My first accident

[SauRoNZA]

happened in Rylands, cape town.. My car is around 9 years old.

Best panel shop I can recommend in Cape Town is Brighton Body & Spray.

Brighton Body and Spray
021 981 6022

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goo.gl

Might be a bit out of your way hit have them quote you and then decide if you want to do a cash job or a claim.

They do superb work and your insurance will approve them.

 

[Pegging]

In the last 5 years have been driving, I never had an accident. today I was coming out of checkers, at the exit there is a stop street, and a polo was stationary, I pulled behind him like normal ( safe distance and all) and I was waiting for him to go into the road.
I don't know what got into him, he decided to reverse and bumped into my car.
Nothing major but the plastic screws that hold the bumper is all out in 4 places and in one place the metal guide is bent.
Did the normal stuff like taking pictures, and his details, and logged an accident report.
I have insurance with old mutual, but not sure if it's worth claiming, I have informed my insurance agent anyway. The other person doesn't have insurance.
My excess is 4000 and according to the documentation, I am liable for an additional 2500 because I am within the first 6 months of taking insurance with them.
What's the best way forward? I was thinking of taking it to a panel beater and getting it fixed and politely asking for the money from that guy, if he refuses, chuck it. Doesn't make sense paying insurance R6500 and waiting for a few years to get it back.

The guy who hit you is probably lying about not having insurance. He knows he is in the wrong and wants to get out of paying anything.

Good to see you are using your insurers.
Do not talk to the polo guy or make any promises. Let insurance handle everything.

 

[joker08]

The guy who hit you is probably lying about not having insurance. He knows he is in the wrong and wants to get out of paying anything.

Good to see you are using your insurers.
Do not talk to the polo guy or make any promises. Let insurance handle everything.

The guy in the polo was a Bangladeshi foreign national who probably owns or works in a shop near, I know these people they dont have insurance. But you might be right, because he did say he dint have a driving license and when I said I am going to the police he said he has a license.
The pannel fitter is coming tomorrow to give me a quote, let's see, if it's like a 1000 or so I will just pay it.

 

[joker08]

Decided to go with insurance. The damage is definitely more than a 1000. This is what my insurance agent is telling me and I am confused
"if the claim amount is less than the excess the insurance won't pay back" . I dont think this is true

 

[SauRoNZA]

Decided to go with insurance. The damage is definitely more than a 1000. This is what my insurance agent is telling me and I am confused
"if the claim amount is less than the excess the insurance won't pay back" . I dont think this is true

I think what he means is you'll simply pay the body shop directly and not pay any excess essentially.

Essentially they won't manage the claim and only document it.

 

[joker08]

I think what he means is you'll simply pay the body shop directly and not pay any excess essentially.

Essentially they won't manage the claim and only document it.

so then how do I recover the cost of repairs?

 

[SauRoNZA]

so then how do I recover the cost of repairs?

You don’t because your claim wasn’t high value enough to be worth the effort.

You paid less than your excess so there is no excess to reclaim.

 

[joker08]

You don’t because your claim wasn’t high value enough to be worth the effort.

You paid less than your excess so there is no excess to reclaim.

But I had to pay for someone else's fault, I want that other driver to pay me back (or atleast try to get the money back from him) what is the process for that then? I am sure there is a legal way to do this, just dont know what

 

[Big Rat]

That is the insurance's job. however and this is wrong in mu humble opinion, they do not seem to worry about 'small change'. Too much Pt to scramble only for <R6500. whatever the damage / excess is.
I would argue a bit with them.
Last resort would be small claims court to recover from third party.