Car in ditch on hitting ice. URGENT advice please

AdrianC

grazie wrote: »

I understand it, you don't.

Sure about that?

Stevie_Palimo

grazie wrote: »

I understand it, you don't.

What's the definition of an accident? If you take off your wing mirror reversing past your gate post, that could be termed an accident, but you don't have to inform your insurance company about it.

If you arrange to move it yourself it will be far easier and less hassle, I would not bother reporting it if you are not looking at any sort of claim and nobody or anything was injured either.

grazie

AdrianC wrote: »

Sure about that?

No I'm not, which is why I'm asking the very helpful and knowledgeable folks here. Thanks everyone.

I've now arranged recovery to my home address.

arcon5

grazie wrote: »

I understand it, you don't.

What's the definition of an accident? If you take off your wing mirror reversing past your gate post, that could be termed an accident, but you don't have to inform your insurance company about it.

You don't.

Insurers ask about 'incidents' as well as 'accidents'. You've been involved in an incident so technically the other poster is correct in that you must inform your insurer, irrespective of whether you or anybody will be making a claim or not.

However, realistically if you deal with it yourself they won't find out. Personally I wouldn't bother telling them

AdrianC

arcon5 wrote: »

However, realistically if you deal with it yourself they won't find out. Personally I wouldn't bother telling them

Nor would I for an incident such as that. But where a written-off car has been abandoned in a ditch at the side of the road overnight, there is a VERY good chance that "the system" is already aware of it.

BeenThroughItAll

grazie wrote: »

I understand it, you don't.

What's the definition of an accident? If you take off your wing mirror reversing past your gate post, that could be termed an accident, but you don't have to inform your insurance company about it.

Technically the insurer's terms and conditions almost certainly mean you DO have to inform them. Obviously no one actually would, though.


However, an incident like this (many policy terms use the term 'incident' rather than 'accident') definitely should be reported, as, whether you want to hear it or not, there is the possibility of a claim being raised against you by the landowner, and the incident may already have been reported by someone other than you.

Stevie_Palimo

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Technically the insurer's terms and conditions almost certainly mean you DO have to inform them. Obviously no one actually would, though.


However, an incident like this (many policy terms use the term 'incident' rather than 'accident') definitely should be reported, as, whether you want to hear it or not, there is the possibility of a claim being raised against you by the landowner, and the incident may already have been reported by someone other than you.

If the OP is worried about this then just look for the land owner and ask them. The chances of this happening are VERY slim for a few bushes and shrubs being run over.

BeenThroughItAll

Stevie_Palimo wrote: »

If the OP is worried about this then just look for the land owner and ask them. The chances of this happening are VERY slim for a few bushes and shrubs being run over.

Really? It might not be that simple. Landowners aren't necessarily just standing around waiting to be found, unfortunately, and depending on the location, may live some distance away from their land. Or, the landowner could be the local council, or highways agency, or similar - alert them, and they will most certainly put a claim in.


I'm not arguing the with anyone over whether or not a claim is likely, or proceedable, or indeed whether there is an alternative way to proceed - I'm simply saying that to cover oneself against the possibility of a claim, one should notify the insurer. Even if the OP found the landowner, I'd still recommend that for an incident involving careering off-the-road and writing off a car, a notification to the insurer of the incident is wise.

Stevie_Palimo

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

Really? It might not be that simple. Landowners aren't necessarily just standing around waiting to be found, unfortunately, and depending on the location, may live some distance away from their land. Or, the landowner could be the local council, or highways agency, or similar - alert them, and they will most certainly put a claim in.


I'm not arguing the with anyone over whether or not a claim is likely, or proceedable, or indeed whether there is an alternative way to proceed - I'm simply saying that to cover oneself against the possibility of a claim, one should notify the insurer. Even if the OP found the landowner, I'd still recommend that for an incident involving careering off-the-road and writing off a car, a notification to the insurer of the incident is wise.

Well I would not expect the land owner to be standing in the middle of a field 24-7 awaiting some action, And as others have said if nobody was injured and the as the OP is not seeking at any kind of claim plus the fact of finding said land owner who then verifies that there is no issue why would you want to bother with the insurer and have a mark on your file ?

I for one would not be doing so and many others would not bother either, It would be a different kettle of fish if someone was hurt or damage caused to something other than then car.

Insurers screw us over all of the time and you may think by not reporting this that you are in the wrong and on paper according to the insurers terms you would be right but as we all know this will then incur an increase in premiums as they just love to take more money from there customers.

AdrianC

OK, so come renewal, you say "No, no incidents".
Then, a month or two later, your insurer says "What about this one that the Police have just contacted us about?", having logged it in their system when they had a 101 call about it.

Oops. You now have to declare a policy cancellation.