Reversed into a car in supermarket car park?

Orlak2410

Hi guys, I reversed into a car in a supermarket car park while my car and the other persons car were both in a queue of traffic waiting on a car to park. It was a stupid thing to do but I was in a hurry and my mind was elsewhere. There was minimal damage to their car (the bumper was a little bit scuffed up). They were nice about it and we agreed that I would get it fixed for them. They told me that they would get a quote and get back to me in the coming days. Two weeks later they contacted me saying they would get a quote and contact me in the next day or two. Now another two weeks has past and I still haven't heard anything from them. What should I do now? I kind of feel like I'm being messed around with and it has been bothering me wondering what is going to happen. Thanks.

Seth Brundle

Don't do anything - they may just leave it. What are you thinking of doing: forcing them into claiming off you?

Incidentally did you get some photos of the damage?

Orlak2410

Seth Brundle wrote: »

Don't do anything - they may just leave it. What are you thinking of doing: forcing them into claiming off you?

Incidentally did you get some photos of the damage?

Yeah well that's why I have let them get onto me and not me getting onto them but what if they get onto me a month after the fact saying they brought it to a main dealer and got a new bumper and it ends up costing a fortune or what if they decide that they're neck is injured and want to file a personal injury claim?
What are the time limits after an accident that you have to do these things?

Seth Brundle

Have you informed your insurance company of the incident? Maybe for your own reassurance, do so.

Orlak2410

Seth Brundle wrote: »

Have you informed your insurance company of the incident? Maybe for your own reassurance, do so.

It seems too petty to lose my no claims bonus over it.

Seth Brundle

It's not a claim. You're letting them know in case the other driver submits a PI claim.
Incidentally, they can get the car fixed in a main dealer if they wish and you can't say no.

Orlak2410

Incidentally, they can get the car fixed in a main dealer if they wish and you can't say no.[/quote]


Is a month after it happened not too late to for them to expect me to get their car fixed? Anything could have happened to the car in the meantime that they could blame on me.
Don't get me wrong if they contacted me with a reasonable price to get it fixed I would have no problem but they are taking the piss leaving it a month.

pablo128

They don't even have to get the car fixed. They could go to a main dealer for a quote and you have to pay. They could leave the bumper as is if they want, and there's nothing you can do.

silver2020

Seth Brundle wrote: »

It's not a claim. You're letting them know in case the other driver submits a PI claim.
Incidentally, they can get the car fixed in a main dealer if they wish and you can't say no.

I would not do it - even a possible claim would lead to immediate rise in your insurance and inability to look elsewhere.

There was no claim of injury at the time, damage minimal.

I'd forget it until they get back to me. - if they get back

Orlak2410

pablo128 wrote: »

They don't even have to get the car fixed. They could go to a main dealer for a quote and you have to pay. They could leave the bumper as is if they want, and there's nothing you can do.

There must be a time limit after an incident that you have to take action. Most things have time limits.

Orlak2410

silver2020 wrote: »

I would not do it - even a possible claim would lead to immediate rise in your insurance and inability to look elsewhere.

There was no claim of injury at the time, damage minimal.

I'd forget it until they get back to me. - if they get back

Yeah I am leaving it but hypothetically I'm wondering how long after an incident do you have to take action be it for property damage or personal injury? Bearing in mind that they didn't contact the police or ask for my insurance details.

Tordelback

Orlak2410 wrote: »

There must be a time limit after an incident that you have to take action. Most things have time limits.

Not informal personal agreements.

Put it out of your mind, pay the money if/when they ask - if it's too much, make a counter offer. If it's way too much, as in worse than the likely hit to your NCB, let your insurance handle it.

Orlak2410

Tordelback wrote: »

Not informal personal agreements.

Put it out of your mind, pay the money if/when they ask - if it's too much, make a counter offer. If it's way too much, as in worse than the likely hit to your NCB, let your insurance handle it.

Yeah I don't mind paying a reasonable cost to get it fixed. The damage was minimal so I can't imagine it being too much. Although it was my fault I still don't think it seems fair leaving it a month to contact me if they do.

Masala

I would let Insurance know about it. If no claim... then advise Insurance to update your file.

Whiplash could com3 down the line in15 months... and the Insurance co could leave u stuck with a €38k personal injuries claim. Better be safe

Fann Linn

Similar thing happened to me in a garage years ago. Like the op it was my fault. I tried to reverse back behind a petrol pump and hit a car which was entering the garage forecourt.

Minimal damage and we both exchanged details, rang the gardai, and they said they wouldn't get involved as a civil matter on private property but they would send out a car to check we were both insured etc. We both agreed that there was no need. I said that I would pay for repairs etc.
Move on two months and PMPA get in touch with me asking why I admitted liability, why I didn't report to them and a load of other questions. The other party had gone off, reported the accident to her insurance company and 'elaborated' the extent of the damage. It was pre mobile phone camera days so her word was accepted.
Pretty hefty increase in my premium the following renewal.
The op should report it to his insurance company.

Tordelback

Orlak2410 wrote: »

Yeah I don't mind paying a reasonable cost to get it fixed. The damage was minimal so I can't imagine it being too much. Although it was my fault I still don't think it seems fair leaving it a month to contact me if they do.

Definitely not fair, and you're clearly a decent skin to still be thinking about it at all. However, many people are under a huge amount of mental stress these past weeks, and its only rising, so I've adopted a policy of cutting everyone some slack as regards rudeness and thoughtlessness.

I commented because my own feisty elderly mother had her parked car badly whacked in a supermarket carpark the other week (not by Orlak2410!), and was fuming and gunning to find the sleeveen who drove-off via Tesco's security cameras, calling the Guards, getting multiple quotes, you name it. Now she's locked into her house with my frail father with us delivering their groceries, and oddly hasn't mentioned it for days.

Something like that may be happening to almost anyone, and scrapes on the bumper long forgotten.

Orlak2410

Masala wrote: »

I would let Insurance know about it. If no claim... then advise Insurance to update your file.

Whiplash could com3 down the line in15 months... and the Insurance co could leave u stuck with a €38k personal injuries claim. Better be safe

I'm no solicitor but it stands to reason that if you want to file a personal injury claim a year or two down the line then the accident would have had to have been documented when it happened. Don't both parties have an obligation to report an accident.

Orlak2410

Fann Linn wrote: »

Similar thing happened to me in a garage years ago. Like the op it was my fault. I tried to reverse back behind a petrol pump and hit a car which was entering the garage forecourt.

Minimal damage and we both exchanged details, rang the gardai, and they said they wouldn't get involved as a civil matter on private property but they would send out a car to check we were both insured etc. We both agreed that there was no need. I said that I would pay for repairs etc.
Move on two months and PMPA get in touch with me asking why I admitted liability, why I didn't report to them and a load of other questions. The other party had gone off, reported the accident to her insurance company and 'elaborated' the extent of the damage. It was pre mobile phone camera days so her word was accepted.
Pretty hefty increase in my premium the following renewal.
The op should report it to his insurance company.

This is what I'm worried about. People can come across as decent in person but then when they have time to think about it and see an opprtunity to make a few Bob they show they're true colours and don't care about the consequences to you. Money is the root of all evil.

feelgoodinc27

Orlak2410 wrote: »

Yeah I am leaving it but hypothetically I'm wondering how long after an incident do you have to take action be it for property damage or personal injury? Bearing in mind that they didn't contact the police or ask for my insurance details.

I think you have two years to make a claim.

Fann Linn

Orlak2410 wrote: »

This is what I'm worried about. People can come across as decent in person but then when they have time to think about it and see an opprtunity to make a few Bob they show they're true colours and don't care about the consequences to you. Money is the root of all evil.

Two thing I learned that day.
Always look behind you when reversing and always report it to your insurance company.

Orlak2410

Tordelback wrote: »

Definitely not fair, and you're clearly a decent skin to still be thinking about it at all. However, many people are under a huge amount of mental stress these past weeks, and its only rising, so I've adopted a policy of cutting everyone some slack as regards rudeness and thoughtlessness.

I commented because my own feisty elderly mother had her parked car badly whacked in a supermarket carpark the other week (not by Orlak2410!), and was fuming and gunning to find the sleeveen who drove-off via Tesco's security cameras, calling the Guards, getting multiple quotes, you name it. Now she's locked into her house with my frail father with us delivering their groceries, and oddly hasn't mentioned it for days.

Something like that may be happening to almost anyone, and scrapes on the bumper long forgotten.

Yeah I suppose you're right. I would have just rathered to have it nipped in the bud in a few days after it happened. I'm just concerned that they are up to something and are fobbing me off until it completed like what happened to that other commentor in the petrol station.

Orlak2410

Fann Linn wrote: »

Two thing I learned that day.
Always look behind you when reversing and always report it to your insurance company.

I looked in one wing mirror and my rear view mirror and it was clear with the way their car was positiined.

Masala

Orlak2410 wrote: »

Don't both parties have an obligation to report an accident.

That’s what I am saying.

Had involvement in a situation whereby a Consultant signed off on a claimant that his soft tissue damage ‘could have’ been caused by earlier tip 12 months earlier and the claimant started a claim in PIAB for €38k. Not over yet ... and it’s well messy trying to get CCTV, statements etc at this stage which the claimant knows... hence the delay in bring8 g the claim. There are some right Cnts out there playing the system. Solicitors helping them are as bad

Del2005

Orlak2410 wrote: »

Yeah I don't mind paying a reasonable cost to get it fixed. The damage was minimal so I can't imagine it being too much. Although it was my fault I still don't think it seems fair leaving it a month to contact me if they do.

You have no choice in how much you pay. They can get a quote from a main dealer and even low speed crashes can damage the crumble zone in a car.

My sister was recently the other side of a similar incident. She got a few quotes and a deal for the hire car and sent them on to the other person. They started taking the proverbial saying a buddy could do it etc. In the end she went through the insurance and the bill tripled.

gman2k

Seth Brundle wrote:

Have you informed your insurance company of the incident? Maybe for your own reassurance, do so.

As advised by a Garda before to me after something similar, You are under no legal obligation to report it to your insurance if there are no injuries and if you are sorting it out between yourselves.

Seth Brundle

gman2k wrote: »

As advised by a Garda before to me after something similar, You are under no legal obligation to report it to your insurance if there are no injuries and if you are sorting it out between yourselves.

I know. However, in Dec 2018 I rear ended a taxi at low speed. When we spoke he said he was fine. There was no damage and everything was cool. A month later and the gardai want my insurance details to pass onto him. There's a PI claim in progress currently. I've no idea what exactly he's claiming but I told my insurer that it was highly likely to be a bogus claim, a line that they're actively pursuing.

slavetothegrind

it is a condition of your policy that you report it, not doing so can leave you with no cover.
It won't hurt your policy unless the third party claims against it.

Orlak2410

Seth Brundle wrote: »

I know. However, in Dec 2018 I rear ended a taxi at low speed. When we spoke he said he was fine. There was no damage and everything was cool. A month later and the gardai want my insurance details to pass onto him. There's a PI claim in progress currently. I've no idea what exactly he's claiming but I told my insurer that it was highly likely to be a bogus claim, a line that they're actively pursuing.

Unfortunately a lot of people are sly like that. Instead of doing the decent thing they'd have no problem in screwing you.

Orlak2410

Orlak2410 wrote: »

Unfortunately a lot of people are sly like that. Instead of doing the decent thing they'd have no problem in screwing you.

Thanks everyone for the advice. Hopefully if I do hear back from them it will be a reasonable price and that will be it over and done with.

nuac

gman2k wrote: »

As advised by a Garda before to me after something similar, You are under no legal obligation to report it to your insurance if there are no injuries and if you are sorting it out between yourselves.

Mod
Do not rely on that advice, check your policy obligations

Orlak2410

nuac wrote: »

Mod
Do not rely on that advice, check your policy obligations

I think you are technically suppose to report every accident but most reasonable people (and guards) know you're better off just sorting out a minor accident unofficially.

AndrewJRenko

pablo128 wrote: »

They don't even have to get the car fixed. They could go to a main dealer for a quote and you have to pay. They could leave the bumper as is if they want, and there's nothing you can do.

Though you don't have to pay the VAT part of the quote if they didn't actually get the work done.

gman2k wrote: »

As advised by a Garda before to me after something similar, You are under no legal obligation to report it to your insurance if there are no injuries and if you are sorting it out between yourselves.

Why would you rely on a Garda for expertise in a civil matter - your contract with your insurer?

Eggs For Dinner

Orlak2410 wrote: »

There must be a time limit after an incident that you have to take action. Most things have time limits.

You won't want to hear this, but a claimant has a right to notify you of their intention to seek damages to property up to 6 years after it occurred. It's 2 years for injury.

Please notify your own insurer for record purposes, it is a condition of your policy, there is nothing 'technical ' about it. Never give an insurer reason to exercise the claim conditions of your policy

Syncpolice

silver2020 wrote: »

I would not do it - even a possible claim would lead to immediate rise in your insurance and inability to look elsewhere.

There was no claim of injury at the time, damage minimal.

I'd forget it until they get back to me. - if they get back

No you have to inform them within reasonable timeframe

They can cancel your policy if you haven't and a claim arises later

silver2020

Eggs For Dinner wrote: »

Please notify your own insurer for record purposes, it is a condition of your policy, there is nothing 'technical ' about it. Never give an insurer reason to exercise the claim conditions of your policy

It is NOT a condition of any insurance policy. I've two policies - axa & aig (van and car), both state "it is advisable to inform"

It is not a condition.

Same with any web search - it says "should inform" or "advisable to inform".

Check your policy documents - it will tell you, but I'd bet it says "advisable" or "should" and not the word "must"

Syncpolice

silver2020 wrote: »

It is NOT a condition of any insurance policy. I've two policies - axa & aig (van and car), both state "it is advisable to inform"

It is not a condition.

Same with any web search - it says "should inform" or "advisable to inform".

Check your policy documents - it will tell you, but I'd bet it says "advisable" or "should" and not the word "must"

I'll be surprised if that's true

I would be reasonably confident there's an obligation.to inform on most policys

Syncpolice

Mines Aviva just checked

Says "must inform them of any event which might lead to a claim"

If be surprised if the others had any different wording

Eggs For Dinner

silver2020 wrote: »

It is NOT a condition of any insurance policy. I've two policies - axa & aig (van and car), both state "it is advisable to inform"

It is not a condition.

Same with any web search - it says "should inform" or "advisable to inform".

Check your policy documents - it will tell you, but I'd bet it says "advisable" or "should" and not the word "must"

Have a good read of AXA's Claims Conditions and come back go me on that

boardz

I crashed into a car 5 years ago totally my fault doing a U turn on a main road at night. Scraped the whole side of the other car. Stopped of course and asked the guy was he ok he said he was. He suggested that be both get a quote for the damage and we go with the cheapest. Very reasonable. It was an oldish car he had. As we went our separate ways I went back to him and looked him in the eye and asked are you hurt at all? He said don't worry I won't say I hurt the head or the neck I won't do that to you. It was four days before xmas so he called me the week after with a quote he got of €250. I was very happy with that and we went with it. He left in a kind of back street garage and I went and paid the garage directly. I had offered him the money. I did inform my insurance and they asked lots of questions but it didn't affect my NCB. All went according to plan. The other driver was African and quite a lot of people I told at the time said I was going to get screwed but he kept his word. Bottom line definitely tell your insurer.

Orlak2410

boardz wrote: »

I crashed into a car 5 years ago totally my fault doing a U turn on a main road at night. Scraped the whole side of the other car. Stopped of course and asked the guy was he ok he said he was. He suggested that be both get a quote for the damage and we go with the cheapest. Very reasonable. It was an oldish car he had. As we went our separate ways I went back to him and looked him in the eye and asked are you hurt at all? He said don't worry I won't say I hurt the head or the neck I won't do that to you. It was four days before xmas so he called me the week after with a quote he got of €250. I was very happy with that and we went with it. He left in a kind of back street garage and I went and paid the garage directly. I had offered him the money. I did inform my insurance and they asked lots of questions but it didn't affect my NCB. All went according to plan. The other driver was African and quite a lot of people I told at the time said I was going to get screwed but he kept his word. Bottom line definitely tell your insurer.

Well I hope if they get back to me they will be reasonable like that but I'd be afraid telling my insurance about it a month after it happened.

silver2020

Eggs For Dinner wrote: »

Have a good read of AXA's Claims Conditions and come back go me on that

I have.

It says it is important to contact them about any incident that may lead to a claim.

It does not say that your insurance will be affected in any way. Also in the small print of terms and conditions, it does not state that not informing them will cause any issue.

Orlak2410

silver2020 wrote: »

I have.

It says it is important to contact them about any incident that may lead to a claim.

It does not say that your insurance will be affected in any way. Also in the small print of terms and conditions, it does not state that not informing them will cause any issue.

So would you say that most insurers are the same?

Eggs For Dinner

silver2020 wrote: »

I have.

It says it is important to contact them about any incident that may lead to a claim.

It does not say that your insurance will be affected in any way. Also in the small print of terms and conditions, it does not state that not informing them will cause any issue.

So you've gone from advisable, to important. Go back and have another look. The word they actually use is MUST. It's the same in every policy

Insurance policies are about what they do say, not about what they don't

Ignore policy conditions at your peril. Insurers will always treat a policyholder better who works with them, rather than those who don't

Marcusm

Orlak2410 wrote: »

There must be a time limit after an incident that you have to take action. Most things have time limits.

I think it’s generally 2 years. I have been the “victim” of a number of such incidents but have never followed through with a claim. Hope you end up as lucky as the people who have hit me over the years!

Orlak2410

Marcusm wrote: »

I think it’s generally 2 years. I have been the “victim” of a number of such incidents but have never followed through with a claim. Hope you end up as lucky as the people who have hit me over the years!

Fair is fair I damaged their car and I have no problem accepting responsibility and getting it fixed reasonably. If they come back to me after a month and are unreasonable with their price or if they are stalling me while they make a claim then they are just nasty.

Syncpolice

Orlak2410 wrote: »

Fair is fair I damaged their car and I have no problem accepting responsibility and getting it fixed reasonably. If they come back to me after a month and are unreasonable with their price or if they are stalling me while they make a claim then they are just nasty.

That's why you have to cover your back by notifying insurance
Not burying head in the sand

pablo128

Orlak2410 wrote: »

Fair is fair I damaged their car and I have no problem accepting responsibility and getting it fixed reasonably. If they come back to me after a month and are unreasonable with their price or if they are stalling me while they make a claim then they are just nasty.

What kind of price are you expecting, just out of interest? Bearing in mind they are entitled to a new bumper plus spraying plus fitting plus car hire while this is being done?

And hopefully there's no damage behind the bumper.

silver2020

They could be decent and decide the damage is so small, its not worth it. There are plenty of decent people out there.

I had someone slightly hit a van I was driving in heavy traffic a few years ago - he was mortified, probably thought his no claims bonus was gone. It felt a lot worse than it was.

He insisted on giving me his details, but the van had over 250k miles on it, plenty of scratches and a few small dents and another little dent or scratch made no difference. - I tore his details uo in front of him so that he didn't need to worry. (youngish driver - probably 1st tip).
Also, insurers and courts are thankfully cracking down on fraudulent claims and awarding full costs against false claimants, so that type of claimant is starting to think twice.

Eggs For Dinner

The problem you have in dealing with reasonable people, who want to settle the damage they cause privately, is that they underestimate the cost of repairs (parts, labour, VAT). That's when people renege on their promises

whomitconcerns

Sorry op is not about them being decent or reasonable. You hit them, no matter how you look at it, you created the situation and inconvenienced them.

It's not a question for you to decide what's a decent or acceptable time frame. You need to inform your insurance company now, to cover your own a$$, especially because you haven't heard from the other party yet!

AndrewJRenko

Orlak2410 wrote: »

Fair is fair I damaged their car and I have no problem accepting responsibility and getting it fixed reasonably. If they come back to me after a month and are unreasonable with their price or if they are stalling me while they make a claim then they are just nasty.

Be grateful that it wasn't their small child behind your car while you were reversing.

Reverse in, drive out.