Minor accident and insurance

j0nathon2

I had a car accident today, my first. I was at fault 100%, I bumped the car in front at low speed as I thought the car was pulling out the junction and it didn't. I have a few questions:

1. I phoned my insurance to tell them, despite at the time (see below) not wanting to claim for my own car. Although I was only notifying them, I almost got the impression they were now going to contact the third party and almost help them claim.

Why? What if they don't want to claim. My insurer has already told me they've passed over to the claims department and I will lose 2 years no claims, before a claim has been raised by either party?

2. I didn't spot anything but scratches, hence not wanting to claim for my own car, but I was still a bit shook up and looking at the roadside. Looking at it now, I can see:

• Scratches on the bumper
• Crack in the plastic grille
• Crack near the light fitting on the bumper
• Out of place light fitting

My excess is £350. I assume all of the above will cost more than that, so I may as well get this fixed on the "claim" as it won't harm my insurance any more than the third party claim? Do insurers appoint a garage or do I?

3. Will I find out what is actually claimed by the third party, or is that none of my business now?

Aretnap

(1) They'll may want to contact the third party to see if he needs repairs, and if he does try to take control of the process themselves. If they don't they might find that he gets referred to a claims management company who run up a massively inflated bill for a car on credit hire and encourage him to make a dubious whiplash claim. Far better to nip it in the bud, arrange the repairs themselves and offer him a hire car (if he needs one) which they can source themselves for a sensible price.

(2) Don't automatically assume that there'll be a claim from the third party. Your insurers will have opened a claim on the assumption that there might be - but if he suffered no damage and doesn't make a dubious whiplash claim they should (eventually) close it and restore your no claims bonus. In that case it might be better not to claim for your own damage especially if the repair cost is not much greater than your excess. (You'll still have to declare the accident going forward either way). OTOH if he does make a claim you have nothing to lose by claiming for your own damage as well. Generally your insurer will arrange the repairs through one of their preferred repairers. Depending on the terms of your policy you may be allowed to use a garage of your choice instead - but there may be a greater excess to pay if you take that option.

(3) They should tell you if you ask (you might need the information for future quotes after all), but you might have to ask.

j0nathon2

Thanks for that.

Regarding point 2. How long would I realistically have to decide to claim?

Bearing in mind whether I claim depends on whether the third party claims, this could be some time and I'd have to find out if they did eventually claim or not? Obviously from an insurer point of view, the longer I leave it, the more likely they are to question if the damage is new and constitutes as a second, further claim?

Serves me right for being so stupid as to end up rear ending somebody anyway.:mad:

Was I stupid to tell my insurance in the first place about a minor incident, would it have been best to let the third party initiate it?

Spicy_McHaggis

j0nathon2 wrote: »

Thanks for that.

Regarding point 2. How long would I realistically have to decide to claim?

Bearing in mind whether I claim depends on whether the third party claims, this could be some time and I'd have to find out if they did eventually claim or not? Obviously from an insurer point of view, the longer I leave it, the more likely they are to question if the damage is new and constitutes as a second, further claim?

Serves me right for being so stupid as to end up rear ending somebody anyway.:mad:

Was I stupid to tell my insurance in the first place about a minor incident, would it have been best to let the third party initiate it?

Three years for their injuries and six for damage.

picapicacasa

You might do better posting this onm the insurance board.

InsideInsurance

Spicy_McHaggis wrote: »

Three years for their injuries and six for damage.

That would be for claiming against a third party. OP is at fault for the accident so no option for claiming for injuries etc.

6 years would be contract law limitations however the insurer will not be liable for any additional costs by your delaying repairing it (eg rust) and will inevitably further probe that the damage is indeed related to the original incident and it isnt the case that you've had a subsequent incident and now trying to claim the damage for the two under one claim.

j0nathon2

InsideInsurance wrote: »

That would be for claiming against a third party. OP is at fault for the accident so no option for claiming for injuries etc.

6 years would be contract law limitations however the insurer will not be liable for any additional costs by your delaying repairing it (eg rust) and will inevitably further probe that the damage is indeed related to the original incident and it isnt the case that you've had a subsequent incident and now trying to claim the damage for the two under one claim.

That was my concern, but I didn't want to go ahead if the third party doesn't claim, as the £350 excess + 2 years no claim is probably going to be worth more than the repairs.

I'll have a think and maybe post another thread with pictures of the damage, perhaps somebody may know the likely cost.

Spicy_McHaggis

InsideInsurance wrote: »

That would be for claiming against a third party. OP is at fault for the accident so no option for claiming for injuries etc.

6 years would be contract law limitations however the insurer will not be liable for any additional costs by your delaying repairing it (eg rust) and will inevitably further probe that the damage is indeed related to the original incident and it isnt the case that you've had a subsequent incident and now trying to claim the damage for the two under one claim.

Yes, I read it as how long had the third party got.

Spicy_McHaggis

j0nathon2 wrote: »

That was my concern, but I didn't want to go ahead if the third party doesn't claim, as the £350 excess + 2 years no claim is probably going to be worth more than the repairs.

I'll have a think and maybe post another thread with pictures of the damage, perhaps somebody may know the likely cost.

What was the damage to their car and why do you think they won't claim?

j0nathon2

Spicy_McHaggis wrote: »

What was the damage to their car and why do you think they won't claim?

It looked to be just scratched, but then I didn't spot the cracks in my car at the time.

The chances are very good she'll claim, and being a 6 month old car, the repair will be fairly expensive as I doubt they'll settle for a touch up (and why should they). But you never know, it could turn out it's all just paint transferred from my car, rubs off, and there is no damage or can be inexpensively polished up and she just asks for the money to get this done.

In hindsight, I was probably premature even alerting my insurer to the incident, although I believe contractually I am meant to do this.

Spicy_McHaggis

j0nathon2 wrote: »

It looked to be just scratched, but then I didn't spot the cracks in my car at the time.

The chances are very good she'll claim, and being a 6 month old car, the repair will be fairly expensive as I doubt they'll settle for a touch up (and why should they). But you never know, it could turn out it's all just paint transferred from my car, rubs off, and there is no damage or can be inexpensively polished up and she just asks for the money to get this done.

In hindsight, I was probably premature even alerting my insurer to the incident, although I believe contractually I am meant to do this.

Or if you're really unlucky their injuries will prevent them from ever working again.