A whack from behind

Maxthedane · 5 Dec 2019

Last night I was slowing to go over a speed hump. The guy behind me was watching the lights ahead turn green so sped up and whacked me.

What a pain - my pride & joy's backside is now looking a bit of a mess. Bumper: scratched, paint off, surface broken. Engine lid: buckled & scratched.

So Insurance - I haven't made any claim for years and it now seems everyone is trying to stitch everyone else up - minimise their costs & maximise what they can claim off others.

So the guy at fault - his Insurance co want me to go direct through them. Not even talk to my own insurer. They'll do it all - minimise their cost but who knows where my car will end up getting repaired or how good the repair will be.

OPC - want to farm the work out to Sytner Drive, an accident management claims company who'll send my car off to an 'approved' body shop. They'll also give me a like for like to drive in the meantime. So their incentive is to minimise cost of repair & maximise claim on the company who whacked me.

Another option I have is the Porsche independant specialist who I bought the car from. They've already told me what needs doing (repaint bumper, replace engine lid) & I have a relationship with them. Somehow I sense I'll get a good, honest job from them. The big boys (Insurance, car hire firms & bodyshops) - just not sure they'll look after my interest.

Any views from those of you who have had to get Insurance jobs done.

Alex · 5 Dec 2019

1st option for me is always to stay as far away from Insurance companies as possible. If it were me I'd already have had a price off someone I trusted to repair it before contacting anyone. Then speak to the guy who bumped you and ask him if he'd cover the bill. If he does, get it sorted. If not then I'd just see what his Insurance company offer to do for you. You'll end up losing out if you have anything to do with Insurance companies.

Rojdog · 5 Dec 2019

Personally I would go the OPC route. You've been hit through no fault of your own so why should you suffer any inconvenience. Let the management company sort everything out and will be (hopefully) less hassle for you.

That's what Insurance is for after all.

Alex · 5 Dec 2019

.......and let us know how much your premium goes up next time.

Creationblue · 5 Dec 2019

We had an issue a few years ago where someone hit the Audi Cab in a car park, they had the decency to come and find us and swapped Insurance. I let her insurers manage the claim. The repair job was a joke, to cut a long story short if I'm unfortunate to be in the same situation again I will organise my own repairers and get the best job I can. It was the case and I'm sure it still is that you can get whoever you want to repair your car. Good luck

Rojdog · 5 Dec 2019

Yes that's a valid point. Hard to judge though really Alex, I think with minor stuff say under about £500 I would completely agree stay away from Insurance.

Early 2018 I had a drink driver smash into my car while it was parked shunting it into my wife's also writing that off. I used an accident management company which gave me a like for like hire car and sorted everything out stress free. My wife went direct with her own insurer and had an awful time.

My Insurance didn't change the following year
My wife's went up about 30% but only had 2 years driving experience.

I think if you pay a lowish premium its very unlikely to rise much if at all.

:dont know:

Marky911 · 5 Dec 2019

I must admit I'd have avoided the Insurance there too if possible. The other driver may have been willing to pay cash to avoid a black mark on his Insurance.

Rear bumper £150 if that, engine lid £200-£250 plus paint £400. So £800-£900.

I certainly wouldn't have paid it myself though if it was someone else's fault as in this case. If the driver declined the option to pay cash then I'd deffo be going through his Insurance.

Either way now though, the fact you've notified the Insurance means it's a done deal so you have to use them.
I'd just go with main dealer repair now. Best chance of a perfect paint finish etc.

Robertb · 5 Dec 2019

You can use whoever you want, but the Insurance co will need a couple of quotes I think.

Is it just the rear bumper and engine cover that is damaged? That won't cost a fortune, it may be better for him to pay rather than claiming and losing 4yrs NCB etc.

Also your Insurance will get loaded even though it's a non fault claim.

Hamster75 · 5 Dec 2019

Alex said:
1st option for me is always to stay as far away from Insurance companies as possible. If it were me I'd already have had a price off someone I trusted to repair it before contacting anyone. Then speak to the guy who bumped you and ask him if he'd cover the bill. If he does, get it sorted. If not then I'd just see what his Insurance company offer to do for you. You'll end up losing out if you have anything to do with Insurance companies.

Absolutely spot on advice from Alex, I have found this out through my own experiences, if you contact his Insurance & hold them responsible they will normally pay the bill as presented from a body shop.

Martin996RSR · 5 Dec 2019

I've had two claims where people have driven into my Porsche. One was a friend who messed up, and she elected to go through the Insurance (I gave her the option of cash) The Insurance people offered me repairs via an exotic car repairer used by OPCs. I chose this, and it was fine, and got a GT86 to drive around in in the meantime, which my wife loved.

The second time was a nutter in Oxford who hit the car whilst I was parked but standing about 10 metres away with an entire sports team as witnesses, and drove off. I traced her and gave her address to the Police (who were useless) and the Insurance people. I was offered the chance to be repaired by the insurers preferred repairer, who normally repairs any old shopping car. I declined and went with a reccomendation from a racing buddy of mine, Anton's Garage in Blackwater. They were fairly quick and the price was very fair, and their work was absolutely flawless. By choosing my own shop I had to forgoe benefits such as a courtesy car, which was pretty sh1tty of my insurer given the accident wasn't my fault.

It took three years and a court case for my insurer to recover their money from the other party's insurer.

Basically, if you can go through the Insurance companies and you get a decent repairer and other stuff such as a courtesy car then great. If you find you're getting stiffed by the insurer then go your own way.

Maxthedane · 5 Dec 2019

thanks for your replies...

1. the guy considered paying for the work without going through the Insurance company but...

2. with a price of between £800-1000 (Marky911 was in the ball park I had quoted this morning) and his own car to repair he decided to go through Insurance...

3. my Insurance company now knows. If I go direct through his Insurance ( they've contacted me and suggested this) Alex & Hamster - are you saying that won't increase my premiums?

4. I have 3 options - i) my Insurance & I can use a reputable Indy where I bought the car. My Insurance company will claim from his as they've acknowledged it's his fault ii) my Insurance & go OPC but they farm it out to the accident claims company iii) his Insurance company will sort.

My inclination is to go with i)

asterix_the_gaul · 5 Dec 2019

You are within your rights to take it to your chosen body shop, you won't get a curtousy car but do you need one? I would certainly do this if you have a repairer you trust that will give a written quote and stick to it. Don't even bother calling your Insurance, deal with his Insurance, for the kind of money involved they should fall over themselves to settle your claim, if the other insurer or worse still a claims management firm get involved it will cost them at least three times as much.

Hamster75 · 5 Dec 2019

asterix_the_gaul said:
You are within your rights to take it to your chosen body shop, you won't get a curtousy car but do you need one? I would certainly do this if you have a repairer you trust that will give a written quote and stick to it. Don't even bother calling your Insurance, deal with his Insurance, for the kind of money involved they should fall over themselves to settle your claim, if the other insurer or worse still a claims management firm get involved it will cost them at least three times as much.

Yes do this, I had a car / driver crash into my parked van few years ago & I presented his insurers with my quote bill for the repairs at my chosen place & they settled it, I didn't inform my Insurance just went direct to his & said I am holding them him fully responsible, it didn't affect my Insurance, this has happened twice to me.
I used to live on a country road & pillocks lost control of their cars, so many ***** drivers about.
Sorry about your pride & joy, its a bummer & you just want it fixed properly as soon as possible.

berni29 · 6 Dec 2019

Hi

I can relate two experiences to you.

I bought my 993 about 8 years ago. Less than one hour after purchase an idiot drove into the back of me in similar circumstances to you. I only say idiot not because you need to be an idiot to have a simple accident, but this person (woman) was an actual idiot. Anyways, bumper was cracked, centre light cracked and one stop lamp also.

I went through a Porsche approved repair shop. I got a nice Mercedes to drive while it was there. They replaced the bumper, heat shields, supports, centre light and stop light. The car definitely benefitted from having the internal parts replaced.

The downside was that the other party would not admit liability and I was obliged to help my Insurance company recover their losses because it was part of the T's and C's when I accepted the claims management and hire car.

So don't get a hire car unless you really need it.

Also a month or so after the repair I noticed what looked like a speck of dirt on the bumper, but no, it was chip, and I could easily chip off the new bumper paint with a fingernail. Porsche of course said that was normal and would not address the issue. On taking further advice I was told it was a temperature issue when the paint was applied.

Last year I was hit in the rear again (nice chap this time) on the motorway when traffic suddenly slowed down. A little more gently this time, so centre light was not affected, just the bumper.

This time I took cash from the Insurance company and had the work done properly at my leisure.

I suggest you do the same.

All the best

Berni

maldren · 6 Dec 2019

Someone drove into my Mondeo a year or so ago. My insurer (LV) were brilliant and VERY quick. They told me that I would probably hear from the 3rd party's insurer (to keep their costs down) and it was my choice who I used. As I have no contract with the 3rd party's insurer, I would have no comeback if there were problems so I used LV.

Yes, the 3rd party insurer did offer to do the job and IIRC, offered me a financial sweetener, I was very suspicious.

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