Offer of cash - what would you do?

Thank you all for replying. Certainly has focussed my mind on the consequences of accepting.
The accident is being dealt with through our insurers, and I’ve already been offered a good price for my “total loss “ (car written off).

Being offered this ‘gift of cash’ from a stranger, has made me feel quite uneasy. The phrase ‘no such thing as a free lunch’ springs to mind.
He’s actually just text me again today, asking if I’ll accept. Guilt & worry I think

I’ve just politely declined his offer and said the insurers will sort it all out.

Just another Q It was completely his fault…. Do insurers push for a dangerous driving conviction( maybe after viewing the dash cam film?) . Police were not at the scene of the accident. A queue of traffic did see the accident - could a random person have reported dangerous driving?

Whereas I accept you have to ensure that it all properly goes through the Insurance companies, perhaps this driver is really feeling very guilty and unhappy and feels that a gift to you can ease that for them.
If this offered grand is totally without 'prejudice' and in no way related to car replacement/repairs, and is just a gift to you, then why not accept it.

If it was me, I would not accept cash from the person who crashed into me. Tell your insurance company about his offer.
Your insurance company will pay you the write-off value of your vehicle. Hopefully you’ll receive the full amount (they’ll take into account its pre-crash condition and service history

Hi there,
I'm so sorry to hear of this awful accident. I once got knocked over by a car through no fault of my own. I needed surgery. My head was all over the place. Do absolutely everything via insurance company plus solicitors.
Warmest wishes and rest up

Many years ago my fully insured daughter, on my fully insured car, bumped into someone. I preferred to and did pay cash for the repairs as I didn’t want it to appear on my 20 years plus insurance. The other car was old and I doubt whether they did the work involved but they signed a paper and have never thought about it until now 20 years +.

But I would refuse the money in your case, only go through your insurance.

I agree with JackyB there are nice people out there and it may be playing on his conscience. I would politely decline and leave it at that.

Might be worth noting that, depending on category of write-off, you might buy back your car from the insurance company and have it repaired using write-off money.

Block his number, no need to be in touch with him at all, he's trying to avoid his premiums going up, for whatever reason

Please do NOT .. Go through your own insurance ..

Play it safe. No headaches ..

All our best wishes and pleased that you and passengers if there were any, are not hurt ..

Lallylou

Hi there,
I'm so sorry to hear of this awful accident. I once got knocked over by a car through no fault of my own. I needed surgery. My head was all over the place. Do absolutely everything via insurance company plus solicitors.
Warmest wishes and rest up

Agree 100% ..

Lawyer / Solicitor definitely ..

Wisdom ..

M0nica

I agree turn it down immediately. I would also check how much it would cost to replace your car. You can get car prices on ebay or autotrader and if the insurance company offered less than that, then argue with them.

I did this after an accident when my car was written off. I argued that an identical replacement car would cost me £1,000 more than they were offering - and I got it. They expect you to argue and have to raise the price.

Absolutely this. Both paragraphs.

Definitely not! Go through your insurance company

You haven’t specified what the driver did beyond “not paying attention” but if it was a serious enough collision to cause your car to be written off, it could constitute dangerous driving.

(Unless it wasn’t such a big bump but your car was old and the cost of repair outweighed its market value.)

Was he speeding? Did he run a red light? Pull out of a junction without looking.? That could have been a cyclist or pedestrian he hit and not metal.

If police do not attend an accident they can still act on footage sent to them, in fact, some police forces encourage it e.g. West Midlands Police Operation Snap:

www.westmidlands.police.uk/police-forces/west-midlands-police/areas/campaigns/campaigns/operation-snap/

If you see anyone committing driving offences on our roads and it's captured on your dashcam, CCTV or a mobile phone by a passenger, we want you to send it in to us.

It does say:

If you are reporting an incident that involves a collision, please do not use this service. Instead, please call West Midlands Police on 101, select option 1 and provide details within 24 hours of the collision taking place.

If footage has been submitted, it could take weeks before it’s reviewed and for the CPS make a decision over whether to prosecute. If they do, you will be called as a witness. That’s why you shouldn’t take any money from him. Worse case scenario it could be construed as him offering and you accepting payment for favourable testimony to mitigate any penalty. That would be perverting the course of justice.

Your insurance arrangements and how you chose to replace the written off car are not his business and he shouldn’t be involved in it. It may be a kindly gesture to assuage his conscience but you shouldn’t accept any money from him.

Up to you...you seem to think he's just a kind man and maybe he is. Something similar happened to our neighbour...a widow living on State pension n small private pension. Her car was written off and she was really struggling to get another car as insurance payout was a pittance for her old car. The lady who crashed into her felt so bad about the situation my neighbour was in that she gave her £1500 towards a replacement car. No strings...insurance handled the car part and the lady admitted full liability. The lady just gave my neighbour that money as she felt so bad and she could afford it. So such people do exist . Worth a thought on your part . I would take it

If it was just a broken headlight or a minor scratch etc. I'd just offer to pay for the damage .
In this case though I'd be cautious.
Insurance is already involved so it's safer to leave it.
If he's feeling guilty he could always send flowers or whatever as an apology.

No way should you accept this offer. Tell him everything is going through insurers full stop. You never know what he's thinking, could well be a scam, he could also tell the insurance company that you've agreed a private settlement and are no longer using them and then what happens if your expenses are more than £1000.
Many years ago Dh and I had just pulled in to the car park of the place we were staying after a long journey. Still sat in the car when 2 women got into a car opposite and reversed straight into us. Both women got out very apologetic etc. We exchanged details and then a few days later when back home the drivers husband phoned us and said it was our fault we had driven into his wife and friend and the friend was a witness. We told the insurance co all about this and eventually it was sorted and cost us nothing but it does just show how stories and circumstances can change or be manipulated. Beware!

Just don't

If you’re tempted ask him to wait until the car insurance claim is finalised and you have all the paperwork completed. Then if he’s genuine accept it. If you’re concerned ask him to write you a note and sign it to say it’s in goodwill and does not implicate you in any other way. We have to understand there are still some kind genuine folk still out there not everyone is out to scam us.

I recently had damaged caused by van driver. Was in local park car park when discovered a van reversing out space had scrapped car. Have dashcam but not working stationary. The driver suggested not hoing through insurance. He gave me his personal details amd asked I contact him re cost. Other people in car park witnessed and also gave me details in case of problems. Obtained 2 quotes for work, phoned van driver who agreed with one I had chosen. Gave bank details and amount received almost immediately. There are honest folk out there. But, in OP case I'd say Thank You but No Thank you.

If he wants to do that tell him to do it through the insurance company. I would have no further dealings with him.

It sounds like he's offering a goodwill gesture, not a claims settlement as you're already having your claim processed. I'd make sure this was the case and accept.

Absolutely not..Do not engage with him..Let insurance deal with it.

I would not accept. Smammers snd con artists come across pleasant that's how people fall for it.

It’s just possible that he’s a nice guy and has £1000 to spare. Just. Go through full process with the insurers, get the new car. When that’s all wrapped up, contact him again, say ‘I’ve ended up £x out of pocket, does your kind offer still stand?’