Bypass car insurance company?

bobby_davro_2

Hi
Been in a minor car accident tonight - changing lanes to go left and hit the right bumber of the car in front - Probably driving around 15 MPH
The damage on the back of the car is quite slight, although some scratches are visible.
However, we didn't involve other witnesses ( unless passengers are classed as witnesses ) and no police were called although we did take photos of the damage.
I think the damage to the other car is quite minor, but if a claim is made then it obviously affects No Claims.... would i best to admit the full fault, call the driver and offer to pay outside of insurance? Or is it easier to not accept liabilty and let it run its course?
My Car also has a minor bump on the front - Do i still need to let my insurance company know too regardless?
Thanks

savemoney

I had a bang too my car wasnt even moving but parked. I got told I got to inform my insurance regardless and most probably insurance will go up yet again through no fault of mine

vax2002

wait for the bill and once the passengers get chatting in the pub they will all mysteriously develop whiplash, so yes, time to pick up the phone

Dynamic_Panda

All incidents regardless of whether you are claiming or not or claiming on the third parties insurance need to be reported...........make sure that you tell them everything and ask for it to be lodged 'for information only'.................

DP

eye4u

No Witnesses, No Police report, why not just tell your insurance company that the other driver pulled out in front of you? Alternatatively call the other driver and offer to settle out of the insurance paper work if its only a minor dent.

bobby_davro_2

But what benefit will that have, i'd still have to pay the same regardless wouldn't i?

eye4u

No, the bill would go 50/50, so means the other party is unlikely to exaggerate the claim, and after the excess is taken into account, may not even go ahead with the claim anyway....

InsideInsurance

Great to hear people suggesting to commit fraud by lying about the circumstances of an accident.

Passengers do count as witnesses as obviously they witnessed the event however the level of bias in their account can be challenged.

If you do decide to settle the TPs claim privately, do not admit liability for it but instead do it on a without prejudice basis. As has been said you may find in a couple of months or even years a series of PI claims come forward and you then want your insurers to handle the matter. Your policy will almost certainly state you shouldn't prejudice their handling by admitting liability yourself.

bobby_davro_2

OK, done nothing so far, but also haven't heard from my insurance...
If the other driver had lodged a claim on saturday, should me insurance have called me by now?
I'm hoping the other driver thought the incident is so minor that they have also decided not to risk their excess.

InsideInsurance

It would depend who they lodged the claim with. Assuming it is with their insurance company then certainly not. Insurers can take weeks or months to contact each other.

If they are trying to claim directly from your insurance it will depend on if you have informed your insurers yet and what the agreement on liability was. If you havent then they may reject the TP from coming directly or they may register a claim and write to you to clarify what happened and why you havent informed them which again can take days, weeks or even months. Certainly at times I've seen insurance companies with 3 month backlogs of work in their technical claims departments.

bobby_davro_2

Thanks for getting back.
If i didn't contact the insurance because i felt the incident was so minor... will that be used against me or go in my favour?