Wing Mirror Clipping, Both Not Admitting Fault, What to Do Next?

TightBum on 05/03/2016 - 00:40
Last edited 05/03/2016 - 01:44

My right mirror was clipped as we were just about to turn into our drive way and the vehicle the right lane drove pass. I'm confident I was within my lane but they think it's my fault.

Our mirror was bent forward but I was able to bend it back and test out the motor inside the mirror and everything seemed fine, their mirror popped out but the wing was still intact with the electrical cables still attached (not sure if it would pop back in as I didn't try, was in such a shock at the time from her reaction I only realised after reviewing the images I took when we got home).

I've exchanged details with the lady and she was incredibly intimidating and loud when she got out of her vehicle, and was on the phone with someone else soon after and got really angry when I started taking pictures of the damages and her plates( don't know why she wouldn't want them considering her mirror was more damaged than mine). I'm not too sure what to do next as our mirror is fine with minor scratching and I'm pretty sure their damage is minor(but can't be 100% sure). Should I let my insurance company know even though my car is not damaged? Or should I wait for her to claim and then react, I don't really want to pay $650 excess and for my premiums to rise when it wasn't even my fault.

Still a bit shaken up by how she reacted for such a minor incident. This is the first accident I've had to deal with where the other person hasn't admitted fault, so not sure what to do. My parents are currently away looking after a sick family member overseas and don't want to stress them more. Can I ask my insurance company what I should do without claiming? Any insight/advice would be appreciated, thanks.

TLDR: Wing mirror clipped, minor damages, we're both not admitting fault, not worried about my damages worried about her pushing the blame on me. Should I notify my insurance company ASAP or wait to see if she claims?

Automotive

Comments

  • nocure on 05/03/2016 - 00:42
    +1

    Grab yourself a redbull…😀

  • [Deactivated] on 05/03/2016 - 01:05

    No dashcam I take it?

    Any witnesses?

    • TightBum on 05/03/2016 - 01:10
      +1

      No independent witnesses, my sister was in the car with me and she's only 13 so doubt it will help. We were on a busy street and turned into a residential street to grab details. It was really minor so no one stopped :/. Waiting for my dash cam to be delivered from online. Such bad timing.

  • juzz0 on 05/03/2016 - 01:16

    Really need witnesses, she can deny it all she likes. Probably not worth the excess for minor scratches on a side mirror. If you own a high value car then it might be a thought getting it checked up and possibly replaced as it could significantly effect the value but I would leave it. I had a car side swipe me hit and run (when my car was parked properly in the street). There was a witness who left a note and phone but no number plate was recorded. Unfortunately the car belongs to a neighbour (I see in passing most days but don't talk). Both my car and his have significant wheel damage and scrapes from the impact. I have reported it to police but without dash cam footage, a witness who can exactly recall the number plate or an admission their hands are tied. I thought they might be able to do some paint testing but that is the realm of CSI television shows (he rubbed most of my paint off the front side panel of his car but you can still see minor flecks ingrained in the scratches, his front left tyre also punctured from the impact). Frustrating in the extreme but not much you can do. This happened last month to me and I had to pay $950 for my repairs to the wheelbase to make it drivable as I don't have comprehensive. Good luck.

    • TightBum on 05/03/2016 - 01:26

      :( that sucks, it's really unfair that innocent people have to shell out for other peoples mistakes because they don't want to own up to it. I have a 2nd hand Toyota only worth about 10k and I don't have comprehensive either but I'm really not worried about my damages but more worried about them pushing the fault onto me and making me pay for their mistake. Would not be worried about $650 if I had a high value car :p, and I would definitely have comprehensive.

      • juzz0 on 05/03/2016 - 02:03

        I don't think she would claim unless she had witnesses supporting her but you never know, your insurance company will conduct their own investigation when she lodges a claim. I'm gathering you have third party property. I can't see the harm in speaking with a rep. I don't think they will adjust your premiums because you have been in an accident, even though it could demonstrate an added risk to them (even with you being not at fault).

  • Euphemistic on 05/03/2016 - 08:35
    +1

    Not sure based on what I just read, but the other drove past you in the same direction while you waited to turn in and you were both in your own lane. Were you stationary? Were you arbout to turn left into your drive?

    Either way the passing driver has the responsibility to pass safely and obviously didn't. Not your responsibility, you should be hitting her up for the repairs (that sounds like you don't need)

    Only way I can see you have some responsibility is if you moved to the right before turning left, but if you were indicating left its not unlikely to occur and still, I believe, up to the other driver to pass safely.

    • TightBum on 05/03/2016 - 10:02

      I was in the left lane slowing down and going about 10-20km/h when she clipped me from the right lane (going the same direction), I had already indicated left turn for a few seconds and was just about to turn into my drive way when it happened. I'm sure I was in the right but given how she reacted I wouldn't be surprised if she tried to blame me for it.

      • whooah1979 on 05/03/2016 - 10:10

        Neither parties can support their stories. So this is a 50/50 claim.

  • try2bhelpful on 05/03/2016 - 09:28
    +1

    A few years ago my other half got clipped by another car that then speed off without stopping. He got the number plate and reported it to the police. Funnily enough the car had been "stolen" but was only noticed as missing sometime after the accident. The owner then "found" the car a few streets away from them a couple of days later. There was nothing we could do as the car had been "stolen" but it was very annoying particularly as we didn't have comprehensive insurance in those days. Sounds like getting a webcam might be worth doing. Maybe we need "webcam on board" sign rather than "baby onboard"; I wonder if that would make people drive better.

    • shapers on 05/03/2016 - 09:52

      Even if it wasn't stolen you may not have had any luck, I was sitting stationary a couple of years back when a van tried to sneak into the right turning line and scraped the side of the car. We thought he was turning into a side street to stop & exchange details so we followed him but he did a runner. Got his license plate and went to cops later on, the guy admitted he had a "confrontation" with me but no crash and since we didn't have any witnesses or dashcam at the time it was our word vs his and the cops didn't / couldn't do anything…

    • TightBum on 05/03/2016 - 09:53

      Indeed! I already ordered one a few weeks back and arriving within the next two weeks so I'm feeling super unlucky. At least it was nothing major.

      • try2bhelpful on 05/03/2016 - 11:34

        Write down what happened, so if it does come to it you have a fresh record of the proceedings. If the other person tries to claim on you push it straight through your insurance company and let them battle it out. People think if they go on the offensive they can intimidate the other person. My approach is to let them yell as much as they like and when they have petered out calmly explain what happened and what should happen next. If it really gets heated pull out your phone and tell them you intend to record the rest of the conversation as a matter of record.

  • Almost Banned on 05/03/2016 - 11:17

    I think the vehicle passing you has an obligation to ensure they do so safely.
    I have been thinking of getting a cam for awhile because of these types of incidents.
    What is everyone else using and are you happy with it?

  • PVA on 05/03/2016 - 11:21

    report it to your insurance compny, admit no fault.

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