Car rolled into my car in car park.

tom1ie · 19-03-2023 4:12pm #1

Hi all,

as the title of this suggests a car has rolled into my car in a public car park causing a bit of damage to my car.

The handbrake either failed or wasn’t put on in the first place.

‘The driver of the other car was in the shops at the time, I went into the shop and updated the driver on the situation- I had already taken a pic of the reg, insurance disk and damage etc.

‘The driver has admitted to me they are at fault.

‘What is the next step-do I contact my insurance company today or do I get a price myself on the damage done and then get back to the driver?

Count Dracula · 19-03-2023 4:25pm

Ask your insurance company what you should do.

Verify that the car that you allege damaged yours has not been stolen or involved in other crimes or misdemeanors in the last 24 hours.

I would avoid mentioning that you think the handbrake failed. How do you know it did, where you there at the time?

While I am here, how did you identify the driver in the shop after the incident? Do you know them?

You will need to prove that you had no part in the incident, where you sitting in your car at the time of the collision?

I am glad no body was hurt in the incident. Drive safely.

elperello · 19-03-2023 4:27pm

Just give the details to your insurance company.

tom1ie · 19-03-2023 4:32pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120376116#Comment_120376116

So I had just parked up, got out and was in the process of getting two kids out of the car when the third party car hit mine.

There was no one in the car that hit mine so that’s why I presume the handbrake failed or was never put on in the first place.

I identified the other driver by going into the shop and asked did anyone own x type of car to which the other driver made themselves known.

Tbh it was incredibly lucky we weren’t there 10 seconds earlier and my daughters 6 year old friend didn’t get out and walk around the front of the car as opposed to the back of the car or she would’ve been crushed.

tom1ie · 19-03-2023 4:53pm

I’ve just rang my insurance company and they’re asking me if I want to claim on my own policy which could effect my policy renewal in the future although they can’t confirm this as I’d have to check with the claims department when it opens tomorrow at 9am.

The girl I was talking to in my insurance company also recommended I ring the other persons insurance company to report the incident.

‘Is this standard? I would’ve thought I just ring my own place and they look after everything?

SCOOP 64 · 19-03-2023 4:57pm

So your insurance company basically saying deal with it yourself?

tom1ie · 19-03-2023 5:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120376230#Comment_120376230

The woman I spoke said I should report it to the other insurance company but I wouldn’t have to do it today?

Im gonna wait until tomorrow at 9am and give them a bell as I’m not sure that person knows what they’re on about!

elperello · 19-03-2023 5:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120376260#Comment_120376260

Sunday afternoon on a holiday weekend.

Don't worry the claims people will sort you out tomorrow.

Gen.Zhukov · 19-03-2023 5:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120376116#Comment_120376116

..

tom1ie · 19-03-2023 5:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120376274#Comment_120376274

Yeah thought that tbh- I just want sure was it time critical to report an incident if ya get me.

walterking · 19-03-2023 5:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120376139#Comment_120376139

stop catastrophising the incident.

"What if" scenarios are just ridiculous and neither do you nor anyone else any good.

Its a minor incident that has minor damage and will not be costly to fix.

Get a quote and give the other driver the opportunity to pay without the need for insurance / insurance assessors / specific garages.

tom1ie · 19-03-2023 5:20pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120376324#Comment_120376324

Relax no one is catastrophising the incident.

It was a very real possibility.

You reckon I should now be going around getting repair quotes for a job instead of letting my insurance deal with it?

So you must have been in the car park to witness the incident and then quickly assessed the damage also?

How much would it cost to fix then?

cml387 · 19-03-2023 5:31pm

Get a quote for the damage to your car.

You have the insurance details of the other car (presumably) .

Inform your own insurance company only to inform them but not to claim.

When you get quote for damage, give to other driver.

If they pay up, fine. If not then claim off the other drivers insurance.

After that it's up to the insurance companies to sort out

tom1ie · 19-03-2023 5:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120376428#Comment_120376428

Thanks for the helpful advice, I’ll go down this route.

I’ve never had to deal with this before so I appreciate the help.

the_amazing_raisin · 19-03-2023 5:50pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120376218#Comment_120376218

I had a colleague who was in a road accident a few years ago and he was trying to sort out insurance claims

IIRC there's basically 3 options, first is you claim the damage against your own insurance. This I think happens in the case where the other driver isn't found liable or is uninsured and will likely affect your NCB

Option 2 is to directly notify their insurance company and claim from them. This requires you to do all the legwork making the claim

Option 3 is you get your insurance company to make the claim against their insurance. AFAIK this is the simplest solution for you as the two insurance companies (or one, if it's the same company for both parties) will determine liability based on description of what happened from both parties (admittedly the other driver might not have much to contribute in this case since they weren't in the car)

con747 · 19-03-2023 6:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120376443#Comment_120376443

I would also invest in a dashcam, invaluable for the small outlay.

Eggs For Dinner · 19-03-2023 6:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120376230#Comment_120376230

No, they're saying they are perfectly willing to look after your damage as per your contract with them. If you want to claim against another party, that's your own business. If you claim under your own policy in the first instance, your insurer then acquires the right to recover their outlay. On success, the claim is removed from your record

tom1ie · 19-03-2023 7:02pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120376831#Comment_120376831

Would this affect my renewal quote when it comes up though?

Seth Brundle · 19-03-2023 7:32pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120377006#Comment_120377006

Yes because there will be a claim held against your policy (until it is settled). For this reason, it makes more sense to claim directly from the other persons policy and not have your insurance company involved.

Lyra Fangs · 20-03-2023 7:40am

So your own insurance company will likely give you 2 options - either you claim though your insurance and they claim against the 3rd party or you claim directly from the 3rd party insurance. I would opt for the latter in case there was any chance it would affect your own insurance. By informing them it will just be classed as a reporting incidence. Go through the 3rd parties insurance pass on all the details you have - they will contact their own insured party who will presumably admit fault (as they already have). You will bring your car to a garage to get assess the damage and get a quote. You will have the option of approving the quote and then you will hand in your car for the repair.

tom1ie · 20-03-2023 8:10am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120378208#Comment_120378208

thanks.

Am I better off getting a quote and going back to the third party with that and if they’re not happy with that quote I can then contact their insurance?

FishOnABike · 20-03-2023 10:23am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120378235#Comment_120378235

I'd be inclined to notify their insurance. The third party has the option of repaying their insurance if they don't want it to effect their insurance.

There's been a few tales on this site of people being all happy to settle for repairs to avoid involving their insurance,until they get the bill.

You don't want to be left with your car in a garage and the third party holding out on the cost of the repairs.

Chris_5339762 · 20-03-2023 10:32am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120376817#Comment_120376817

A good call, obviously, but in this case the car was off so most dashcams would also not be recording.

ohnonotgmail · 20-03-2023 10:43am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120378235#Comment_120378235

I wouldn't bother going to the third party with a quote. they'll probably try to convince you to get it done on the cheap or tell you they have a mate who can fix it for you. Go straight to their insurance company. Is the car still drivable? if not make sure you get a rental from their insurance.

tom1ie · 20-03-2023 10:49am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120378595#Comment_120378595

Yeah it’s still drivable but the parking sensors are no longer working- I’ve also just realised the horn isn’t working either!

Would the horn not working have any effect on the car being roadworthy by the letter of the law?

ohnonotgmail · 20-03-2023 10:51am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120378616#Comment_120378616

actually, it doesn't matter. you will need a rental car anyway while your own is repaired. have you phoned their insurance company yet?

tom1ie · 20-03-2023 10:54am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120378627#Comment_120378627

Not yet.

Im currently trying to get through to my own claims department to notify.

ohnonotgmail · 20-03-2023 10:57am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120378638#Comment_120378638

you can do that after. get the process going with their insurer.

tom1ie · 20-03-2023 1:24pm

So the other driver of the car has text me saying they have started the process with their own insurer and have admitted being at fault.

‘They have said their insurer will ring me to assess damage and make good all repairs.

I will contact them (the third party’s insurer) myself today also.

Thanks for all the advice folks.

Seth Brundle · 20-03-2023 1:56pm

The other drivers insurers might say that you must use their nominated garages but this is not the case. They may also challenge the required repair costs (which they are entitled to do). Remember, they are not there for your benefit!

tom1ie · 20-03-2023 1:59pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120379415#Comment_120379415

Agree absolutely.

thanks.

con747 · 20-03-2023 4:14pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120378555#Comment_120378555

I have mine set to record for 5 minutes after turning the engine off, but after that it's not much use when parked really.

tom1ie · 27-03-2023 9:30pm

ok so i am back looking for more advice!

The third party's insurance contacted me and told me to go to dennings crash repairs at the spawell to get a quote on the repair work which i done.

The quote was sent in to the insurer and a third party independent assessor then contacted me saying he has been asked by the insurance company to assess the cost of repair.

So he looked at the car this morning and rang me this afternoon saying the cost of repairing the car is exceeding the market value of the car so its a write off!!!

He has put a value of €3250 on the car and has said there's a scrap value to the car which could be €1000 for example, so when the insurance company pay out ill get €3250-€1000= €2250 which of course would buy me absolutely nothing!

the other option i have is to keep the car and fix it myself, i think im paid the market value to get it fixed but i may have to get an engineers report to sign off on the car being roadworthy.

Does this make any sense to you guys? I find it very unfair that i was not at fault here but will be out of pocket on this whatever option i chose?

Also I've looked up other 2011 Vauxhall insignia SRI's of similar mileage and they are going for 5K-€5300.

callaway92 · 27-03-2023 9:37pm

Go to your own chosen garage

tom1ie · 27-03-2023 9:39pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120409005#Comment_120409005

Yeah but would they be able to declare the car roadworthy after fixing it up?

I presume the insurance company that will be paying out will share that info with my insurance company so when i go to renew there could be questions?

kirk. · 27-03-2023 9:49pm

This all seems so complicated

I thought if u had comprehensive your insurance looked after everything, isn't that why u pay them

Seth Brundle · 27-03-2023 9:49pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120409010#Comment_120409010

It is being defined as an economic write off. This does not mean it is not roadworthy; just that the repair would cost more than the car is worth (in their view).

tom1ie · 27-03-2023 9:51pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120409043#Comment_120409043

exactly, but im going via the other drivers insurance who has fully comp but theyll only pay out this bullshit amount?!!

tom1ie · 27-03-2023 9:53pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120409050#Comment_120409050

yeah i get ya, but surely if i have fully comp, the other driver has fully comp and i want to (need to) get the car fixed they should cover it no questions asked?

Seth Brundle · 27-03-2023 9:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120409058#Comment_120409058

You have no choice really. If you go through your own insurance, they will come to the same conclusion that it's an economic write off. (Don't go through your own insurance anyhow)

You can challenge the cost to repair which would increase the amount they would pay out (less the value of the car).

Anyhow, the cost to repair privately could be a lot less if the body shop know it is cash rather than an insurance job.

tom1ie · 27-03-2023 10:02pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120409082#Comment_120409082

yeah cheers seth, thats what ill be doing.

I'm challenging the value he has placed on the car also and then ill try the local garage to fix it up.

The one thing i was concerned about, is it being declared a write off, but as you say its an economic write off as opposed to being un-roadworthy.

FishOnABike · 28-03-2023 8:39am

How much was the estimate for the repair? It might be worthwhile engaging your own loss adjuster. They would be better able to dispute the value the other person's insurance put on the car, the cost of repairs and the scrap value.

I don't know where they're getting a scrap value of €1000! https://www.chill.ie/blog/guide-to-scrapping-your-car/ Scam artists have nothing on some of our insurance companies! Massaging the figures to try pay out less than half what your car is worth.

Get your own loss adjuster and play hardball with them.

FishOnABike · 28-03-2023 8:43am

p.s. if anyone was in the car when the other car hit it they might need medical attention. After all, in the insurance companies view, the collision had eough force to write off your car 🙄

MacDanger · 28-03-2023 9:16am

I had a similar situation towards the end of last year - rear-ended by another car, no dispute over liability. My car was pretty old (09 Vectra) but well maintained; went through his insurance & their assessor valued the car at 2200 based on other cars for sale (obviously older cars like these, there's not a massive amount to compare it to) but obviously if there's any grey area, the assessor slants it in favour of his employer, the insurance company (e.g. 200 deducted for a scratch on the front bumper).

I argued long and hard with the insurance company and got it up to 2400 but they wouldn't budge further than that (I was only looking for 2800). At that point, it seems like the only choice is to bring them to court for the sake of a few hundred quid so they know it won't be worth your while. Meanwhile, you're out of pocket for buying a replacement car (not to mention the time spent going around looking at cars) for something that wasn't your fault in the slightest.

the_amazing_raisin · 28-03-2023 5:48pm

I'm starting to think a simpler system would be if someone crashes into you then you get their car as a replacement

tom1ie · 29-03-2023 7:37am

So quick update:

I contacted the independent Assesor and pointed out that there were many examples of my car with similar mileage and spec looking for 5k+, I then sent him on examples showing this.

The Assesor agreed and the car is no longer an economic write off and will be repaired- providing there is no damage to the suspension as this would make the cost to repair too much.

So to ascertain if the suspension is alright denning contacted me and are looking for me to book into a tyre place to get tracking and wheel alignment done and then to bring the report to them.

All this because some other driver forgot to put on the handbrake 🤦‍♂️

the_amazing_raisin · 29-03-2023 11:04am

What a mess, I can see why people don't bother claiming against insurance and just pay for the repairs directly

Out of curiosity, did you get an independent repair cost from another crash repair place?

A few years ago a car drove into my wife's car and she looked into claiming via her insurance. The insurance nominated repair shop quoted something around €1k to fix the car

When she went to another repair shop they quoted about half that and in the end she went there and the other driver just payed for the repairs

tom1ie · 29-03-2023 12:35pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120415063#Comment_120415063

I didn’t because I just wanted the very small damage to be fixed and never imagined the Assesor would tell me the car is an economic write off!!

Anyway I have had the realignment done and the result sent to dennings who have now sent to zurich, so that Zurich can give the go ahead to dennings to fix the car.

Im starting to think I should’ve said my back or neck is sore…….. (joke)

tom1ie · 14-06-2023 12:48pm

hi all,

so to give an update to this.................

Dennings fixed the bumper sensors and the horn mechanism which were damaged in the "crash".

I signed the release form and all was well until i dropped my car in for a service.

The day before i dropped the car in for a service the low coolant light came on, so my mechanic checked and later told me the radiator was damaged and has a hole in it on the passengers side at the bottom, same spot that the car crashed into me.

I presume there is no way i can go back to the insurer who paid for the work and explain the situation to them and expect them to cover the cost of a replacement radiator at this stage?

The radiator was definitley damaged as a result of that crash- but was never assessed for.

the_amazing_raisin · 14-06-2023 3:14pm

Bit strange that the hole wasn't spotted before by the repair place, presumably there'd be a difficult to miss puddle under the car where the coolant was leaking out?

I think you could possibly take it up with the insurance company and say the original repair assessment was incorrect, but the risk might be they write the car off again because of the added expense to repair it

Maybe the mechanic knows some magic tricks to fix the hole on the cheap?

con747 · 14-06-2023 3:56pm

It's also possible a stone or something could have caused it in the past week or two. After all it is just about 3 months since the incident and surely the warning light would have come on before now and the garage or yourself would have noticed a puddle under the car. Especially when it was up on a car lift and them working in that area, if they didn't notice that what else did they not notice?

Car rolled into my car in car park.

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