Involved in car accident - need advice

lexilex

I was involved in a car accident on friday night. There's already a topic on the motor board. Basically I slowed down as I was approaching traffic lights, lady behind me saw this happen but for some reason didn't react and went into the back of me. She's accepted responsbility and a PCSO witnessed her saying this too.

I'm suffering whiplash from the accident. I was planning on claiming for the damage on my car and also the whiplash.

I'm now having second thoughts. After talking to my parents about it tonight I'm wondering if it's going to be more trouble than it is worth.

My insurance premiums are already high as I'm 19 years old and have been driving for just over a year. When I am shopping around for insurance they always say 'Have you made any claims in the last three years' Obviously if I claim for this I will have done, eventhough the accident and injuries caused by the accident were not my fault.

I'm not really sure what to do. Any advice?

DCFC79

If you didn't do it via insurance could you repair the car using your own money

anniecave

I presume you have already reported this to insurance? If so a claim will have already been opened anyway.

From what it sounds, very clear cut, she's accepting responsibility anyway, so it won't go on your record as a fault claim. It will be on your record, but as something that wasn't your fault, so it shouldn't affect your premiums (someone else correct me if I'm wrong here) and you will still get your no-claims bonus if you don't have anything else happen to you.

Ian_W

Whether or not you claim you will still have to inform your insurers that you were involved in an RTA, check your policy booklet - it's almost certain to be a requirement to notify them of any incident that may affect how they underwrite your policy. As annie says I don't think notifying them of a non-fault accident should bump up your premium.

If you know or can obtain the other parties insurers it may be better, if they're accepting liability, to claim from them direct and get your car repaired by them. You won't have an excess to pay and it shouldn't affect your NCD with your own insurer as you're not making a claim on your own policy.

Regarding the whiplash I'd leave it a few days, perhaps until after the hols to decide. Whiplash can just be soft tissue bruising which clears up fully in a few days or it can be more serious and last a lot longer.

Rolandtheroadie

Claim your insurance (it'll be them that pursue the other party). The accident is not your fault. Yes, you will have to declare it but it shouldnt affect your premium. (some policies require declaring for 5 years, always be honest)
I'd also claim personal injuries as at 19 you've probably got another 50 years paying higher premiums because everybody else has claimed for injuries.
As she hit you in the rear, liability is almost certainly her's whether theres a witness or not (if you rear end someone, guilt is virtually automatic)

a11waysindebt

I'd put a claim in,It could me more serious next time.

lexilex

The lady has offered to pay for repairs to my car as her excess is £400

I've informed my insurance at someone from the legal team are supposed to be ringing me tomorrow

I've done a quick test on one of the insurance price comparisons, putting in my details as they will be when I'm looking for insurance next year (eg had a license 2 yrs, 2 yrs ncb) got one lot of prices not ticking the box saying i've had a claim and then tried again ticking the box and selecting accident, not at fault There was a difference of £14 on the prices, not too bad but still a bit daft that it goes up at all when I wasn't at fault

Quentin

As liability is clear cut, you may want to consider using a claim handling firm - they will take over your case and will claim off the third party, (ie no claim via your own insurer), so you won't be involved in getting your excess back, and they will ensure you claim all your uninsured losses from the third party as well as any personal injury on top of the damage to your car.

shadow13

i got £2,500 for persistent neck pain in the months afterwards and immediate whiplash paid out when an uninsured driver went into the back of me

a year and a half later it was finally sorted, all the damage claim was covered by insurance as was my personal injury claim, i havent lost my no claims and my premiums haven't risen.

Basically you've been the victim of somebody else's error, in future just make companies aware that the accident wasn't your fault. i'd press ahead with your claim, you're entitled to it.

Quentin

lexilex wrote: »

When I am shopping around for insurance they always say 'Have you made any claims in the last three years' Obviously if I claim for this I will have done, eventhough the accident and injuries caused by the accident were not my fault.

I'm not really sure what to do. Any advice?

In the duplicate thread you have set up, you reveal you currently only have third party insurance.

So your question is easily answered:

1) You cannot make a claim off your own insurance.

2) You must nevertheless inform your insurer of the incident straight away, and any future insurers when asking for quotes.

As previously posted, you need to make any claim over this direct from the third party or their insurer.