Dilemma

David · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:06 am

As I posted in the 'what pisses you off?' thread yesterday:

Dave The Man · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:08 am

You Really should of said NO Dave because You have to pay for it.

Try and Take it Back and say it's not your fault

Insurance Company are Pricks and try and get out of paying anything Evil or Very Mad

David · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:09 am

and here is the state of my poor car Sad

HAL · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:10 am

I fail to see the relevance of that allusion. Tell me about your likes and dislikes? We have never talked about it before. Do you have any conditions I should know about? How old are you? Are we still talking about jpg[IMG] [IMG]httpi192? What do you do in your spare time?

David · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:12 am

as for the damage to the other car (a new-model Toyota large family car), the only visible damage was the area around the front-right indicator light and downwards... which was all pretty much smashed in. However, the woman also had trouble opening her door, and there was some water leakage as well.

Dave The Man · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:17 am

Looks Like it was Her Fault as The Photo's show here driving into your Side.

You have a Good Case for Her to pay for it

David · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:38 am

Does anyone else agree?

spoljar · Joined: 16 Mar 2004 Location: Lynbrook

David, there are moment in your life when you have to take it by the scruff and take responsibility for your own actions. I think this may be one of them for you.

At the end of the day, it appears that you had to give way and she had the right of way. Therefore its clearly your fault.

We are a society built on blaming everyone else, dont add to it Mate. If you are unemployed, I would imagine you can come up with some arrangement with the insurance company to pay a small amount each week. Communication is the key with them Mate and see if you can come up with an amicable solution with them.

Going back years ago, I had an accident with some hippies that were on unemployement benefits with no car insurance at all. They paid back $5 dollars per week to my insurance company until the repair bill was paid off.

Dale61 · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 10:25 am

With you having admitted fault, don't be surprised if the insurance company now declares her car a write-off. Especially as you will now be paying for it.

The lesson here: NEVER admit fault, no matter how minor.

David · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 10:39 am

Thanks for the comments guys.

I figured it couldn't hurt to actually ring up the insurance company and ask about my options, so I did. As I suspected, there would be little or no grounds for me refusing liability, as the road rules showed I was in the wrong. During the phone call I also managed to get a quote on the damage - $4822.50, to be exact. Not nearly as much as I was afraid it would be.

Of course, I'm going to have to find a job more than ever now, but I think that price is certainly within my range, once I become employed again. Still might take a year or two to pay off, though.

OEP · Joined: 12 Jan 2007 Location: Perth

Putting it simply if your at a "give way" sign it's your responsibility to give way to oncoming traffic. Trying to use a defense of "poor visability" at that intersection won't make any difference because the obvious come back to that is "you should have been more observant and cautious".
The other problem with legal action is that if you lose you may be liable for the other parties legal costs.
Quick question - did you, or are you, filing a Police accident report. From my understanding insurance companies require proof the matter was reported to Police from the insured party (or at least that would be the situation in WA).

Dale61 · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 10:52 am

Upon closer inspection of the photos, I can now see why you had visibility problems.

Do you always drive with your driver's seat like that?

Dr Pie · Dr Pie Joined: 08 Nov 2007

It is probably a case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted but could I suggest that David and other people in his situation should get extended third party or "bomb" insurance. I assume that this option still exists.

Back in the early seventies when I was a post-grad student and occasional member of the unemployed, I used to drive an old Morris Minor which was a great car but had a market value of 3/8ths of 2/3rds of sweet fanny adams. I took out extended third party insurance in case I backed my valueless car into a Mercedes Benz or equivalent. It didn't cost much and made me feel much safer financially.

David · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 11:04 am

OEP, I have filed a police report.

Dale, the seat was knocked back like that in the crash, probably because the lever was damaged. Most of the area around where I was sitting actually got kinda squished in.

Lol, and, no, I don't drive like that. Razz

Dale61 · Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 11:14 am

I only asked because a neighbour here drives like that.

First thing I'd do is take your car to a wreckers and get something for it whilst you still can. If, as assumed, the B pillar has been bent, then it's likely the body is now also out of alignment.

Any money you get should be paid to the insurance company to get your repayments started, and as a sign of good faith. Maybe keep a little bit and buy yourself a bicycle as you'll be needing transport to get to work.