Car accident, claim or settle? please help

r222

I am a new driver with R plates, recently passed. Right now my insurance costs £1250. Not long ago I rear ended a 2 year old car. At first I said I would try pay for the damage myself as it looks like a simple job but the third party want the job done right, fair enough, but the quote is £800 for a paint job and repair of the bumper.

I did report the incident to my insurance company when it happened and they said as long as I don't claim I get to keep my no claims bonus and my premium shouldn't be affected. (as if I didn't have the accident). I asked how much the premium would go up to if I claimed for damage only and they obviously didn't know exact values but one time they said £2500, and another time they said about £1600.

From comparing quotes online at confused.com, I got a quote for £800 with a years ncb and 1 year of driving, and £1400 with no ncb, 1 year of driving and a claim of £800. Are these quotes valid and realistic? If the insurance company put my premium up to £2500 after claiming am I allowed to switch to the insurance company quoting me £1400? I am a bit confused as the same company I am on now came up as £1500 with the claim, when on the phone they said my insurance would double? Who is right?

Also the insurance company warned me about settling it myself as the other party can make a personal injury claim within 2 years of the accident. How would that work out? What if I have switched insurers by then? What if I have already payed them for the damage?

Obviously this being my first accident I am very confused on what I should do. Pay £800 (even though it is a huge amount for me) but get £400 cheaper next year with insurance going down each year after, or just claim and have peace of mind also incase of personal injury claims etc.? That is what insurance is for right?

Thanks!

fivetide

Once your insurance comes to an end, you can switch to whoever you like.

You'll need to be sure that it is at an end though as if you make a claim, then leave early, they'll want the rest of the fee off you (assuming you are paying by direct debit)

Price to repair is high but at least you've done the right thing in telling your insurance. Up to you how you want to proceed of course but are you sure the final bill will 'only' be £800 or will there suddenly be a personal injury claim going in later?

r222

I already payed them the £1250 for the full year! Ok so when it comes to renewal time and they want £2500 for next year, I'm allowed to leave and go with a cheaper company.

Yes that is what I am worried about, what if I pay them £800 to fix their car and a year later I get a solicitors letter through the door for personal injury? What happens then?

forgotmyname

I dont think you will get a years no claims this year because of this incident.

For the reason you state. You had an accident and they have 6 years to claim. 2 or 3 years for personal injury.

I would just let the insurance sort it.

moaninggit

R Plates are you manx ? if so the law on claims may be different.

SLITHER99

You could ask your solicitor to write a letter offing £800 as full and final settle,ent of the matter? Could be worth the £50 to do it nice and legally for your and their peace of mind?

r222

They seem like nice people, they gave me the option; either me or the insurance, makes no difference to them unless the car is back to the way it was.

Of course, that won't stop them claiming if they wanted to in the future. So what would happen is I pay now, hope they don't claim for 2 years, if they do insurance takes care of it anyway. I lose out...?

I've been asking friends and stuff and most people are telling me to just pay it myself...

I really don't know what to do

r222

SLITHER99 wrote: »

You could ask your solicitor to write a letter offing £800 as full and final settle,ent of the matter? Could be worth the £50 to do it nice and legally for your and their peace of mind?

Yes that's a good idea! but feel bad saying straight out to them "no personal injury claims", it seems mean and may look like I'm saying that they're the type of people who would do that... Also the lady who was in the car when I hit had some neck pain after, I feel horrible so in a way I feel like she is entitled to money if she needs it for any operations or treatment. But she does say that she feels better now. Would that solicitors letter make any future claims they may try to do invalid?

As a student paying £800 outright, its so much and feel miserable even thinking about paying all that - Even though I know my insurance will be up by a lot next year if I didn't.

SLITHER99

Well, you could save the solicitors fee and ask your institution's legal team to assist you (if it has one). Mine was stocked up with mostly law students but did have a resident legal head. I needed some legal help and my uni were very good about it and wrote a couple of letters for me. It wasn't anything as basic as yours either.

To be honest, it's up to you if it's worth the risk. Part of me would err on the side of caution and let the insurance handle it. They're not claiming for personal injury, or at least it doesn't sound like they're playing a game; maybe they realise you're a poor student?

The other side is if they get the car fixed somewhere other than Audi and it turns out to be a not-so-good repair, will they want more? Yeah, thinking that, I'd go through the insurer and suck down the premium. If only for your own peace of mind.

Quentin

No one would give up their rights to claim in future should they need to!

The innocent party has no incentive to do so!

Also bear in mind you are responsible for all their costs, not just the repair bill (eg a replacement car whilst theirs is in for repair).

If you leave this to the insurer to sort, you can always reimburse your insurer their outlay if it is cost effective and thereby get your ncd reinstated.

r222

Quentin you're right I don't think anyone would want to, I wouldn't blame them either!

They just gave me a sheet with a quote on it (£800) and I think thats what they expect me to pay. There was no mention of replacement car

How does that work, do I ask the insurance how much it cost them and then pay them it? And I get ncb? That sounds like a good plan!