Newbie here and very new in claiming off insurance! I drive a company insured vehicle and in short my g/f was involved in a small prang.
In short she pulled out of a junction as the traffic was stopped waiting for the lights to change she crept forward onto a keep clear patch (to allow space for people to emerge from that junction!) someone came charging down the outside lane (a right hand filter lane) and clipped her(my) car o/s bumper. This span her car onto another car waiting patiently in the traffic queue at the lights (waiting to go straight on).
Anyways its pretty clear (to me) that it was not her fault as she was slowly moving into a keep clear space to turn left to join the right hand filter traffic lane and that the other guy was racing to 'beat the lights' and did not see her emerging to that lane (the lights were changing to amber).
The fact that the chap leapt out of the car and said the following ' Sorry my fault, I was going too fast to catch the lights and I admit liability'. Seems to back the above up.
I was mentioning this to some of my work colleagues and they seem to think that this would invalidate his insurance as all the information we have on our accident cards always state - DO NOT ADMIT LIABILITY. Is this just an urban myth?
If not I am assuming (and this is where I bow to your superiour knowledge) that even if he has invalidated his insurance, my company will still get paid and he will have to repay his insurance etc.
I am also thinking that as he admitted liability that I she can pursue this as a no fault accident and we can get our excess back?
Obviously I'm not too bothered about the money as no one was injured (apart from whiplash for the g/f) and all was dented was metal (and the poor fella's pride as his swimbo was not amused!)
Any thoughts?
Cheers
Benjurs
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An (unwise) admission of liability will NOT invalidate his insurance.
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An (unwise) admission of liability will NOT invalidate his insurance.
And you are unlikely to hear it again. I would bet my years wages that in a few days time (probably even by now) "I never said that guvnor"
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Unfortunately, Benjurs, I think you may be in for shock.
If your g/f was entering or intending to enter the right hand turn lane she may be deemed to have failed to give way to traffic approaching from the right even though she was only slightly encroaching into the lane.
I had a similar accident some years ago in a similar situation where traffic was queueing in the inside lane of a dual carraigeway but outside lane up to a set of lights at which I wished to turn right was clear. I was waiting in a side road to turn left then filter right into the outside lane but a very kind? bus driver stopped and waved me straight out into the outside lane. Sadly a chap was whistling along at 30+ (40 limit) in the outside lane and my front offside corner went right down his near side from front to back, lucky really that I wasn't a bit further out or it could have been very nasty (pre airbags). Regardless of the fact that I had been waved out, bus driver admitted he had, I was held 100% to blame for the collision as it was deemed to be my onus to ensure that the way was clear and I had failed to give way. Certainly learnt a big lesson from that one to never take anyone elses word for anything on the road.
Sadly I think the same as the other posters, the admission of liability may well evaporate before it gets on a claim form and the insurers will then look at the bare facts, indeed they may have done that anyway.
Hope I'm wrong but your g/f may have just learnt an costly lesson.
Cockle
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Many if not most motor insurance policies state that you must not admit liability in the terms and conditions. If it was proven that you did, you would effectively be insured third party only, and the insurance company could hold you personally liable and pursue you for the third party's losses. So it's a very foolish thing to do!
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I must concur.The admission of guilt will most certainly evaporate.
Independent witnesses are worth their weight in gold!
The 'Keep Clear' patch can easily lure you into a false sense of security. They are primarily aimed at traffic being able to turn into junctions across traffic however a similar set of circumstances can occur when crossing two lanes of traffic and something comes up the inside lane.
The vehicle executing the manouvre is deemed to be responsible.
Fullchat
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I'm afraid I agree with Cockle - it is up to the vehicle emerging onto a main road to ensure that the way is clear.
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Agree. I have to cross a 'keep clear' area (although most driver's can't read as it's never kept clear!) to turn right from our work car park to go home. This crosses three lanes of traffic and the number of times one driver waves you through without realising another car is flying up to the lights in one of the other lanes never ceases to amaze me.
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Hi all,
Thanks for all your messages, I was a little confused as to who's fault it may be deemed (I wasn't there at the time). I guess it may be the g/f fault for pulling out in front of the other car (even though the other chap admitted rushing to beat the light and not seeing her.....). Also I actually spoke with the chap who admitted liability and he seemed an honest type (still that remains to be seen).
At least she (i.e. me!) is only on the hook for £100 excess so its not too bad monetary wise....
Most important is that no one was seriously hurt.
I'll report back on the 'admission claim' if you like just to see how honest people really are.
Thanks once again you useful lot!
Cheers
Benjurs
Benjurs
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some 20 years ago guy in Escort ran into back of My Triumph 2.5PI. He admitted liability: so I asked him to sign and date a handwritten admission there and then..
He then claimed on his insurance claim form I stopped with no brake lights. I produced admission.. end of story.
Moral: If someone is willing to admit liability verbally, ask them to sign admission to that effect - On the spot. They probably will.. and no harm by asking..
"If you don't ask, you don't get"... reminds me of an old joke which as this is a family site I won't repeat...
madf
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He admitted liability: so I asked him to sign and date a handwritten admission there and then..
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Very sound advice, original notes (speaking from a Police POV) are highly valueable when cases go to Court or there are some queries raised at a later date. Anyways, I agree - if you don't ask you don't get!
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Im not plain stupid, just a special kind of stoopid.
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It is always possible that blame will be apportioned, and that both parties will be found to be partially to blame. It is called contributory negligence.
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