RTC - not my fault. Insurance?

Arsenal2019

Hello all

today I was involved in a road traffic collision. I was in stationary traffic when a bus (large bus company) Had attempted to squeeze past my vehicle through a gap which was nowhere near big enough. When doing so it had scraped my car and caused a large scuff mark on my rear offside panel and bumper along with taking a chunk out of the bumper. 

we exchanged details at the roadside and at the scene the driver seem to accept fault. I was in no way responsible for this. I am however aware he may change his story later on when he makes his report. There was no need for any emergency services to attend.

I have since contacted my insurance to make them aware of this and they have asked me how I would like to proceed. They have asked, would I like to claim through my insurance or a third-party i.e. theirs. 

Seen as though I’m not my fault And in no way, will accept reliability, Which insurance do I claim on mine or third-party? I want to get the ball rolling quickly sort this out, but I’m worried if I make a claim through mine, will it largely negatively affect my insurance premium?

I’ve left it for now just as a alert to the insurance to make them aware of the damage and they said I could call back at a later date to discuss how I would like to proceed - Hopefully by then, the bus company and their insurance has contacted mine.

i have read online of similar-ish posts, but not with bus companies. I don’t have their insurance information as this was a bus who collided with my vehicle. Therefore, IF I was to go through third party insurance, I don’t know what insurance company I’d be lodging a claim against?  Due to this, would it be much simpler to go through mine?  

Would I get my excess back too? 

thank you 

mgfvvc

I would expect the effect on your premium to be the same either way.

Until recently I would have recommended that you get your own insurer to sort it out, but my car was scraped about a year back and I was offered £500 by their insurer as an incentive to let them sort it out. I'm not sure that's common but it was a good deal and I got really good servcie. A potential downside is that, in the event of problems, you can't complain to the FOS about a 3rd party insurer.

Arsenal2019

mgfvvc said:

I would expect the effect on your premium to be the same either way.

Until recently I would have recommended that you get your own insurer to sort it out, but my car was scraped about a year back and I was offered £500 by their insurer as an incentive to let them sort it out. I'm not sure that's common but it was a good deal and I got really good servcie. A potential downside is that, in the event of problems, you can't complain to the FOS about a 3rd party insurer.

Very interesting. Thank you for your response

 I would like to think (if I went with the bus company / 3rd party) it would be done properly, but I guess nothing could be guaranteed 

IOWJJBTM2025

My son had someone hit into the back of his car at a junction and he was stationary.
There is a big long winded story but to summarise: -
He contacted his insurance who passed him through to a claims company that wanted to claim whiplash and provide a hire car. When he said that he did not want a hire car the claims company attitude changed and said if you dont have the hire car then we will not help you.
He was then contacted by the 3rd party's insurer and they were great.
 

SteveJW

Get an estimate for the repairs to your vehicle from a local bodyshop (car repairs)

Look in yellow pages (Does yellow pages still exist)

Write or email the bus company, holding them responsible for your losses

Include details of accident, date, time, location, registration numbers etc.

Enclose copy of repair estimate

They will pass on to their insurers

Arsenal2019

SteveJW said:

Get an estimate for the repairs to your vehicle from a local bodyshop (car repairs)

Look in yellow pages (Does yellow pages still exist)

Write or email the bus company, holding them responsible for your losses

Include details of accident, date, time, location, registration numbers etc.

Enclose copy of repair estimate

They will pass on to their insurers

Okay thanks. Would you suggest I do this and wait for a response. Give them a short while and if no reply / they dispute, then go to my insurance?  I only ask as I don’t wanna leave it too long to start the claim process. 

born_again

Arsenal2019 said:

mgfvvc said:

I would expect the effect on your premium to be the same either way.

Until recently I would have recommended that you get your own insurer to sort it out, but my car was scraped about a year back and I was offered £500 by their insurer as an incentive to let them sort it out. I'm not sure that's common but it was a good deal and I got really good servcie. A potential downside is that, in the event of problems, you can't complain to the FOS about a 3rd party insurer.

Very interesting. Thank you for your response

 I would like to think (if I went with the bus company / 3rd party) it would be done properly, but I guess nothing could be guaranteed 

Just remember if you go via 3rd party to fix the damage. You are taking yourself out of FOS complaints process should it go wrong.

Arsenal2019

born_again said:

Arsenal2019 said:

mgfvvc said:

I would expect the effect on your premium to be the same either way.

Until recently I would have recommended that you get your own insurer to sort it out, but my car was scraped about a year back and I was offered £500 by their insurer as an incentive to let them sort it out. I'm not sure that's common but it was a good deal and I got really good servcie. A potential downside is that, in the event of problems, you can't complain to the FOS about a 3rd party insurer.

Very interesting. Thank you for your response

 I would like to think (if I went with the bus company / 3rd party) it would be done properly, but I guess nothing could be guaranteed 

Just remember if you go via 3rd party to fix the damage. You are taking yourself out of FOS complaints process should it go wrong.

I think going off what you guys have said I’ll go through my own. I’m jjst cautious onky because as I don’t have legal cover, I won’t be able to claim my excess back through my insurance and have been told I would have to do it myself and contact the bus insurance company which I can imagine is not easy at all.

Ectophile

Your claim is actually against the bus company, so you can claim the excess from them.  They will then pass the claim to their insurance.

Aretnap

Arsenal2019 said:

born_again said:

Arsenal2019 said:

mgfvvc said:

I would expect the effect on your premium to be the same either way.

Until recently I would have recommended that you get your own insurer to sort it out, but my car was scraped about a year back and I was offered £500 by their insurer as an incentive to let them sort it out. I'm not sure that's common but it was a good deal and I got really good servcie. A potential downside is that, in the event of problems, you can't complain to the FOS about a 3rd party insurer.

Very interesting. Thank you for your response

 I would like to think (if I went with the bus company / 3rd party) it would be done properly, but I guess nothing could be guaranteed 

Just remember if you go via 3rd party to fix the damage. You are taking yourself out of FOS complaints process should it go wrong.

I think going off what you guys have said I’ll go through my own. I’m jjst cautious onky because as I don’t have legal cover, I won’t be able to claim my excess back through my insurance and have been told I would have to do it myself and contact the bus insurance company which I can imagine is not easy at all.

If liability is settled or not in dispute then usually it's just a case of writing to them and asking for it, including a receipt or similar to show the excess that you've paid.

MyRealNameToo

Arsenal2019 said:

today I was involved in a road traffic collision. I was in stationary traffic when a bus (large bus company) Had attempted to squeeze past my vehicle through a gap which was nowhere near big enough. When doing so it had scraped my car and caused a large scuff mark on my rear offside panel and bumper along with taking a chunk out of the bumper. 

we exchanged details at the roadside and at the scene the driver seem to accept fault. I was in no way responsible for this. I am however aware he may change his story later on when he makes his report. There was no need for any emergency services to attend.

I have since contacted my insurance to make them aware of this and they have asked me how I would like to proceed. They have asked, would I like to claim through my insurance or a third-party i.e. theirs. 

Seen as though I’m not my fault And in no way, will accept reliability, Which insurance do I claim on mine or third-party? I want to get the ball rolling quickly sort this out, but I’m worried if I make a claim through mine, will it largely negatively affect my insurance premium?

I’ve left it for now just as a alert to the insurance to make them aware of the damage and they said I could call back at a later date to discuss how I would like to proceed - Hopefully by then, the bus company and their insurance has contacted mine.

i have read online of similar-ish posts, but not with bus companies. I don’t have their insurance information as this was a bus who collided with my vehicle. Therefore, IF I was to go through third party insurance, I don’t know what insurance company I’d be lodging a claim against?  Due to this, would it be much simpler to go through mine?  

Would I get my excess back too? 

Ultimately the bus company or their insurers will pay, it's just a question of if you claim from your insurers who then counterclaim from the bus company or claim directly from the bus company. 

Your insurers would only cover you for your insured losses, namely the damage to your vehicle, but your uninsured losses (eg your excess) would need to be claimed from the third party (insurers). If you have Legal Expenses cover your insurers will appoint someone to assist you, if you dont then its DIY time. The likes of excess its a simple letter with a copy of either the excess invoice or the total less settlement showing the excess was removed. 

Be aware that companies move much slower than private individuals, the driver doesnt just pick the phone up to their insurers to let them know but they tell their manager, who tells the depot manager who tells the fleet manager who tells the insurance manager who may tell the insurer, they may tell their claims management firm or team. The larger bus companies often deal with their own claims as it makes their insurance cheaper and avoids the irrecoverable IPT.