Insurance claim against Domino's moped rider

qxt123

Hi all,

Hoping those of knowledge or experience can off their insight.

On sunday where it had rained in the morning, I was giving way to oncoming traffic in a road that wasn't wide enough to both of us to pass. I was completely stationery. A glance in the rear view showed a domino's moped skidding along the floor which then firmly wedged itself behind and slightly under the rear of my golf. The rider was thankfully fine, if shaken. I called the police who said their services weren't needed and advised us to exchange details. I only recall them asking for my name and location of the incident.

The delivery driver was apologetic and very forthcoming in all his details as was I: name, address, telephone. The only difficulty was that being a domino's delivery driver, it's neither their mopeds nor do they have details of the insurer with them so he had to phone his manager at her home. She wasn't able to offer me an up-to-date certificate and instead emailed me one which was from last year, promising to phone me back later that evening when she got to the store - nothing heard back yet, but seeing as I had her name, tel, email, store and the rider sent me a photo of a current zurich policy I left it there. Anyone have any experience with dealing with large companies when it come to being hit by their drivers/riders?

Secondly is the question of the best way to proceed from my POV. The chap accepted blame and I recorded this admission on video. Unfortunately in the heat of the moment I forgot to take a pic of the scene before moving my car to the side - plenty of pics taken thereafter. There was also no-one willing to stick around long enough to be a witness whilst I made sure this guy was ok. However, with photographed damage on my rear bumper (or rather, plastic part under the bumper that golf mk 5's have) and the front of his moped clearly smashed, and admission on film, is it a closed case of him being at fault if he rear-ended me despite no witnessess or picture of his moped rammed into my car?

And given I managed to drive my car 80 miles home, I can't see any damage beyond a slightly bent under-bumper a minor scratch or two. Im no mechanic but it might cost 100-200? My excess is 250. Bearing in mind he was at fault, I've got a cosmetic (assumed) defect but costs are probably going to be low if only cosmetic damage and renewal is looming, I had a few questions:

- How does it make any sense that I effectively pay for his mistake via my excess if I decided to claim against his insurance to get my car repaired?

- Does my case mean Domino's will accept liability or could they dispute owing to lack of witnesses or photos of actual moped wedged into my car?

- Is it worth claiming given that Domino's will be unlikely to deal with this other than through their insurance and I doubt the claim will exceed my excess?

- Should I take my car to an independent garage to get it checked out and quote generated if indeed there happens to be more significant (and costly) damage than mere cosmetic? If this was the case I would probably accept the excess charge and claim through insurance.

- Other than take more pics and collar a witness would you guys have done anything different next time? And does my premium go up regardless of fault or does a low-cost claim plus non-fault claim mean the hit wont be as bad?

Many thanks

rudekid48

You only pay your excess if you claim against your own policy, not if you claim directly against the TP insurer.

dacouch

I have dash cam footage of the incident if it helps.

https://twitter.com/TwatBibIe/status/752134348770537472

loskie

tell your insurer make it clear that "this is for notification only" and contact Dominoe's insurer and claim direct from them.
Should not affect your NCB if applicable.
Dominoes insurer will prefer it as it will cost them less.
You will be speaking direct to them rather than through your insurer so you will know whats going on.
In Jan of this year I claimed direct off the other party's insurer and was surprised how smooth it all went.

nimbo

Check the boot. I have a collegue who had a tiny dint that turned into a massive issue as her boot won't open. The bumper and whole of the boot lid need to be reshaped due to the tiny looking dent on it.

AdrianC

qxt123 wrote: »

The delivery driver was apologetic and very forthcoming in all his details as was I: name, address, telephone.

And, I hope, registration number?

If so, then getting the insurance details is straightforward.
http://www.askmid.com/askmidenquiry.aspx

Anyone have any experience with dealing with large companies when it come to being hit by their drivers/riders?

You don't need to. Just go straight to their insurer.

And does my premium go up regardless of fault or does a low-cost claim plus non-fault claim mean the hit wont be as bad?

Even a not-at-fault claim on your history is likely to mean your premium will go up for the next few years. The circumstances and size of the claim are more-or-less irrelevant.

If it really is just the plastic lower bumper, then it's probably as easy to just talk nicely to the store manager, get a second-hand replacement from eBay, and get them to reimburse you from the petty cash.

Or... do you like pizza? You may have a new best friend in the store manager.

sheramber

When we were hit by a lorry belonging to a large company they would not advise their insurance company so my insurance paid for the repair and I paid the excess.

Fortunately, we had legal cover who took on the claim against the company, eventually taking them to court and obtaining a warrant for the money. They repaid us the excess.

qxt123

AdrianC wrote: »

And, I hope, registration number?

If so, then getting the insurance details is straightforward.
http://www.askmid.com/askmidenquiry.aspx



You don't need to. Just go straight to their insurer.



Even a not-at-fault claim on your history is likely to mean your premium will go up for the next few years. The circumstances and size of the claim are more-or-less irrelevant.

If it really is just the plastic lower bumper, then it's probably as easy to just talk nicely to the store manager, get a second-hand replacement from eBay, and get them to reimburse you from the petty cash.

Or... do you like pizza? You may have a new best friend in the store manager.

Thanks for the replies everyone. A few points I disagree with:

- I shouldn't and didn't have to pay £4 for information they are legally obliged to provide me at the scene of an accident.

- Non-fault claims clearly increase your premium, but as the above poster pointed out, I have no need to claim on my insurance as the third party was totally at fault. Even so, non-fault incidents do potentially increase your premium, but the amount that's paid out in a claim is relevant as I learnt yesterday - I need to declare this when submitting details of past incidents.

- It makes little sense for me to talk nicely to the (obstructive) store manager as I shouldn't have to put up with a second hand part for a car I've otherwise kept in good nick; and as I'm not claiming on my own insurance, they will put my premium up regardless of whether I pursue my compensation via the store privately or via their insurer. And finally, why would Domino's pay out cash to me when they have paid for a corporate insurance policy for this very reason?

An update to my situation:

I received a call yesterday from a third party company authorised by Domino's insurance co. to settle the repairs directly with me. They say they will inspect my vehicle, arrange for delivery to a garage, fix it with genuine parts covered by a 5 year guarantee, offer a courtesy car in the meantime and deliver the vehicle back to me without this affecting my NCD with my own insurers. Sounded too good to be true (and too smooth!) but alas have taken the plunge. The only thing I have a doubt about is that after saying on the phone their client has accepted fault, the subsequent correspondence in email states their client believes they may have been at fault. If I get a fully repaired car with no cost to me and avoiding getting my insurance's claim department involved then I'd be happy. Just don't know what to make of the above wording?

x

Quentin

Nothing to worry about in that wording



Many insurers now look after innocent third parties like this (it helps reduce their costs as you won't be now tempted to use an expensive accident management company which they would ultimately have to pay out to)

You can also request (demand) they repair the car at your choice of garage if you have a preference


You do need to report this claim to your own insurer now (and disclose it subsequently to future insurers)

AdrianC

qxt123 wrote: »

I shouldn't and didn't have to pay £4 for information they are legally obliged to provide me at the scene of an accident.

It's a cost you can reclaim. And, while they are legally required to provide the insurance details, sometimes expediency is easier than taking a stand.

I shouldn't have to put up with a second hand part for a car I've otherwise kept in good nick

The rest of the car is, what, 8-12yo?

I received a call yesterday from a third party company authorised by Domino's insurance co. to settle the repairs directly with me.

Oh, gawd, an accident management company.

They say they will inspect my vehicle, arrange for delivery to a garage, fix it with genuine parts covered by a 5 year guarantee, offer a courtesy car in the meantime and deliver the vehicle back to me without this affecting my NCD with my own insurers.

OK, great. Read the small-print of the hire car very carefully. If their insurer is going this route, then liability is near-as-dammit accepted, but if you don't NEED that hire car, don't take it - because there is a small chance the massively inflated cost of it could end up back on you - and you sign to accept that when you sign to take the car.

The only thing I have a doubt about is that after saying on the phone their client has accepted fault, the subsequent correspondence in email states their client believes they may have been at fault. If I get a fully repaired car with no cost to me and avoiding getting my insurance's claim department involved then I'd be happy. Just don't know what to make of the above wording?

This is from the AMC, rather than the insurer? There's a bit of wriggle-room in there because they cannot speak on behalf of the insurer directly.

Gloomendoom

qxt123 wrote: »

And finally, why would Domino's pay out cash to me when they have paid for a corporate insurance policy for this very reason? x

Because their excess might be £10,000 (for example) so they can't claim on their insurance.