Just had accident. What to do now (insurance)?

AquaGirl

Long time lurker. Shame i couldn't start on a mor epositive note. I don't know if this would be better in the insurance forum or whether it's fine here.

I've just been in an accident tonight. The first time for me and i don't really know what i should do. I was turning off the road and this car basically drove in to the back of me. I did have lights on and i was indicating. My head was all over the place afterwards so all i got really was their reg plate and their mobile number. Only afterwards did i think i should've taken photographs.

Should i now contact my own insurance? I always thought you should but a friend has told me i should get back in touch with the person who drove in to me and ask for their insurance details (company & policy number) and claim off their insurance as if i claim through my own then i will have to pay excess whereas if i claim through the other persons then i wont.

I don't know whether my friend is right or wrong and i don't want to do something i shouldn't so i just wanted to come here for advice before i did anything.

Tiexen

I had someone run into the back of me I:

rang my insurance company gave them the reg number of the other car and told them what happened

they collected my car gave me a hire car returned it repaired got my excess back from the other driver (so I paid nothing).

You can claim direct from the other driver but its more complicated and you still have to tell you insurance company.

Car_54

You are obliged to tell your insurance company. If it's as clear-cut as you describe, I'd let them deal with it all - that's what you pay them for. The excess should be paid for by the other party.

For the future, never rely on mobile phone numbers. The other party is obliged by law to provide the name and address of both the driver and owner (as indeed are you). If they refuse to give you the proper details, call the police - its an offence. If someone gives you a dodgy mobile number and you mis-remember the reg. number you have no redress.

AquaGirl

Looking back i know mobile number isn't the best thing but i wasn't thinking straight. I gave her my number and she called it so i at least know her number is legit.

What bothers me is when insurance companies say "if we can claim the excess back then we refund it to you". What if they can't claim it back? Maybe this is unlikely i don't know. Maybe i'm being silly. Is it really better to go through my own insurance company? I'm going to contact the third party in the morning and ask for their details. I wonder if they're with the same company as i am and whether they'll then somehow say 50/50

I do wonder if they were playing on their phone or on their radio or maybe they dropped something and then looked up when it was too late. I can't think how they could possibly not see me as it's a long straight going from a 30mph to a 50mph. I was sat just as it changes from one speed to another. People always come flying up - BUT it's a long straight so there's ample time to see, unless you're on your phone or whatever i guess.

I have 10 years no claims and they're protected if that helps.

Although i don't think i have hire car on my policy. I thought i'd put it on but i can't see any mention of it.

Marvel1

AquaGirl wrote: »

Looking back i know mobile number isn't the best thing but i wasn't thinking straight. I gave her my number and she called it so i at least know her number is legit.

What bothers me is when insurance companies say "if we can claim the excess back then we refund it to you". What if they can't claim it back? Maybe this is unlikely i don't know. Maybe i'm being silly. Is it really better to go through my own insurance company? I'm going to contact the third party in the morning and ask for their details. I wonder if they're with the same company as i am and whether they'll then somehow say 50/50

I do wonder if they were playing on their phone or on their radio or maybe they dropped something and then looked up when it was too late. I can't think how they could possibly not see me as it's a long straight going from a 30mph to a 50mph. I was sat just as it changes from one speed to another. People always come flying up - BUT it's a long straight so there's ample time to see, unless you're on your phone or whatever i guess.

I have 10 years no claims and they're protected if that helps.

Although i don't think i have hire car on my policy. I thought i'd put it on but i can't see any mention of it.

Do you have legal protection?

My car was hit while parked outside my home, it was written off, my payout was less my excess, I activated my legal cover and had it back.

Also my no claims is not affected as non fault.

AquaGirl

I'll be honest and say i don't really know although for that i don't think so. I usually just add on a hire car and that's it. I don't remember adding on legal protection before.

What bothers me is my brother in law had an accident, someone drove in to him head on and his insurance company said that once it's settled he'd get his £400 excess back. When he called up at the end to get it back they just said no. I don't want to have to go chasing & begging.

Ebe_Scrooge

The "correct" answer is that you notify your own insurance, give them the other driver's details, and leave it with them. What happens is that you pay your excess, they get your car repaired properly, and then they do whatever it is they do to recoup their losses from the other driver's insurance. As soon as the other driver is proved to be at fault, then you'll get your excess refunded. At least you're back on the road in a properly repaired car, in pretty short order.

Of course, in reality, there is room for argument. Someone drives into the back of you, it's gonna be hard for them to wriggle out of it. But that's for your insurers to deal with, you shouldn't need to to worry about that. If you do get any correspondence from the other party, you just forward in on to your insurers to deal with.

debtdebt

Technically, your excess is an uninsured loss as you chose to pay the first £x amount of the claim and your insurer to cover the rest. If you go through your own insurer, they will fix you car and seek to recover their outlay from the third party. They will still expect you to pay your excess. If they're charitable, they may recover your excess alongside their own outlay but they are under no duty to.

AquaGirl

but if i go through the third parties insurance do i not also get it repaired but without paying the excess. So it's like having the choice of getting a repaired car and paying out excess or getting a repaired car and not paying out excess?

I'm not trying to be difficult here. As i said earlier this is a new one on me so i'm just trying to understand it all and make the best decision based on that.

macman

Given that you were hit from behind, there would be little chance of them claiming you were at fault, unless your lights were not working.

debtdebt

If you go directly to the third party insurer, yes they can handle the repairs and also provide you with a hire car whilst yours is off the road. They will pay the repairing garage directly and you will not have to pay an excess.

Do a google search for AskMid and you will be able to find the third party insurer from the reg number and call them directly. Hopefully, the third party will have reported the accident to their insurer.