Sunlight made me crash this morn!

smr · 24 Sep 2009 at 10:02

Hi all,

Was taking the kids to school this morning and was coming out of the close, the sun was absolutely blinding and I couldn't see for the life of me so I put down the visor as did my partner at the same time as me. Next thing we know ****SHUD**** ...

Stopped the car immediately and got out to see the damage:

I hit a new Black Astra and did about the same level of damage, both bumpers (my front and her back) have come out of place a bit as per pics and the obvious damage is the crack where as hers is more like a small but a similar size.

She said she's going to get a quote for a body repair. My excess details I can't quite work out but stupidly my car isn't registered at my address, it's at my mum and dads so if it has to go through insurers I am ******** :/

How much would this cost to fix at a body shop?

Wossi · 24 Sep 2009 at 10:08

Almost know how you feel, the sun this morning was a right pig and being stuck behind a tractor with sun reflecting of his back windscreen was a nightmare

Didn't hit anything though

Prophet · 24 Sep 2009 at 10:10

Cost depends on what level of repair you want. It's pushed the bumper out at the side so could have broken/twisted the mounting points.

Do what most Mondeo driver do in this situation and use black gaffa tape

smr · 24 Sep 2009 at 10:11

Orange Peel said:
Cost depends on what level of repair you want. It's pushed the bumper out at the side so could have broken/twisted the mounting points.

Do what most Mondeo driver do in this situation and use black gaffa tape

I can't, I advertise my PC repairs business on this car so I am going to look a bit unprofessional with black gaffa tape

Muffin` · 24 Sep 2009 at 10:12

adam cool dude · 24 Sep 2009 at 10:12

The mondeo is silver so the repair will be cheap.

Doh. Beaten >.<

Dorje · 24 Sep 2009 at 10:13

Unlucky, I use some sunglasses myself :cool:

Damage costs depends if new bumpers are needed.

Dup · 24 Sep 2009 at 10:14

First of all, although your insurance should be invalid as you are lying about your address I doubt very much it will be an issue in this case, unless you parents live hundreds of miles away.

If they do live hundreds of miles away, I would be changing it ASAP before reporting the claim. They shouldn't need to ask but if they do I would just explain you're in the process of moving. The address where it's kept is mainly to do with theft and vandalism claims, but give them grounds to not pay out and they will take your money and run.

An ideal fix would be new bumers (£120+ each) and paint on top (about £200 each if done to a normal insurance repair standard). But if you just pay to fix the 3rd parties vehicle then it's not so bad, Mondeos live for the tape that is gaffa.

merlin · 24 Sep 2009 at 10:15

smr said:
but stupidly my car isn't registered at my address, it's at my mum and dads so if it has to go through insurers I am ******** :/

Doesn't matter what the log book address is so long as the garaging address notified to the insurers matches with the actual erm.... garaging address.

smr · 24 Sep 2009 at 10:19

merlin said:
Doesn't matter what the log book address is so long as the garaging address notified to the insurers matches with the actual erm.... garaging address.

I've given the lady whose car I crashed into my current address though, and not the address of where the insurance thinks the car is kept.

RiPz · 24 Sep 2009 at 10:19

Are insurers still obliged to pay out third party claims if address details are incorrect?

(i know they do this in some cases - but can then reclaim the repair costs off the driver)

smr · 24 Sep 2009 at 10:20

I was wondering if this would be ok :

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FORD-MONDEO-F...s_SM?hash=item2c50c88853&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

£45 for a primed mk3 2001 front bumper and £60 to paint it in the same colour if I give them my reg... would that be ok and then I guess I could take it to my mechanic to fix on?

z0mbi3 · 24 Sep 2009 at 10:29

smr said:
I've given the lady whose car I crashed into my current address though, and not the address of where the insurance thinks the car is kept.

I don't see the problem, you've given her an address you can be reached at. You didn't give her the address and say this is where the car is parked the majority of the time.

Django x2 · 24 Sep 2009 at 10:29

What is all this guff about addresses got to do with anything?

You ring your insurance, say you shunted someone, give them her details and ask when you can get your car booked in.

smr · 24 Sep 2009 at 10:33

Lucero said:
What is all this guff about addresses got to do with anything?

You ring your insurance, say you shunted someone, give them her details and ask when you can get your car booked in.

wouldn't i lose my no claims bonus though?

merlin · 24 Sep 2009 at 10:34

smr said:
I've given the lady whose car I crashed into my current address though, and not the address of where the insurance thinks the car is kept.

I assumed you meant the log book didn't match with where you lived.

Well then you're a silly billy aren't you?

mattyprice4004 · 24 Sep 2009 at 11:23

Gaffa tape and paint? Mondeo hybrid

Get the address changed pronto, that cause cause you serious issues.

smr · 24 Sep 2009 at 11:35

rover416i said:
Gaffa tape and paint? Mondeo hybrid

Get the address changed pronto, that cause cause you serious issues.

well yeah but it's gonna look a bit silly now if she goes through insurance and my insurance company found out i shunted her but the same day earlier i changed my address...

richard104 · 24 Sep 2009 at 11:37

Or coincidence? New address different roads = accident?

Dup · 24 Sep 2009 at 11:41

smr said:
well yeah but it's gonna look a bit silly now if she goes through insurance and my insurance company found out i shunted her but the same day earlier i changed my address...

In this situation the address doesn't really matter. I know people who have been in the same situation and it wasn't an issue, the vehicle was even collected from a different address to the one declared on the insurance.

What will happen is the designated repair place will recover the car, assess the damage and fix/write off accordingly and deliver it back or allow you to collect it.

If the car was stolen or vandalised, police would no doubt be involved and if it was clearly stolen from an address the vehicle has been stored at for some time you'll run into big problems.

I am no way condoning lying about the address however if you should go through insurance it probably won't matter in this instance. No claims will be adjusted if they deem it your fault though (it was).