Time limit on car insurance claims?

Surf_Widow

Some time in early December husband had a minor crash with a work colleague after skidding on ice . There was no damage to our car but a small crack in the other persons bumper. We exchanged insurance details but as far as we know she hasn't claimed yet. As husband works with this person he sees her on a regular basis but other than asking for another copy of the insurance details about a month ago (she had lost the original copy) she hasn't mentioned it.

Is there a time limit in which she can claim on our insurance? Have looked through paperwork but can't see anything about this and don't want to phone them and spend hours on hold, so any info would be appreciated.

Thanks.

maclean2

The time limit is six years from the date of the accident for damage claims and three years for injury claims so looks like this would be December 2011 or December 2008.Pleny of time yet for things to happen ! This is all governed by the law on limitation which I could explain more fully but you would fall asleep after two more lines !


HTH

Surf_Widow

Thanks for the info maclean2 - guess we'll just have to wait and see if she ever get round to claiming.

ohreally

maclean2 is of course correct, however a claim should also be brought without undue delay unless there are mitigating circumstances.

Surf_Widow

As far as I'm aware, there are no mitigating circumstances, she just hasn't got around to claiming (her car is in full working order, just a minor crack/chip to her rear bumper) - do you think the insurance company will query her claim because of this?

Presumably, the longer she takes to claim, the worse any damage to her car may become, making it more expensive to fix and costing my insurance company more money.

espresso

It may cost her more than she thinks to make a claim, depending on her policy excess and loss of any no claims bonus for future years which may not be protected.

Surf_Widow

The accident wasn't her fault (she stopped, husband tried to but skidded on ice and bumped her) so I don't think she'll have to pay an excess or lose her no claims bonus. Just wondered whether or not my insurance company will pay out (and therefore make us pay out our policy excess) to repair her damaged bumper since its been over three months since the accident.

ohreally

To be clear, you did report this to your insurance company at the time?

Surf_Widow

No, we haven't mentioned it to our insurance company. If she does claim we won't dispute it but as there is no damage to our car we've kept quiet hoping she won't get around to claiming so we don't have to pay any excess/lose no claims bonus etc.