Expired Car Insurance

[mannguy]

I very carelessly allowed my car insurance to expire, not intentionally but I know it was an extremely carless lapse. One month after I caused a collision, only a minor one but other driver suffered some injuries and damage to her car. As I had no insurance cover, the other driver has told me that she will be suing me for damages of around £2000.

I am aware that there is the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB) who consider claims in cases of an accident with an uninsured driver. The other driver is a young girl and thinking she may not be aware of the MIB I told her about them. However she has written to me to say she will still be suing me for damages.

Do you think she should be suing me rather than going through the MIB?

[kirstybeebee]

ummmm, thanks for sharing your experience. I'm really sorry to hear that things didn't turn out well with still having problems years after your accident.

You said it wasn't really about the money and it does show that although money can often help, it doesn't always put things right. Even if it would, I'd guess that once an amount of compensation is accepted you then can't go back and ask for more.

[donny48]

I would not think it possible to unknowingly lapse in my case, coming up to expiry time I am bombarded by e-mails and letters from different companies.

[mannguy]

ummmm, sorry to hear you are still suffering from an accident that was some years ago. I've been saying that the girl driver who I collided with didn't look to have serious injuries and I really hope she doesn't, but I guess you just never know.

[Barmaid]

Try not to worry Mannguy.

If it was a minor collision and low impact chances are the young lady will make a full recovery within a few months. She would undoubtedly have had some protection from the car itself absorbing some of the impact.

Ummm's was more serious because she was actually hit by a car.

[mannguy]

That's reassuring Barmaid. ummmm's case does look to be very different.

[EDDIE51]

Barmaid has it correct, no insurance is a 'absolute offence' there can be no defence, it is up to you to check that you are insured each and every time you drive a car!

[kirstybeebee]

Yes I agree EDDIE51, it may not have been intentional but it is the driver's responsibility to check.

I'm with the young lady driver here, she is entitled to receive compensation, so if mannguy is unable to come up with a reasonable settlement offer, she certainly does need to be suing him.

[mannguy]

Yes I accept that, I know that one way or another I will have to pay her.

[kirstybeebee]

Mannguy, as she has said that she intends to start suing you, I think it is best for you to try and pay her before it comes to this.

[mannguy]

I agree Kirsty, others have advised me of that, I will have to raise some money first before I can try to offer a settlement. If this ends up going through court I'll probably have to ask to pay in installments.

[logongra]

Going through court can be expensive and unpleasant mannguy, try and settle if you can rather than having her suing you.