Had a little car accident-insurance question?

brat02

Hi all,

I had a little , tiny accident on the road 3 days ago where we have scratched each other bumpers and we have decided that it was nothing as we had just a little scratch which is almost not visible and decided that it was 50/50 and we will not contact our insurance companies about it, but I just would like to cover myself, is it 24 hours they give you to report an accident to your insurer?
So if my insurance company still didn't call me, does it 100% mean that the other person didn't report it?

Building_Surveyor

They can claim any time, months down the line if they want. When I was in a similar situation I did report it to my insurer, they contacted the third party and said they would leave it open for 3months, they had no response. I wasn't making a claim and nor did they so it was closed down.

Quentin

You have 6 years to put in a claim for the damage.

If they do put in a claim to their insurer, then it could be weeks/months before your own insurer contacts you (insurance company communications are slow!!)

brat02

so I can call my insurer and say:

oh you know what I had this car accident 5 years ago? Really?

InsideInsurance

brat02 wrote: »

so I can call my insurer and say:

oh you know what I had this car accident 5 years ago? Really?

In what sense?

The law of limitations gives the third party 6 years to claim from you for property damage and 3 years for personal injury (assuming they are an adult, kids have until their 21st birthday). This is governed by law and insurers cant avoid it.

To claim for your own damage from your own insurance is more governed by the contract of insurance and so differing time limits can be applied. Most wont have any but inevitably they wont be liable for additional issues caused by late reporting unless there is a damned good reason for it. IE you cant wait for the damage to start rusting and then claim.

Motor insurance is written on an occurrence basis and so you have to claim on the insurance that was in place at the time of the incident. So if you were to receive a letter in 5 years time you'd need to go back to the insurer that was in place at the time of the accident.

Of cause there are plenty of questions they'd ask about why you hadnt informed them before and so additional premiums may become due for the 5 years you hadnt declared the claim for.

Building_Surveyor

Of course you could just report it to your insurance like your supposed to. Or say nothing and take the risk. Your call really.

arcon5

I suspect the other party is well aware having to declare an accident for the next 5 years will have an adverse affect on their premium - hence why you both agreed to go your separate ways.

What you need to judge now is how likely is the other party to swindle you?
And importantly, did anybody write down registration numbers or contact details or anything? If not, you probably don't know who each other are now anyway.

AlexMac

I'd do anything to avoid mentioning a minor bump to my insurer as the impact on Premium can be bad. But the point above (can you trust the other driver to be equally sensible) is pertinent. A case in point-

Three weeks after taking delivery of my shiny new car, a driver (late, on the school run), braked fiercely in the middle of the road front of me, then backed into me in a cack-handed attempt to park. An oncoming bus mean I couldn't even take evasive action other than blasting my horn prior to the crunch.

I suggested we look at the (superficial) damage next day in the light, then speak by phone. Tried to reach her next morning to suggest she bung me £100 for a 'chips away' repair; or even that we both forget it. No reply... til the following day my insurer emailed and said she was claiming I drove into her! No witnesses, so I had to stomach a disputed 50-50; and my insurer wouldn't even back me in a legal protection court case.

Happy outcome in that I had a zillion years protected no-claim so no lasting premium damage; she on the other hand probably cost herself lost no claim, for the next 2-3 years worth fifty times the 19 quid she ended up claiming (her damage totalled £269- against her excess of £250; I kid u not).

So the lesson from this rant?

Sit tight, wait and see. I bet your bumper's not daft as mine and will stay schtum.

My one on the other hand not only lost dough but even took to facebook to castigate the "80-year old in a hat" (moi in a stylish trilby) who "drove into her"!