Non-liable Car Accident

It was a typical drive to the Peugeot dealership close to home to pick up a small part for my car. Simple visit and I'm usually in and out in a couple of minutes if I know the type of part I need. This time it was a simple bulb connector for passenger side indicator. The metal had corroded away and it’s been a fault with the car for many months now and because of this I don’t have a left indicator light working. The cost was £2.79 but unknown to me it wasn't going to be a simple visit this time around.

I parked up horizontally to Citroen Xsara Picasso and opened the bonnet of the car to remove the faulty connector and went into the parts area. Waited in the queue and watched a father and daughter pick up and part and went on their way. Whilst speaking to the man behind the counter I heard this noise. To be honest I didn’t know what it was. It sounded like scaffolding falling. The man behind the counter looked at me and we both looked at each other as to inquire if the other knew what the noise was. Instantly we went outside to check the noise and to my surprise the girl who had left moments before me had ploughed straight into the Citroen Xsara Picasso and then my car.

The damage was considerable to both cars eventhough the Citroen Xsara Picasso came out worse.

Consequently I decided to remain relatively calm as 1) It wasn’t my fault so the 3rd party would have to cough up all the repair costs and 2) That’s the whole point of insurance so they can do all the leg work and settle the costs. However the driver of the Citroen didn’t quite have the same thing in mind. It was clear his car was a mess and no doubt a right-off.

I'm now driving a Peugeot 307 with a badly damaged bumper and the passenger side wing is looking sore. Not sure what the repairs will cost but I'm neither bothered nor stressed about the whole thing. My insurance company seems to have it all under control. I need to provide them with two repair estimates and evaluation of the car. I get a replacement car while my car is at the garage.

I very much doubt the 3rd party are feeling upbeat as I am. The driver was a "L" Driver with the father in the passenger seat. The father had said she had lost control after the driver side door flung opened, she panicked and swerved to the left hitting the Citroen and then my car. A part of me is hoping the evaluations come back and declare the car a right-off and I can buy myself a new car.

On a side point the reason why I went into the garage in the first place to buy the spare part was a success and I now have a working indicator light albeit the front light might well be have to be replaced. Oh well!