnet, grille, airbags reinstated, seatbelts sorted, new headlamp, and foglight. To add to the complications, there are front parking sensors that are knackered now, too.

I'd consider it an economic write-off. I think I'd be more interested in taking the money to put towards a different car, to be honest.

Also, can anyone tell me if my car is added to a 'crashed' database or something like that? (what I'm really asking is, now that the car has been crashed, will it be flagged on Motorcheck, Cartell, etc. So if I'm trying to sell it later, I'll have a doubly-difficult time)?

Or is it simply accept that the car will be repaired and that's the end of it?

Sorry for the million questions.


I'm still in pain (it's gotten worse, but I was told that it would by my GP and an A+E doctor), and have restricted arm and neck movements, but that wasn't really talked about in the phone call (I'm confident they avoid that line of conversation on purpose).

What Username Guidelines

What Username Guidelines wrote: »

It was only bit of stiffness but I did see it coming, with nowhere to go, so probably tensed up. It was years ago, but I do remember it being very very loud and being convinced the whole boot was gonna be destroyed, even got it checked out after because I was convinced there was damage underneath.

Similar to yourself, I knew i was going to crash before I actually had an impact. Knew there was no way out. I ended up sitting upright, and leaning forward to the windscreen (really focused on trying to avoid the situation) and I think that probably contributed to my pains. I actually getting sporadic pains in my hands and arms (a lot in the wrist) and i reckon it's from gripping the steering wheel tightly upon impact.


Really wish I'd had the dashcam. Even though no one is questioning liability, etc. I still think I'd loved to have had the footage (of what I hope is to be my once-in-a-lifetime car crash).

punisher5112

You can get the quote they give for repairs minus the vat on the invoice.

Totally up to you what you decide.

Hopefully all involved including yourself are doing ok.

If you are injured or don't feel right get checked out.

The insurance will cover and physio etc....

mgbgt1978

You are also entitled to claim for approx 10% of the cost of repairs as depreciation on your Car.
And, as said, what you do with the money paid to you to cover the damage to your car is entirely up to yourself. Fix the car, pay some bills, give it to me.....the choice is yours. .


The other Driver's Insurer is only telling you the way they want to do things....you do no not have to do it their way. Make this perfectly clear with them from the outset.