Case Study: Post Accident

[Rafiano]

Dear MCForumers

 

I was involved in an accident earlier yesterday, at 6.35pm along Simei Avenue. I am posting this thread so that other forumers, as well as I, could gain some learning points from the abovementioned incident. I hope the kind members here would share their knowledge and pointers on how I could have handled the incident better.

 

I was driving along Simei Avenue, after just exiting PIE, and I stopped at a junction. I looked at my rear view mirror and saw a white Toyota Corolla behind me. There were two youngsters in the car, both wearing T-shirts of the same design. The driver of the Toyoya then put his head out of the window, looking at another car...perhaps he knew the driver of the other car and was communicating something.

 

When the lights turned green, I moved off and the white Toyota sped off and overtook me. It seems he was racing with another car. I just made a remark to my wife who was beside me that these guys were really reckless to do so at a busy stretch of road. As I wanted to go to The Singapore Expo, I kept to the 3rd lane and before I turned into the filter lane, I saw at the corner of my eye that the Toyota was reversing from the junction in front of me. It was in the second lane and obviously the driver had realised he had bypassed his route and decided to move to the filter lane as I was. I could see the body of the Toyota is moving perpendicular to my direction. I was by that time at the filter lane and I sounded my horn. As I stopped at the filter lane in order to check and give way to traffic, I got a bang from behind. The Toyota had banged into me.

 

I stepped out of the car, assessed that the damage to the bumper was minor..only scratches. With further inspection, the bumper had been slightly 'dislocated' at the joints. The driver of the Toyota and his friend told me to settle and said it was just scratches and could be waxed off. I told him that I need to bring to a workshop to assess the damage and as I pointed out to the guy that he could see the bumper was not properly positioned already. By that time, a TP came over and asked if anybody was injured. The driver was shaken by the presence of the TP. I said nobody was injured and he said to settle among ourselves. The TP then rode off.

 

As I checked the Toyota's driver driving licence, I realised he had just passed his licence in Nov 2006. I also realised that he didn't display his P Plate. As I didnt want to make a big deal out of the matter, we excahnged details and I said I will be willing to go to his workshop. I realised that we were both going to Singapore Expo and they were working for a PI which was having a booth there. What happened next made me really think whether I had been a fool...

 

While I was at the Expo, I received a call from the Toyota driver and it was his boss. He was very friendly and asked if I was still at the Expo. I said I was and he asked if he could look at the damage. We went to look at my car and he said it's very minor and he offered to send a mechanic to rectify it for me the next day. My car could be left at any location and they would come over and repair it for me. I agreed to it and the guy's boss told him to write a letter stating he would pay for the full damage to the car. I was impressed with the boss, really helping his employee.

 

About 3 hrs later, I realised that I have to use the car the next day. Since my car is an OPC, I smsed the driver and requested $60 from him. The reason why I asked for $60 was because I planned to drive my car to Sin Ming, a sticker workshop, so that my friend would be able to see what the mechanic from the other party would do to the car. In order to do that, I need to pay for the OPC licence, which is $20. By leaving the car at Sin Ming, I need to travel to my workplace at Bukit Merah during peak period. That would be about $20 per trip. I called the driver to explain the breakdown and he agreed, but he stated that if I could present the taxi fare receipt and claim that amount. I said that would not be a problem. What happened next was really unexpected.

 

A few minutes after talking to him, I received a phonecall from his boss. His boss was angry and raised his voice at me. He said that I shouldn't claim a single cent from his boy and since I am being so fussy, I might as well claim the insurance. He 'reminded' me that the damage is very minor and also stated that I should remember that my excess is $500 (though it isnt). He stated that they are in the car business and they would know how to write the insurance report. I was taken aback by all this. It was a total change of attitude. I asked him what did I do to offend him and I have been cooperating. All I asked was for a courtesy sum($60) for my inconvenience. He kept on talking about not doing the car. After awhile, I explained to him the situation and said that if it is his car that got banged, would he just leave the car to a stranger to fix it without knowing what is being done. After getting his word, I agreed not to ask for the compensation.

 

I hope the brothers here would advise me on the proper procedure and also what I could have done better. Perhaps asking for the compensation (OPC coupon and two way taxi fare) was out of line? Perhaps I should have reported to the TP who was there to take down the guys particulars. All this has left a sour taste and really made me ponder whether I should have been nice at all. I believe that the boss was agitated because his boy kept calling him in the middle of the night and thus responded in such a way. This thread is not meant to attack the PI but I hope the brothers here can shed some input on the best way to handle the matter. Your input would be truly appreciated. Thanks.

[Porker]

Only view.. you shouldn't have asked the $60 from him because you agreed to let him do up your car at whatever place you are. Just my opinion.

[Rafiano]

Thanks bro..your feedback is appreciated. The reason why I did not want to leave the car at my place because I prefer to have someone be there when they do the bumper. Thats why I prefer to drive it up to Sin Ming, at my friends's shop. Honestly, I wasn't looking to squeeze the guy for money. But maybe the boss took it differently.

[Wanderer]

The boss must have took it differently.

 

Think of it this way. It was agreed that things would be settled via method A. Then suddenly, more things were added out of the blue. In this case, the additional claim amount which is not related to the accident came up.

 

Just my opinion

[Rafiano]

Thanks bro for your feedback. I asked for the money after considering the situation. I thought it would be fair as I wouldn't mind paying the $60 if I have been driving recklessly and banged somebody's car. Especially if the other party have been kind enough to accede to my request to repair the damage at my workshop. Again, the guy agreed to it..I even willing to show him the receipt for the taxi claim...but I guessed he told another story to his boss...

 

Thanks again...

[Rafiano]

hmmm....more feedback please

[Rafiano]

Btw,what would happen if I were to make an insurance claim instead of settling it. Would I need to pay the excess, even though it's not my fault?

[Hicksau]

bro ..

 

as your story goes.. unless show the hard facts and you have the "boy"'s statement in your favour ..

 

anything can go both ways..

[Rafiano]

hi hicks...go both ways? even when he bang me from behind?

[Lingling]

might as well go claim insurance since he banged u frm the back..

and with that kind of attitude they have.. u still dare to let them fix up ur car for u ?

if its me.. i dun think i'll be so brave...

[Psychopyros]

To you:

IMHO I think u should ask the $60 earlier with the boss and explain to him why you ask for $60. If I were the boss I will think you are trying to be funny.

 

To the boss: He shouldn't call up and change his attitude by raising his voice and ask to claim the insurance. He should solve the problem in win - win suitation.

[Hicksau]

well... the good part is that you got damage from the back ..

 

it much better to claim insurance since banged from the back , you have the benefit of doubt irregardless..

 

but then , claiming from the boy may take some time , unless you want to return the sour taste no matter the time ... you can go with the claim ..

 

coz it took a pretty long time for me on such a same issue..

[Rafiano]

thanks bro for your feedback. just wanna check if I have to come out the excess for the repairs, just like what the boss said.

[Rafiano]

thanks bro for ur feedback. i agree that it would be best to ask for it earlier. anyway, it is a learning point for me. I thought I was helping the boy. Anyway, what was uncalled for was the way I was told that they are in the car business and know what to write in a claim, so that I would lose the case...something to that line.

[Arowana1]

people can be nice to u when they want u to lower ur defenses and thus, make them take advantage of u.

 

in this case, the advantage he took was for u to agree on the arrangement. nothing wrong with this. u should not have asked for the $60 cos all was agreed upon on that day. if he agrees to this, gawd knows what else may pop up. look at it from the boss point of view.

 

having said that, if the position of the cars favours u and you have pics to show, i suggest u go to a workshop that can do a full repair, provide loaner and will not charge u a single cent. the workshop will make direct claim to the other car insurance. let the bill go up high high... you got no excess cos u not making claim to ur insurance company.

 

cheers!

[Speedsun]

I think you had already agreed to their compensation earlier and should not be asking more later. But if you insist a little bit more, I believe asking to pay for OPC coupon is still reasonable but not other transportation fees. If I were the boss, I would also be angry. This is because you are required to pay for transportation to go to your workplace anyway whether got into accident or not. To the boss, you are blackmailing them.

[DarkLord]

Next time just claim from the other party's insurance... If the amount is not high, wun even affect his NCD.

[Djcoolmax]

my feeback is pretty much the same.

 

Since you have already settled the matter, you should not ask for anything. UNLESS you agreed on this arrange when settling the matter. i.e. if I need to go somewhere, transportation costs will be covered. If not, then it's not fair.

 

In any case, sorry to hear that you car got bumped into at the back.