Need advice on car collision without insurance

Lcakewadd on 30/05/2017 - 22:46

Last month, the back of my car was collided while I was parked in the driveway. My car suffered a bit of cosmetic damage and the boot wouldn't shut.

I grabbed the other driver's details and started the process of talking to insurance. I first called up my insurance but was told that my policy did not cover any damage my car took. I called the driver's insurance and was told that his policy also did not cover any damage he did to other people's property.

This left me in a spot where I would have to get the money from the other driver myself. I informed him of what the insurance had said and told him I would go and get my car fixed as cheaply as possible. I took my car to the panel beaters and they made my car road worthy for $1500. The cosmetic damage was still there but it was drive-able. I was told by the panel beater that the car would have been written off if I had comprehensive insurance.

Last week, I paid for the work and then forwarded the invoice to the driver after a phone conversation with him to discuss how he would pay me back. I sent him an email to confirm and he texted me back stating he would start paying by the end of the week. I have yet to receive his payment.

I am now worried that he won't be paying any time soon and I will be left to cover the cost myself and with a damaged car.
I considered going through a lawyer but I wasn't too sure if the process would be worth the time and money. I'll be texting him tomorrow to remind him and to let him know I haven't gotten any money yet.

What would you have done and what should I be doing from here on?

Automotive

Comments

  • supnigs super skids on 30/05/2017 - 22:53
    +4

    you should of got him to pay you up front so you didnt have to wear the cost first hand.

  • pegaxs on 30/05/2017 - 22:53
    +5

    Get a lawyer.

    Or bikies?? (Seems to be an OzB fave…)

    • Diji1 on 31/05/2017 - 00:18
      +3

      Bikies then Eneloops.

  • Richardc on 30/05/2017 - 22:55
    +5

    3X repair quote
    letter of demand
    small claim court

  • tsunamisurfer on 30/05/2017 - 23:20

    " I first called up my insurance but was told that my policy did not cover any damage my car took."

    When you signed up for Third Party Insurance, did you in a million years think that that Third Party is not you?

  • steven6 on 31/05/2017 - 05:45

    What sort of policy did you have? CTP (insurance against injuring people) won't cover it, but I thought some Third Party Porperty (insurance for damaging other peoples car/property) insurance policies cover up to $3k-$5 (for your vehicle) if the other driver is at fault? What I mean by that is if you have TPP then your insurer may pay for the repairs.
    Going to the other persons insurance, they should pay for repairs if the other driver had TPP. You don't go to their CTP insurer.
    I'm from Qld but I would expect ACT is similar.
    You could also check with the House insurer that your car was parked on their property, but this is even less likely to work out.

    • k-rokfm on 31/05/2017 - 08:43

      Yeah a lot of TPP policies provide upto $5k for uninsured drivers if you can prove fault and provide all their details. May be harder now though as you have had some damages fixed

  • k-rokfm on 31/05/2017 - 08:31

    What kind of cover covers you but not other parties (the other persons insurance)?

    • pegaxs on 31/05/2017 - 08:44

      I found out in Victoria, the TAC third party "personal" insurance (CTP in most other states) was exactly like that. I was t-boned by a car on my motorcycle and ended up with massive bills and 8 weeks off work. Went to TAC and made a claim and I had to pay the excess. When I said I was not at fault, they explained to me that they are a "no fault" insurance product and that you are basically insuring yourself, not others. But then again, that isn't property damage.

      • Fake News on 31/05/2017 - 10:57

        In Victoria you don't get the option of choosing if you insure yourself and others for injury or not. If you pay your car/motorbike registration the TAC charge component of the total fee is your personal liability insurance for people.

  • pantsparty on 31/05/2017 - 09:46
    +1

    How much is your car worth? I am guessing not much given you don't have comprehensive insurance? I guess this is the risk you take by not having more insurance. It sounds like you have done the other driver a favour by only asking them to pay for repairs to make it road worthy again - they should also be paying for any cosmetic damage they have caused.

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