What are my rights for a minor accident?

spike43_2

I was involved in a minor accident last week and need some advice.
The car in front of me came to a very sudden stop, I hit the brakes but couldn't avoid bumping the back of it. Afterwards I learnt that the driver had hit the brakes to avoid a vehicle approaching over the white line and onto their side of the road. We literally "kissed" bumpers, although they claimed a worse impact as their car moved forward (you would expect this as the car was on a downward slope!!) and there was no visible damage to either car. A cyclist who had witnessed the accident stopped and agreed that there was no visible damage. Despite this the other driver made a big thing out of it all, and is adamant that I need to provide my insurance details. I have refused, and asked that they contact me with a quote from a garage for any repairs to be done, as I don't want to claim on my insurance. I have got contact details for the witness who is prepared to back me up should the need arise. Unfortunately I didn't think to take a photo at the scene, but I have the other driver's address and wondered if it's worth going there to try and get a photo of the car????

Inactive

Your fault.

You must give your insurance details to the other driver.

Quentin

spike43 wrote: »

Despite this the other driver made a big thing out of it all, and is adamant that I need to provide my insurance details. I have refused, and asked that they contact me with a quote from a garage for any repairs to be done, as I don't want to claim on my insurance.

You cannot prevent the injured party making a claim.

You should already have informed your insurer of he incident, not to do so is a breach of your policy conditions.

Once the matter is settled you can reimburse your insurer their costs and have your NCD reinstated.

As already has been posted, you must tell the other party who your insurers are, or if you are not insured, so that they can pursue their claim accordingly.

Orrin

If you hit someone in the rear then unless they were reversing you will be at fault. It doesn't matter why they braked or how sharply. You should inform your insurance company and give the third party your details.

Even a minor accident can result in damage that isn't immediately obvious. I was hit from behind and while I couldn't see any damage at the scene, once I got home I noticed a small crack in the rear bumper and it had to be replaced.

Tilt

You don't have to provide your insurance details at the scene unless someone is injured. All other details (names/addresses ect) must be exchanged there and then and the vehicle reg numbers should be noted. I also advise to note the tax disc to see if it is valid because if it is signifitantly out of date it usually follows that the car has no insurance. In this case, I would suggest the OP writes to the other driver and invites him/her to provide a copy of an estimate for the repairs to their car. The OP should be made aware that his/her insurance co ought to be notified and the TPs details should be passed on. Advise the insurers that there was no signifitant damage to either vehicle and you have a witness to that affect. By default, they will then be in contact with the TP. If the TP is 'trying it on', then offer to take your car to an accident repair sepecialist (preferablly one appointed by your insurers) to have it inspected to see if any damage is consitant with the TP's estimate.

Katie-Kat-Kins

There is no point refusing to provide your insurance details, the TP will report it to their insurers who will do a search of the motor insurers database, find the details and approach them direct, then the insurers will be within their rights to refuse to indemnify due to failure to notify.

OP - report the incident to your insurers but tell them your misgivings. Insurers take fraud/exaggeration seriously these days. Tell them you would like to see whether you can deal with it yourself if you think it will be low value.

Quentin

Tilt wrote: »

Advise the insurers that there was no signifitant damage to either vehicle and you have a witness to that affect.

All that you can "advise" the insurer is that "no significant damage was apparent". Having a witness to this is irrelevant.

It is not until a car has been properly inspected that this can be verified, especially when the bumper has apparently absorbed the impact!

And of course no-one knows about the health of the victim. Whiplash takes time to present!

Tilt

Quentin wrote: »

All that you can "advise" the insurer is that "no significant damage was apparent". Having a witness to this is irrelevant.

It is not until a car has been properly inspected that this can be verified, especially when the bumper has apparently absorbed the impact!

And of course no-one knows about the health of the victim. Whiplash takes time to present!

Yes, i'll go along with that part. The rest of my comments, I stand by.

Inactive

Katie-Kat-Kins wrote: »

There is no point refusing to provide your insurance details, the TP will report it to their insurers who will do a search of the motor insurers database, find the details and approach them direct, then the insurers will be within their rights to refuse to indemnify due to failure to notify.

.

I don't think that the OP had even considered that.

Katie-Kat-Kins

No people don't, it really worries me on here how many people try not to involve their insurers after an accident.....

Imp

For clarity, can we change the thread title to

What are my responsibilities following a minor accident?