Warning about accidents and insurance

[V8XTasy]

hi,

I thought I'd mention this as it's really infuriating. I was driving up a 2 lane freeway a couple of weeks ago, in the right lane, 100kph, just about to pass a car which was in the left lane. As I was half way past, the car started to move out into my lane (she'd failed to check mirrors/do a head check), so I immediately sounded my horn, back of a bit and swerved almost onto the central reservation. But despite being continuously on the horn, she kept on coming and hit the left side of my front bumper with the right side of her rear bumper.
To add insult to injury, she just carried on driving as if nothing had happened. It took several k's of me flashing for her to eventually pull over. Then all she did was check her car, both were a bit dented with paint scraped off the sides of the bumpers. I had real difficulty in getting any details off her, she appeared to be either retarded or deaf. She eventually admitted to just being deaf (although I also suspect retarded). A truck stopped behind us and the driver came over to me and said he saw everything and gave me his details. He didn't speak to her.
I just managed to get her last name and phone number before she drove off. I also took a photo of her car.
Now, mine was an old company car and my company was not going to pursue her for the damage, so we heard nothing for 2 weeks. Then a letter comes through from her insurance company saying it was my fault and they were claiming from us.
I was shocked, it was clearly her fault, I had a witness, what possible explanation could there be?
Apparently, she told her insurer (AAMI) (or they conjured up between them) that she was waiting to turn right on the freeway and I went into the back of her. My company said to the insurer, "are you aware there are no right turns on that freeway and the damage is on the side and not the rear?". They answered "yes, but we have to represent the best interests of our customer".

So basically, to avoid paying out or admitting liability, she and the insurance company are making up a blatant lie, admitting it's a lie, but standing by it all the same. This really annoys me as now it's going to be dragged out over months or years and waste everyone's time based on a lie. I find this really disgusting. If this was my personal car, it could be off the road for months whilst the other insurance company lies to avoid paying up, which I think is totally wrong.

Therefore, I have now fitted front and rear cameras in both my personal cars, because without the truck driver witness, there would be no way to prove she is/they are lying.

This could actually be standard practise for all insurance companies, or just limited to AAMI. I heard from a another person, that when their stationary car was hit in a carpark by a driver insured by AAMI, they also used exactly the same story, 'they were turning right when the other person went into the back of them'. So be very aware. There appears to be no punishment for lying about an accident and a good chance they'll get away with it and have to pay out less.

[Fireblade]

That's society for you, easier to lie and claim no responsibility than stick your hand up and say "Hey I ****ed up", pretty typical these days if you ask me.

That carpark one you mention, I'm pretty sure in that situation both are deemed at fault anyway and the the insurance companies only pay for your car and not the other.

[Professor Farnsworth]

Don't take it personally, that's the capitalist way!

[lockieoc]

Society is getting worse these days. So many dishonest, cheating scum bags on the road. I've been reading some reviews and Ive decided to settle on one of these.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/DOD-GS600...item4164b833f3

Its sad that it has come to this.

[TZENU]

And its not just a problem on the road.... Lack of accountability is disappearing even in the workplace.... !!! We are our own worst enemy

[Miss_XR6]

OMG how can a insurance company get away with this I would be going to the insurance ombudsman and lodging a case aganist them so AAMI can be stopped at doing this

[Mickxr8]

It constantly amazes me how some people can sleep soundly at night seeing as there `day job` is to invent new ways to screw innocent people over ?

[Shonky.]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lmpx_2zwPlg

[FacultY]

That sux. Did the truck driver have a camera in his vehicle?

[mik]

it seems it`s becoming the way of life these days for lying to be acceptable among the many, look at our role models, our pollies get in front of the tv camera and blatantly lie and everyone just goes about their business, where is the outrage......there is none because it`s acceptable for people to lie without concequence, what a sad race we have become.

[superfly]

That is crap. Just get your insurance company to deal with these clowns. As if it was a 'true' claim, then your insurance company is the one that would be paying their bill. Even though you're not at faul and not even making a claim, your insurance company can still deal with it.

There's no way I'd ever insure with AAMI.

[Simple6]

I run a cheap ($60-70) eBay in car camera for that exact reason.

Best of luck mate.

[LTDHO]

So you could have lodged a claim with your insurer, instead of the 'she'll be right attitude' and this issue would have been avoided.

All motorists need to keep in mind, you are at fault until proven other wise.
So when you are hit, they will hold you at fault! As stupid as it sounds. Some insurers will try and recover off you when they are clearly liable.

[Legit290]

if someone doesn't want to give you their details after an accident then that is a police matter

call them immediately in future. they won't work out who's at fault but a police report will be filed and this will help with your claim and they will ensure you have her details.

[Jim Goose]

If its a company car and you have insurance...

Did you

a) report the accident to Police? Its the law to pull over and provide details to each other... if she didnt and drove off did you ring and report her? did she show you her licence?

b) did you report the accident to your insurance company right away as well and tell them that the woman was being difficult?

c) if the car was damaged and you reported it to your insurance, why arent you/ insurance company pursuing her for damages?

Sorry but just shugging your shoulders after an accident in which cars were damaged and thinking nothing of it is just asking for trouble!

She doesnt sound retarded at all....

[rancidpunx]

All insurance companies have small print in their PDS telling you to not admit fault when involved in an accident.

If I am ever unlucky enough to be involved in an accident for which im not at fault I have always told my self I would be reaching for the camera phone and stopping another car to aid as a witness.

[xisled]

With AAMI claims when a person calls up to claim, they give a statement to the person on the phone. The insurance company will use that statement to pursue the claim. The insurance company can not make things up. The version will be used in court and any action they wish to take. Call AAMI up and ask for the version of events in writting. If they are holding you responsible they would have asked for your witness and ask you to fill out a version and diagram form.

If the person who has lodged the claim lied and said you did something your not. Give AAMI a call and give them your witness details and fill out a Version and diagram form.

Or even better get your work to lodge a claim and your works insurance company will fight on your behalf.

[Miss_XR6]

No wonder smash repairers are ceasing work with AAMI when there this shonky

[turbodewd]

hmm...this is a worry. Im with AAMI and they are cheaper...probably because they dont pay out!

I guess we all just have to be vigilant of other drivers and always assume they are about to make an error.

[EBTom]

So do you have the truck driver as a witness or not?

[Lightning Strike GT]

Here is the company that sells them
http://www.autoblackbox.com.au/index...te=common/home

[2011G6E]

Many years back we moved from RACQ to Allianz, because the premium on the car we owned at the time, a VK Calais, went up by $250 in one year! Not "up to" $250...up by $250...
I rang, assuming it was a mistake...we were rating one drivers, and had never made a claim in many years with the company.

They said "It's because of increased claims from younger drivers...we have to raise premiums to cover our costs". I paused for a moment, puzzled, and said "But...we've never made a claim...what's that got to do with us? Why does ours rise too? How about just raising the "younger drivers" or the premiums of just those who claim a lot?".
The answer was mind boggling. They said "Oh we couldn't just raise the premiums of those people higher and higher...that would be unfair. They might even end up cancelling their insurance with us".

So, basically, just to keep more premiums flowing in, they are quite happy to keep people on the books they know are bad risks, and just raise the premiums of people who have never made a claim to cover the costs from the numpties...

[GhiaEB]

Here's a question, is it possible to tap into a factory reverse camera and record the image much like the forward facing cameras? I'm looking at getting a camera for the front but how bout recording the rear?

[Torment47]

I know it still happened dude, but at least it wasn't your personal car, and unfortunate that people out there won't admit to there own mistakes, for what she did, her car will probley break down sooner and that will be Karma?

[LTDHO]

Originally Posted by rancidpunx

All insurance companies have small print in their PDS telling you to not admit fault when involved in an accident.

When was the last time you read a PDS?
Most people only read them (it at all) after they have claimed. So have no idea on the policy they purchased, only what it cost them.

Oh, There is no 'small' or 'fine' print in the PDS, well of the ones I have read.

[superfly]

Originally Posted by LTDHO

When was the last time you read a PDS?
Most people only read them (it at all) after they have claimed. So have no idea on the policy they purchased, only what it cost them.

Oh, There is no 'small' or 'fine' print in the PDS, well of the ones I have read.

Check out RACQ's PDS. On page 54, it states "If you making a claim you must not - admit liability to anyone"

http://www.racq.com.au/__data/assets...v4_low_res.pdf

I actually read my PDS before taking up the policy. With my previous car I was insured with Shannons. I wanted to make sure RACQ's policy was up to scratch. I'd used them back in the early 90's and made a claim with no hassle but just wanted to make sure all was good.

[rancidpunx]

Originally Posted by LTDHO

When was the last time you read a PDS?
Most people only read them (it at all) after they have claimed. So have no idea on the policy they purchased, only what it cost them.

Oh, There is no 'small' or 'fine' print in the PDS, well of the ones I have read.

Ok no fine print as such, but its buried in there.

http://www.aami.com.au/sites/default...nt%20Motor.pdf

Aami PDS page 2 - "If you do not comply with the policy terms and conditions (for
example, you must pay premiums, not admit liability, report any
accident, malicious damage, theft or attempted theft to the
Police and us, co-operate in defending and settling your claim
and keep any damaged or recovered stolen property), we can
potentially reduce or deny any claim you may make or cancel
your policy."

[Chilliman]

Always file a claim with your insurer - I would have thought it was a no-brainer given its a company car and covered under the company's insurance; never rely on what the other party says.

And always lodge a police report if it occured on the road and even in the carpark if its more than just a scratch/small dent.

In the future there will be a big difference in premiums for cars equipped with cameras and those without.

[Rod6]

Interesting.

Going by this she must have reported the incident to police.

Isn't making a false report to police an offence (similar to making a false Statutory Declaration?

Rod

[xisled]

Originally Posted by Rod6

Interesting.

Going by this she must have reported the incident to police.

Isn't making a false report to police an offence (similar to making a false Statutory Declaration?

Rod

I do not think it was reported to the police. Insurance does not need a police report. It all about what the other person told the insurance company in her statement.