Help... DH just crashed my car.

sarahg1969

Badger_Lady wrote: »

LOL then what's 'normal'

Right, let's think logically. Someone puts in a claim and provides an engineer's report, showing the damage to their car. So I know what make and model it is.

They say they had 4 children in the back and all were wearing seatbelts. It's obvious to me that that's wrong.

Nothing more mystical than that

Kira000

sarahg1969 wrote: »

Right, let's think logically. Someone puts in a claim and provides an engineer's report, showing the damage to their car. So I know what make and model it is.

They say they had 4 children in the back and all were wearing seatbelts. It's obvious to me that that's wrong.

Nothing more mystical than that

Quite! I believe from DH, that it was infact driver in front, and either 2 adults and 2 children in rear, or 3 adults and 1 child in the rear. Not sure i can think of an AA driving school car, that can fit 2 adults and 2 child seats, or 3 adults and 1 child seat.

Kira000

Crazy_Jamie wrote: »

I will admit to not knowing enough about the rules regarding dual controls and who can/cannot sit in the seat to be able to comment on that. However, did you husband actually see four people sitting in the back, or is this an assumption? Just because the car may have been fitted with dual controls it doesn't mean that no one was sitting in that seat, even if they weren't supposed to be.

No, he saw that there was noone in the front pax seat when he got out of the car. The driver then got out to join him.

Kira000

Quick question.. does DH have to report the accident to his insurer straight away, even though claiming on my policy not his? Or can he wait until his renewal? Only asking as he is now wanting to sell his, and get something cheaper to insure (and less sporty), and doesnt know whether he will need to tell them if he rings to change the car details before renewal?

olly300

Kira000 wrote: »

Quick question.. does DH have to report the accident to his insurer straight away, even though claiming on my policy not his? Or can he wait until his renewal? Only asking as he is now wanting to sell his, and get something cheaper to insure (and less sporty), and doesnt know whether he will need to tell them if he rings to change the car details before renewal?

He doesn't have to report it straight away but he should report it before he renews especially if it's settled before then.

If he sells his car then he should report it before then.

The insurer needs to adjust his policy to take account of the claim and it's easier/quicker to do so before he renews.

olly300

Kira000 wrote: »

Quite! I believe from DH, that it was infact driver in front, and either 2 adults and 2 children in rear, or 3 adults and 1 child in the rear. Not sure i can think of an AA driving school car, that can fit 2 adults and 2 child seats, or 3 adults and 1 child seat.

Was it an AA driving school car?

The ones I see tend to be medium size cars so it's easy to fit in more smaller people in the back.

However to be honest you are wasting your time stressing out about how many people where in the back unless you either:
a. have a picture of the car and occupants, or
b. have an independent witness i.e. someone not involved in the accident,
as neither insurer will be interested as it would cost too much to take to court.

Most insurers seem to do the minimum possible to sort out claims and incidents to save money, and this involves misinforming people when another vehicle is involved.

vaio

Kira000 wrote: »

Quick question.. does DH have to report the accident to his insurer straight away, even though claiming on my policy not his? Or can he wait until his renewal? Only asking as he is now wanting to sell his, and get something cheaper to insure (and less sporty), and doesnt know whether he will need to tell them if he rings to change the car details before renewal?

Any answers you get are just guesses, his policy will tell you what needs reporting and when.

Did you look into claiming on his DOC cover as per post #18?

Kira000

vaio wrote: »

Any answers you get are just guesses, his policy will tell you what needs reporting and when.

Did you look into claiming on his DOC cover as per post #18?

I had a look at his policy document, and its not entirely clear from the docs. I also checked re the DOC suggestion. It is possible he could claim for the third party element on his insurance, but my car would still be claimed under mine. Then its both policies with an "active claim", rather than one. And if the claim doubles his renewal we are looking at £3K+, mine doubling would be £1400.. Seeing as he is offering to pay my insurance next year (and year after!), then its probably more financially viable to stick the claim all on mine.

vaio

Yep, the DOC idea only makes sense if you don't claim for the damage to your car as you were considering way back in #15

thenudeone

vaio wrote: »

Yep, the DOC idea only makes sense if you don't claim for the damage to your car as you were considering way back in #15

I expect that if you tried to rely on the DOC cover, the insurer would ask as a matter of routine - Does any other policy cover cover the incident? When they found found that the driver was a named driver on the policy for the vehicle involved, they would backheel to them it pretty fast, on the basis that their policy does not cover circumstances already more specifically covered by another policy.

For example, my Aviva policy states quite categorically that under the "liability to others" section,

"The cover will also not apply if the insured person can claim under another policy."