I was involved in a car accident more than six months ago, just before Christmas. What happened was I was in a parking lot at the time looking for parking. When I came to a free parking spot, I signalled left and waited behind a van blocking the spot. The driver had no signal on and I had thought that he was not going to park there.
However, there were two ladies standing outside the van, they had made eye contact with me and indicated that the van was waiting to park in the spot. As a result, I signalled right and started to steer out in the right direction. At this moment, a 4wd passed through and collided with the front of my car. The 4wd was scratched on its back door and onwards.
At this time, I was on my green Ps. It had been my first car accident and we had only third-party insurance. I was with my mum, but we both did not know what to do.
The other lady and I both parked our cars and got out. The lady made sure that we were all alright and said that she just all of a sudden saw me coming out. She said she was recently just in a car accident, where the other party was at fault and just had her car fixed from the smash repairs. When exchanging details, the lady had written everything out herself, including my mum's details, her details which she had given me and also a small note which my mum signed saying we were at fault and accept full liability.
The daughter of the lady also took pictures of both cars. Shortly after, we continued in our separate ways. About 10 mins after, the lady called me on my phone and told me not to contact the insurers yet as she wanted to go check it out with the smash repairs and see how much the damages were. We accepted.
As time went on, I replayed the situations in my head and I realised that I was not completely at fault. I was so naive and had not been in this situation before that we did not even get her car number plate. There were so many scenarios and factors that could have caused the situation. What if she was putting all the blame on me, when really, she could be the one at fault?
The next day we were in contact again and the lady had said that she couldn't get in contact with the smash repairs as it was holiday season and they were all off. So, she told me that the insurers should be contacted.
About a week later, she gave me a call asking why I had not contacted the insurers yet and originally I had thought that she would contact her insurers. A week after, I received a call of a man who claims to be her smash repairs that she was in contact with. He didn't state a name or company. I asked him how much it would cost to repair it and he said that the paint job would cost about an estimate of 2000$. He then asked why I had not contacted the insurers yet, said that the lady was doing me a favour and further actions will be made if I do not contact the insurers myself.
The next day the lady sent me a message notifying me that I had 24 hours to respond to her with a claim number that she said we initially agreed to (which I didn't, as I thought she would be contacting her own insurance). She continually states that the collision was completely my fault (which I believe is not, although at the time I did due to me being in shock). She said she has no choice but to lodge a claim through her own car insurance company, will be reporting the incident to the police as her insurance is requesting a police incident number and also handing in a witness statement to the police with wxactly what happened.
About a week later, I receive a voicemail from a car insurance that I have never heard before and asks of me to call back. I chose to ignore it.
Now, more than 6 months later, I received a letter from the car insurance in the mail saying that they recently couldn't get in contact with me and would like me to call back with given quote number. If not, additional correspondence will be needed.
Avoiding the situation seems best to me before and right now as I really don't know what to do. Any help? What consequences may happen?
However, there were two ladies standing outside the van, they had made eye contact with me and indicated that the van was waiting to park in the spot. As a result, I signalled right and started to steer out in the right direction. At this moment, a 4wd passed through and collided with the front of my car. The 4wd was scratched on its back door and onwards.
At this time, I was on my green Ps. It had been my first car accident and we had only third-party insurance. I was with my mum, but we both did not know what to do.
The other lady and I both parked our cars and got out. The lady made sure that we were all alright and said that she just all of a sudden saw me coming out. She said she was recently just in a car accident, where the other party was at fault and just had her car fixed from the smash repairs. When exchanging details, the lady had written everything out herself, including my mum's details, her details which she had given me and also a small note which my mum signed saying we were at fault and accept full liability.
The daughter of the lady also took pictures of both cars. Shortly after, we continued in our separate ways. About 10 mins after, the lady called me on my phone and told me not to contact the insurers yet as she wanted to go check it out with the smash repairs and see how much the damages were. We accepted.
As time went on, I replayed the situations in my head and I realised that I was not completely at fault. I was so naive and had not been in this situation before that we did not even get her car number plate. There were so many scenarios and factors that could have caused the situation. What if she was putting all the blame on me, when really, she could be the one at fault?
The next day we were in contact again and the lady had said that she couldn't get in contact with the smash repairs as it was holiday season and they were all off. So, she told me that the insurers should be contacted.
About a week later, she gave me a call asking why I had not contacted the insurers yet and originally I had thought that she would contact her insurers. A week after, I received a call of a man who claims to be her smash repairs that she was in contact with. He didn't state a name or company. I asked him how much it would cost to repair it and he said that the paint job would cost about an estimate of 2000$. He then asked why I had not contacted the insurers yet, said that the lady was doing me a favour and further actions will be made if I do not contact the insurers myself.
The next day the lady sent me a message notifying me that I had 24 hours to respond to her with a claim number that she said we initially agreed to (which I didn't, as I thought she would be contacting her own insurance). She continually states that the collision was completely my fault (which I believe is not, although at the time I did due to me being in shock). She said she has no choice but to lodge a claim through her own car insurance company, will be reporting the incident to the police as her insurance is requesting a police incident number and also handing in a witness statement to the police with wxactly what happened.
About a week later, I receive a voicemail from a car insurance that I have never heard before and asks of me to call back. I chose to ignore it.
Now, more than 6 months later, I received a letter from the car insurance in the mail saying that they recently couldn't get in contact with me and would like me to call back with given quote number. If not, additional correspondence will be needed.
Avoiding the situation seems best to me before and right now as I really don't know what to do. Any help? What consequences may happen?