I got rammed by a taxi - I was doing about 20-25 through some temporary traffic lights, 5pm yesterday evening, headlights on, and he pulled out from being parked on some double yellow lines without looking. Bit of a crease in the rear passenger door and the back wheel is scuffed too - no harm to me or to Lady Bertie McHobnobs though, and nothing visible behind the door, looks like it's just the top skin that's damaged there.

 

I got lots of pictures and his details; the taxi company called about half an hour later to ask if I'd let them pay for repairs rather than go through insurance.

 

My insurance documents suggest that I should inform them anyway. I think this is because otherwise the taxi company could back out and suggest nothing happened. They're not open until tomorrow; while this sounds like a silly question, am I right that I should let the insurance company know?

 

My last Yeti took a knock (my fault that time - bad parking) in pretty much exactly the same bit of the door and Garland fixed it so you couldn't see it'd ever been done, so I was planning on getting them to give a quote.

 

Anything else I should be aware of? Thanks in advance.

I wouldn't contact the insurance company as it can still go against your record. I would get the taxi company to put something in writing.

Any witnesses?

I'm sure the Taxi company will want one of their mates to do it on the cheap.

 

I say go through insurance.

Get it in writing from the taxi company agreeing to pay for the repair at a workshop of your choice and see if you can get the workshop to bill the taxi firm direct.

I would be wary of this, about four years ago I got a side swipe by a hire company van and had a similar reaction of the driver admitting his fault and then the company asking not to put it through insurance and they would settle the bill. Three weeks later nothing from them and when I contacted them they tried to say it was my fault and as there was no damage to their van  they would not offer anything or be contacting their insurers.. I then tried my insurance and the van company did everything they did to riddle out of it. The insurance paid out, not sure if they ever got anything out of their side as the car was on a company car policy at the time and I never heard any more of it. But if it happened now, I would ensure I contacted my insurance straight away with any witnesses etc. and as much detail as possible. Unfortunately you often find if you leave it a day or two after the event you will find that people who created the problem will suddenly forget the truth of what actually happened

You could get a quick quote then go to them with the estimate, tell them to stump the cash up right now or go through the insurance.

KEEP IT LEGIT AND INFORM YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY......MAYBE THE TAXI DRIVER WAS UNISURED OR DRIVING ILLEGALLY

 

Sorry, caps lock was on

Was just going to say...STOP SHOUTING!

KEEP IT LEGIT AND INFORM YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY......MAYBE THE TAXI DRIVER WAS UNISURED OR DRIVING ILLEGALLY

 

Sorry, caps lock was on

totally second this.  Someone hit my car a few years ago and they were offering to pay in full rather than going through insurance.  After thinking it over and speaking to my friend who is a mechanic  i decided to go the legit way.  So glad I did.  At least you know any work will be covered.  My insurance didn't go up at all.

Thanks all.

 

I called the insurance company and they've logged it for information only (case closed but reopenable). They said that it was important to do it this way as it won't affect my no claims nor my renewal cost, but means that if the taxi company go back on their word to pay for the repairs they can be pursued.

 

Just waiting to hear back from Chips Away...

If you haven't done so already I'd ring the taxi company and tell them you've logged it with your insurance company as above so they realise they can't do a u turn. As it's their fault I'd get a quote from a Skoda approved repairer too as I'd want to make sure the repair was to Skodas quality standards including the thickness of the paint because if chips away do a poor job you'll be left to sort it out.

totally second this.  Someone hit my car a few years ago and they were offering to pay in full rather than going through insurance.  After thinking it over and speaking to my friend who is a mechanic  i decided to go the legit way.  So glad I did.  At least you know any work will be covered.  My insurance didn't go up at all.

 

Agree totally. When someone tries to circumvent the proper process, it's more likely to be a fiddle than an act of altruism.

Agree totally. When someone tries to circumvent the proper process, it's more likely to be a fiddle than an act of altruism.

No, not necessarily,My experience with this scenario was fine .

Got a scrape on the bumper by a car cutting up (luckily I had it on camera too,Blackvue group buy!)

Guy said he would pay up,got a pro forma invoice from the body shop I use, he paid me direct.

Job done,

Edited 29 October, 201312 yr by carisbrook

Some years ago I had someone hit my car when it was parallel parked and he was reversing back looking for a space. He apologised and left his name and number with my wife (who witnessed it). When I contacted him to get his insurance company details he told me to f... off - and when I threatened to get the police involved he said he was a solicitor with a big local practice and he knew all the local police chiefs well.

It took nearly 6 months and a Small Claims Court case to get my money. Worst thing was meeting the magistrate and seeing the culprit solicitor and the magistrate greeting each other by first name - old friends! Still, I did win and got back double the cost of repairs, but I wish I'd used the insurance company from the word go.

I'd go though a proper repairer and get the rear suspension geometry checked too, it's amazing what seemingly little impacts can bend something.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 4

Thanks again.

 

I did log it with the insurance company on the Monday as their phone line closes on Saturday afternoon and isn't open at all on Sunday. Got a £660 estimate to repair it from a reputable local bodyshop on Tuesday; the taxi initially said he'd be over that evening with the money and then started haggling so on Wednesday I went back to the insurance company and reopened the case. All booked in for repair at a Skoda-approved place, hire car arriving the same morning.

 

The taxi driver (and his boss) are now begging to pay the full amount rather than go through insurance, but as far as I'm concerned they had their chance to do this the cheap and decent way. It just seems a shame that it's going to cost so much more now - not to me, but to everyone else. Ah well; should all be sorted by the end of next week.

Had much the same here with a young guy who let his door go in high winds earlier this year and damaged a door badly on our fabia. He wanted to pay but when the quote came in kept coming back with fitting second hand doors from eBay. Ended up costing his insurance a small fortune as they added hire car costs etc to the repair costs

Got a text from the driver saying he hasn't yet logged it with his insurance company. That seems daft to me - he knows I called my insurance company on Monday. It's been a week since he hit me.

Hopefully he does actually have insurance, but he can't just ignore it and hope it goes away. Your insurers will contact his, and his will contact him and ask him if he is aware of a collision. Make sure you keep all his text messages as evidence.

Edited 3 November, 201312 yr by Dr Zoidberg

I've kept all the text messages and just made screenshot backups of them as well - thanks for the reminder!

Good stuff.

The Yeti is being picked up today for repair - I've got a Kia Sorrento as a hire car. It's huge! I think it may well be the biggest car ever made. Also a bit floppy feeling, but it's comfy, it goes OK and it has heated seats so it'll do fine.

 

It's a lot nicer inside than I'd expected.

Got an update from the repairer - it's getting a new door, three panels sprayed, two mouldings, a wheel refurb and laser alignment. Sounds like the taxi's insurance company is going to get a very hefty bill. Should be done by the end of next week. I miss my Yeti.

a lady reversed into me a few weeks back (i was parked) but she came to find me in a factory unit where i was working (self-employed photographer) and admitted it. - nice of her! 

 

now it looked nothing, a slight scuff to the front bumper, just in front of the wheel.

 

but, driving at night, saw that the headlight had been pushed down - upon further investigation, wing had been bent inward.

 

i contacted local, supplying Mercedes dealer and as i'm a business user (altho car is privately owned and ran) they said they would handle it on, what they call, Synter Drive, ie, a middle man for dealing with her insurance. 

 

cost was £1200 to repair and again, as business user, they supplied me with an E class sport, to replace my E class sport. which was nice!  

 

hope you get yours sorted soon and it's a happy story like mine 

 

Al. 

My Yeti is back! It is tiny and beautiful. Looks like a good repair job; the wheel looks like new and I can't see any difference in colour.

 

On the downside I'd not realised that I'd have to pay the excess and then hope the insurance company manages to recover it - surely if I was hit by someone and they admit liability then they pay for everything?

 

Still, the Yeti is back. This has pleased me enormously. So tiny.