Car Accident - Help

iceteacake on 14/03/2025 - 18:58
Last edited 15/03/2025 - 10:51 by 2 other users

I had a car accident about a few weeks ago and I know I was at fault.

I drove out from the driveway and then a car hit me. I lodged the insurance claim and now the insurance said that I hit the wall, due to the colour scratched on my car “was different”. The other car was silver/beige and they said it was “white paint”. I argued and said it was an accident and not hitting the wall.

They said that they can only fix the front and front door (driver side) not the rear passenger side (right side) as it was hit by a wall. I also mentioned that my car may have issues with the aircon (when I turned on it was hot).

They are telling me to get my car back from the repairer as they cannot store my car there. They even said that they will get my car towed back to my place. I refused as I said no one will be there and I don’t have the time to go back and forth. They have raised this matter further and sent an email giving me the claim number.

What can I do to raise this matter further and get the outcome that I want - that is to get my car fully repaired.

Automotive Car Insurance Insurance

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Budget Direct
Budget Direct

Comments

  • LanceVance on 14/03/2025 - 19:07
    +2

    Lodge a complaint and if they don't play ball lodge something with the ombudsman. Who are you insured with?

    • iceteacake on 14/03/2025 - 19:08
      +2

      Budget Direct

      • Murkymerv on 14/03/2025 - 19:12

        I haven't had to claim with them yet 🤞 , I hope this isn't a precursor to what will be if needed 😳

        • spackbace on 14/03/2025 - 19:22
          +29

          I mean, they're cheap for a reason…

          • CocaKoala on 17/03/2025 - 18:26

            @spackbace: In my opinion at fault claims are always going to be painful because the insurer needs to cough up the dough. If it were the case where the other party is at fault, then the insurer will suddenly be such a saint, going out of their way to do everything in their power to sort you out (because someone else is paying the $$).

            Then again, it's only my personal opinion and I've never had to lodge an at fault claim so cannot say this authoritatively. I've had one not at fault claim with aami, and it was mostly pain free.

        • Yorkshire-Man on 16/03/2025 - 20:48
          +1

          Had a claim with them once, probably 15 years ago & it was an awful experience. I don't care how cheap they are, I won't touch them.

      • Mechz on 14/03/2025 - 20:57
        +7

        Sucks to be you. Expect to have your insurance cancelled for making a claim.

        • Azrael169 on 14/03/2025 - 21:25
          +18

          This is one of the problems with Budget Direct that people dont realise. Making a claim means you may not get offered a renewal.

          Then when you switch back to a mainline insurer (AAMI, NRMA), you now have to say yes to "Having insurance refused or cancelled" - while it wont affect the premium, it just means you will likely have to provide the decline letter from Budget - adding hoops to jump through. (used to work for NRMA)

          • sinizter on 16/03/2025 - 14:38
            +2

            @Azrael169: Is it a problem if you get the quote in before the renewal time and start the new policy?

            If the 1 month before end of policy is the trigger, you could even elect to "lose" that one month and just renew early? (Obviously declaring all claims appropriately).

            • Azrael169 on 17/03/2025 - 00:34

              @sinizter: No, duty of disclosure is on you to advise them. If they find out you are with holding information, you run the risk of having a claim denied when you try and make it…. At that point they just refund the premium you have paid and say "good luck"

          • unwashed00 on 17/03/2025 - 13:02

            @Azrael169: Is not being offered a renewal equal to being refused?

            • Azrael169 on 17/03/2025 - 17:24

              @unwashed00: the wording off the top of my head "Have you had any insurance refused or cancelled in the last x years"

              So… yes

        • Muppet Detector on 15/03/2025 - 02:35
          +6

          At least he had insurance. How many people post these threads who don't have insurance?

      • Dr Phil on 16/03/2025 - 09:34
        -5

        Hmm
        Auto & General

      • paloverde88 on 16/03/2025 - 20:17

        Lucky you're insured with Budget Direct (little dog barks)

      • LanceVance on 17/03/2025 - 11:24

        Well then….
        May the force be with you.

  • barge-in hunter on 14/03/2025 - 19:19
    +16

    can only fix the front and front door (driver side)

    and then….

    not the rear passenger side (right side)

    so… urh… which side did the car hit you? Or are you claiming they hit you so hard that they pushed you into a wall?

    • Dr Phil on 16/03/2025 - 09:36
      -2

      And Did OP take photos to prove that was the case?

  • spackbace on 14/03/2025 - 19:20
    +22

    How would the other car have hit both your front driver's side door, and the rear passenger side door…?

    Jinx

    Guessing they're suspecting that you already had damage on the car so hence they're not fixing the other damage

      • spackbace on 14/03/2025 - 19:25
        +22

        Well it didn't

        Though I'm sure the other driver wished you didn't blindly pull out into traffic, as they're now having to deal with getting their car to repairers etc…

        • fredblogs on 15/03/2025 - 13:36
          +2

          and premiums go up even if you're not at fault :(

      • Nutrino on 14/03/2025 - 21:35
        +20

        answer the question.

        • CocaKoala on 17/03/2025 - 21:20

          Was the user name "Neutrino" taken? Please, I have to know. 😭

      • Exorcist on 16/03/2025 - 13:29
        -2

        isn’t it even better if you get sent straight to heaven

    • Payne on 14/03/2025 - 19:30
      +10

      Yep, it does sound pretty dodgy.

      Reminds me of The Simpsons: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Mt9GW2jxt6Q

  • holdenmg on 14/03/2025 - 19:20
    +7

    Is there a MS Paint diagram, Police Report, Photos, Webcam?

    Tip: Buy Popcorn now before Tariffs are applied.

    • iceteacake on 14/03/2025 - 19:21

      There’s photo and I can even get the third party (the one who hit me) to back it up.

      • Baysew on 15/03/2025 - 09:24
        +8

        How is your cousin?

        • IpGem on 15/03/2025 - 17:50
          +3

          Probably fighting with his insurer too

    • spackbace on 14/03/2025 - 19:21
      +10

      Webcam

      You'll need to be 18+ and pay $10/min

      • holdenmg on 14/03/2025 - 19:22

        I meant Dashcam.

        (and $10 per minute seems high) lol

        • spackbace on 14/03/2025 - 19:23
          +10

          I meant Dashcam.

          Surrrrre ya did

  • Bruceflix on 14/03/2025 - 19:24
    +13

    sounds like you are trying to get 2 accidents fixed on 1 claim. pay 2 x excess and stop trying to be fraudulent.

      • spackbace on 14/03/2025 - 19:27
        +9

        Can prove he hit both sides of your car? Did he make your car spin, then went back in for another go?

        #demolitionderby

        • iceteacake on 14/03/2025 - 19:28

          Did hit both side?… I said on the driver side (door) and the rear passenger right side (door).

          • spackbace on 14/03/2025 - 19:30
            +14

            @iceteacake:

            rear passenger right side (door).

            Passenger door would be the opposite side to the driver's door… One side is referred to as the driver's side, the other is the passenger side.

            What it seems like you're actually now saying is both doors were hit on the driver's side

            • iceteacake on 14/03/2025 - 19:32

              @spackbace: So it was the driver side and the rear passenger door side that is behind the driver side- if this makes sense …

              • mapax on 14/03/2025 - 19:32
                +31

                @iceteacake: That would be the drivers side front and drivers side rear doors in that case

              • askbargain on 14/03/2025 - 19:33
                +9

                @iceteacake: Who calls that rear passenger door lol

                • tenpercent on 14/03/2025 - 20:23
                  -1

                  @askbargain: Well the rear one isn't the driver. Ergo it's a passenger's door.

                  • Massive Flog on 15/03/2025 - 01:09
                    +2

                    @tenpercent: @tenpercent What if there's a backseat driver sitting behind the actual driver?

                    • holdenmg on 15/03/2025 - 09:06
                      +2

                      @Massive Flog: If the OP's Mother in Law was in the Car, I think they would have mentioned it.

                  • SlickMick on 15/03/2025 - 08:37
                    +1

                    @tenpercent: So with this naming convention, cars have a driver's door and 3 passenger's doors.

                    OP has damaged the driver's doors and one of the other ones. Sorry, can't be more specific.

                    • tenpercent on 15/03/2025 - 12:25
                      +1

                      @SlickMick: Yes there are typically 3 passenger doors in a 4 door car. Yes OP said the driver's door was damaged and he specified which passenger door was damaged "the rear passenger door side that is behind the driver side", which could have been more clearly conveyed as either "the drivers side passenger door" or "the right side passenger door", nevertheless with an average IQ or greater one can decipher the meaning quite clearly and rule out the other two doors.

                      • Euphemistic on 15/03/2025 - 12:46
                        +1

                        @tenpercent: I think OP may have edited the OP.

                        Its fairly clear to me the OP has english as a second language. It makes sense to us to say drivers side rear door. Not many would actively refer to 'passenger doors'. Passenger side, drivers side. Front or rear door. Panel beaters tend to use near side and off side. Others would use left or right.

                      • SlickMick on 15/03/2025 - 14:23
                        +5

                        @tenpercent:

                        Yes there are typically 3 passenger doors in a 4 door car

                        That's very observant but not really helpful

                        Yes OP said the driver's door was damaged and he specified which passenger door was damaged

                        Eventually, not before all this hooha

                        could have been more clearly conveyed as either "the drivers side passenger door" or "the right side passenger door"

                        yeah that would have worked, or just use the local vernacular "driver's side rear door"

                        nevertheless with an average IQ or greater one can decipher the meaning quite clearly and rule out the other two doors

                        or maybe someone who turns up late after the confusion has been corrected can't see that there was previously a problem

        • Bruceflix on 14/03/2025 - 19:32

          Without an observer there would be an interference pattern

        • holdenmg on 14/03/2025 - 19:33

          I might pay $10 per minute for the Demolition Derby footage…

      • DelhiBelly on 15/03/2025 - 08:32
        +1

        By any chance, is the other driver known to you? Friend, Family, Neighbour, Colleague?

      • pjbargain15 on 15/03/2025 - 16:02
        +9

        This proves how important MS Paint diagram really is. Driver side, passenger side, passenger' door on right side… ehh.. so many words… just do the darn MS Paint!

        • MS Paint on 15/03/2025 - 18:27
          +3

          This proves how important MS Paint really is

          @mrs paint - see I told you so.

    • MrThing on 14/03/2025 - 20:14

      sounds like it

  • Bruceflix on 14/03/2025 - 20:01
    +6

    Let me guess. It's a new policy, less than a month old when you had accident. over insured on an agreed value.

    Oh, and post pics of this accident damage otherwise we'll just assume the worst.

    Is the person who you hit someone you know?

      • freefall101 on 15/03/2025 - 12:39
        +5

        Ozbargain is the place to come when you want honest advice, not sympathy. Personally, I love asking questions here because I'll get a blunt response. No one trying to sugarcoat it to protect my feelings.

        I feel for you, but you don't have many options. I'd get the front panel repaired and pay for the back yourself. Grumble about it to the repair shop and maybe they'll do it cheaper. But you have no real evidence, unless you can show how you got white paint on there, you're out of luck.

        • lonewolf on 15/03/2025 - 19:33
          +4

          both dont have to be mutually exclusive. A good community forum can show sympathy/ empathy as well as provide advice and Ozbargain used to be the epitome of this when it started.

          I dont ask as many forum questions because seems like these days there are always trolls who seem to think everyone lies all the time. Its sad thats what it has come to. Saying that, there are still a lot of good people with fair advice on here.

      • StalkingIbis on 16/03/2025 - 08:54
        +1

        your 'friends' are honest people who think you are deliberately hiding something.

        Instead of sharing details to prove that you are not, you keep hiding them and you are surprised that they become suspicious?

        If you had good friends who have known you your whole life and have seen a good character displayed many times when you could have taken advantage, perhaps then you would have a good reputation which people will trust……but here you are a stanger to us, and your actions seem very suspicious.

        Either prove yourself by answering the questions, or don't be surprised that your suspicious actions are perceived as such.

    • tenpercent on 14/03/2025 - 20:25
      +4

      Lessons for future new-policy old-accident claimants: make sure the old-accident paint colour matches your mate's fully insured car colour.

  • SYLTB on 14/03/2025 - 20:18

    Car Accident - Insurance Company Claims Some Damage Was from Separate Accident

    Reasonable person's translation: Car Accident - Dodgy driver claims some previous separate damage was from this accident

    OP might think they are not as clever as himself, however Budget Direct makes excellent very high IQ TV commercials.

    • JimmyF on 14/03/2025 - 20:22
      +3

      Dodgy driver claims

      Plus the AC isn't working now too!!

      • Bruceflix on 14/03/2025 - 21:14
        +6

        No, standard practice is for the aircon unit to be located in the passenger side, driver side, rear, middle door hatch. Could easily be damaged in a 2 for 1 accident.

      • randomusername2017 on 15/03/2025 - 06:49
        +11

        No need…. target gets bigger every time you comment….

  • MS Paint on 14/03/2025 - 20:31

    They are telling me to get my car back from the repairer as they cannot store my car there.

    Was this the repairers or the insurance company telling you this?

    • iceteacake on 14/03/2025 - 20:32

      Insurance company

      • MS Paint on 14/03/2025 - 20:36
        +1

        Did you have permission to leave it there originally or just decided it suited you to keep it there?

        • iceteacake on 14/03/2025 - 20:39

          So when I made the claim they said they will get it assessed, when I dropped the car off at the repairer they said someone will call me and then I got a call a day later from the insurance/underwriter.

          • MS Paint on 14/03/2025 - 20:43
            +7

            @iceteacake: Well that makes sense. If your car is driveable it could be months before they start the repairs.

              • MS Paint on 14/03/2025 - 20:50
                +7

                @iceteacake: 🎻

                • iceteacake on 14/03/2025 - 20:51

                  @MS Paint: ❤️

                  • ihbh on 15/03/2025 - 08:33
                    -1

                    @iceteacake: Something's lost in translation here. Why don't you Google world's smallest violin and don't read the literal meaning.

              • askbargain on 14/03/2025 - 21:11
                +3

                @iceteacake:

                I thought people in here were friends

                after 100 forum posts you realise this

              • SlickMick on 15/03/2025 - 08:40

                @iceteacake: Just educating you, take it on the chin and you'll be better for it.

              • Muppet Detector on 16/03/2025 - 11:33

                @iceteacake:

                Ithought people in here were friends

                Start a poll

              • sauce2k on 17/03/2025 - 10:03

                @iceteacake: oh boy you've only been with OZB for 4 years…..no one is your friend here lol if anything half the people are being honest and half are (profanity). :)

  • JenPat on 14/03/2025 - 21:32
    +12

    Never get car insurance through Budget Direct! I too have learnt this lesson.

    • JimmyF on 14/03/2025 - 21:36
      +11

      If only there was something in the name that would have warned you!

      • holdenmg on 14/03/2025 - 23:44
        +4

        From the words Budget Direct

        I can make "u get rect" (you get wrecked)
        with letters left over to sell on eBay. :+)

    • Succulent on 15/03/2025 - 17:24

      I had a different experience when i had a claim with them. Lodged a claim and explained that i was being hit from rear. Claim was approved within few hours and able to book for a repair at their preferred repairer. I was so surprised and asked if they need any pictures. They said it was sufficient from my story and i can upload the pictures if i want to.

      • McFly on 15/03/2025 - 21:58

        explained that i was being hit from rear.

        I don't see what that's got to do with, but you got the results! Maybe I'll try that if I ever need to make a claim.

        • Succulent on 16/03/2025 - 09:06
          +1

          Maybe i oversimplified the sentence. I explained in details on how i was being hit from the rear.

          The point is budget direct might not be as bad as what some people has speculated. The company as big as budget direct do not just deny claim lightly just to save money. There might be probable reason or inconsistency in the story that makes them believe ppl try to take advantage of the insurance payout.

          Approved claim does not means finalised claim. If the cost of repair is small its better to get people's car to be services as soon as possible so customer have good experience.

          Before the claim is finalised they can do further check with other parties etc and if the claim is deemed to be fraudulent, it will bite back. Once someone is deemed to be fraudulent good luck obtaining another insurance.

          In OP scenario the damage sounds like going across multiple panels and then OP also mentioned about their AC may be broken in the claim. And this was caused by car going out from driveway and damaged:
          The front (i assume the bumper area)
          The front driver side
          The rear driver side
          The AC??

          I wonder how the MS Paint looks like to illistrate the whole incident in trying to justifly the claim and the damage it had caused. To me this story raised an alarm flag of the need to check for potential fraudulent claim.

  • cashless on 14/03/2025 - 23:14
    +8

    Sorry OP, but you might be screwed. If the assessor has reviewed (as they most certainly would have done), they’ll have concluded that there’s 2 separate lots of damage caused by 2 incidents. Good luck getting that decision reversed.
    Only option is to prove them wrong or have independent assessment

  • jv on 14/03/2025 - 23:50

    Which wall did you hit?

    • xuqi on 15/03/2025 - 10:25
      +1

      A white one…

  • miwahni on 15/03/2025 - 01:47
    +8

    I'd be really worried here… I'd be concerned they'll flag this as attempted insurance fraud. There are worse things than not getting your car repaired.

  • Muppet Detector on 15/03/2025 - 02:25
    +1

    I argued and said it was an accident and not hitting the wall.

    What did you hit and when did you hit it?

  • screensaver on 15/03/2025 - 02:30

    Get all your evidence, statements, photos and contact the insurance ombudsman, and start writing reviews on product review, trust pilot etc

  • Muppet Detector on 15/03/2025 - 02:31
    +2

    What can I do to raise this matter further and get the outcome that I want - that is to get my car fully repaired.

    You have three damaged panels.

    How many accidents did you have to damage all three panels?

    Insurer will only accept one accident per claim. You don't get to treat your car like a bumper car all year to save em all up and only make one claim saying they all happened at the same time.

    If you want all the damage fixed, you have to make a claim for every accident you had.

  • original15 on 15/03/2025 - 07:56

    Other car have any damage??

    • reactor-au on 15/03/2025 - 08:40
      +12

      Probably on the roof and underside

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