Involved in first accident - what's happens next?

[Deleted User]

Hi guys,

As above, after years of event-less motoring, I was involved this morning in my first motoring accident... - I'm not looking for a round of applause or anything, don't worry

So, basically I was entirely at fault, too close to the car in front I guess, wet roads etc - we were slowing down, she broke, I went into the back of her - she in turn went into the back of the car in front of her. We all got out, exchanged details and went on our separate ways. I, fearing my car to have the most damage (a light, grill, some trim) got my breakdown provider out to tow me home. The car in question is my "work run-around," a '95 shed on wheels, so not in the slightest bit worth claiming for on my insurance. I have however reported it to my company, been given a claim number reference and then given this info to the other parties to allow them to do their thing.

That's it to date and I'm curious now about what happens next

My insurance company have told me I don't need to do anything in the meantime so do I just wait now? For what to happen exactly?

My main reason for posting today is because I want to get the car off the drive and scrapped but I don't want to do it if in three weeks' time or whatever they sent out an assessor to take picys? - that might not look too good, mightn't it, if the cars been scrapped! Should I ring my insurance back up and ask them? It's okay at the moment, it's not in the way on the drive, but it will be, and I might even go out the weekend and get something else – that’s probably for another thread though.

I'm sure someone else reading here will have experience of this, right?

Thanks.

m0bov

If your not claiming on your insurance then I doubt they will be bothered what you do with the car. You will loose part of your NCB.

Quentin

You are at liberty to do what you want with your own car.


(As you are to blame, getting it written off by your insurer (if you have comp cover) won't affect your future premium differently to how it will be affected anyway, so if it is worth more than your excess you might as well claim for it)

[Deleted User]

m0bov wrote: »

If your not claiming on your insurance then I doubt they will be bothered what you do with the car. You will loose part of your NCB.

Thanks mate! Nope, definitely not claiming on my policy for mine.

I have protected NC, does that matter?

[Deleted User]

Quentin wrote: »

You are at liberty to do what you want with your own car.


(As you are to blame, getting it written off by your insurer (if you have comp cover) won't affect your future premium differently to how it will be affected anyway, so if it is worth more than your excess you might as well claim for it)

That's what I thought but you hear stories... I'm worrying more about the other parties I suppose, in case they say there's damage aside from the accident and it needs to be investigated further etc, would they not ask to see my car maybe?

My car *was* - before today, worth about £100 according to We Buy Any Car. My excess is £250

Thanks people!

Quentin

slipd wrote: »

I have protected NC, does that matter?

Protected NCD means you won't lose any NCD over the incident, though none will be awarded for this year.


(You say you will be looking for a new car, and before you buy it make sure its one your insurer is happy to cover, otherwise you will have to cancel your policy and take out a new one elsewhere, meaning your new policy premium will be hit immediately because of these claims against you)

[Deleted User]

Quentin wrote: »

Protected NCD means you won't lose any NCD over the incident, though none will be awarded for this year.


(You say you will be looking for a new car, and before you buy it make sure its one your insurer is happy to cover, otherwise you will have to cancel your policy and take out a new one elsewhere, meaning your new policy premium will be hit immediately because of these claims against you)

Thanks mate! This is now saving me another thread

I will ring them then. I've just done a new quote on the 'new' car in question and including the accident it's only put my premium up about £4 a month - which is okay. You're right though my new company might be able to cover me from now with an adjustment fee.

Rolandtheroadie

Just something else you might want to look into, it's possible your breakdown company may want paying for the recovery as it was recovered after an accident, not a breakdown.

[Deleted User]

Rolandtheroadie wrote: »

Just something else you might want to look into, it's possible your breakdown company may want paying for the recovery as it was recovered after an accident, not a breakdown.

Absolutely! They mentioned that on the phone when I first arranged the tow. I probably could have driven it but it's better to be safe.

If they charge, any ideas on cost? AA and less than 50 miles, which stands out because the person on the phone said that after 50 miles, I could be charge £2 per mile. It was all 'could' and 'might' come to think of it - the actual breakdown guy didn't say anything

wgl2014

Ignore WBAC prices, for cheaper cars they are not market value.

Have a look on autotrader for some better ideas, insurance valuation is likely to be somewhere in between.

[Deleted User]

wgl2014 wrote: »

Ignore WBAC prices, for cheaper cars they are not market value.

Have a look on autotrader for some better ideas, insurance valuation is likely to be somewhere in between.

Thanks, but because it's over 15 years old I can't get a price... it's just one of those things unfortunately, I would have ended up getting rid of it at some point this year, its just that it's been brought forward a bit