Got hit by a foreign lorry on M25 today

baby_frogmella

Hi
Was trundling along the M25 this afternoon and when i was passing this Romanian haulage lorry, it suddenly cut into my lane (middle) and clipped the side of my car...lucklily i wasn't injured nor was there a huge amount of damage to the car (still driveable). We stopped at the hard shoulder, he apologised and admitted fault. He gave me this accident report form , which although in Romanian, suggests he was at fault judging by the diagram. I've put in a claim with my insurance company and will send them the accident report form which also lists his (or his company's) insurance firm in Romania.

Now am i right in thinking that this could be a long drawn out affair and until his insurance company in Romania acknowledge the lorry driver is at fault, my insurance company (Swiftcover) will assume i'm at fault and down goes the drain my 12 years of NCD? To make things even worse, my current policy expires at end of May and new renewal quote is due on 5th...this could mean my renewal quote might take this claim into account and hence my renewal premium could shoot up
Cheers

PS I'll try to scan and post the accident report form...those of you who understand Romanian might be able to help

baby_frogmella

MarkyMarkD

Yes, your NCD (or two years' worth) will be lost pending settlement of the claim in your favour.

It will be easier if you renew with the same insurer.

MX5huggy

Here is swift covers policy.

http://www.swiftcover.com/carinsurance/policy/no-claims-discount/

rev_henry

Good that he's being decent about it, shame we don't have those forms here really. But yes it may be a drawn out affair getting the insurance companies to talk. Fingers crossed they'll have a UK agent who will be reasonable.

These incidents happen so often, the problem is, iirc, UK lorries need special mirrors when going on the continent, so they can see cars in your position; EU lorries don't need them so sideswipes are endemic here. When overtaking a foreign lorry I often go into lane 3 if possible.

GolfBravo

The accident report lists the foreign insurance company - you should be able to find their UK representative here.

HTH

PS
Is that BCR Asigurari? BCR Vienna Insurance Group?

baby_frogmella

GolfBravo wrote: »

The accident report lists the foreign insurance company - you should be able to find their UK representative here.

HTH

PS
Is that BCR Asigurari? BCR Vienna Insurance Group?

Thanks soooooo much! Green card no is RO22 but i can't find SC Unicredit Insurance on the list?

GolfBravo

I think Unicredit is the broker's name. Above that there is BCR which should be the insurance company (and BCR matches RO22).

English language version of the accident report form.

baby_frogmella

Cheers Golf, looks like their UK agent is Coris UK Ltd in London. Will give them a call in the morning just to confirm this and then pass their details onto Swiftcover.

Notmyrealname

Good thing is it was a lorry. It is virtually unheard of to be hit by a lorry thats not insured, even the foreign ones.

From what I've read in the past on various forums, the claims are settled quite quickly.

namecheck

Notmyrealname wrote: »

Good thing is it was a lorry. It is virtually unheard of to be hit by a lorry thats not insured, even the foreign ones.

From what I've read in the past on various forums, the claims are settled quite quickly.

Yes - if it's just damage to the vehicle, maybe. But there have been numerous instances of injury to people in vehicles that have been hit by a foreign lorry. I know 2 people this has happened to.

I used to drive around much of the M25 on a long commute and agree with Rev Henry that it's relatively safer to be in the outside lane.