After effects of a non-fault accident

john_l_k

Hi all, hoping someone here knows the answer. 

After a non-fault accident, when getting quotes online on a comparison site for example, it asks if you've had an accident.
 
Is this question specific to the vehicle you are driving and needing the quote for, or is this for any vehicle? 
I ask because aside from my bike I also insure a car, and a motorhome. 

The (3rd party assigned) assessor who came to view the damage on my bike yesterday said he thought this had to be answered just for the policy for the vehicle that was involved. 

He said he didn't think I would need to declare it when getting quotes for one of my other vehicles. 

Before he said that I had thought all of my policies' premiums were going to increase due to this claim.
It's unfair enough that premiums will increase, but x 3 makes it even worse. 

Incidentally, the assessor wrote my bike off for what looked like little damage.
I'm starting to think everything he said was a load of nonsense to keep me happy. 

DullGreyGuy

john_l_k said:

Hi all, hoping someone here knows the answer. 

After a non-fault accident, when getting quotes online on a comparison site for example, it asks if you've had an accident.
 
Is this question specific to the vehicle you are driving and needing the quote for, or is this for any vehicle? 
I ask because aside from my bike I also insure a car, and a motorhome. 

The (3rd party assigned) assessor who came to view the damage on my bike yesterday said he thought this had to be answered just for the policy for the vehicle that was involved. 

He said he didn't think I would need to declare it when getting quotes for one of my other vehicles. 

Before he said that I had thought all of my policies' premiums were going to increase due to this claim.
It's unfair enough that premiums will increase, but x 3 makes it even worse. 

Incidentally, the assessor wrote my bike off for what looked like little damage.
I'm starting to think everything he said was a load of nonsense to keep me happy. 

Read the question and any helper text there is, in most cases they want to know about any accidents you've had as a driver or policyholder involving any motor vehicle.  Assuming it's a motorbike not a bicycle then it normally would need to be declared. 

For example Confused.com asks:

Have any drivers had any motor accidents or claims in the last 5 years?

This includes any incidents, losses, thefts or claims involving a vehicle regardless of fault or whether you claimed or not.

A Motorbike is a vehicle and you had a motor accident with it so yes if you are using confused.com it has to be declared. 

Bigphil1474

As above, you have to answer the question honestly, depending on how it is worded. So long as you do that, you'll be fine. Don't be tempted to do otherwise.  You might find the price comparison sites ask more general questions whereas direct sites may be different.

A single non-fault accident is unlikely to affect your premiums significantly. It might affect the bike premium more, as the bike was involved, but tbh, this year premiums are going up so much that it'll probably be hard to tell whether the incident has had an affect. 

john_l_k

As I thought then, some misleading hot air from the assessor.
I'm embarrassed to have even asked now but he did plant a seed of doubt.

So when he said my bike will be written off, and he will notify the 3rd party insurer (Hastings Direct) that it's value is exactly the same price that I had told him earlier that I had the bike advertised, that was hot air too? 
When I asked if I could buy the bike back if written off, he said I wouldn't need to as they don't even want the bike, it was mine to do with as I wish. 
Seems like he just kept telling me everything I wanted to hear. 

By the way he was from Hoopers, apparently an independent assessor appointed by Hastings Direct. 

DullGreyGuy

john_l_k said:

As I thought then, some misleading hot air from the assessor.
I'm embarrassed to have even asked now but he did plant a seed of doubt.

So when he said my bike will be written off, and he will notify the 3rd party insurer (Hastings Direct) that it's value is exactly the same price that I had told him earlier that I had the bike advertised, that was hot air too? 
When I asked if I could buy the bike back if written off, he said I wouldn't need to as they don't even want the bike, it was mine to do with as I wish. 
Seems like he just kept telling me everything I wanted to hear. 

By the way he was from Hoopers, apparently an independent assessor appointed by Hastings Direct. 

He's likely to be a highly qualified grease monkey, I know our desk engineers in my claims days had far more letters after their names from all their qualifications that I will ever have. But they know a mountain of stuff about cars/bikes etc, how to fix them, when X is broken is that going to impact Y or not etc. They dont have training on insurance pricing or anything similar.

If he agreed with the valuation and said the salvage was worthless then it's almost certain what they'll put in their report. 

Police are similar, even the retired copper down the pub will say thats an offence under section A23 of BSA Act etc and knows more about criminal law than I ever will. Likewise they've never had a days training in liability in their life but that doesn't stop them sharing their opinion. Many hours spent explaining to policyholders that plod were wrong and they are partially liable for the accident. 

john_l_k

Thanks for all the contributions. 

I know now I just have to wait for HD to come back to me in a positive tone.
One thing I've since read (on this forum actually) is that even though the 3rd party apologised at the scene, and made her claim stating she was responsible, it's still not cut and dry until HD accept liability.

So no celebration until that's happened.
 

DullGreyGuy

Policyholders are not experts on liability and accidents are high stress situations and as such people may speak out of turn. In most cases if someone says they were at fault they'll say the same to their insurer and the insurer will proceed on that basis but there are cases where an insured says its their fault but the insurer believes its a split liability situation and so will take a different position to their insured. 

Ultimately nothing is certain until the money is in the bank but despite all the horror stories most claims are settled reasonably. 

john_l_k

Some development, so hoping for some more help.

Hastings hadn't contacted me so I called them. 
They mentioned the assessor's report and valuation, and said all I have to do is give them the go-ahead, and they will arrange Copart to collect the bike, then make the payout. They mentioned £2100 as the settlement figure, which was slightly higher than what the assessor had said to me (£1995).
When I asked if I kept the bike, or could buy it back they said no, as it was cat B and not fit for the road, it had to be disposed of properly.
Since the assessor had said to me Hastings would not want the bike, I've made plans to tow it abroad where I have a property, it could be used there on my private land. 
I've owned the bike 18 years, I don't consider the damage as bad as reported, and would really like to keep it. 

The other things HD mentioned were to claim for any other items damaged in the accident (clothing, helmet, etc), I would need to submit proof etc via email. They then sent an email with instructions. Straight forward enough. 

The last thing they said was about injury. My daughter, aged 10 who was riding pillion, took quite a knock and some serious grazing to her knee. 
HD said any claim for injury would need to be made by solicitor. 

This puts me right back at the start which was to try and claim direct with HD rather than using my own insurance company, or any claims management company. 
It's become clear this isn't "a" claim, it is 3 individual claims: Bike damage, incidentals and injury. 

I've called a couple of solicitors regarding the injury claim, but of course it's not something they want to take on, presumably due to the low amount expected. I would expect the same response from any claims management company, although they would take on the whole claim, presumably making it more worthwhile. 

HD seem to be trying to help, but now I'm again not knowing which way to go. 

Would settling one or two parts of the claim affect the 3rd part, or does it all need doing together? 

Bigphil1474

AIUI, your daughters injury claim would be separate as she is the claimant although you'd be claiming on her behalf due to her age. Personally, I'd question whether it was worth claiming unless there's some likely ongoing problems that would cost you/her money in the future. She won't have any loss of earnings presumably.

cw8825

john_l_k said:

Some development, so hoping for some more help.

Hastings hadn't contacted me so I called them. 
They mentioned the assessor's report and valuation, and said all I have to do is give them the go-ahead, and they will arrange Copart to collect the bike, then make the payout. They mentioned £2100 as the settlement figure, which was slightly higher than what the assessor had said to me (£1995).
When I asked if I kept the bike, or could buy it back they said no, as it was cat B and not fit for the road, it had to be disposed of properly.
Since the assessor had said to me Hastings would not want the bike, I've made plans to tow it abroad where I have a property, it could be used there on my private land. 
I've owned the bike 18 years, I don't consider the damage as bad as reported, and would really like to keep it. 

The other things HD mentioned were to claim for any other items damaged in the accident (clothing, helmet, etc), I would need to submit proof etc via email. They then sent an email with instructions. Straight forward enough. 

The last thing they said was about injury. My daughter, aged 10 who was riding pillion, took quite a knock and some serious grazing to her knee. 
HD said any claim for injury would need to be made by solicitor. 

This puts me right back at the start which was to try and claim direct with HD rather than using my own insurance company, or any claims management company. 
It's become clear this isn't "a" claim, it is 3 individual claims: Bike damage, incidentals and injury. 

I've called a couple of solicitors regarding the injury claim, but of course it's not something they want to take on, presumably due to the low amount expected. I would expect the same response from any claims management company, although they would take on the whole claim, presumably making it more worthwhile. 

HD seem to be trying to help, but now I'm again not knowing which way to go. 

Would settling one or two parts of the claim affect the 3rd part, or does it all need doing together? 

in  regards to keeping the bike, if they believe it is damaged enough to be a cat B it is correct that you have not been allowed to keep it - however presumably they have paid you out enough to replace the bike with a similar one that can then be towed and used abroad?

To claim for the damaged items, if they are asking for evidence of what was damaged this seems correct unless you expect them to just make you an offer which you will then dispute and have to evidence the value

As above what injury are you claiming for and how much would you expect, is it worth claiming?

It is all 1 singular claim but made up of separate parts, accepting one does not impact the other

john_l_k

Bigphil1474 said:
She won't have any loss of earnings presumably.

No, she's still at school.
The impact was probably more psychological: disrupted sleep etc, and now not wanting to go out for a ride whereas she was super-keen before.
The physical injury was a serious knock (the impact bent the pillion footpeg that she was using, hence the cat , and a deep gouge just below her knee, which still hasn't healed nearly 3 weeks later.