Car damaged by debris - will claim be met?

Imnoexpert_2

Mrs Imnoexpert was driving down the motorway and a car hit the central reservation on the other carriageway. Debris has done some damage (windscreen and a couple of minor dents to bodywork).

She didn't stop but has got the insurance detail of the other driver and a police number.

If we claim through her insurers and the claim is not accepted as a 'no fault' it could be costly to lose her ncb. We have contacted their insurance (to avoid claiming against hers and also to avoid paying an excess by finding out if they will meet the claim first). They say it will take 6 weeks to decide.

If I was confident the other insurer would accept liability I would go for the less hassle of claiming via our insurance.

Does anyone know what the likelyhood of this is? In practice there is no witness to the damage to wife's car. It could be argued that she was making it up.

Any advice welcome.

Quentin

Spilt milk but she should have stopped.

If the car is roadworthy you can wait it out and see if third party accept it.

Otherwise you either claim now, pay excess etc or pay yourself and pursue the third party.

Whatever you decide inform your insurer now.

lisyloo

I don't think anyone can say.
If the car is driveable an it's cosmetic or you can easily do without it then I'd just wait.
If the car if off the road and it's you can't manage without it then there isn't a lot of choice.
First do some virtual quotes with and without the claim/loss of NCD to see the premium increase she would face if she claims. They you can estaimte whether you are better off paying for the damage yourself or claimng.
Note that
1) The accident neeeds to be declared anyway. It's only a claim you can avoid having. You cannot avoid declaring an accident/loss.
2) Premium increases for a claim will last either 3 or 5 years. Premium increases for NCD will last several years. Build that into your calculations.
3) If these are small chips you might be able to use a company like "chips away" who fix small areas rather than paint entire panels (which is expensive). The type of repair you require will usually depend on whether this is an old banger or a new car.
4) You might be able to get the windscreen fixed without affecting the NCD.

If you do decide to pay yourself in the interim keep details of all the costs so you can claim if back if they decide in your favour.

roddydogs

how do you get insurance details without stopping?

skivenov

Quentin wrote: »

Spilt milk but she should have stopped.

On the motorway near the scene of an accident? :eek: Rethink needed there, that's a good way to stop with a broken windscreen and end up with pronounced rigormortis. She did the right thing to carry on.

If the damage happened at the time of the accident, flying debris, etc, I'd have thought she's probably got a case against the third parties insurers. If it was after the event, debris on the carriageway getting kicked up, it might not be as straightforward.

If she'll stand the dents, she might be better off just doing a glass claim, which is normally small excess.

Imnoexpert_2

Thanks for your thoughts.

Wife didn't stop. Children in car and she was probably a distance away before it was safe to stop. It would have taken ages for police to be able to deal with her (bearing in mind accident on the outside lane of the other carriageway would have been a priority) I think she did the right thing to continue. We advised police by phone and obtained the other driver's insurance from them. They were brilliant!

The key question is - Will the other driver's insurer accept liability on the basis of the facts. If they do then I don't have to worry about it.

Thanks

Quentin

Imnoexpert wrote: »

The key question is - Will the other driver's insurer accept liability on the basis of the facts. If they do then I don't have to worry about it.

No-one here can give you the definite answer to that.

As you seem prepared to wait out to hear from the third party it sounds as though the car is roadworthy so just inform your insurer now and you can always make a claim in future if the third party won't play ball with you directly.

lisyloo

We can't tell you, but if it was me I'd have an expectation of being re-imbursed, but no guarantees.
If the car is driveable then why not wait?