Car accident with temporary insurance - Please HELP!

KingS6

Did you get a written agreement from the person you had an accident with that they would not claim against you and settle privately? Preferably at the scene? Did you admit liability at the scene or thereafter?

Insurers usually state under no circumstances admit liability. Also offering to settle privately would likely imply liability.

Get a second opinion or secondary quotes for the third parties damage. If you're shelling out for this make sure you're not being taken for a ride.

I'm concerned you may settle privately and then the third party decides to claim against you on your insurance anyway. Or at least try. You could then really be in dickey's meadow.

Max4848

KingS6 wrote: »

Did you get a written agreement from the person you had an accident with that they would not claim against you and settle privately? Preferably at the scene? Did you admit liability at the scene or thereafter?

Insurers usually state under no circumstances admit liability. Also offering to settle privately would likely imply liability.

Get a second opinion or secondary quotes for the third parties damage. If you're shelling out for this make sure you're not being taken for a ride.

I'm concerned you may settle privately and then the third party decides to claim against you on your insurance anyway. Or at least try. You could then really be in dickey's meadow.

Yeah a second or third quote is definitely a good idea. £1000 surprised us both for what was a fairly minor accident.

As I know the woman and her husband I don't think she would attempt to con me! (I hope). I was friends with their son at school, live in the same town, etc.

I did admit liability as it was completely my fault. She was speeding a bit (20mph zone) but I pulled out in front of her. I'm not sure how I didn't see her - I don't really understand why it happened to be honest but I was the one who pulled out when I shouldn't have.

KingS6

May I also check whether you got photos of the damage done to the vehicles at the scene too?

Quentin

Max4848 wrote: »

This is all it says about excess:

"A standard policy excess of £500 applies to all accidental damage, malicious damage, fire, theft and glass claims on this policy."

Does that mean I would have to pay £500?

It does appear so. (By saying you pay an excess for "all" claims)


Check the wording on the section on liabilities to third parties and see if there is any specific mention of excess there.

Quentin

Max4848 wrote: »

Hmm, I just thought, I have 14 days to cancel my new insurance. Maybe I could do that? I would still have to pay a higher premium of course but at least there wouldn't be any risk of my policy being cancelled for not telling them about the incident. I suppose I could get a black box insurance instead to lower the premium back down.

That looks a possible solution.


You could then tell the third party you have decided to go down the insurance route and give her the details of your drive away insurance.


And this solves any possible issues of them coming back to say more damage/costs/car hire/whiplash etc need paying for as the insurer will deal with that


(The third party has the upper hand now you have admitted liability and can insist on the repairs being carried out at their choice of repairer even if you find cheaper quotes elsewhere)