First ding... To the internets!

Clown

Clown

Clown

Soldato
Joined
13 Apr 2004
Posts
5,086
Location
London
Hi guys, I've had my first ding and I have a few questions.

Firstly a bit about the situation. I was down a residential road off the main road and there was a row of us going towards the main road. I was the second car in the column when the first car decided he wanted to reverse park to my right. I was right up his rear so I started reversing to let him in, but then I reversed into someone back and left to me who was pulling out of a slot.

It was chucking it down and I had the music on and I just didn't see or hear him there. There was only a little corner of him poking out and it was a low speed ding. He has a three small white scratches around his bumper/front right headlight area, and I have a penny sized white scratch/hole on my back bumper.

This was the first incident I ever had so in the mix of it I didn't take his details. It was raining really hard and I was just trying to get out of there, really. I left him my insurance company and my name and phone number and offered to pay for repairs if he wanted to avoid the insurance company.

1. Did I do the right thing? I think I've basically accepted liability for it even though it looks like he just started pulling out on me?

2. I'm preparing myself to lose my current year's no-claims bonus. Will I lose last years no-claims as well? I only just renewed my insurance last month, so would I be able to cancel my insurance and start a new year with a new company?

3. Is there anything I need to do other than claim for whiplash? (Calm down, I'm taking the pee ;)) I think I'm going to want to fill the small gash in my rear bumper because I don't want it to rust up underneath, but my friend said it was plastic!
 
I didn't tell him it was my fault but I did offer to cover the costs of repair outside of insurance company if it gets to that, which is just as bad I guess.

I do have his phone number. Can I get his details later if he doesn't want to settle privately?

I do have reversing lights, but since I was the one going backwards and he didn't get out of the way I just assumed it was my fault.

It was quite slow and we didn't grind panels or anything so the wound is minimal. I hope he gets it fixed privately so we don't need to go through either of our insurances - is this realistic though? Would he have anything to lose for a non-fault claim?

I only passed this time last year, I had one year no claims and I literally only just renewed a few weeks ago! First insurance was £1200 and this year it was £750... Am I looking at paying £1200 again for my next insurance if he goes that way?

I should apologise to you guys for the probably mundane and stupid questions, this is my first time!
 
Last edited:
If I report an incident, will that affect my premium even if nobody claims?
Hypothetically speaking - If someone crashed into me and I had to claim, would my premium go up even if it wasn't my fault?

I've asked the bloke for his details so we'll see what he sends me. I think I'll report the incident to my company if he tells me he needs to claim. If he has nothing to lose by going through insurance then he would have no reason to settle privately.

For the few small scratches though, I hope he'll let me cover the cost of repair. If it has only scratched down to white, does that mean it's down to the undercoat? How much would something like that cost to repair on a black 08 plate Mercedes something?
 
Last edited:
Welp, the bloke hasn't contacted me with his details or any repair quote. I'll just brace myself for an insurance premium increase :(

I'm such a mug.
 
Just a quick update and then you can carry on your debate -
The man called me back with a rough quote of £200 which he thought was a bit steep. He is going to seek a second opinion, but I told him to do whatever he needs to do to get his car back to how it was before the shunt.

He was very understanding of the whole 'insurance is a scam' thing and seems very willing to sort it out privately.

I think what I will do is write up a little contract just confirming that we both agree to me paying for the repair and that will be the end of the matter. I don't suppose any of you could help me draft something up? I'm not really very literate when it comes to posh speak.
 
Second ding. I don't think I'll get out of this one :(
1.jpg


2.jpg


3.jpg


4.jpg
 
Last edited:
Most expensive breakfast ever! I got some breakfast for the family and this was on the last corner before I park up... Turned the corner and the hot chocolates fell over. I went to try and pick them up but I must have pressed the accellerator as I reached into the passenger footwell. It's hard enough as it is to reach down there for chubby old me!

0% interesting. 100% embarrasing.

:(
 
I did 3000 miles last year. I don't drive all that much and only do it because I enjoy it. It gets me out of the house and gives me time to think about other things... Like hot chocolate!

Yes I know I'm a **** and I fully expected to get ripped to shreds by Motors, but I live and learn!

Hopefully I won't have too many of these threads to make...

On a side note, my airbag lights have been flashing for months and I thought that they just wouldn't deploy if there was something wrong with the system. Ford didn't know what to make of it so we just left it.
 
Yeah I tend to agree with what Fox says on the whole, but I don't think I'll quit driving because I made a silly mistake. I don't tend to make mistakes twice anyway!

I guess I should hold off on my 330ci or 350z idea then!
(my only criteria were that my next car had to be faster and look better than my Focus)
 
Last edited:
I'd class them as two different mistakes! :p
The worst thing is, it's literally 100 metres away from where I normally park. Maybe I just got too comfortable as I was reaching home.
 
Biohazard said:
HAHA

why do people even bother posting the pics? I mean why put yourself up for this?

is this the new sport?

moron.
Click to expand...
I do it so people can feel better about themselves and poke fun at me.

The way I see it, what's done is done and I can't do anything about it now but cry or give random internet people entertainment.
 
Last edited:
Wish me luck ;)

You going to the RR in December? Hopefully I'll have the Sony head unit fitted taken out of the Golf and put in the 350z by then if you want to play with it to make your mind up!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom