Work car and damage. Am I liable?

Lukeedwards88

We had a hire van at work, which got a dent due to reversing out of a tight space and whilst trying to avoid a car, didn't see a bollard. 

The van was leased from a company and placed on our fleet insurance. 

Would I be liable to pay anything as the employee in relation to repair and damage? 

This is the only clause in my contract which relates to deductions 

The Employer reserves the right in its absolute discretion to deduct from your pay any sums which you may owe the Employer including, without limitation, any overpayments or loans made to you by the Employer, unauthorised leave, excess holidays taken by you, the cost of repairing any damage or loss to the Employer’s property caused by you, or losses suffered by the Employer as a result of your negligence or breach of Employer rules.

Robin9

If damaged while at work - employer pays

Had a couple of bumps myself and the question of payment never arose

molerat

Your contract clearly states they can make you liable as the damage is down to your negligence.

Nearlyold

Most Employment Contracts I've seen have the same sort of wording however in my experience they're really only invoked when the employee has driven in a flagrantly irresponsible manner, not just made a mistake.

NCC1701-A

Whatever happens with your employer, you should inform your own insurance company as if you have an accident in your own vehicle you may find them using it as an excuse not to compensate you.

Lukeedwards88

NCC1701-A said:

Whatever happens with your employer, you should inform your own insurance company as if you have an accident in your own vehicle you may find them using it as an excuse not to compensate you.

How would my own insurance company know? 

molerat

Lukeedwards88 said:

How would my own insurance company know? 

Because Big Brother is watching

https://www.mib.org.uk/managing-insurance-data/mib-managed-services/cue-miaftr/

NCC1701-A

Lukeedwards88 said:

NCC1701-A said:

Whatever happens with your employer, you should inform your own insurance company as if you have an accident in your own vehicle you may find them using it as an excuse not to compensate you.

How would my own insurance company know? 

There is a central database of all insurance claims and those involved.

Savvy_Sue

NCC1701-A said:

Whatever happens with your employer, you should inform your own insurance company as if you have an accident in your own vehicle you may find them using it as an excuse not to compensate you.

Of course it also works the other way round: if you have an accident or acquire points in your own vehicle, you should tell your employer. 

DullGreyGuy

Lukeedwards88 said:

NCC1701-A said:

Whatever happens with your employer, you should inform your own insurance company as if you have an accident in your own vehicle you may find them using it as an excuse not to compensate you.

How would my own insurance company know? 

As there is no liability going to attach to your own policy in most cases you will only have to inform them before renewing. You'll see the question asked is if you have any incidents in the last 5 years irrespective of what vehicle you were driving nor if you claimed or not. 

Insurers and others report claims into CUE which helps prevent fraud when policyholders "forget" to mention a prior claim or incident. The consequences these days can be sever in that insurers have a statutory right to void your policy and keep the premiums if they find you've made false declaration intentionally or recklessly even if they'd have happily insured you had you made a true declaration (obv they may not exercise that right and instead give you a change to pay the premium shortfall)

Lukeedwards88

DullGreyGuy said:

Lukeedwards88 said:

NCC1701-A said:

Whatever happens with your employer, you should inform your own insurance company as if you have an accident in your own vehicle you may find them using it as an excuse not to compensate you.

How would my own insurance company know? 

As there is no liability going to attach to your own policy in most cases you will only have to inform them before renewing. You'll see the question asked is if you have any incidents in the last 5 years irrespective of what vehicle you were driving nor if you claimed or not. 

Insurers and others report claims into CUE which helps prevent fraud when policyholders "forget" to mention a prior claim or incident. The consequences these days can be sever in that insurers have a statutory right to void your policy and keep the premiums if they find you've made false declaration intentionally or recklessly even if they'd have happily insured you had you made a true declaration (obv they may not exercise that right and instead give you a change to pay the premium shortfall)

Do I need to inform them as soon as a claim has been made etc? Or when I renew?