Last year my hubby, was going to work. And a car with three young lads. Pulled out in front of him. And braked. Of course he ran in the back.

The car was an old banger. Our car suffered a small dent in the front. The driver got back in the car, and drove off. After exchanging insurance details.

Just heard from our insurance company. And currently they've paid out 7000 for the car, and a further £15,000 is anticipated in personal injuries. B***** compensation culture. Only found out this after questioning the extortionate, rise in our insurance premium. As no-one from the insurance company, had informed us of what was happening. We thought the claim hadnt gone through

Nice little earner, for them isnt it

Alix

Thats disgusting isnt it? I hate people like that! I thought it might have been the law for them to let u know, i mean didnt they contact u regarding the compensation for evidence?

Thats awful when you no they shouldnt have recieved all that money and just trying it on :( my son had his foot run over by an elderly driver. My son had his foot half on the kerb and half off, He just drove straight at him. Was in hospital for 4 days, you have never seen such an awful foot. was on crutches for weeks, had to have dead skin cut away and  we were going on holiday 5 weeks after the accident totaly ruined it for him. well went to court and he pleaded not guilty, but the judge same age as the old man, didnt give him any points, nor to resit his test an awarded my son £75.00, i was gobsmacked,
Jane

Jane

75.00 pound thats disgusting. Yeah, and sometimes it make you wonder, why you should abide by the law,. When you see all these people committing crimes, fraud etc. And getting away with it.

I'd love to know who's there solicitor is. My hubby was in a accident a few years ago. He got a grand for whiplash. That was it.

The £7000 has got me for an L reg vauxhall Vectra

Yea Just spoke to the cliams department. Who say. The insurance company. Does not have to inform people. Off when a claim is being settled. Just told them that even though insurance is paying it out, I think it is disgusting, that they are anticipating a total payout of £22,000, for an L reg vauxhall vectra. There where 3 lads in the car. The car, only had a dent in the back.

We reported it to our insurance company. As my hubby was a bit dubious. As you do, but he was also abit dubious there car was insured or not. As the driver dithered in giving my hubby his details.

But £22,000 is absolutely ridiculous. I am now wondering, if they pulled up on purpose. Cause you do hear of scams like this. I definetely smell a rat, I have also just told the insurance company. That I think someone is pulling the wool somewhere.

To which they responded. well they will have a solicitor. Yeah and we all know what they are like about compensation.
"turn your head right" turn your head left" that hurts doesnt it. Oh yes defiante claim.

Alix

a couple of weeks ago i was stood at traffic lights and someone went into the back of me he was going at such speed that i was pushed forward into the back of the car infront of me, the driver of the car infront claimed for injuries off my insurance who i would have thought would sue the guy who hit me and recover the costs for all damages from him however this is not happening. my insurance has to pay for the guy in front of me which means my premiums will go up and it was not even my fault......its unreal.

Yep, in shunts like this the damage to the back of each car is paid for by the driver of the car which made the contact, not the one at the very back who started it all. The insurance companies' argument is that each driver was too close to the one in front ... :(

Yup - on motorways and traffic lights you should always leave plenty of distance.

thats what they say but i was 2 car lengths away which is the legal requirement. it was the fact that he hit me doing close to 50mph that caused me to go into the back of the car infront. even the guy infront and the guy who hit me said there was nothing i could do. i just think it stinks.

Hi
Yep thats like my hubby, this car just drove across the lane, without indicating then braked, and it costs the insurance 22 grand, for bad driving. Not his fault. but at the end of the day the law states that whoever run in the back of is liable. Regardless. of the circumstances surrounding the accident.

My hubby, is a truckie, and is always a very safe driver, he's been driving for over 20 years, and has only ever had 3 points on his license.

Alix

in those sorts of case who ever caused the accident should be liable, in your case it was just an easy way for these 3 lads to make some cash. probably nothing wrong with them. you def have a right to be very annoyed.

nic

I cant believe all the stories, insurance companies need to rethink, and sort out the right from wrong people!
By rights i suppose we could gone to his insurance company to get some compensation off the old git. it was him and his car that did it to my son.
What really gets me was my son had just left school and had a few interviews to go to, but had to cancel them. He cant ride a bike cos of the pain, on the under side of his foot and that will be 2 yrs this july. still even got bruising on the front of his foot.
I shouldnt go on really at least he is alive and there far more people worse than him, through no fault of there own.
Jane

Hey folks :-))

The reason the car behind picks up the tab is nothing to do with the distance folks it is to do with limited liability. The braking distance is just that reasonable braking distance but not for parked or stationary cars.

People can only be liable for so much in the eyes of the law.

It is like with there is a power cut and your freezer defrosts , you have to claim off you own insurance.

If a car is stationary , hand break or not if it is hit hard enough the car will bolt forward.  These types of things were all agreed through insurance companies many moons ago.

There is no requirement to have a hand break on. You foot on the brake is the exact same thing.

I'm sure you are right about insurance companies coming to an agreement about this I don't think you are right about a foot on the brake though.  If you are hit from behind by any force at all the chances of your foot remaining firming planted is a bit slim :), after an initial jolt the impetus will be forward for your foot and your car.  A handbrake would hold firm and limit any forward movement which if you combine with leaving a decent gap when stopping should at least reduce the chances of a front accident as well or at least limit the damage.

Hi Isabel :-) 

My point was that you are not more liable because you didn't have your handbrake on..I know that 100%
It doesn't matter if the handbreak is on or your foot is on the break if you are hit from behind. It may limit the damage BUT that is not what I meant , I meant  it doesn't affect your liability as a person.  There is no rule that you must use your handbreak ;-) you are not more liable for damage if you had your hand break on or off. If there was there would be a whole knew chapter as to when you have to take your hand break off :-)) when setting off..  What would happen when the traffic was about to move? It wouldn't work.   :-))

That may be the case it was many years ago my sister had her accident but it was definately used against her at that time.  I will continue to apply the handbrake because if you do, and stop with a reasonable gap, the chances of hitting the car in front are much reduced and therefore no quibbles to be had :)

>What would happen when the traffic was about to move?

You let the handbrake off! :)
Traffic in front will be moving too so the danger of a front collision if something hits you from behind will be deminishing at that point and anyway you have got to take the brake of sometime :D

Did you have your handbrake on, Meandmydog?  This happened to my sister years ago and she was told she was liable because she did not apply her handbrake which is something I have always done since.

You are right that insurance companies seem to be able to settle a claim without the knowledge of the insured............A short while ago my insurance company settled for an accident which I had not had, which happened in a car that was not mine, driven by a person who wasnt me! Basically they had got the wrong registration number, claimed against MY insurance, and my insurers accepted liability on my behalf!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I didnt know a thing about it until I lost my no claims, they never even asked me for a statement!
Needless to say when they were told of their mistake they had to cancel it all, but what a waste of time and energy :D

Surely the insurance company had to see medical reports before paying a claim like this ?. Nowadays, however small the 'bump' I'd report it to the police and get a report number. Pity nobody had a mobile/picture phone to take a photo of the damage. I wonder if the insurance company sent an inspector to assess the damage ?.

We carry a 'one-use throwaway' camera in the glovebox for just this sort of event.

Hi

yea, He did phone me, when he had the accident. And i asked if he had called the police.Really wish he had now. Cause it will be his word against 3 young lads. Who are looking at being quids in.  But they just exchanged details. And as he was going to work, he just wanted to get there.

By rights jg, we should have learnt our lesson, ie the throwaway camera.

About 6 years ago, Chris had come to pick me up from work. And a driver backed out, of a space very fast, and shoved him into a wall. The driver who was someone I worked with offered to go to the bank. There and then, to get the cash to fix the car. Very Naive me, refused thinking she might give us too much, it might not be as bad as it looks. All the back end was shoved in etc etc. We refused her offer of cash, It turned out, she wasnt insured, took us forever to get her to admit it, and at least a couple of years. Before we got paid out. Think it was the ministry of transport, who finally paid out on her behalf. And the horrible thing was, that even though we kept chasing her for details. We kept giving her the benifit of the doubt, Cause she was a work colleague.

I know inflation has gone up since then. But by god by my reckoning. Its by 20k

Cause he only got 1k for car and another for whiplash.

Alix

i did have my handbrake on allways do when i'm stood.

after being on the receiving end of one of those bumps when someone thought they could make it and couldnt, Id had my NEW car 4 days aarrgghh, I exchanged names and addresses and whilst doing it the police arrived recorded the lot and left us to it.
my insurance wanted me to use a repair garage chosen by them who photographed everything . I had to fork out my excess and claim that back and am still trying to get my deposit back that i payed for the hire car. the company charged me for petrol even tho it was returned brim full.
So being on the other side, I have had all the hassle and running around am out of pocket and altho my car is repaired and you cant tell it has spoiled my first ever brand new car !

John 

Makes me think the £60 for insured ncd and legal cover may just be worth while!