Car Reversed into Me and Is Now Refusing to Accept Liability

cyrax83 on 01/08/2016 - 14:47
Last edited 01/08/2016 - 15:01

Hi,
Last week I was driving near my house. I was waiting at an intersection to turn onto a major road. The road I was waiting on had a slight hill and there was one car infront of me . The car infront had a towbar. For some reason, the car infront of me reversed (white reverse light came on). Before I could beep they hit the front of my car. The towbar heavily damaged the front of my car and damaged the lights, panels and hood extensively. There was no damage to her car at all, maybe a couple of scratches on the towbar but nothing you could pick out.

I got out and the female was apologetic and said she'd sort it out and it was entirely her fault for reversing, and that she could also get it fixed privately as she knows a panel beater. She also mentioned the car was her mum's, she is in her mid 20's. I got a picture of the damage on my car, the towbar of her car, her license plate, her mobile number and a picture of the front of her drivers license (It was a QLD license, the incident occurred in NSW). I called the mobile number on the spot to verify it was her phone.

On contacting her mobile today, a male answers and says there is no <Driver's Name> there - most likely her husband the panel beater. I contacted my insurance company and gave them all the details. The insurance company said I may have to pay the $1,100 excess and they will investigate and if they find they are at fault I will be re-imbursed the excess.

Is there anything else I can do?

Automotive

Comments

  • Enzalicious on 01/08/2016 - 15:09
    +1

    If you don't have a witness or dashcam then I'd say there isn't much you can do.

    Lodge your insurance claim and if you're lucky they might admit liability.

    You're probably lucky they don't come back to you and say you rear ended them and try to make a claim against you.

    This is why I have a dashcam now.

    • magic8ballgag on 02/08/2016 - 08:44

      How would the other person be able to claim that the OP rear ended them?

      • Seraphin7 on 02/08/2016 - 10:42
        +1

        In much the same way the OP claims the other person reversed into them. It sounds like this other person is already trying to dodge responsibility and unfortunately wouldn't surprise if they simply claimed the OP ran into the back of them. It then turns into a war of one story vs. the other and then who knows where that ends.

        As noted above, dashcam is the way to go. I've also reached a point now where if I'm involved in a collision of any description I'll be phoning the police immediately. If for no other reason, this should let the other party know you are serious about getting the matter dealt with properly.

        • magic8ballgag on 02/08/2016 - 16:09

          Ah yes that makes sense, I didn't quite understand the wording of the post.

  • cameldownunder on 01/08/2016 - 15:32
    +1

    In your list, I don't see a picture of her drivers license. That's the first thing you need to see.
    I would not be surprised if she didn't even had a drivers license, or the license was suspended.

    • cyrax83 on 01/08/2016 - 15:35
      +1

      There was a picture of the drivers license. I mentioned it in the text

      • cameldownunder on 01/08/2016 - 15:37
        +1

        Ups, sorry. So you have a proof she was there !
        It makes me feel sick that people behave this way.

        • backpaqer on 02/08/2016 - 10:26

          This is why I've got cams on every vehicle I own including my bicycles! As much faith I have in humanity…I cannot believe how many people will lie in this situation…video doesn't lie.

        • Zachary on 03/08/2016 - 17:08

          @backpaqer: Videos could if you edited it professionally somehow before sending said edited copy away for review…….

    • Scrooge McDuck on 01/08/2016 - 21:46

      Trust noone, record everything.

  • Ughhh on 01/08/2016 - 16:47

    Which insurance are you with?

  • geek001 on 01/08/2016 - 17:18
    +2

    It is a bit sickening. I used to live in NZ, and pretty much even if they did admit liability, there is nothing the insurance can do if they claim financial hardship. I got stung twice by people crashing into me.

    Sometimes, it is better to pay the excess, get your car fixed and move on. Put it down to bad luck and don't let it bother you life too much. If they did pay up eventually and you got your excess back, then that would be a bonus. :)

  • whooah1979 on 01/08/2016 - 17:39
    +4

    (Hummer Wagon)
    the female was apologetic and said she'd sort it out and it was entirely her fault for reversing, and that she could also get it fixed privately as she knows a panel beater. She also mentioned the car was her mum's, she is in her mid 20's.

    let me guess. was the driver from a minority group that's often featured in the news?

    • cyrax83 on 01/08/2016 - 18:42

      Yep

    • jackspratt on 02/08/2016 - 16:36

      let me guess. was the driver from a minority group that's often featured in the news?

      Gen Y?

  • whooah1979 on 01/08/2016 - 17:44

    was the driver on their p?

  • cyrax83 on 01/08/2016 - 18:40

    Not on their P's and i am with Coles

  • r2160 on 02/08/2016 - 08:44
    -2

    Unfortunately, the law says the vehicle behind is at fault. If you have no definitive proof, it becomes he said/she said and the person behind will be classed as at fault.

    My advice is buy a dash cam. There is a reason they are becoming very popular.

    Sorry to hear that this has happened to you. Get a quote to fix your own car. It may not be worth the fighting.

  • TransportPosters on 02/08/2016 - 09:26

    As I have said before on two other similar threads, take the car to a well-known smash repairs company, give them print outs of all the photos you took, and ask them to call the mobile number. The lady who did that for me at a smash repairs place in Victoria had heard it all before and knew how to talk to people who try and get out of it like this.

    She stated her company is going ahead with the repairs and they will be sending an invoice to the address on the driver's licence, they are liable to pay or they will chase it up legally, and that it's up to them if they want to go through their insurance or face a potentially higher bill if paying it privately.

    You have nothing to lose. If they still don't admit / agree to sort it out then at least you tried.

  • kima on 02/08/2016 - 09:57
    -4

    "slight hill" sounds like you were sitting up the backside of a manual. If you didn't have time to beep horn then you were too close. So now you will think twice

    annoying when people play games. Go to the police and report it since they want to play games with you, they can get the charges whacked on too. See what the police say and then that might help you to help your insurance claim.

    • snook on 04/08/2016 - 12:06

      he clearly said that he saw the reversing lights come on

  • snook on 04/08/2016 - 12:06

    Maybe failing to have a dash cam, you could video their confession at the time of the accident. When these things happen, people are all apologetic but after they've had time to think about it, they only think of ways to dodge it.

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