Correct reporting of an accident?

sufcfan1

Just had my sister in law come back into the house, 2 mins after she left, she reversed out of the drive and straight into the drivers side of my car.


She has admitted to it being her fault, so that isn't an issue.


But what should the correct procedure be for me.




The car is a 54 plate 3dr Civic Sport. The door still opens and locks, but there is significant damage, and the window wont go down. Also a large gap between the glass and the seal. It also looks like she has dented the rear panel.


I know its not worth a huge amount of money and I was looking for something new, but with the damage, its almost worthless as a trade in.


I don't want to mess her about or anything, but I suspect that the cost will be significant, relative to the value of the car.




What should I be doing?


I thought inform my insurance company, but not make a claim.


Get the cost of a repair, and if she can afford it/wants to pay it, offer her the chance to pay it, if not, claim from her insurance?


What are people's thoughts?


Thanks

Quentin

If you are considering keeping this between you (ie if she is happy to pay the repairs, then she will pay herself to avoid any future premium increases for both of you) then don't inform any insurer yet.


Get quotes for the repairs and see what she wants to do then take it from there as to whether or not to involve insurers.

AdrianC

Get on the phone to her insurer, and go through them directly. She's admitting full liability, so no problem there.

Quentin

AdrianC wrote: »

Get on the phone to her insurer, and go through them directly. She's admitting full liability, so no problem there.

Bear in mind if you follow this route before establishing whether she wants to pay this herself you are committed to informing your own insurer too, and both of you will have to disclose this to other insurers in the future irrespective of whether or not she decides to pay herself.

sufcfan1

Cheers for the info guys, my only concern is that there may be a 24hour window for reporting incidents to the insurer, I will need to check the time window.


Obviously that's not enough time to get quotes and see if she wants to pay it.

Quentin

There won't be any problem leaving this a few days - you have 6 years to make a claim against her insurer!

AdrianC

Given that it sounds as if a complete door's going to be needed, rather than just a skin, plus the rear panel damage, there ain't no way she's going to want to dip into her own pocket. £2500 to £3000-worth of car? It shouldn't get written off. Probably.

arcon5

sufcfan1 wrote: »

Cheers for the info guys, my only concern is that there may be a 24hour window for reporting incidents to the insurer, I will need to check the time window.


Obviously that's not enough time to get quotes and see if she wants to pay it.

That would only matter if you was making a claim of your own insurer. You are not. When you ring yours you are telling them for information purposes only. Then phoning her insurer and having them sort it out.

loskie

Quentin wrote: »

Bear in mind if you follow this route before establishing whether she wants to pay this herself you are committed to informing your own insurer too, and both of you will have to disclose this to other insurers in the future irrespective of whether or not she decides to pay herself.

Of course you will have to report it regardless of a claim or not. One of the questions you will be asked when taking out insurance is "have you had any accidents, claims or convictions". You have now had an accident and failure to notify them of it may void any future insurance if not declared.

arcon5

loskie wrote: »

Of course you will have to report it regardless of a claim or not. One of the questions you will be asked when taking out insurance is "have you had any accidents, claims or convictions". You have now had an accident and failure to notify them of it may void any future insurance if not declared.

And if neither party report it how will they find out?

sufcfan1

Thank you all so much for the responses.

I have a feeling I will be claiming from her insurance, she had no idea about the cost of a repair like this. She was expecting £50-100.... the innocence of youth.