tinyjo | Stress

You may remember (or you may not) that 8 months ago, I ran into the back of someone at a junction while I was moving Alex's stuff to my house. I gave them the details of the rental company, I didn't get my deposit back on the car, I figured it was all done and dusted by now. But no. I got a letter in the post this morning from a firm of solicitors saying that he's suing for whiplash, head injury and neck injury and I should pass the details onto my insurance company (or in this case, the insurance company of the rental people)! At the time of the accident he seemed completely fine - no rubbing the neck or anything - and how are they supposed to tell after this length of time anyway! So I've been stressed and paranoid about it all day, wondering whether the insurance people will stick up for me and what the limit is on that anyway and all this sort of thing. I'm convinced that they'll find some way to make me pay for it all. The accident was my fault and I'm happy to be responsible for the damage to his car being repaired but this just seems like an opportunistic grab. And only this morning the Today programme was telling me that we don't really live in a compensation culture.

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ugh. I'd say talk to the renter lawyers and tell them exactly when, where, how he wasn't complaining about it (usually this stuff does require notification, at least on the accident report). Let them handle it, that's about all you can do. I guess, but then again what do I know.

I have to say it definitely sounds like an opportunistic grab (typical here). But I'm sure that doesn't help with your stress & paranoia. Talking to the rental lawyers is a good idea; if it proceeds from there, you'll have to retain your own legal defence.

Third party insurance is compulsory in this country and covers all and any costs arising to - putting it bluntly - people you run into. Excesses are not applied to third party personal injury claims (just damage to the car you are driving).

Pass the details straight on to the car rental insurance company and let them sort it out. You may also write back to the solicitors, tell them you have forwarded the details as requested, and ask that they correspond directly with your insurers in future. If in doubt, use recorded delivery (it is only 75p a letter).

Once you have done that, put it all out of your mind and think of something more pleasant (dancing to popular music! Wearing hats! Enjoying cheese).

Thanks! I do feel somewhat reassured now. I've done all the correspondance and I'm just going to forget about it now until the next thing happens.

(screened comment)

Does this unscreen the test comment?

No.
Also, posting at 01:49 this morning? Have you been secretly sneaking out of bed to muck about with LJ?

No

So I noticed. I've zilla'd it but I don't want to delete it because I mentioned this entry as my test in an IC on the support request.

Also, posting at 01:49 this morning? Have you been secretly sneaking out of bed to muck about with LJ?

Nope :) If you're viewing comments pages in the old style, the times are in PST (I'm pretty sure it's that. It's American anyway). Confusingly, if you view the page using an S2 style (e.g. without appending style=mine to the URL) you'll see the comment time in GMT. [checks something] Ah yes. The FAQ (http://www.livejournal.com/support/faqbrowse.bml?faqid=156) says PST.

Try not to freak...they're just trying to scare you. Don't answer at all. Mail the letter to the rental company and let them handle it. Send it certified mail so you get a receipt (costs $4.42)...You are totally out of the picture until the people you hit have exhausted anything they can get from the rental car's insurance company and then they can go after your insurance company (if you have one) but it could be years and years. Keep copies of everything to do with it, don't worry about it and don't talk to anyone. You have a 95% chance that this will never amount to anything. Believe me, I'm 65 and my husband and I live in a large city in Texas and have had our share of fender benders. Relax. The last one he was hit at an intersection by a one-eyed man--and, yes, the guy had a valid driver's license that specified the driver was blind in one eye. Amazing.

Incidentally, when you rent a car, ONLY take the extra insurance they try to sell you if you have no liability insurance of your own. Otherwise it's a rip-off.

Hang in there and for goodness sake, save us all and vote Bush out of office. Goodnight!

Thanks - it's nice to be reassured about these things. I've got insurance from the rental company as I don't have my own and I've forwarded it on to them. I guess now I just wait and see.

Hang in there and for goodness sake, save us all and vote Bush out of office.

Don't think I wouldn't like to - he drives me nuts! Unfortunatly thought, I'm a Brit so I don't get to vote :)

Stress

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As an American...

There is no reason for you to worry at all

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Car Accidents

Re: Car Accidents