Car Accident - Third party. Advice needed!

jesho on 07/05/2014 - 01:17

Evening folks,

My friend was involved in a car accident on the weekend. She was driving her friends car and collied with another car. The car she was driving only had third party and because she is under 24 and not the usual driver the excess is $2,400. That's the quote the other party provided so my question is do you have to pay whatever they ask or can you ask her to get more quotes? Yes it was our fault but it's a lot of money and how do we know were not getting ripped off?

I told her to get a quote from a body repairer I know but she lives quite a while away from me so I doubt she would be very keen to drive 1 hour + just for a quote. What's the usual process for these things in regards to compensation?

Amy advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Automotive

Comments

  • kiwipride on 07/05/2014 - 02:56

    Ask Judge Judy?

  • Geewhizz on 07/05/2014 - 06:37
    +1

    I think you can ask for 3 quotes, but you can't dictate where they get them from. What about the damage she did to the car she was driving?

  • danb on 07/05/2014 - 07:03
    +1

    Cant give advice on your situation but i know when i was involved in a not at fault accident (insured by NRMA) we could get our car repaired at a location of our choosing. It wasnt up to the at fault driver to get quotes (or doesnt matter?)

    Also if her friends insurance wants her to pay $2400 excess because that is what her excess is (for being under 24 and not a named driver on the policy) and that covers the repair, i dont think it matters what quote you get because its the insurance policy excess you are paying right? So it doesnt matter about the quote as you would still need to pay $2400.

    • Shadowsfury on 07/05/2014 - 07:17

      Yeah going by what OP says, the excess alone is $2400, and there'll be more hurt coming for the actual repair of the friends car

  • nomoneynoproblems on 07/05/2014 - 07:16

    If 2.4k is what the excess is and that's the same amount thats quoted from the other driver, guess what? You're paying 2.4k. if the other driver puts in claim through their own insurance guess who's gonna be chased up to cough up? Either way your mate is out of pocket.

    • pinoy on 07/05/2014 - 11:01
      +2

      Double whammy unfortunately. You are paying for the cost of your friends insurance excess + your friends cars repair + a mark on your friends record he/she had an insurance claim.

      So if you are able to negotiate with the other party to settle it with $2,400 cash without going through insurance.. then its better for you. But its not your call. Try some ozbargaining spirit and plead with the other party. They may even let you get it fixed if the other partys car is a bomb. But chances are most people like to "maximize" $ to their advantage.

  • jesho on 07/05/2014 - 11:07

    Thanks for your responses guys.

    The amount asked by the other party is slightly greater than our excess so it makes sense to do it through the insurance but would it be advisable to ask for multiple quotes or just accept the price she said?

    • pinoy on 07/05/2014 - 11:38

      Be honest and tell the other party you are strap for $ and if its ok with them if you are able to get best quotes for the repair. Make sure when you are getting a quote from the panel beater that you tell them that you dont have insurance and are quite strapped for $.

      but if its all too much effort with little gain.. yes just pay the excess and be done with it.

  • Ughhh on 07/05/2014 - 17:30

    How damaged is the other drivers car?

    • jesho on 08/05/2014 - 00:10

      Honestly, from the photos it looks purely cosmetic. I'm sure it's more serious but the way cars a built these days the most inconspicuous thing can end up costing a truck load It's also a Peugeot..

  • Randxyz123 on 07/05/2014 - 21:12
    +1

    If you do it with out insurance get the other party to provide 2 quotes.

    If I were your friend I'd just go through insurance. It is going to be easier that way and they can put your friend on a payment plan to pay it off.

    • jesho on 08/05/2014 - 00:08

      I had no idea you can apply for payments plans. Thanks for the tip!

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