If you have an accident whats the protocol

Cyrus

Just for arguments sack say theres a prang and its the other drivers or even your own fault, whats the drill?

Stuff like that is pretty handy to know

ambro25

1) With the other driver - say nothing but the strict minimum required to swap insurance details and personal details (name, address, contact number) and that's it.

2) Write down the other car's make, model, color, reg and any distinctive feature (stickers, that kind of thing) plus (if you can) details from the windscreen badges (e.g. do they tally with the car) - you'd be surprised how often insurance details you get from the other side are phoney.

3) Look around you - if there's anybody who saw the thing, have a nice chat re. witness statement & take their details (if it may be needed, you just never know).

4) Ideally - always carry a disposable Kodak cardboardy camera thing in the glove box and shoot the entire roll (inasmuchas possible, before the cars move from their respective resting place immediately after the crash), overall-view/close-up damages/scene from Right-Left/etc.

Anything I've missed?

edmund_f

dont think you have missed anything.. camera is a must though.. picture worth a thousand words and all that

Seth Brundle

I think ambro summed it up quie well.
Also remember that even if the driver offers to pay without using their insurance company, still collect all the necessary details just in case - many who offer this later withdraw the offer at a later stage.
Maybe add point #5 - start rubbing your neck

Eoin

Not really needed for a "prang", but if it is more than a case of a scratched bumper or whatever (and neither party is going to admit liability, and the liability is questionable), maybe call the Gardai?

landser

always call the gardai, even where it appears that libility will not be in issue. the other driver can always turn around and change the facts stating it was your fault or that you admitted liability at the scene. while the garda will be unlikely to remember the accident three years down the road, his notes would contain relevant details of the accident and if someone denies or accepts liability, it'll be taken down.

always report the matter to your insurer, no matter if it is a tiny prang or you feel that you are in the right. if you are sued down the line, the company could refuse cover due to late notification of the claim. notification is usually a condition precedent on all policies.

declanoneill

landser wrote:

always report the matter to your insurer, no matter if it is a tiny prang or you feel that you are in the right. if you are sued down the line, the company could refuse cover due to late notification of the claim. notification is usually a condition precedent on all policies.

A neighbour of mine was coming out of his parking space in a shopping centre and managed to hit another car. The driver of the other car said to forget about it (no details exchanged) and they both buggered off. 18 months later yer man put in a claim and the insurance company paid out no questions because my neighbour hadn't informed them of the accident. Landser is on the money with the above

tonky

Just use your common sense, basically.
If it's a neighbour or someone you know and it's a ding, you can settle mutually, with written agreements/estimates. Just remember that even a small corner ding can crack or damage hidden headlight/bumper mounts, so have the car looked at professionally asap in any case.

In any other case:
What ambro said.

In any case where personal injury is a possibility, (kids in the other car for example), insist on Garda presence.

ButcherOfNog

Always always always call the gardai. Nothing else said above is in any way important. Call the Gardai, wait for them, even if you have to wait ages. If you don't and the other party reports it afterwards, they'll be giving their side of the story, and you'll immediately be under suspicion for not reporting it. if its not a major prang the Gardai will give their opinion on responsibility and then give you the option of sorting it between yourselves. if at some point then someone gets shifty about paying up for a damaged vehicle, the gardai have it all on record.

Squirrel

I have to disagree on the calling of the Gardaí, the procedure is call them if anyone is injured, or if there is any danger with the cars, just get pictures, witnesses and signed statements of liability. When my brother crashed the Gardaí were very bitter at being called on the account of no problems with either of the above. Always check the other car for any distinguishable features or for the reg carved in the windows, as mentioned up above

FX Meister

Call the Gardaí straight away no matter what. Who cares if they seem bitter or pissed of, it's their job.
My sister had a crash with a moron who went through a red light before Christmas, she rang me as she was really upset and all the witnesses were friends of his as he lived near by. He admitted liability on the scene to her, to the cops and to my sisters insurance company. Then two days later the spa changed his mind and said it was her fault and she went through a red light. He obviously realised that if he just said it was her fault at the scene he would have got away with it.

EKRIUQ

A friend of mine had a prang with another car and he phoned the Gardai they asked if any one was hurt and he said "No" and the guard said sort it out yourselfs then.

The Gardai could'ent be arsed going out to a car crash unless someone is badly hurt.

Squirrel

I'm just speaking from what I know, the guard didn't take any names even when my brother admitted liability, and he was 22 at the time, tbh not all Gardaí do their jobs correctly, the only 2 times I have had experience with them at a crash, they both said not to ring them, except in the cases I stated above

FX Meister

Well I wouldn't listen to them in that case. I'd rather have my ass covered in case the wanker that hit me tried to wrangle out of it.

DaveD

kbannon wrote:

Maybe add point #5 - start rubbing your neck

Fraudulent claims is what drives up our premuims ! I have no problem with someone claiming for injuries if they were genuinely injured but for the ones who fake whiplash etc., we're the ones that end up paying for it.

Thankfully insurance companies and the Gardai are tackling the problem of fraudulent claims in a big way.

dewsbury

Obviously fradulent claims are driving up premiums etc.

However, so also are genuine claims - often is silly ways.

Example:
Car with a value of 5,000 has bumper and wing dented in a minor way. However, the procedure in this case is to buy NEW bumper & wing , costing perhaps 2k. This particularly suits the car dealers.

IN these cases I would prefer ;

1. Fix (not replace) the damaged parts - (remember panel beating?).
2. Give the damaged party 500 for the remaining imperfections on wing/bumper.

This would halve the size of the claim and everybody would be better off.

Any views?

dewsbury

From what I can gather;

IN the event of a car accident you should 'notify' the police. I.e. visit the station and report the incident. The police do not want to be called to accidents unless serious injuries involved.

Seth Brundle

DaveD wrote:

Fraudulent claims is what drives up our premuims ! I have no problem with someone claiming for injuries if they were genuinely injured but for the ones who fake whiplash etc., we're the ones that end up paying for it.

Thankfully insurance companies and the Gardai are tackling the problem of fraudulent claims in a big way.

I was joking! :rolleyes:

Cosworth

I could do with some advice in regards to an accident my partner had last week.
She was in the inside lane of a roundabout going back the way she came as she had forgotten something,and a truck came across the white line and hit the mirror/wing/bumper,not massive damage but still about 6-700 euro.

The driver didn't admit liability but said he would pay for the damage so we swapped all details etc and as no one was hurt we did't call the garda but we went to the station and reported it straight after and gave all the details.

When we rang the owner of the truck(not the driver) he said he wasn't paying and if we claimed off his insurance he would be claiming off ours for 2,500 for damage to his artic trailer even tough there was no damage and the driver admitted this on the scene.

So anyone any advice on what to do next,he is lying about the damage to his truck as a punto couldn't do that damage to an artic trailer,especialy when the damage to the car is so minor.

Any advice is appreciated.

Gary.

Seth Brundle

Where on the roundabout did it happen (assuming she approached it from six o'clock direction and wanted to complete a full U-turn)?

It sounds like the trucker was in the wrong and is now calling her bluff. Contact her insurance company and let them know the situation and that you notified the gardai at the time, but don't tell them to proceed with a claim. They will just have a reference to the accident on file in case. Once this is done then contact the trucker. Get the damage to her car professionally assessed asap - shouldnt cost anything. Also get loads of photos of the damage. If it does go to a claim at least you want to be able to show what was wrong with the car.

Were there any witnesses?

samo

Had an accident today - unfortunately I'm in the wrong! reversed back in a housing estate as in a culdesac and hit car coming up behind me - my car has minimal damage bumper wrecked but reckon I can fix it up if I get the part (pricey though 01 Mondeo!)

The other car did sustain a good bit of damage and the poor girl was no way in the wrong, looks mainly the bonnet and bumper but dont think a panel beater could do much as crushed in!

Gards were called and no injuries and have told my insurance company - and swopped details etc.

Am not sure what happens from here really, does she go get a quote to have it fixed and give us the option to pay for it or now that our insurance company have been been told does it automatically mean this isnt an option.

Also - can anyone give me a ballpark figure for replacing bonnet/bumper etc so I know is out of the question trying to pay for this before Tuesday comes....

Any advice would be much appreciated.....not having a good day

Kêrmêttê

I've had quite a few bumps in my day (only one was my fault)

You ALWAYS have to inform your insurance if you have a little bump or a major accident with injuries. They ALWAYS need to know you have had an accident, no matter what size or seriousness.

The girl will now go and get a quotation for the damage. You can ask her to get 2 or 3 if you wish. You can then choose to pay for it yourself if you think it's within your reach, otherwise you can opt for your insurance to foot the bill if you reckon you can't afford it (that's why you pay for insurance after all). Your premium will go up next year and you will be bound to your insurance company for at least 2/3 years and wont be able to change providers.

I've tried on numerous times to get an estimate on reparing damage over the phone with crash repair guys. They will never give any sort of price on a repair without actually seeing the damage itself.

Good luck samo!

samo

thanks, makes me a feel little better, I wouldnt mind but 5 years ago I had a claim in against me as little gurrier actually ran out into my car as I was stationary, parked on the side of the road (but with engine on and sitting car), they damaged their knee and got 26K.

I was 5 years claim free December just gone and cannot belive its after happening! She was real nice about it though god love her as a bit shaken, onlt thing is didnt take any photo's of the damage but the gards saw it.

Feel really bad though that her car is sitting there mangled becuase of me! Only other thing is, stupid question but if the bill for my car to be fixed is too high to pay as well(needs new back bumper from what I can tell) am I entitled to get it fixed by my insurance company as well - its just I'd imagine it will fail the NCT in its current state!

BrianD3

Sounds like a really silly crash. So you were you reversing straight back along the cul de sac and collided with a car coming up behind. How fast were you reversing and were you looking where you were going? Had the other driver ample time to see that you were reversing? Did you reverse into her or did she drive into you (was either car stationary when the crash happened)

If she was driving too fast and not paying attention then it could be partly her fault.

BrianD3

samo

yep, it was a silly crash alright, still at least no-one hurt.

Was reversing out of the entrance of a cul de sac which is near a corner - she saw me and stopped but I was reversing out pretty slowly just didnt expect anyone behind me and didnt check mirrors so I hit her. (admittidly a warning beep from her might have helped!)

Wrecking my head thinking about it as just lost concentration, crying kids etc in the car, stupid thing to happen but her car definitly came off worse.

Just trying to decide though as I'd imagine a new bumper for a 01 Mondeo will be pretty pricey whether to bother trying to fix my car myself or to claim for that as well as looking her car it looked pretty bad so dont think it will be cheap.

catch 22 - either very high insurance for next 3-5 years or else a hefty lump sum to pay for it. oh well will find out tuesday!

BrianD3

Thanks for clearing that up. Yep, you were 100% in the wrong

You didn't say whether you had comprehensive insurance, if you do then your insurance will cover the cost of damage ti your car and her car, if not then it'll only cover her car. You can still settle it among yerselves without involving insurance even though you have already informed your insurance that you had a crash.

Do you have any no claims protection or anything? Even if you don't check the terms and conditions of your policy, you may be able to make a claim up to a certain value without affecting your no claims bonus.

Judging by your desciption of the damage I'd say the cost of fixing both vehicles could total 4 or 5 grand.

BrianD3

samo

Wooh, thats some ding!

Thankfully, I'm fully comp (only just changed it from 3rd party before xmas!) but didnt take out the protected discount

thanks for the info, am going to go back to work now and mope about it some more

dawballz

DaveD wrote:

......

Thankfully insurance companies and the Gardai are tackling the problem of fraudulent claims in a big way.

I dont see my insurance getting any lower...