Multiple non fault accidents

pgoncalv

Hi,

After many years without any road accident, within the space of a couple of weeks I had two, none of my fault and just a month before insurance renewal! I have comprehensive insurance and 20+ years no claims bonus.

First one, the car behind failed to stop, and damaged the left side of my rear bumper, sensors, etc. Then reversed and drove/ran off. Straight hit and run, he could not care less if anyone was injured, he was only careful to avoid getting photographed.

Daughter in my car. Chap in front was witness as well, and to top it up the car behind left his front licence plate on the pavement. I had also visually confirmed the license plate so all seemed simple. Reported to the police but they have been taking ages to get anywhere, essentially hoping the insurance will sort it. Thankfully the chap was insured.

After a week, I leave my car parked in a normal council road and when I arrive after 15 mins a very honest guy had bumped exactly the same area, while driving off residential parking. So nothing else to repair, just that the damage to the same parts made a bit worse. He reported it and accepted responsibility. His insurance company arranged the repairs.

I reported both cases to my insurance company.

Now I am in a dilemma. I need to drop the claims but I think it is very wrong the second chap is picking all the blame since the repair was exactly the same. At the same time, will his insurance company come after me and my insurance, instead of pursuing the claim with the hit and run chap? Will I be left with a claim and a doubled premium?

Any advice or thoughts?

Quentin

How will the second chap's insurer know about the hit and run?


You cannot "drop" the claims.


As you have reported both claims to your insurer they will both have to be disclosed to future insurers you go to for quotes for up to 5 years depending on how long a history you are asked for

pgoncalv

Well, I have not really started any claim against my insurance company, just against others´. But because I have fully comp, it could be seen as that. If I make it clear I am not claiming against my insurers, could they say I claimed? I am thinking of making clear that I will not be claiming through my insurance for these incidents.

If my insurance would consider these as claims, then many insurance companies would stand to make lots of money whenever their safest drivers get hit. If you park your car legally and someone hits your car and accepts blame, that cannot be a risk sign for anyone giving you insurance...

Retrogamer

When you apply for insurance they will usually ask if you have been involved in any claims or accidents in the last X years (or something very similar) regardless of fault.

You have.

I'm in the understanding when you inform your insurance company of the accidents, even for reporting purposes they are logged onto a central database that other potential insurance companies can view.

Hopefully someone with more knowledge can confirm if that's right though as i'm no expert in this field.

Quentin

pgoncalv wrote: »

Well, I have not really started any claim against my insurance company, just against others......

It makes no difference against whom you make the claims.


In your OP you tell us you have already reported both incidents to your insurer:

pgoncalv wrote: »

I reported both cases to my insurance company.......

So you cannot now get these incidents removed from your record.


As advised whatever you do, both these losses will have to be disclosed in future (they will already be on your record on the shared database)

pgoncalv

My insurance company accepted to close the last claim since they were advised by the insurance company of the honest guy that I told them that I consider the matter closed.

I will see about the initial incident tomorrow. With someone failing to stop and then also failing to report to the police, and all the damage in my car being now fixed I wonder how they can keep my "claim" report opened. Even if their efforts to defend my interests and get the case progressed with the other insurance company have lead nowhere, should common sense not prevail? Still, I hope the police will keep the case opened.

Retrogamer, I don´t think all insurance companies are ask the same wide blanket questions. Insurance companies will try to get away with high premia specially if people accept it easily. But they know that someone with 20 years no claims and having had a couple of cars smashing onto the back of their car does not automatically mean a risky insurance, even if it is clearly riskier than a car that is left parked in a garage most of the time.

I agree some record will be there. I think all I can do is to press for the right information to be updated everywhere and hope this will give me choices.

Quentin

You look to be missing the point.


You cannot remove the incidents from your record.


(Although you can close/cancel claims, the losses still have to be disclosed)


Virtually every insurer doesn't just want to know about "claims".


The question asked covers any claims/losses/etc experienced whether or not they resulted in a claim.


According to your OP, as well as reporting the two incidents to your insurer, you have made a claim!


Both these reported losses and the claim will be on your record, and nothing you can do to get this wiped!

pgoncalv

You are right, I made a claim for the second incident. For the first, I essentially notified the insurance company.

I have rang a bit around and got them to cross their little t´s and dot the i´s and the claim for the second incident is now being closed. It will be in a record and if I move my insurance elsewhere, I will have to say I had a claim with an insurance company and that the liability and losses were accepted by the other party.

I need to get some clarity now as to how my insurance company is working to defend my interests at this stage that all my losses are covered and none of the third parties have any claim against me. I don´t think I can get compensation even for the inconvenience I had with the first incident. That should go to court, but...

pgoncalv

Quentin wrote: »

As advised whatever you do, both these losses will have to be disclosed in future (they will already be on your record on the shared database)

The claims department were struggling to be able to access this shared database. Perhaps it is just the renewals and the new business side of things that do.

You do not seem to see my point that not all claims are the same. Surely a no fault claim case is very different from a disputed liability or accepted liability claim case.

I am working to make sure this does not affect my renewal premium and common sense seems to be prevailing.

Eventually the second chap's insurance may factor in the hit and run... I hope they do.

Quentin

Yes, you are correct - you look to have reported no fault incidents. But they will be on you record as one claim (no fault) and one loss


But your point you wrongly keep making is that these notifications should be removed!


At renewal you should shop around for the best deal, but you do need to disclose a claim and a loss.

Bigphil1474

OP, I've had a non-fault incident on my record since 2012, and it doesn't appear to have made any difference to my premiums. Most insurers have asked 'any claims or incidents in last 5 years' and I tick yes, 1 no fault. I didn't make a claim on my insurers in 2012 as my insurers passed me onto a third company who handled all the details as it was a claim against the person who ran into me. Therefore, it did not affect my NCB in any way.
You've been unlucky, but if your point is will the 2 incidents affect your premium? then the answer is possibly. Probably not much because both were not your fault, you have a notional 20 years NCB, and most insurers will see you as relatively low risk (all other things being equal). IMO all you need to do is shop around on renewal, and forget about the two incidents. You reported them in good faith, the repairs were done, no problem.