Just got rear ended help please?!?

AKs_SlickPolo · Post by **AKs_SlickPolo** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:11 pm

Hi guys need your advice. My car just got rear ended by a f*****g knob

obviosly staring into space whilst driving. I was in traffic and he just hit into me. It was a hard bang but car didnt suffer alot i dont think. The bootlid light keeps coming on the dash but the lid seems intact. Only the rear bumper and number plate seems to have suffered. The guy wants go out of insurance, is this a good idea???????

Ive never been involved in a accident so unsure. Hes claimed its his fault and has said he will pay everything.

Hes wants it cheaply done, but i want it properly done, so im thinking the best way is to get it done by VW, as if hes paying i should only be worrying about the quality and NOT the cost.

I told him that if he wants to go out of insurance then he has to pay VW for the cost of my repair. He has agreed to pay the cost, and i will get it from him in writing tommorow that he agrees to pay any amount for my damage and total accepts that it was his fault.

Does any1 know how much VW would charge on average though as i need a rough estimate on a bumper sprayed by VW?????

The car took quite a bit of shock, but the car took it well. Only the bumper seems to be damaged. The bump strip, bumper, number plate, bottom spoiler and the number plate lights seem to be the main damage.

mfa-polo · Post by **mfa-polo** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:27 pm

I would not be happy about NOT having it done through the insurance, it was his fault and you need your car put back to how it was.

It wont be a cheap job either!!

I had a scratch taken out of the rear bumper, which cost Â£150.

GaryUK · Post by **GaryUK** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 8:35 pm

Gutted

My mate recently had someone run in the back of him (Audi A3), the full quote for a new back bumper and spraying and fitting was Â£580.00 which went through insurance.

End of the day if I got hit from behind with a jolt I would go through insurance no doubt, you don't want any other damage to go unnoticed and you won't lose any no claims.

carmadaaron · Post by **carmadaaron** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 9:02 pm

sorry to hijack thread,

but see if you go through (his?) insurance, does it matter if you have declared your modifications? or affect your own insurance at all?

Jackthelad · Post by **Jackthelad** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 9:07 pm

Just a guess, but as you've been rear ended it cant be your fault at all, so maybe your mods wont matter

Like i said just a guess.

But on the other hand they might just say the car you own isn't insured because of the mods!

AKs_SlickPolo · Post by **AKs_SlickPolo** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 9:49 pm

Cheers for the replys guys. Im quite in favour of getting it done with VW, as i know that when they fit the bumper it will be VAG and properly aligned and everything.

Insurance companys usually use their own companys that put pattern parts which are ill fitting and dont align properly.

He will pay for all damage though, which is new bumper, new bump strip, number plate and no plate light holders, All brand new and VAG...he has agreed to pay cost whatever the price.

I want the car back to original as possible, so am confused what to do?!? im gonna get a quote from VW tommorow and if im not happy i will tell insurance. Should it be okay to tell the insurance company about a accident a day late?????

GaryUK · Post by **GaryUK** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 10:00 pm

See what he says, he might get a shock if he wanted it cheaply done though.

What about your bootlight though? You should get that checked out.

Any sign of you losing out go through insurance mate.

ModifiedMadness · Post by **ModifiedMadness** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 10:11 pm

The most important thing is, did you get ALL of his details? Name, Address, Phone Number, Insurance Company (just incase)

Also if you're going to get it in writing that he will pay, make sure you and him sign it, as well as a witness on his behalf and a witness on your behalf.

AKs_SlickPolo · Post by **AKs_SlickPolo** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 10:13 pm

lol, i told him not to expect it to be any cheaper than 500 quid. He werent too happy but agreed with it. As for the boot light. well the tailgate aint closing, as the bumper has jolted up, so it dont close properly. I think its only the bumper at fault. Just had a look at the damage, and there aint much, just scuffing really and a little crease on the plastic. But still want it perfect, as the bodywork of my 9n doesnt have a mark or stonechip on it anywhere

Thanks for your help mate

Jackthelad · Post by **Jackthelad** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 10:17 pm

It doesnt have to be visually damaged to be bad, when I got rear ended all that looked wrong was the number plate light poped out, little did I know that the whole back of my car had shifted up and the boot wouldn't open!!

mfa-polo · Post by **mfa-polo** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 10:27 pm

Jackthelad wrote:It doesnt have to be visually damaged to be bad, when I got rear ended all that looked wrong was the number plate light poped out, little did I know that the whole back of my car had shifted up and the boot wouldn't open!!

This is the kinda thing I would be worried about, ask VW to have a proper look at it, im also pretty sure you can request where your car is sent for repairs, its only when its your own fault that the car will be sent to the insurers choice of bodyshop.

At the end of the day it wasnt your fault, and he may well be unhappy about the expense, but thats his bloody problem.

Let us know the outcome.

ModifiedMadness · Post by **ModifiedMadness** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 10:32 pm

mfa-polo wrote:At the end of the day it wasnt your fault, and he may well be unhappy about the expense, but thats his bloody problem.

Well said, he wasn't looking and crashed into you, he offered to pay so it's either that or he goes through insurance, which he doesn't want to by the sound of it, hope it all goes smoothly mate, and if not send the heavy's round

AKs_SlickPolo · Post by **AKs_SlickPolo** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 9:04 am

Jackthelad wrote:It doesnt have to be visually damaged to be bad, when I got rear ended all that looked wrong was the number plate light poped out, little did I know that the whole back of my car had shifted up and the boot wouldn't open!!

I do have the same problem. however, my bootlid dont close properly. I think ill get VW to throughly examine it. I have told the guy to cough up every penny for its repair back to original.

If not insurance will get a call, and im certain it will be in my favour. As it was his fault, it was peak time 5pm, so what was he doing in moderate traffic that made him go into mine????? obviously he was texting or some other distraction. Plus a rear end damage, which means that it cant really have been my fault. He also admitted he was a fault at scene, and i will make sure i get the 'in writing' bit off him tooo, so that i can use this to back insurance case up too

Will let you guys know of the outcome, thanks for all the advice everyone!

dino · Post by **dino** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 9:25 am

Definatley get VW to check everything!!

Chassis, suspension....I wouldn't care about sounding petty you want to make sure everything is repaired back to factory standard.

dxg · Post by **dxg** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 12:39 pm

My *big* crash which taught me to drive sensibly and brake with a buffer was when I pilled up the back of a rather nice MK2 Golf GTI. This had obvious damage - bent and pushed in bumper - but when the quote came back from the garage its boot floor was appartently buckled - cue Â£1500 claim (and this was ten years ago, too).

Open the boot, check the the spare wheel well - can you get the spare wheel out? is the hole the same shape it originally was? If the boot lid lamp is coming on, I think you're definately looking at more than the bumper - start to think bumper bar, and one or both chassis legs. Check the panel gaps around the rear hatch all the way up to the roof line - are they consistent? Check the reflections in the paint on the c-pillars - are these the same both sides. The difference doesn't have to be much for a large job.

It's a shame it happened, but you've got to get it sorted properly. Personally, I would get something in writing in which he admits responsibility and then go through insurance. If he refuses to, then claim from your own - with the admission of fault on his part, they will recover the costs from his and your no claims won't be affected, although your premium will be*. You will likely loose your no claim bonus anyway while this is being sorted out though.

Deek

Yes, this sucks, but in the world of the insurer, you're still an increased liability even though it was not your fault. technically you're supposed to tell them that this has happened even if you are not claiming so that they cam make this adjustment in your risk.