Question: Car Accident Report

What BluePete said, and he's a traffic copper so knows a bit about these things.

I never give anyone a chance in these situations because they invariably start to take the mick and it drags on and on. Give an inch and the barstewards take a mile.

[yorkie_chris]

Young lad just starting out in a trade, his insurance will probably shoot up to unaffordable levels if a claim is made.
I know someone will say "well it serves him right", so in advance you're a set of c***s, you've all made mistakes and it's a poor thing to lose your freedom for! Or worse make someone think "ah sod it" and drive uninsured.


I'd report the accident, just because it's reported does not mean you have to claim, and give him chance to fix it, if he seems genuine. But fix it on your terms only.

[Bri w]

I'd get quotes, then give the lad a few days to come up with the cash. If it wasn't forthcoming I'd put in the claim.

I wouldn't let him, or his mates in the trade do the repair but insist its repaired by a third party who wouldn't have a vested interest in doing it on the cheap and who had a good rep.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Young lad just starting out in a trade, his insurance will probably shoot up to unaffordable levels if a claim is made.
I know someone will say "well it serves him right", so in advance you're a set of c***s, you've all made mistakes and it's a poor thing to lose your freedom for! Or worse make someone think "ah sod it" and drive uninsured.

Well, taking the c***ts point of view, if his independence is so important, then be a bit more careful, yes, we've all made mistakes but that's what insurance is there for in the first place, it's not like the OP's mate is claiming injury so the blame for putting his insurance up lies with the young lad in the car and his own insurance company. What's to stop him making a half assed repair job of the blokes car and saying "that's yer lot" and walking away.

Isn't there something in the small print of insurances policies which says something like "All accidents must be reported even if you don't intend to claim. Failure to report an accident will terminate this policy"?

As Pete said so there is a record if anything goes pear shaped. Seeing as the lad works at a panel beaters, get your work mate to bell him tomorrow explaining that the repairs need to be carried out to insurance approved levels which you would expect the company to work to. Let them do the work and explain that once the work has been dione to satisfaction the case will be closed. He should get a written breakdown of all work done, no major bogging, if panels are damaged, they get replaced. If that isn`t going to happen, tell him to apologise and authorise the insurance company to take over. I agree with YC, but if theres a sniff of bs being spoken, screw the niceties and go down the official route.