Car Accident Hassle

Reckless drivers in Malaysia are not a dying breed, although they should be. Instead, they seem to be increasing year on year. When accidents do occur it is already to late to be sorry and yet, these people do know but care little. There is no point in delving deeper into their sorry excuses for recklessness...

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This writer was most unfortunate of late to be involved in a car accident (no fault of his). It could have been due to Monday blues erratic driving behavior but is that really a reason? Traffic on school days is normally busy with parents sending their kids to school. And, one of these in her Proton Wira unceremoniously rear-ended this writer's car. Apparently, she had decided to be in a rush and cut the long queue of cars; only to rear-end this writer's car when she cut in behind suddenly.

What followed was a bag of lies...

"Oh I'll pay for the repairs, don't you worry about it. Small matter. Don't make a police report", she said. This writer then had her call him on his mobile to register that her given contact number was correct.

It was a tedious process of getting the damage assessed that included numerous attempts to contact this woman.

Finally at his wit's end, this writer gave her the ultimatum of paying for the damage; failing which the accident will be reported to the police. "Oh that is so expensive. Let me contact my insurer for advice and please don't try to rush me, I need time. I'm only a blue collar worker and I stay in an apartment so I don't have that much of money. Don't make a report, I'll be fined by the police", she said. This writer wonders what happened to her earlier statement that she would pay...

She doesn't call back.

Her Third Party Claims contractor calls and informs this writer to proceed to the Balai Polis to lodge the accident report with his assurance that he will "settle" everything.

The report was made speedily. A Lance Corporal lady cop typed the report (is this a new service by the PDRM? If yes, it's a welcomed improvement!). This writer then sees the "Sarjan" and was given a short interview (apparently this new service meant that Sarjan need not view this writer's car as Sarjan kept seated). The photographer traffic policeman then took pictures of the writer's car.

To cut this long story short. 

2 options for the repairs were available. To get it fixed by the writer's car insurance panel repair workshop OR by the earlier mentioned Third Party Claims contractor. Wrong choice if you chose the latter.

Why?

If you are not in the wrong (meaning the police issues a traffic summons to the other party), it is a better option to get the repairs done at your car insurance panel repair workshop. They will process everything from getting the Loss/Claims Adjuster to documentation and repairs. At the end of it all your car insurance company will claim against driver-at-fault's car insurance. Also, you may complain (aided by your car insurance company since it's their panel workshop) if the repairs is unsatisfactory. No brainer really.

A third party claims contractor? He most probably claims the same amount from the driver-at-fault's car insurance and do not replace with new. Their trick to entice you? Zero payment required from you and speedy "repairs".

Lessons learned:

1. Always settle on the spot and never allow the person who is in the wrong get away.
2. Jot down the driver details, i.e. car registration number, name and NRIC number and contact number.
3. Proceed to the nearest police station to lodge a report. Note: All traffic accidents must be reported within 24hours.
4. Never trust any other workshop aside from those on the panel list of your car insurance company.

This writer is currently still waiting for his car to be returned by the third party claims contractor, so to all you reckless Malaysian drivers out there: May the inconvenience you cause to others be multiplied many times over unto you! Grrr....