i was curious enough after hearing this to reread 'living and working' on car accidents (note to mods - this book should be advertised on every page, each time i browse through it i see an answer to a recurring EF question, maybe you can make money like that!!!)

in any case: a friend was on the highway near kloten with her family, moving from the middle to the right lane, when another car came from nowhere and passed them on the right - clipping the car. both cars stopped, damage was assessed (as it was dusk no damage was noted) details were exchanged and off they went. about 3 weeks later she receives a bill for F500 with a short letter from the company of the other guy, informing her this is the damage

so then i read l&w where it clearly states that you should avoid admitting to anything at all cost and that you only need to involve the police if someone were injured. so far so good, but then sadly the info becomes irrelevant...so my question is:

is there a way to go through arbitration in a case like this? the suggestions i've heard have been entertaining - what can you fix on a car in CH with F500 etc.

so - what do you think she should do?

Saying that the other car ‘came from nowhere’ won’t help her case. It sounds, from your description, that she moved over without realising a car was approaching and, therefore, she failed to look before moving over.

She should send the bill to her insurance company and let them sort it out.

Agree with B-Bear. The 3rd party car insurance is liable. So your insurer is motivated to dispute the claim. You will however suffer a lower "no claim bonus".

My advice is:
1. Never admit anything.
2. If you have a camera or cell-phone with camera, then take ample photographs at the scene. Include your car, the other car, the other driver, other passengers, the damage, etc.
3. Better to call the police. Sometimes "injuries" are alleged or surface later.
4. Inform your insurer immediately after the accident.
5. Have litigation insurance to fight for your rights.

As said this is stuff for the insurance companies to sort out. CHF500 does seem a trivial amount. It will depend on your friend's insurance policy whether it is best to pay this or loose the no claims bonus if not protected.

Could have been a disaster. No need to involve the police. I managed to write my car off once without the help of the police - and the insurance paid up...

With whole due respect, never ever admit it was your fault. Are you gonna play micky mouse game later?

I was once involved in a car accident and partly to blame. I asked the people in the other car whether they were OK or needed medical attention. They said they were fine. Someone else (passing motorist?) called the police who arrived pronto and interviewed everybody.

After several days, a person in the other car suddenly discovered that she was seriously injured! She used those "injuries" to blackmail my insurer to settle generously in her favor. Otherwise, I would be criminally prosecuted for inflicting bodily injury.

Hence, my lesson. Always call the police. Or face subsequent mischievous allegations of "hit and run", "refusal to help", "inflicting invalidity", etc.

You insurance company will pay the Sfr 500.-- minus whatever franchise you may have.

Next year insurance premiums jump up as you lose your no claims bonus or it increases by 20-25%, result being you pay an extra Sfr 200-300 per year for insurance for next 3-4 years.

Do the calculation.....

Depends on the situation, sometimes your fault is obvious, only property damage is involved (no person), there other party has witnesses/recording/etc. It might happen that you/your insurance will have to pay for additional tests/examinations/legal fees that are needed to prove your guilt.

And it might be a good idea to get the legal costs insurance.

No, it depends on the conditions of your insurance policy.

Yes, more precise