Making a claim

Alison_B

My son was involved in an accident on the way home from work on Friday evening. It was dark and raining heavily and he was in standing traffic. The man in front set off and so did my son, then the man stopped suddenly and my son tutted the car in front. They got out and examined the car. Just a slight scratch to my sons car and a paint scratch about 2 inches on the mans car. My son asked if he could pay for it without going through the insurance but the man said it was a company car and it would need to go through the insurance.

He contacted his insurance company yesterday to tell them about this. How will it affect his policy when it comes for renewal next February? Will he get penalised for a small paint claim the same as if he had written the other mans car off? In February, he would have had 2 years no claims, so that will go too won't it?

bouncydog1

Unfortunately a small paint scratch is often the only visible damage and depending on the severity of the shunt there may be other damage to the other vehicle.

If the other party makes a claim against your son's policy he will lose his bonus and there may also be a loading put on the policy for an accident - depends on who the insurer is.

mcjordi

re the company car.. it doesnt HAVE to go through the insurance. did you get the fleet managers contact details at all??
give them a ring and see what they have to say..

Quote

The insurance is likely to at least double in price from last year. I would expect an increase in the region of around 120%.

Alison_B

Quote wrote: »

The insurance is likely to at least double in price from last year. I would expect an increase in the region of around 120%.

That seems so unfair for a small paint scratch. He would have to sell his car as he is only 18 and is paying through the nose for being a young lad to start with. If he had caused major damage to the car, I could understand it but just a small scratch seems so unfair.

Quote

After twenty years in insurance I would have to agree. It's not particularly fair.

Quentin

As has previously been advised, this may be far more than just a small scratch when the car is examined properly, however if it turns out to be a low cost repair with no other major costs involved (eg expensive car hire), then if viable your son could reimburse his insurer the cost they have been put to, thereby retaining his NCD, which will make a big difference to any increase in next year's premium.

jw2003

Quentin wrote: »

As has previously been advised, this may be far more than just a small scratch when the car is examined properly, however if it turns out to be a low cost repair with no other major costs involved (eg expensive car hire), then if viable your son could reimburse his insurer the cost they have been put to, thereby retaining his NCD, which will make a big difference to any increase in next year's premium.

A friend of mine, who is considerably older with many years no claims, recently did this

Alison_B

Quentin wrote: »

As has previously been advised, this may be far more than just a small scratch when the car is examined properly, however if it turns out to be a low cost repair with no other major costs involved (eg expensive car hire), then if viable your son could reimburse his insurer the cost they have been put to, thereby retaining his NCD, which will make a big difference to any increase in next year's premium.

Really, I didn't realise you could do that. Thank you so much for that, it could make all the difference to him. I can't see there being any further damage. They were in standing traffic and only going about 2 mile an hour.

dgrego123

Alison_B wrote: »

Really, I didn't realise you could do that. Thank you so much for that, it could make all the difference to him. I can't see there being any further damage. They were in standing traffic and only going about 2 mile an hour.

i shunted a car in a similar incident, but there was no damage to either car, as it was a taxi there where passangers and there both claming for whiplash in a 2mph collision. im only 19 myself and i know how your son will be feeling because my insurance is very hight aswell as it is without losing any progress ive already made.

Alison_B

We can pay the cost but it does not matter now. The driver and his passenger have both put in personal injury claims for whiplash and soft tissue damage and are claiming that they have not returned to work since the accident happened.

Just for the life of me cannot see how they are claiming this. There is no damage except a minor scratch to my sons car.

My husband and youngest son were involved in an accident about 6 years ago and we were in standing traffic just over a hill. This woman was late taking her daughter to a birthday party and was rushing, came flying over the hill and straight into the back of us. We had a C5 estate and the car was completely embedded into our car and you could not see any boot space as she had crumpled the car that much. My husband and son walked away with a slightly sore neck and back but were back at work/school the next day and no claim was sought. We feel that they are just putting it on but it cannot be proven.

So gutted for my son. Yes, he was at fault for the tut in the first place but they are just going to crucify him with insurance now. :mad: