50/50 accident on a country lane??

[mrbubbles]

My mum slowed down to about 15 miles per hour along a country lane as she could see a car coming towards her - the girl driving the car then drove straight into her and skidded plus her airbag went off - when she got out she said she was sorry but she had not been looking where she was going - Because my Ma had been going so slowly she did not skid and her air bag was not deployed. The police turned up and took statements and basically told my Mum that it would be like for like as it is a country lane - even though  the policeman agreed that it was the girls fault. My Mum has been waiting for her excess back and has been sent the police report and the girls statement. In it the girl says that my Mum had been speeding and when she got out of the car my Mum had told her that she had been in a hurry (not true as my Mum said that she said nothing to the girl about who's fault it was) also the police report does not mention skid marks or the fact that he agreed with my Mum that the young girl was going too fast - Mum gets �75.00 of her �150.00 excess so she has not had to pay out much but it seems so unfair that this girl gets away with lying on her statement - Is it worth my Mum doing anything about it ? or should she just forget it as a bad experience ?? your thoughts pleeze thanks

[Skids]

Forget it.  She's lying and there's no way to prove what happened, especially as the police report is non-comittal.  I think I would complain to the police about their accident 'investigation' and subsequent report being total bullsh!t, but it wouldn't do any good.  It'd just be a waste of their time to look into it any more than they have.

[jake-the-peg]

Yes it is tough especialy as your Mum will loose her no claim bonus unless it's protected (which is likely to end up costing a sight more than �75). Unfortunately it's all to common for somebody to say onething at the scene of an accident and then something totally different filling in the forms later.

If the nature of the damage indictes the fault such as damage to the rear of one car and to the front of the other that's different but in a head on like this I think you're stuck. I'm afraid I can't see the deployment of her airbag as relevant.

Shame there's no witnesses, maybe you could rent one :c)

[ianess]

The trouble is with the lack of witnesses..... who to believe?   That's why insurers usually settle on a knock for knock basis.   It's tough but in the UK you still have to assume innocense unless guilt can be proved.

  Sickening I agree, but it's just a bad experience.  

[lethologica]

Just a minor point, not sure if it would/will help...

Would the fact that the airbag did not deploy surely contradict the girls statement that your mother was speeding...

[mrbubbles]

Thanks lethologica (and everyone else who answered) - I did mention this to my Mum and she is going to write to the Police and advise them that her air bag did not go off yet the girls did - I can't believe that this girl can get away with lying when surely it is obvious that she was in the wrong - anyway you are all right no point taking it further because it would end up costing a fortune and you may not get anywhere - so my Mother is in the process of writing a very snotty letter to the local police station - and trust me you don't want to be on the end of one of my Mothers letters !!! hee hee Cheers Folks

[me_2]

I had a similar experience which would have cost me a fortune to persue it further. It was suggested to me off the record by the chap at my insurance co, that if I paid the my half of the cost out of my own pocket, I could save my no claims bonus. I wrote a cheque with an accompanying letter and the insurance co agreed to this. I now have my NCD protected.

[thoughtful]

Look here - http://www.markthomps...ty-fifty/explanation/

[thoughtful]

Helpful information at http://www.markthomps...ty-fifty/explanation/
Good luck