Insurance Question

sharonfrancis

Hello
After some advice - will try and keep short!
I went to collect my son (18mths) from his childminders yday - I was in my VW campervan. I let my son play in camper while I had a natter with my childminder. My niece (7yrs) was in the van as well. Now my son decides to open door as car was driving past. It has done some damage to 3rd parties wing - dent and scratches and paint work obviously come off. My vehicle was not damaged. and luckily my son did not fall out - BIG lesson learnt there!
Now I have another car which is my main car and has my NCB on its policy. The camper is my 2nd vehicle. The camper is on ebay at the moment and will be sold at the end of the week. Where do I stand insurance wise? I have never made a claim before so am not particularly aware of the procedure.
1) Do I need to let my insurance policy know about accident or wait for the 3rd party insurers to let them know?
2) Do I need to let my main car's insurers know? Despite accident not being related to the policy?
3) What will this mean for my camper premium bearing in mind I will be stopping policy imminently
4) Will I have to pay any fees?
5) Also I assume if I got a new vehicle in the next 3 or 5 years I would have to declare it. If I stuck with the vehicle I have then I woouldnt?! What if I got another vehicle and added it that policy? Would they ask me if I had been involved in accident or would my policy automatically use info from when I set it up.....
6) How much on average does your policy go up by having a prang?
thanks in advance....

Lum

Was there room for the other car to drive past outside the range of your camper van's door?

If so, it's their fault.

Now to answer your questions.

1) Technically you're supposed to notify your insurance of all incidents, though many people only notify if a claim is actually going to go through insurance.

2) Not sure on this one. You will need to declare it at renewal though.

3) None, though you will need to declare it at renewal and it will increase your premium, even if non-fault. Not an issue for you though as you're not renewing.

4) Only fees you have to pay are your excess on the cost of repairs to your vehicle, if the claim is deemed to be your fault.

5) If you report the accident now, you will have to declare it for all insurance policies you take out in the next 3-5 years

6) Impossible to say.

FOXY1

'Was there room for the other car to drive past outside the range of your camper van's door?'

It was still a obstruction and a act the other driver was not expecting, if a cyclist had passed they would have been hit.

Lum

Yes, and it would still legally be the cyclists fault for riding too close to the parked cars, just a lot harder to claim from them.

fivetide

Lum wrote: »

Yes, and it would still legally be the cyclists fault for riding too close to the parked cars, just a lot harder to claim from them.

Never seen that. What if it was a side street with not enough room to give full door clearance? Surely the onus is on whoever is opening the door not to simply step out into traffic?

OP - i'd see about getting it repaired yourself. find out if thety are happy to get a quote and what the cost might be. A smart repair person might be fairly inexpensive, certainly not much more than your policy excess.

5t.

Lum

If there isn't room to leave a suitable gap then generally the blame is reversed and whoever opened the door is to blame, hence why I asked about the available space on the street in my first reply.

Personally I disagree with this state of affairs, if you open the door into someone or in front of someone then you should be to blame, but legally this isn't the case and this is a money saving forum ultimately. Legally the OP and her son are not to blame (unless the street was narrow) so she can avoid having a fault claim and save some money.

This rule is basic stuff that's taught in driving lessons and will get you a minor on your test if you ignore it.

http://www.driving-test-success.com/meeting_traffic/meeting_traffic.html

Passing Parked Vehicles
When passing a parked vehicle you should always try and leave a space of at least the width of an average car door. This is to safeguard against a vehicle unexpectedly pulling out or a car door suddenly opening. Creating this space will also help you see children moving out from between parked cars to cross the road. If such can't be created and you are forced to pass closer to the parked vehicles then reduce your speed and be ready to stop.

neilmcl

sharonfrancis wrote: »

2) Do I need to let my main car's insurers know? Despite accident not being related to the policy?

This bit is a little confusing. Do you have different insurers/different policies for your car and van? Is you van actually insured at the moment?

FOXY1

Parking

239

Use off-street parking areas, or bays marked out with white lines on the road as parking places, wherever possible.
If you have to stop on the roadside:

• do not park facing against the traffic flow
• stop as close as you can to the side
• do not stop too close to a vehicle displaying a Blue Badge – remember, the occupant may need more room to get in or out
• you MUST switch off the engine, headlights and fog lights
• you MUST apply the handbrake before leaving the vehicle
• you MUST ensure you do not hit anyone when you open your door – check for cyclists or other traffic
• it is safer for your passengers (especially children) to get out of the vehicle on the side next to the kerb
• put all valuables out of sight and make sure your vehicle is secure
• lock your vehicle

This is from Direct Gov website

neilmcl

Lum wrote: »

If there isn't room to leave a suitable gap then generally the blame is reversed and whoever opened the door is to blame, hence why I asked about the available space on the street in my first reply.

Personally I disagree with this state of affairs, if you open the door into someone or in front of someone then you should be to blame, but legally this isn't the case and this is a money saving forum ultimately. Legally the OP and her son are not to blame (unless the street was narrow) so she can avoid having a fault claim and save some money.

This rule is basic stuff that's taught in driving lessons and will get you a minor on your test if you ignore it.

http://www.driving-test-success.com/meeting_traffic/meeting_traffic.html

Doesn't mean it'll be classed as a third-party fault with regards to insurance.

Lum

Indeed, if a claim is made you'll need to fight it.. if the OPs insurance pay out then it will become a fault claim.

fivetide

Passing Parked Vehicles
When passing a parked vehicle you should always try and leave a space of at least the width of an average car door. This is to safeguard against a vehicle unexpectedly pulling out or a car door suddenly opening. Creating this space will also help you see children moving out from between parked cars to cross the road. If such can't be created and you are forced to pass closer to the parked vehicles then reduce your speed and be ready to stop.

Yes I was told to leave a space but that's try not law.

Foxy's stuff below reads more as I would understand it.

5t.

FOXY1 wrote: »

Parking

239

Use off-street parking areas, or bays marked out with white lines on the road as parking places, wherever possible.

If you have to stop on the roadside:

• do not park facing against the traffic flow
• stop as close as you can to the side
• do not stop too close to a vehicle displaying a Blue Badge – remember, the occupant may need more room to get in or out
• you MUST switch off the engine, headlights and fog lights
• you MUST apply the handbrake before leaving the vehicle
• you MUST ensure you do not hit anyone when you open your door – check for cyclists or other traffic
• it is safer for your passengers (especially children) to get out of the vehicle on the side next to the kerb
• put all valuables out of sight and make sure your vehicle is secure
• lock your vehicle

This is from Direct Gov website