Hit from behind, insurance question

Chew_Barker

Yesterday evening I was driving and the car behind me hit me in the rear at a junction.

Everyone was ok and he was apologetic, yet I don't think he admitted liability. After speaking to my insurers, they told me that it looked fairly straight forward and when the get him to admit liability they will claim everything off his insurance.

My insurance company told me I wont lose my no claims bonus and wont have to pay an excess for the no fault claim. My question is: do I declare this as a claim when I renew another policy ? As it hasn't been a claim against my policy I would think not, but then I'm not sure how these things work. If I do have to declare this are my premiums likely to shoot up for all my other vehicles? If so I would be tempted not to place the claim with my insures and seek to recover the damages directly or through court.

Mark_Hewitt

In these situations you normally don't involve your insurance company directly. The claim is made against the insurance company of the other driver.

However you need to keep your insurance company informed, as it's effective a 'no fault claim'.

Chew_Barker

Does that me I should phone up his insurance company ? Or will my insurance company be doing this on my behalf ?

hewhoisnotintheknow

yeah you have to tell em, and your insurance will go up as a result, even though its not your fault whatsoever

Mark_Hewitt

hewhoisnotintheknow wrote: »

yeah you have to tell em, and your insurance will go up as a result, even though its not your fault whatsoever

Sometimes, not always. I had two no fault claims and it's had no effect on my insurance.

One I wasn't even in the car!

Andy_L

Chew_Barker wrote: »

Does that me I should phone up his insurance company ? Or will my insurance company be doing this on my behalf ?

If your policy includes "uninsured loss recovery" (generally does if it's fully comp) then they will chase them up for you. otherwise you have to do it yourself or get a professional to do it for you (who's costs will be added to the claim)

davidjwest

Chew_Barker wrote: »

Everyone was ok and he was apologetic, yet I don't think he admitted liability.

Most insurance policies tell you not to accept liability even if you are sure you were at fault.

hopefulfooluk

Chew_Barker wrote: »

My question is: do I declare this as a claim when I renew another policy ? As it hasn't been a claim against my policy I would think not, but then I'm not sure how these things work. If I do have to declare this are my premiums likely to shoot up for all my other vehicles? If so I would be tempted not to place the claim with my insures and seek to recover the damages directly or through court.

Yes, you have to declare it if asked as you have claimed even though your insurance company will claim everything back off the person who hit you's insurance company.

5 years ago my car was written off because a landrover doing 70mph rear ended me while I was stopped. My insurance company paid me for the car (as they will do for yours) but they claimed everything off the old duffer's insurance company. It's still you claiming though. So even though I've had to list the crash, it hasn't had any effect on my future insurance premiums since.

Your insurance company will look after you as you were not at fault and they don't have to pay out of their own pocket once they've got the liability admitted - get them to do the hard work and chasing around, that's what they're there for!

blued

The wording on most forms now is "have you had an accident or claim in the last 5 years regardless of fault" so yes you do have to mention it and yes it will increase your premium in most cases. Arguably it is unfair but insurance works on statistics and some people are statistically less likely to be involved in accidents than others. For example someone might avoid an accident that would have been caused by someone else by simply being more alert - not that this would help when someone runs in to the back of you while stationary!

Premier_2

Chew_Barker wrote: »

Yesterday evening I was driving and the car behind me hit me in the rear at a junction.

Everyone was ok and he was apologetic, yet I don't think he admitted liability. After speaking to my insurers, they told me that it looked fairly straight forward and when the get him to admit liability they will claim everything off his insurance.

My insurance company told me I wont lose my no claims bonus and wont have to pay an excess for the no fault claim. My question is: do I declare this as a claim when I renew another policy ? As it hasn't been a claim against my policy I would think not, but then I'm not sure how these things work. If I do have to declare this are my premiums likely to shoot up for all my other vehicles? If so I would be tempted not to place the claim with my insures and seek to recover the damages directly or through court.

Yes you should declare it.

It won't affect your NCB if you secure full recovery.

Hopefully they won't load your premium. If they do, shop around.

cyclonebri1

Premier wrote: »

Yes you should declare it.

It won't affect your NCB if you secure full recovery.

Hopefully they won't load your premium. If they do, shop around.

But it will as posted by blue, the guy before. It's nonsense and should not have any weight but unfoortunately it does

Little point shopping around, you are on their database and will be treated simily