Doing a late notification of a car accident when it was dealt with privately?

cuboid_2

If an accident happened a few weeks ago and was dealt with (car damage) at that time is it wise to notify the insurance company now incase of an injury claim against you? The insurance company said that there was a rule applying to how long but was better to just make the notification. Can you trust them and is it wise to just call and make the notification?

Smartsaver7

I assume you sorted out between yourself and other driver
Basically all accidents must be reported to insurance company, deff on renewal depends if they up your NCD if no claim actually made. The law states all injury accidents must be reported to police within 24hrs if insurance not exchanged etc . If you don't tell your insurance company and he does make a claim could be awkward, unless you gave the driver insurance details his insurance company will either have to write to you or contact police for them, unless they have a database they are allowed to check

Nasqueron

cuboid wrote: »

If an accident happened a few weeks ago and was dealt with (car damage) at that time is it wise to notify the insurance company now incase of an injury claim against you? The insurance company said that there was a rule applying to how long but was better to just make the notification. Can you trust them and is it wise to just call and make the notification?

Regardless of what was said at site or even after, if the person is tempted by the "free cash" of a PI claim and comes after you, you'll have to get the insurance involved anyway, safer to do a notification to them but say there is no claim to be made.

I had a skid on ice that resulted in me scrapping my car (was going to anyway within a few months due to age), I told my insurer to open and close the case, took photos of the car to prove just in case there was any issue and sold it to the scrap-man, insurers were fine with that as no claim was being made and left it at that, if it had involved someone else I would have definitely done it just in case

Tothepoint.

Smartsaver7 wrote: »

I assume you sorted out between yourself and other driver one would think that's what he means.
Basically all accidents must be reported to insurance company, deff on renewal depends if they up your NCD if no claim actually made. none has been. The law states all injury accidents must be reported to police within 24hrs if insurance not exchanged etc . has there been an injury? If you don't tell your insurance company and he does make a claim could be awkward, unless you gave the driver insurance details his insurance company will either have to write to you or contact police for them, unless they have a database they are allowed to check

No need to contact the police, the insurance companies have a database.

arcon5

If you both agreed not to tell insurers and you subsequently do just that then you have basicallly screwed the guy over that allowed you to sort it privately. Reason being you reporting will link both persons on the incident database CUE. If he is in a future incident and an insurer does a search he is in serious trouble, also potentially voiding a claim he makes for his own car.

Your best speaking to the other guy and either agreeing to both forget it ever happened or both report to insurers!

cuboid_2

If it was your fault and you decided to pay the damage to the car and other guy agreed the car damage has been dealt with but my question is should it be reported as notification only to the insurers? It's now 5 weeks after the incident but do it just incase the guy decides to sue for injury problems. No idea if the other guy has done a notification only.

Quentin

The 5 weeks delay on notification won't be a problem.


The third party has 3 years to make an injury claim - and were you not to disclose the incident and a claim arises in the future then you will have problems with your then current insurer (who will want to know why you never disclosed the incident when applying for the insurance) as well as your current insurer who will have to pay out if the claim is successful, but may have grounds to turn to you to reimburse them because of the breach of conditions by not reporting the incident

arcon5

cuboid wrote: »

If it was your fault and you decided to pay the damage to the car and other guy agreed the car damage has been dealt with but my question is should it be reported as notification only to the insurers? It's now 5 weeks after the incident but do it just incase the guy decides to sue for injury problems. No idea if the other guy has done a notification only.

It is clear what the question is. And as already said, if he hasn't reported, and you do, even if 'information only' you could be landing him in serious trouble

chrisw

Only you were there to judge the situation and judge the other person. There is no science behind it and no correct answer.

If it was me and the other party seemed reasonable and helpful, I probably wouldn't inform the insurance. I would have thought they would have claimed before now if they were going to. If I thought they might be the type of person to try and claim injuries later, then I might well tell the insurance to cover myself.

Car_54

arcon5 wrote: »

If you both agreed not to tell insurers and you subsequently do just that then you have basicallly screwed the guy over that allowed you to sort it privately. Reason being you reporting will link both persons on the incident database CUE. If he is in a future incident and an insurer does a search he is in serious trouble, also potentially voiding a claim he makes for his own car.

Your best speaking to the other guy and either agreeing to both forget it ever happened or both report to insurers!

Are you encouraging or assisting the OP to commit fraud? That in itself is a crime.

cuboid_2

arcon5 wrote: »

It is clear what the question is. And as already said, if he hasn't reported, and you do, even if 'information only' you could be landing him in serious trouble

So, what do you do? If you don't report it and he makes a claim you are in trouble (I don't think he will, seemed like a decent chap). If you do then it will get him in trouble. Is the answer to ask him if he wants me to report it?