**Minor Car Accident. My Fault. Settling Privately?**

LdC5

Hi people,
Just after some advice really. Had my first car accident over the weekend. It was minor, my fault, no one suffered any injuries.

I was stopped at a red light in the right hand lane of a 2 lane main road. Another car was to my left in the left lane, I didn't see a car behind him. An ambulance was approaching in the distance from behind in my lane. Seeing that the light was still red, I thought I better get out the way!!! So I reversed and planned to snake in - almost parallel park - into the lane to my left, behind a car next to me. I guess I should've have made more through checks, but another car was behind him .. In my blindspot, and I crashed into his drivers door causing a dent and scratches. My car is relatively unscathed ..

I didn't hit his car at any speed so the damage was minimal and no one was hurt and the ambulance staff could see that.

It's my first accident, luckily Police arrived and they ensured everything went down ok. The guy I hit was actually cool with it all and didn't get upset. I admitted responsibility and we agreed we'd try and settle privately first to keep our insurance premiums down and protect our NC's.

I'm gonna get some quotes myself to gauge some sort of figure in the hope he doesn't come back to me with an excessive figure. And hopefully we can settle for a few hundred quid ...

Just wanted to hear from anyone else who may have been involved in a similar accident. Should I go the private route first, and inly try insurance if he takes the !!!!!!!?? lol

Any advice would be good.

chanz4

You have to report the incident no matter what to your insurance, also for future even if an ambulance or police have a blue light on you only have to move if it is safe todo so.

Quentin

The safest thing to do is leave this to your insurer (who if they receive a claim will ensure it is correct, only pay the correct amount and ensure the claimant won't come back for more in future).

If it is cost effective, (though it may not just be a body shop bill - other costs could be car hire, and always the chance of whiplash!) you can reimburse your insurer, and make it a non fault claim, meaning you get your NCD reinstated. (If you are liable, then the third party's NCD won't be affected, as his insurer won't be paying!)

You do need to inform your insurer now of the incident, and if you do not intend to claim for your damage, tell them you are reporting for information only.

ronekenn

Well as for me, I have also gone through the same incident, only the thing was that I could not saw a parked car in front of me as I thought that its in motion and it was my foolishness that I smashed my bike at the rear portion of the car. Both of the parties had losses, and I was the one who settled down all these things privately. But its good if insurance company gets in between as it helps in preventing the extra expenses.

thegirlintheattic

You have to report to insurer as 'information only' regardless.

I would just go through insurers. Otherwise he could claim on insurance after you paid out and enjoy a payday.

corbyboy

LdC5 wrote: »

I admitted responsibility and we agreed we'd try and settle privately first to keep our insurance premiums down and protect our NC's.

The other driver has no incentive to agree to this. His no claims will not be affected whatever happens. Both of you need to tell your insurance companies about the incident as others above have mentioned. Any losses he suffers he will be entitled to claim back from you anyway.

The guy you crashed into might have seemed friendly at the time, but he will probably develop a mysterious neck pain by tomorrow morning. That is one of the main reasons to always go through the insurance.

Obukit

corbyboy wrote: »

The guy you crashed into might have seemed friendly at the time, but he will probably develop a mysterious neck pain by tomorrow morning. That is one of the main reasons to always go through the insurance.

I'm not sure this is always true. I had someone crash into the back of me last year. The bumper needed to be taken off and the metalwork behind welded up, which cost £250.

Spoke to the bloke, he agreed and delivered the cash to my house. I was happy as car was fixed, he was happy as it no doubt saved him a lot more than £250 in NCB and at-fault claims. Not everyone is out to scam people.

OP - what car did you hit, and how old was it?

vaio

corbyboy wrote: »

The other driver has no incentive to agree to this. His no claims will not be affected whatever happens. Both of you need to tell your insurance companies about the incident as others above have mentioned. Any losses he suffers he will be entitled to claim back from you anyway........

Just google "non fault loadings". With insurance companies they way they are there is a big incentive for minor accident participants (irrespective of blame) to sort it out between themselves without involvement of either insurance company.

thenudeone

vaio wrote: »

With insurance companies they way they are there is a big incentive for minor accident participants (irrespective of blame) to sort it out between themselves without involvement of either insurance company.

I don't disagree, but - if they do, they are probably in breach of their policy terms, which could create many more probllems later on.
My policy with LV states:
"You must give us full details of any incident as soon as possible"
and
"You must not, without our consent:
negotiate or admit responsibility or
make any offer, promise or payment"

And there have been numerous posts here from people where the other driver appeared apologetic and admitted fault verbally at the scene but later went to their insurer with a different version of events and claimed they were blameless.

If you haven't informed your insurer because you thought you'd agreed to do everything informally, you will be in a sticky situation.