Van crashed into me, now they want my insurance details.

[philiggy]

Hi all
I'm after some opinions, a Bread van clipped my car at the traffic lights, I was waiting to go straight on he was filtering right, it dented my back door and wheel arch, I chased after him and got his details.

When I phoned them they would not comment and wanted my insurance details.

I took it down to an old guy at good local body shop who said it would only be about £300.
He said not to give them my insuance details as they would try and get "Knock for Knock", I could end up losing no claims and have to pay my excess (£150) so it would end up costing me!

He adivsed my to contact them explain their van crashed into me, its only £300 and ask them to pay direct, or I'll take it to a Merc dealer where it will cost them more as they'll have about a £1000 excess.

If they wont he says it woud be better off leaving it and paying my self.

It seems odd that some one can crash into me and its not worth me risking going through the insurance companies

What do you guys think ?

Phil

 

[Dieselman]

If requested you are meant to give insurance details. If this is a company owned van they will follow standard procedure and let he insurance company sort it out.

There is no reason it should go knock for knock if you were stationary.

 

[Brian WH]

They are probably self-insured up to a limit and want your details to deal direct with your Insurance Company for the best price to fix it. Talk to your Insurance Company and they will advise. Make sure they are repairing it at an approved Mercedes Repairers. Include hire car price too.

 

[Dieselman]

Not sure about using an approved bodyshop on a W124..they will write the car off.

 

[Rory]

If they wont he says it woud be better off leaving it and paying my self.

It seems odd that some one can crash into me and its not worth me risking going through the insurance companies

One thing to point out - however you handle this you are required to tell your insurance company about *any* incident you are involved in, regardless of whose fault it is, or how it's settled.

Of course if it's sorted out for cash then they might never find out, but once the other parties insurance gets involved then all the details are available to any insurance company.

 

[glojo]

Isn't it the law to exchange details and if not practicle or the other party refuses then report it to the police?

Regards
John

 

[61jason61]

its IS correct procedure to swop details, yours and his insurance companies as they will deal direct with each other. as for the garage you went to, your insurance company will dictate to you where you get the repair quotes from.

if you have any witnesses you are laughing, otherwise let the insurance companies do there jobs and fight it out between themselves. If you had to 'chase after him' why didn't you report him to the fuzz for leaving the scene of an accident' and get a police report for added backup to your claim.

 

[recycled]

Don't know what is going on here. A van crashed into me in 2002. A flower delivery van.
He gave me his details and the company and said he was a company driver and did not know the insurance details. I just gave his name and reg to my insurance and they did all the chasing. The next time i heard was from my insurance sending me a claims officer and a garage to get it sorted.
I got paid out and the rest was history.
Did not even break a sweat.

 

[Carrotchomper]

itwhy didn't you report him to the fuzz for leaving the scene of an accident' and get a police report for added backup to your claim.

In all probability, being a large truck he would not have noticed!

 

[glojo]

In all probability, being a large truck he would not have noticed!

The way I read this is that the bread van, who is allegedly the guilty party has tried to obtain the required information?

Regards
John

 

[BTB 500]

In all probability, being a large truck he would not have noticed!

We had an incident just down the road from my old house when an artic. had stopped at a T junction. A guy sitting at a bench nearby got up, walked quickly over to the trailer, and laid down in front of the rear wheels. Truck pulled out, guy was killed instantly, and of course the driver had no idea. He was stopped 10 miles away and told what had happened

 

[glojo]

He was stopped 10 miles away and told what had happened

Going off topic, but once when I was driving an artic, I was waiting to turn left at a junction and a stupid woman had pushed her pushchair onto the road whilst she stood at the kerbside, waiting for the road to clear! Luck was shining down on me and my nearside mirror, but this 'lady' could not understand why I 'flew' out of the truck and had words with her. The pushchair was between the tractor unit and the rear wheels of the trailer. To this day I am convinced that woman would have blamed me if anything had happened?

John

 

[philiggy]

Thanks guys
He probably didn't notice it was a 3 tonner, I'll give them my details, I hope they dont write the thing off though!

Phil

 

[neilrr]

Going off topic, but once when I was driving an artic, I was waiting to turn left at a junction and a stupid woman had pushed her pushchair onto the road whilst she stood at the kerbside, waiting for the road to clear! Luck was shining down on me and my nearside mirror, but this 'lady' could not understand why I 'flew' out of the truck and had words with her. The pushchair was between the tractor unit and the rear wheels of the trailer. To this day I am convinced that woman would have blamed me if anything had happened?

John

Rule of Life Number 1: Most people are stupid.

 

[BTB 500]

Rule of Life Number 1: Most people are stupid.

Hence the sign on the back of many trucks saying "if you can't see me in the mirrors then I can't see you"!

 

[Gucci]

Rule of Life Number 1: Most people are stupid.

Correct

 

[219]

Isn't it the law to exchange details and if not practicle or the other party refuses then report it to the police?

Regards
John

You must swap names and addresses at the scene - you do not have to provide the other party with insurance details .

It is not compulsory to claim against your insurance , although most insurers stipulate that you must inform them of all incidents .

 

[rascalmaster]

We had an incident just down the road from my old house when an artic. had stopped at a T junction. A guy sitting at a bench nearby got up, walked quickly over to the trailer, and laid down in front of the rear wheels. Truck pulled out, guy was killed instantly, and of course the driver had no idea. He was stopped 10 miles away and told what had happened

er... " A guy sitting at a bench nearby got up, walked quickly over to the trailer, and laid down in front of the rear wheels..."
wow
what gives?
a guy jumped over a cliff , and surprise surprise; got killed...
... different story same predictible result. Cause and effect...

why on earth would someone go and lie down on the road in front of a lorry's wheels, and then be mildly miffed at finding themselves a little dead?

 

[trapperjohn]

Anyone notice this was a 2007 thread!

 

[BTB 500]

Yup I did - wondered how Derek found it!