[jen]

Tonight I got to find out what happens after you have a car accident in NZ :(

I was stopped for traffic at a red light and got bumped from the car behind me who'd gotten REALLY bumped by the car behind him. We called the police who came in about 10 min. The 3 of us driving exchanged names,addresses & phone numbers and the police took each of our version of events. I was at that point wishing I'd remembered to write down my insurance policy # and put it in my glove box like I'd meant to. :roll

It was the same process as in the US except I had to read the policeman's written-out version of what I said, then sign it and write "I have read this account and it is true and accurate". He told me to call my insurance tomorrow to let them know & that the police would give me a call when they decided who was at fault.

I just got a call from the guy in the car who started the accident - he said his insurance had given him a number & to tell it to my insurance company 'and they'd straighten me out'. Sounds hopeful! Though in the states it seems like whenever you have an accident your rates go up, so hope it's different here.

I'm trying to be grateful that I didn't bump into the person in front of me and smush BOTH ends of my car, and that it's still "very drivable" as the cop said so I don't have to fix it right away which is a Very Good Thing being as we're just a little busy MOVING this week! And here I figured my first accident would be getting clipped by a speeding Welly bus :eek:

Jen, about to have a soothing glass of wine

[jubjub]

Aww Jen, hope you are OK. Its really not that bad making a claim, just make sure you stay on the case with the appointed panel beater, some of them are a bit tooo laid back, it took two weeks to get our car back (grrrrrrr), apart from them the process was pretty much painless.

Enjoy your soothing wine.

[wiki]

Ouch! Glad you're ok and escaped injury. If you do wake up with a sore neck or other pains you need seeing to it will be covered by ACC.

[Anita & Marco]

Oh Jen,
sorry to read about your accident, but luckily you are okay and you will be better after a whole bottle of wine - LOL

Take care,
Anita

[kelpy]

I'm glad to hear that you are ok, if even your fender isn't! ;)

[Bruckner]

Glad you're O.K. Jen. Enjoy your vino!

Emily

[speckythecky]

Glad to hear that your first, and hopefully last, accident in NZ wasn't too bad for you,

As wiki says, if you wake up with a stiff neck or sore back get it reported and get to the docs.

Remember, where there's blame, there's a claim.

[constablechuck]

In NZ whether your at fault or not there is no requirement to make a claim with your insurer.

My wifes car was hit while it was parked, the person that hit her car was driving a new car which was insured, he refused to provide the name of his insurer or pay for the damage, my wife called her insurer and they told her that since the damage was less than her excess there was no point in making a claim, they further advised that if she did make a claim (regardless of who was at fault) she would lose her claim free discount when she renewed.

She ended up suing the guy at the disputes tribunal and got a judgement in her favor, the due date for the respondent to pay has passed and so far he hasn't made any attempt to pay, now it's up to her to chase him for the money.