Rich Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 OK, my mate has really got himself in a pickle!! Basically he had an accident last weekend, which I believe was his fault (I only know the brief details at the moment). He thinks his car will be a write off as its not worth much and the front and side have been damaged. He is not bothered about that. What bothers him is paying for the other car and any personal injury! He has fully comp insurance, but after reporting the accident etc he realised he had got his MOT dates confused and it actually expired the day before the accident. He knew it was soon but thought he had a few days. So now he is concerned his insurance will be made invalid and he would have to pay out for the other car as well as having to go to court. Anyone got any advice? Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scooby_simon Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 Phone the CAB ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollox Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 I'm not suggesting for a minute he do this but MOT certificates are widely available on the 'black' market, particularly in areas of East London and Essex Getting advice on the implications of his actions would seem to be the best start... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted January 27, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 A fake MOT, I also would not suggest...especially for him!! Firstly is would never do something like that, he would just flat say no and secondly if found out it could make things soo much worse......especially considering his job...he "upholds the law" himself!! And before you start saying pig he deserves it, he is the sort of copper you want to meant, always very very fair. Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bal_rup1 Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 Just a stab in the dark.. but isn't there some lea way as to when on M.O.T. has to be renewed.. i.e. if it runs out today have not got a couple of days etc to get it renewed? If this is the case may mean his insurance is still valid? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snail Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 Did he have the car booked in for the MOT? that might help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted January 27, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 Thats an idea!! The car was booked in!! Actually it had gone in and failed on an item and it was booked in to be restested, but of course after the date it actually expired. I suppose that shows at least it was a genuine mistake? Still we all know what insurers are like!! Would they still say its invalid? Thats what he is really worried about, having to fork out for the other guys car, he doesn't have the money. Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calm Chris Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 My understanding is that after a failed MOT test the car maybe driven to and from the MOT station for repairs and then retest. You mate was on his way to / from the MOT station when the accident happened! Especially true since many MOT stations do not want or require a 'timed' appointment booking! Hopefully, this will be okay with the insurer, who will want all the paperwork, if the car is a write off. If there has been personal injury and a claim is likely, then I think he is likely to get done by the police no matter what the story is. If the police prosecute, the insurance will be 'null and void' and all claims will be via his own pocket (ouch). There's a lesson here.. I hope it all works out for him, just remember that deception may well mean that he could end up in even more trouble on top of:- Driving without due care and attention Driving without (valid) insurance Driving without a MOT cert Cost of his car loss and repair of damage to 3rd parties car Towing and storage costs Claim for wip lash injuiry (seem to be £3k as a norm). Ouch, ouch, ouch, Silly billy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin M Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 If a car fails a new MOT before the old one expires, it is no longer covered on the unexpired portion of the old. I can't see what your mate was confused about. He was driving an unroadworthy vehicle and had an accident. He needs legal advice else he'll end up with a CU on his licence too. We all know the adage "ignorance is no defence" so pleading ignorance ain't going to help him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Insurance Jon Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 As the letter of the law stands Colin IS right, BUT most insurers take into account the age of the vehicle i.e under 5 years old it is less likely to be knackered, and the number of days passed. HINT - it could also be usefull to show it was booked in somewhere but the only convenient booking was a few days after it expired! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
18ME Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 A few years ago I had a van stolen from me which the MOT had just ran out but was booked in for its MOT. Anyway the insurance paid out a certain % less than its market value, I think it was 10% but as it wasn't involved with any other vehicle I can't answer that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted January 27, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 My mate is not bothered about his car at all, it was probably worth next to nothing now anyway (R reg Accent). What he is concerned about is getting a huge bill for repairs of the 3rd parties car, plus of course any fines/points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R32Ash Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 Although I understand that any motor insurance policy is based upon your car being road legal - MOT etc, I don't know whether his insurance company would legally be able to get out of paying for the damage to 3rd parties. If you were speeding and had an accident, would they not cover the loss as you were breaking the law when you crashed? Same as people who have accidents and are done for other linked offences - even drink driving usually reasults in the insurance company still paying out for 3rd party losses as far as I know. To be honest, any accident these days is likely to result in someone being prosecuted for 'driving without due care or similar', so they wouldn't be paying out an awful lot if it totally invalidated your insurance. Surely the problem would be one of whether the car was actually in a dangerous condition, as opposed to a minor repair needed for the mot? - if it was indeed a minor fault? I'm sure they would try to get out of paying for his losses, but not the 3rd parties? Just my 2p worth! Maybe Insurance Jon could offer his 2p worth as well - at least as far as the losses are concerned? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted January 27, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 He already told me he is happy to right off his car as an expensive lesson to himself (can't really afford another car - stuck renting trying to save to buy his own place), likewise points/fine can be paid, he otherwise has a clean license. His main concern is having to pay out shed loads of money he doesn't have. He can always get a cheap roundabout to get about, which will also mean insurance increases can be minimized. He is the worlds worst worryier, which doesn't help. It happened last Sunday, only told me today. He has spent most of the week in his house worrying so much that he has barely eaten anything! Gonna get him out at the weekend and take his mind off things, although he seems to be realising there is nothing he can do about it, except wait and see. Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R32Ash Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 Jeez... poor guy! You really need to get him out like you said. At the end of the day, it's a car accident - like the many, many others which happen day, in day out. It sounds like no one was seriously injured (you'd have said if they were?) it's not THAT big a deal. I always think it's a real shame when people like that worry themselves half to death over something relatively minor, when there are so many low life reprobates out there who don't give a monkey's about anyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted January 27, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 Yeah he really is a decent guy who personally doesn't have the best luck. As I said he worries about everything, although this is top of his list at the moment, on top of the house (the fact that he started renting temp while looking for a house...3 years ago now can't afford to buy) and the fact, out of our little group of friends he is the remianing single guy left and feels like he will never meet anyone. Oh on top of the fact he has no self confidence... Your right though, nothing good will come from worrying over a car accident (no one was hurt, your right), I think that is starting to sink in. Now he just needs to wait for this to get sorted, find himself a cheap house he can afford and find a girl...which to be fair he deserves!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R32Ash Posted January 27, 2005 Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 The poor guy's got it bad enough Rich.. Surely you don't want him having a woman to add to his woes?.. Hope things brighten up for him soon though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted January 27, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2005 [ QUOTE ] The poor guy's got it bad enough Rich.. Surely you don't want him having a woman to add to his woes?.. Hope things brighten up for him soon though [/ QUOTE ] very true!! The extra hassle and even less money!!! Still there are some advantages Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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