Someone Drove Into My Car

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Someone Drove Into My Car - No Insurance!

Ratez

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#191415 3-Feb-2016 17:44

Hi all,

Someone drove into my car while the traffic was in a standstill. It was a very loud hit and at first look there is a minor damage on my bumper but never know about inside - plus my reversing sensor looks damaged.

He doesn't have insurance at all and I've taken down his license, car rego, and picture of his car. Didn't think to take a picture of his car right after accident though as we were on a busy road.

What are my options? He doesn't look like he can afford much...

I just bought my car 2 weeks ago, so its really pissing me off.

EDIT: I have full insurance cover. Going to give them a call.

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Hammered
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#1484622 3-Feb-2016 17:46

That's why you have insurance. Talk to your insurance company.

People often mistake me for an adult because of my age.

Keep calm, and carry on posting.

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timmmay

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#1484623 3-Feb-2016 17:46

Claim your insurance, that's what it's for. Anything else is your insurance company's problem.

johnr

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#1484627 3-Feb-2016 17:51

You don't tell us if you have insurance and if you do what type of insurance cover you have?

shortcircuit

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#1484628 3-Feb-2016 17:52

I had exactly the same, guy drove into the back of me and gave me false details. As long as you got their rego number your insurance company will chase them for it.

If they drove into the back of you it is usually considered not your fault and your insurance company should waive the excess/no claims (they normally require that the other driver admits liability)

johnr

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#1484630 3-Feb-2016 17:52

Also did you report it to the local police station ?

Ratez

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#1484631 3-Feb-2016 17:54

No I didn't report it to the police station as it wasn't major. Should I?

I have full insurance cover on the car.

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JimmyH

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#1484641 3-Feb-2016 18:09

No, not if he gave you his details and no one was hurt.

Lodge it with your insurer, they will take it from there. I had to do exactly the same last year.

Ratez

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#1484701 3-Feb-2016 18:34

Sucks how third party isn't compulsory. An idea that I don't see how NZ justifies.

I hope he doesn't deny causing the accident. Don't even know how he would slip when his car had been stationary behind me for at least a minute.

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#1484706 3-Feb-2016 18:43

I think you're safe.

If the insurance company tracks him down and manages to get money from him your record is clean. And they should, if you have the rego (unless it's false and stolen).

If not a claim gets lodged against your record. If you don't want a dent on your record withdraw the claim in the event they can't track the guy down. But you will be $1000-3000 poorer.

Ratez

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#1484724 3-Feb-2016 19:16

Hopefully he doesn't deny being there.

I should have taken a picture of the accident on hindsight even if I was blocking traffic.

Thankfully the damage doesn't seem too bad.

Jase2985

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#1484758 3-Feb-2016 19:44

Ratez:

I hope he doesn't deny causing the accident. Don't even know how he would slip when his car had been stationary behind me for at least a minute.

My wife is off to the disputes tribunal at the beginning of March, as about 18 months ago someone ran into the back of her and they were uninsured. She gave all the deatils to the insurance company, they talked to him initially and then waived the excess for her and we were able to have the car fixed.

Now he hasnt been answering calls from the insurance company they are chasing him for the total cost of the repair, and the rental from our policy, about 7k all up.

sucks to be him, but for the cost of 3rd party insurance and a couple hundred excess for an accident he could have saved a lot.

im interested to see if he turns up to the hearing or not.

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#1484859 3-Feb-2016 22:56

I had the same thing happen last year, except it was 4 cars involved. 3 cars sitting at the lights waiting to turn green with us at the front and a driver smashing into the 3rd car, pushing it into the 2nd, which then pushed it into us. The driver claimed it was a medical incident and was having a heart attack but then refused to be looked at by the medics, and he was of course uninsured. I made a claim with our insurer and at first they were going to make us pay the excess because the other driver wasn't at fault because it was a "medical incident", but once I told them the police charged him with failing to stop short (a lesser charge because no one was injured except him) they then refunded the money after a bit of hassling. It was difficult to see the damage to our car (I heard it coming and released the brake slightly just in case) but it caved in the bumper slightly and took out 2 of the parking sensors, I didn't find out the total cost but was told it was well above our excess of $300.

The driver of the car who was immediately behind us was also uninsured so he'll probably still be trying to get some money out of the guy who caused it all. Even when I was a poor student I always had insurance, if you can't afford insurance you can't afford a car.

tdgeek

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#1484882 3-Feb-2016 23:32

AFAIK if your insurance company can recover costs your ok. If not you pay excess and any effect on premiums. I agree that third party HAS to compulsory

dickytim

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#1484944 4-Feb-2016 06:47

tdgeek: AFAIK if your insurance company can recover costs your ok. If not you pay excess and any effect on premiums. I agree that third party HAS to compulsory

Not quite. So long as you provide the details to the insurance company and they deem you to have not been at fault, and not contributed you are Ok.

I was rear ended on the motorway (I was doing 40km/h) and the guy played silly buggers with my insurance company.

I had changed lanes 100m earlier after passing him, he was doing around 70-80 when the cars in front suddenly slowed right down, I braked and he didn't he hit me at around 80km/h while I was speeding up.

I told the insurance company this and they held my excess for months while trying to get his side of the story. I finally go a letter in the mail over xmas with my excess refund.

SATTV

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#1484953 4-Feb-2016 07:53

It depends om your insurance company on how they hadel it, if you have to pay am excess and if your no claims bonus is affected.

If your car was brand new ( not just brand new to you ) your insurance co might replace it. It is in my policy.

I am with AMI, we have to pay an excess of $300 and can have two "at fault" claims in 12 months without affecting our no claims bonus ( I lost my car transponder and it cost me $300 to get replaced, luckily I had a spare key so it was not a major )

I have had someone rear end us, they had no insurance, we paid the excess, insurance chased him, we had to lodge paperwork for small claims, he paid up and we got our excess back.

Also you should take a photo of the driver, number plate and rego.

My work van was rear ended a few years ago, lodged a claim with insurance company, panel beater said it would take a couple of weeks to get the parts and we paid the excess, insurance co ( AON ) came back and said that the plates did not belong to the car that hit us. The phone was disconnected, the address was vacant and we were up the creek without a paddle.

I witness an accident outside my home a number of years ago, took photos of the driver and number plate etc. Reported it to the police who said it did not exist.

I had to submit the photos to court for the victim / insurance company and the Judge was most impressed as a had everything they needed.

John

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