2 People In A Car

[enfable]

Someone has a lift somewhere in a car and driver crashes through own fault but had driven sensibility (blind junction).
Excess is very high on car should passenger contribute to excess as driver would not have been in the area otherwise.

[murraymints]

Nope...passenger was not in control of vehicle..not responsible. !

[Maydup]

No.

The driver may feel aggrieved about the outcome of having given the lift home, but the passenger takes no responsibility for the quality of the driving of the opted high level of excess. My friend gave a lift home and got a speeding ticket. He felt the same about not normally being anywhere near this particular speed camera, but the passenger had been offered the lift, and did not ask him to drive faster than the limit.

No doubt the distraction of having a passenger had something to do with the lack of attention at the junction, but not caused by the passenger.

Hope you're all OK and no damage to people.

[Maydup]

Or ...not of opted level of excess ^^^

[RATTER15]

No, of course not!

[jno]

not really - if he'd been on his usual route, he mght have been involved in a different crash; the world is full of might-have-beens. If I were the passenger I might offer a contribution, though - especially if I'd asked for the list rather than being offered.

[enfable]

The driver was only in the area due to giving the other person a lift. So drivers argument to passenger is that the passenger was responsible for them being there.

[jno]

well, who was responsible? Did the driver offer a lift or did the passenger ask for one?

[murraymints]

But in NO WAY responsible for driver and his actions that led to accident....you the driver perchance ?

[enfable]

Driver would not have been driving anywhere that day. Passenger could have gotten a lift with someone else but driver offered. Excess is £800, passenger does not have an income until July as starting new job. What contribution, if any, would be fair?

[murraymints]

None in my opinion...driver offered was not hired for job...

[ummmm]

None imo also.

[Maydup]

None.
Sorry.
Matters not who offered or asked for the lift, the driver drove in the manner that caused the crash, not the passenger. Neither did the passenger opt for an excess of £800. The outcome is unfortunate but quite clear.

[rockyracoon]

Passenger not morally obliged to contribute at all IMO, driver was careless and had a crash.

[enfable]

I am the passenger but driver has asked me to contribute. I don't mind making a contribution but driver is hinting on quite a percentage of the excess. I do feel a bit guilty, but know i was not tesponsible. Driver is my housemate so it could become a bit awkward.

[Maydup]

It is going to be awkward and will no doubt contribute to the end of a good friendship, but it is a reality check for your housemate.

If you want to maintain the friendship offer what you can afford, but there is no obligation on you to pay anything.

[murraymints]

Fable...you are NOT responsible...how he chooses to insure his car is down to him....don't feel bad ! Stand your ground....

[rockyracoon]

Well only you can decide what you're happy with. If the excess had been say £100 there wouldn't be a problem but the driver probably CHOSE to reduce his premium by taking a large excess. His problem.

[Prudie]

I think it's preposterous for the passenger (you?) to contribute. A lesson learned to have things like this clearly agreed before a journey.

[Tilly2]

Last week, one of my uncles, who is a not terribly wealthy pensioner, offered me a lift to the station. If we had been in an accident, I would have felt obliged to give him some money towards the excess.

[tonyav]

Not your problem, enfable, the driver chose to have an £800 excess on the insurance not you.