Speeding ticket for car in for repairs

mossstitchmama

Asking advice for a friend.

Her car was damaged when she hit a deer. As the insurance would write it off if she claimed, she decided to bear the repair costs herself.

Car was in garage from Tuesday until Friday afternoon. The following week she gets a speeding ticket throughout the door and the offence was dated the Wednesday that the car was in for repairs. Understandably, she is ready to tear someone a new one!

How should she proceed when going back to the garage? I have said I will go with her as I am afraid she might do something she might regret.

Also, I have advised her to let her insurance company know about the accident . Am I correct in thinking that if she doesn't and they find out, they could deny a claim in the future?

Thanks

Nodding_Donkey

On the speeding ticket there will be a bit to name the driver if you weren't driving. Simply give the name of the garage.

arcon5

Tell her to calmly go in, ask the manager whoes name she should write on it - and watch with amusement whilst they try to think of an excuse.
No need to completely overreact though by doing 'something she may regret'.

arcon5

Yes on the insurance also -- she needs to declare all accidents and incidents. If they find out about a non-disclosure they may refuse a claim if she comprehensive and cancel the policy.

Not sure how they'd find out though.......

Johno100

arcon5 wrote: »

Yes on the insurance also -- she needs to declare all accidents and incidents. If they find out about a non-disclosure they may refuse a claim if she comprehensive and cancel the policy.

Not sure how they'd find out though.......

Personal injury claim from the deer:rotfl:

scotsbob

The person who was driving may not be aware they went through a speed trap so no need to be angry when approaching the garage.

Aretnap

Insurance companies usually find out about this sort of thing because their customers tell them. Many people who have declared no accidents ring up to report one, and say something like "I can't believe it's happened again so soon". See also the number of people with Social Domestic and Pleasure cover only who yell down the phone "you have to fix my car faster than that! I need it for work!" The lies we tell are easily forgotten, but the truth takes no special effort to remember.

Maybe someone took the car for a road test and drifted over the speed limit without noticing. Or maybe someone used it to pick up some doughnuts for unce. Or maybe it's a high performance car and some grease monkey just fancied a bit of a hoon. No point getting angry without knowing which it was.

As for the NIP, just provide the details of the garage.

mossstitchmama

Thank you for all your speedy replies. I will make arrangements to go in with her tomorrow and sort out the ticket. I just want to make sure she sorts it out so there is no comeback on her.

I was pretty sure about telling her insurance about the accident. If anything did happen and the car went somewhere else, there is cosmetic damage that would probably give it away. Don't want her to end up in with more problems in the future.

neilmcl

I need to check my insurance booklet but I was under the impression that you had to inform your insurer of accidents or incidents only if they MAY lead to a claim. As this clearly wouldn't I'm not sure that you need to tell them. I could be wrong though so worth checking the wording of your policy.

londonTiger

as scotsbob stated, be tactful first and foremost.

I haven't had a lot of experience dealing with bodyshops before. I had one non-fault accident and received no paperwork what so ever on delivery & collection of vehicle.

But my insurance was paying and I used their approved bodyshop. Since you're paying I'd presume they will give you the documents. Get it in writing when they took delivery of the vehicle and when they got it back. That's your fallback. It should be on the invoice.

After that you have all the bargaining power in the world and they can't deny it. The boss will have to turn over the employee who drove it.

Aretnap

Re informing her insurers about the accident, the issue is less to do with her current insurance policy and more to do with next year's policy. When she renews or takes out a new policy she's likely to be asked a question along the lines of "have you had any accidents in the last 5 years, regardless of blame and regardless of whether a claim was made". If she doesn't answer that question truthfully it would mean hat next year's policy would be voidable for non-disclosure if the insurer were to find out.