High excess: pay yourself?

jk0

My gf (26) had a crash joining the M4 yesterday. The traffic ahead of her slowed, and she did also. However, the woman behind crashed into her, pushing her into car in front. (She refuses a dashcam.)

Her car, (5 year old Prius) is quite badly damaged. A front & rear bumper is needed, tailgate, and also body straightening. Frankly I would not be surprised if the insurers write it off. The other two cars are not nearly so bad.

GF has a £1200 excess, and wants to repair her car out of her own pocket to save the premium going up. She is a Uber driver, so it's pricey already.

Frankly, I think it's madness to try to pay herself, as surely the woman behind should cover the excess? Any thoughts?

tykesi

If she claims from her own policy she has to pay it. If she claims from the driver behind it would be included in the claim amount.

Nodding_Donkey

The car in front will claim from your GF, she claims from the car behind who's insurance end up copping for the lot. The only time I can see this not happening is if the person at the back has a dashcam that shows your GF hit the lead car first. The rear car would still be liable for hitting your GF's car up the rear though.

This is what insurance is for.

Nodding_Donkey

tykesi wrote: »

If she claims from her own policy she has to pay it. If she claims from the driver behind it would be included in the claim amount.

Not always true. A lot of times, if liability is clear your own insurance won't make you pay the excess. Depends on the company.

angrycrow

Nodding_Donkey wrote: »

The car in front will claim from your GF, she claims from the car behind who's insurance end up copping for the lot. The only time I can see this not happening is if the person at the back has a dashcam that shows your GF hit the lead car first. The rear car would still be liable for hitting your GF's car up the rear though.

This is what insurance is for.

This is not how it works.

If all parties agree that the rear car pushed your gf into the car in front all claims will go directly to the insurers of the rear car. The issue is if the front car says your gf had hit her first before the rear car hit your gf.

Even if your gf pays her own damage she still needs to notify her own insurers and declare the accident at renewal.

jk0

Thanks guys. Spoke to gf just now, and she has been put in touch with a claims management company by the garage. They promise to get all the expenses paid by the woman behind. I've told her to send them any medical bills also.

This sounds like the best outcome, doesn't it?