First crash!

laissez-faire · 5 Jul 2007 at 20:26

Had an accident yesterday, it was completely my fault and I feel very stupid about it.

It was a minor bump, some superficial damage the the bumper on the other car. I said that I'd put a cheque in the post for a new bumper. I went in to the back of him at 6 or 7mph.

Today he called me up and claimed he had whiplash. I immediately said that in view of his apparent injury that he was perfectly entitled to claim on my insurance, but he didn't want my policy number. I told him I was going to cancel the cheque for his bumper in view of the fact that it is now an insurance matter. I asked him for his policy number which he refused to give to me. When I mentioned it being an obligation of the RTA to supply that information he got abusive on the phone. I noticed yesterday he didn't write down my registration number and he said today he didn't want it.

He said he wanted me to send him another cheque for compensation for injuries and became again quite abusive when I said that I wasn't prepared to discuss that and to leave it to the insurance companies and doctors.

I have reported all the details to my insurance company and they are happy to deal with it. The thing is that it is now his responsibility to get in touch with them but he doesn't have my registration number or my policy number.

He said that he was going to call the police and have me arrested for driving without due care and attention (as if that is going to happen) and that he would contact his solicitor in the morning for them to start a claim against me.

I am not too sure what he is going to do without my registration number or my insurance details, but to be fair that is his problem.

He is in my view trying it on with the whiplash given the speeds involved, and therefore I think that by the time he works out how to claim he will simply claim for a new bumper, a few hundred pounds at most. Can I buy that claim off the insurance company to avoid losing my no claims bonus?

It all seems a bit odd. If someone went up my back end I would have simply asked for insurance details and then carried on.

.:MBK:. · 5 Jul 2007 at 20:30

sounds like a bit of a ***** whos after a bit more money

laissez-faire · 5 Jul 2007 at 20:31

.:MBK:. said:
sounds like a bit of a ***** whos after a bit more money

Hence why I wanted to go through insurance instead of sending him money for his injuries, even if I risk paying more in the long run.

West · 5 Jul 2007 at 20:31

Whiplash @ 6mph... fat chance..

IF its your fault that the accident occured and he does claim via your insurance, you will loose your NCB, but without a Reg or the Policy number, he's not gonna get very far!

<(Multi)> · 5 Jul 2007 at 20:33

Your quite right, you need to cancel that cheque ASAP. Hes attempting to blackmail you into sending him more money (you knew that though) and blackmail is in its own right illegal.

As for the police, I assume they would pass it on as merely an insurance issue if he were to contact them directly. Chin up mate, at the end of the day accidents happen though.

adapt · 5 Jul 2007 at 20:33

What a A hole, you have so done the right thing. I dunno re sending the cheque in the first place. I would have gone and seen him and got a reciept for paying for the bumper. But other than that you are doing well to keep your cool. Defo leave it with the insurance. Some how I doubt you will hear any more. It might be worth just filing a incident report if poss in case he does go the police route and saying you hit and ran. As to be honest its the only thing I think he could do. Does he have any other details re you. IE phone number, address etc?

laissez-faire · 5 Jul 2007 at 20:34

<(Multi)> said:
Your quite right, you need to cancel that cheque ASAP. Hes attempting to blackmail you into sending him more money (you knew that though) and blackmail is in its own right illegal.

As for the police, I assume they would pass it on as merely an insurance issue if he were to contact them directly. Chin up mate, at the end of the day accidents happen though.

I realised that as soon as he called. Cheque already cancelled (it was very easy to cancel it, I will be wary of accepting cheques in the future!)

How easy is it to buy whatever claim he makes back from my insurance company to avoid losing the NCB?

laissez-faire · 5 Jul 2007 at 20:36

adapt said:
What a A hole, you have so done the right thing. I dunno re sending the cheque in the first place. I would have gone and seen him and got a reciept for paying for the bumper. But other than that you are doing well to keep your cool. Defo leave it with the insurance. Some how I doubt you will hear any more. It might be worth just filing a incident report if poss in case he does go the police route and saying you hit and ran. As to be honest its the only thing I think he could do. Does he have any other details re you. IE phone number, address etc?

He has my mobile number and my address. I have reported all details to the insurance company, they assured me unless a claim is made it will just be kept on file and won't affect and premiums of NCB discounts.

Edit > The insurance company also specifically told me not to speak to him again, so I am not sure how he is going to get more details. They said if he writes a letter to simply forward it to them.

adapt · 5 Jul 2007 at 20:38

laissez-faire said:
I realised that as soon as he called. Cheque already cancelled (it was very easy to cancel it, I will be wary of accepting cheques in the future!)

How easy is it to buy whatever claim he makes back from my insurance company to avoid losing the NCB?

I tried to buy a claim before. In a word I couldnt. Got very messy trying with a claim a while ago as the person who worked at my place at the time got wind of it and then piled on the claim for other bits and bobs on the car. Simular to what your having now. Put it down to experiance mate it already sounds like this chap wants blood.

Concrete · 5 Jul 2007 at 20:40

I've never heard of it happening to be honest, if you havent already, report the incident to the police, you dont want him to give them a load of crap before you get your say!

laissez-faire · 5 Jul 2007 at 20:45

Concrete said:
I've never heard of it happening to be honest, if you havent already, report the incident to the police, you dont want him to give them a load of crap before you get your say!

Called the police, they said if he calls them they will tell him to go to the insurance company, something he seems reluctant to do. I checked with my insurance company against his reg and he is insured, but maybe he has something else to hide (disqualified perhaps?).

adapt · 5 Jul 2007 at 20:46

Concrete said:
I've never heard of it happening to be honest, if you havent already, report the incident to the police, you dont want him to give them a load of crap before you get your say!

Defo thats what I said too. He could stir up a load of cob shi*e regarding you leaving the scene etc as he doesnt have your reg etc. Then make out he knows you and your address. He sounds a A hole defo better to be safe..

.:MBK:. · 5 Jul 2007 at 20:49

laissez-faire said:
something he seems reluctant to do(disqualified perhaps?).

that or uninsured, either is possible considering his attitude and attempts and blackmail

Ampeg · 5 Jul 2007 at 20:51

Think this guy has any insurance? From the way hes acting it sounds as if he might be uninsured/banned or something.

.:MBK:. · 5 Jul 2007 at 20:53

which means hes on the backfoot and probably wont go to the police, if he does, wonder if you can ask them to check againts his name/car for a valid policy

Jaaay · 5 Jul 2007 at 20:54

.:MBK:. said:
that or uninsured, either is possible considering his attitude and attempts and blackmail

laissez-faire said:
I checked with my insurance company against his reg and he is insured...

Good luck with the situation mate.

laissez-faire · 5 Jul 2007 at 20:54

If for some reason he chooses not to go any further I certainly will have got off very lightly... All I have had to pay so far is £10 to cancel the cheque. I can repair most of the damage to my car myself.

Shimmyhill · 5 Jul 2007 at 21:22

I would call the police, report the crash and also report his attempts to blackmail you.

wolseley · 5 Jul 2007 at 21:23

If he does phone you again, I would say something along the lines of: I'm sorry but I am not in a position to be able to cover a personal injury claim myself, nor am I qualified to determine the value of any losses / injuries caused during the accident. I have insurance cover, so if you believe that you have a valid claim for losses caused by the accident you will need to contact them.

laissez-faire · 6 Jul 2007 at 07:41

A thought has occured to me. I have his voicemails saved, I am sure I can get O2 to email me the files.

If he turns out to NOT claim for injury on my insurance, i.e. implying the claims were totally bogus, can I sue him for blackmail? That would teach him.

Sam