Should I pursue this? Would you?

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So i got rear ended yesterday, the guy was busy looking at a cop car pulling someone over on the other side of the road and drove into the back of me. He did not even brake.... (by the way, it should be frikkin illegal to drive without some kind of insurance)

So, he is 65, no insurance, has no job (his claim) and does look like he has little to his name. Fortunately he was driving a bakkie with a bull bar so his car is fine....my polo is not...

My excess is rather large and i dont have spare cash lying around for this type of thing.

What exactly are the options here? I feel pretty bad trying to pursue him for the excess, even though its completely his fault. The accident is putting me in some financial strain (it could not have happened at a worse time) but i dont know if i can bring myself to do anything about him paying?
From what i understand the insurance company needs the excess from me first, and then i gotta get it back from this guy....

I am pretty sure i can recover from this easier than him, but i am tired of not putting myself first and suffering for other ppl.

What would you do?
 
Tell him to pay alternatively depending on the amount take him to small claims court.

He should not be driving without insurance, he has effectively made his problem yours.
 
Your insurance company will sue him for whatever they pay you out plus your excess... years down the line once he has either paid the money off or the debt has been written off you will either get the excess back (if he paid) or not (if he did not pay ((more likely.)))
 
I would pursue it. You may think you know his financial situation but you do not. I agree with Ponder, by him not having insurance he's made his problem yours.

Yes, you can be 'nice' about it, but I think 'nice' in this situation would pretty much being the same as rolling over and playing dead. Don't let people walk over you in these types of situations where it is clear you are not at fault. Pursue it, he stuffed up your car, it's only fair he pay the excess. Why should you have to pay out of your own pocket for his mistake?
 
Why should you feel bad for his supposedly poor financial situation? It'll teach him to drive more carefully in future. I hate rubber-neckers, they're one of the biggest causes of traffic :mad:
 
tau1z said:
So i got rear ended yesterday, the guy was busy looking at a cop car pulling someone over on the other side of the road and drove into the back of me. He did not even brake.... (by the way, it should be frikkin illegal to drive without some kind of insurance)

So, he is 65, no insurance, has no job (his claim) and does look like he has little to his name. Fortunately he was driving a bakkie with a bull bar so his car is fine....my polo is not...

My excess is rather large and i dont have spare cash lying around for this type of thing.

What exactly are the options here? I feel pretty bad trying to pursue him for the excess, even though its completely his fault. The accident is putting me in some financial strain (it could not have happened at a worse time) but i dont know if i can bring myself to do anything about him paying?
From what i understand the insurance company needs the excess from me first, and then i gotta get it back from this guy....

I am pretty sure i can recover from this easier than him, but i am tired of not putting myself first and suffering for other ppl.

What would you do?
Click to expand...

Boo ****ing hoo? he should learn to keep his eyes on the road if he chooses to drive without insurance.

Pursue it. Hope you took the number plate/name/number/license disc on his car
 
I don't care if I get lambasted for this but at 65 he shouldn't even be on the road. I'm sorry but old people have weaker reflexes and they generally don't see too well. Apart from that, had this happened to me and I was on my bike, I'd probably have some serious injuries or be dead. He was irresponsible and should have known better.

Nail him.
 
Nail him. He can sell the bakkie to pay you if he has to, which is a win all-round. I've no sympathy for these okes...

Harsh I know, but if the roles were reversed...
 
Well based on the general consensus i am probably going to pursue this.. (and of course my girlfriends rather strong opinion on the matter).

I doubt i will get anything from it but its worth a try and it maybe he has a rich son or something...

I really wish a law would be passed to make it compulsory to at least have third party insurance...

btw, i think i a insured by those dodgy guys on the ads, I am 10 days short of 1 year with them so there is an extra excess charge, the claim is going to take 3 weeks and i have no rental even though i am pretty sure i requested it...

I think next time its worth sticking with a name brand insurer
 
If he can't afford insurance, he can't afford a car - use the bus. The End.

It is not up to you to be charitable to idiot drivers. Do all within your rights to get your excess payment back.
 
You fill out the insurance claims form, its up to your insurance company to pursue the claim and is why you have insurance.
 
I think its your insurance company's problem.
You don't have to talk to the guy at all, and probably best not to.

Lots of people lie about not having insurance.
 
Nocturnity said:
I don't care if I get lambasted for this but at 65 he shouldn't even be on the road. I'm sorry but old people have weaker reflexes and they generally don't see too well. Apart from that, had this happened to me and I was on my bike, I'd probably have some serious injuries or be dead. He was irresponsible and should have known better.

Nail him.
Click to expand...

Lambasted? You kiddus surely? Pushing 64 and not a prang since I got my licence a zillion years back..Nope, not even a fender bender... neither have I caused any accidents... You've got a clean record too I'm guessing....:D
 
Pursue it. I hear what you are saying. But, as mentioned above, it is not your fault he was not insured AND caused the accident.
 
-toady- said:
Lambasted? You kiddus surely? Pushing 64 and not a prang since I got my licence a zillion years back..Nope, not even a fender bender... neither have I caused any accidents... You've got a clean record too I'm guessing....:D
Click to expand...

You have 1 good year left.
make the most of it. ;)
 
Almost identical happened to me a few years back, and basically you don't have an option if you intend using your insurance.
You'll have to pay the excess to get your car sorted, and they will hound him for the total cost.
I was aware that they hounded the guy, but they obviously didn't get much from him because I never saw my excess payment.
 
tau1z said:
(and of course my girlfriends rather strong opinion on the matter).
Click to expand...

Why even bother asking us :rolleyes:

But yes, your insurer deals with everything, so you just give them all the details (his details) etc. And you're done.

FYI, I had a hit and run, got the number plate and 5 years later got my excess back (you get your excess back BTW) because they tracked the **** down and sued for their money :)
 
-toady- said:
Lambasted? You kiddus surely? Pushing 64 and not a prang since I got my licence a zillion years back..Nope, not even a fender bender... neither have I caused any accidents... You've got a clean record too I'm guessing....:D
Click to expand...

Yup, clean as a whistle.

Well, you're not 65 yet, are you? :D
 
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