Worth getting minor damage fixed for my car after a minor accident

DannyC on 29/11/2020 - 22:17
Last edited 30/11/2020 - 07:09

Hi all. So today as I was going down a 2 lane main road on the left lane (about 52km an hour in a 60 zone, another car on the left side road had stopped at a T-Junction with a Give Way sign (in front of a Keep Clear Area) but decides to move out on the main road and clips my passenger side of my car as I was traveling. Damage is fairly minimal, just a shallow medium ish dent (revised: not large) on the upper section of passenger side near the wheel and scratches all along the passenger doors from the number plate getting lodged in my passenger door. Damage to the other car was basically just the number plate ripping off.

I'll see if I can upload a picture of the damage and diagram of the situation.

What pissed me off was that the lady driver thought that I should have given way and it was not her fault for entering in the main road while the lane I was traveling in was totally clear and I was traveling at speed. Note that the right lane of the main road was a bit backed up a bit due to the traffic light about 40m down the road with a turning arrow, so she made the impatient decision to move through.

So am I in the wrong? I reckon she might do a dodgy and say I clipped her while she was waiting at the T Junction… But I guess can't be so certain I guess. I believe she was at fault her 110% but there is always that niggling feeling of doubt.

My excess is $700, comprehensive car insurance with RACV. I exchanged licence details, contact info, number plate etc etc and took photos of the damage. Since the damage is just a dent and scratches should I just take it on the chin and forget about it or should I pursue it through my insurance?

Cheers yall!

It is pretty funny I got a notification that the Dash cam I ordered from the States is arriving from Amazon Au today after nearly 2 months of waiting…. Just my luck ey. Sigh.

Automotive

Comments

  • pegaxs on 29/11/2020 - 22:23
    +7

    Contact your insurance if you are not at fault. You shouldn’t have to pay the excess if you are found not at fault. If she is at fault, absolutely get it repaired.

    Also MS Paint diagram of the accident would help. Trying to get my head around it…

    • AustriaBargain on 29/11/2020 - 23:25
      +1

      An MS paint drawing of the damage to the car would be good too. Definitely don't just upload a photo of it, mods will probably ban you for something like that.

  • ProlapsedHeinous on 29/11/2020 - 22:26

    The problem with pursuing it yourself, is you then have to deal with chasing up the other party. and most likely they will drag it on forever and make your life miserable because they feel it was your fault. Plus i'm pretty sure if it isn't your fault you won't have to pay. that will be determined by your insurer. IMO i'd just let the insurance deal with it. they will arrange to have it fixed and will chase up payment from either her, or her insurance.

  • M8y on 29/11/2020 - 22:28
    +4

    Hey Danny - if it happened exactly as described then it's hard to see how you are the at fault driver. As pegaxs stated - lodge a claim with your insurance company. No excess so long as the other party is at fault.

  • brendanm on 29/11/2020 - 22:34
    +2

    Lodge a claim, from your description you are not at fault, so shouldn't have to pay the excess.

    If you don't fix the damage, you have to notify your insurer of pre existing damage, they may then choose to not insure you, you significantly reduce the value of your car.

  • Seraphin7 on 29/11/2020 - 22:43
    +2

    Damage is fairly minimal, just a large dent on the upper section of passenger side near the wheel and scratches all along the passenger doors from the number plate getting lodged in my passenger door.

    Yeah, that ain't minor damage in my book.

    What pissed me off was that the lady driver thought that I should have given way and it was not her fault for entering in the main road while the lane I was traveling in was totally clear and I was traveling at speed.

    Channel the anger and make sure the entitled duck gets made to pay full freight.

    Since the damage is just a dent and scratches should I just take it on the chin and forget about it or should I pursue it through my insurance?

    Pursue through insurance. Add some mayo about her putting you in a life threatening situation and she was inches away from causing a major accident.

  • MS Paint on 29/11/2020 - 22:53

    Just lodge online with RACV.

    It's super simple.

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 29/11/2020 - 22:56
    +3

    Car Accident Post
    ❎ MS Paint diagram
    ❎ Dash Cam footage
    Insurance
    None
    Third Party Property
    ✔️ Comprehensive

  • TheBird on 29/11/2020 - 23:45
    +6

    This happened to me, almost word for word, March this year. The old woman had the nerve to get out of the car and ask me why I hit her. "Lady, See that give way sign right there? It ain't going to work when you when you f***ed up as bad as you did and try to blame me."

    Got a witness statement ("She must have thought she was invincible. She didn't even look when she took off"), took photos, swapped details etc.

    No major damage, it dinted 2 panels and busted an indicator lamp cover on my car.

    Lodged it with insurance. They had it in the shop to be fixed in a couple of days. They even washed my car. I think that's the third time it's been washed. Insurance offered a hire car. I was surprised that it cost her insurance near on $3k. No increase in premium for me.

    … so yes, call your insurance.

    • Quantumcat on 30/11/2020 - 12:35
      +2

      Did you flip her your username?

      • TheBird on 30/11/2020 - 15:16

        rofl

  • Freezies on 30/11/2020 - 00:30

    What's to think about? Make the claim if you're not the one at fault.

  • Butt Scratcher on 30/11/2020 - 01:45

    What pissed me off was that the lady driver thought that I should have given way and it was not her fault for entering in the main road while the lane I was traveling in was totally clear and I was traveling at speed. Note that the right lane of the main road was a bit backed up a bit due to the traffic light about 40m down the road with a turning arrow, so she made the impatient decision to move.

    If you are confident that you are not at fault, then speak to your insurance and let them pursue her. Don't bother arguing with her, let her argue with your insurance all she wants

  • Euphemistic on 30/11/2020 - 07:25

    Unless your car is already covered in dents and scratches make a claim and get it fixed.

    If your car is already covered in dents and scratches contact here insurer with a couple of quotes for repair and collect the cash and buy a ps5.

    Be aware that any previously incurred damage might affect your claim in a future event, it’s probably better to get it fixed.

    Don’t let it slide, the old duck might need a few wake up calls if she is becoming an incompetent driver.

  • brad1-8tsi on 30/11/2020 - 12:35

    lodge a claim. That small dent has taken thousands off the value of your car.

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