RTC - not my fault. Insurance?

DeathByFluffy

Go direct to the 3rd party insurer - they'll bend over backwards to help, as it keeps their costs down. 
Keep any dashcam footage you have safely backed up, and if you don't have a dash cam - get one now. 
Don't think 'I'll order one later, or I'll get one in the New Year' - go on Amazon or to your retailer of choice and buy one. 

Having one has so far saved me 2 claims that could easily have gone against me, should I not have had footage proving my innocence. 

Arsenal2019

MyRealNameToo said:

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. 

Thank you for your response.

im yet to have contact from the bus company / their insurance. I’m just cautious of the fact that the more time that passes and I don’t hear anything, the less favourable it goes to me. I don’t know if to jjst go through my insurance because of this

MyRealNameToo

Arsenal2019 said:

MyRealNameToo said:

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. 

Thank you for your response.

im yet to have contact from the bus company / their insurance. I’m just cautious of the fact that the more time that passes and I don’t hear anything, the less favourable it goes to me. I don’t know if to jjst go through my insurance because of this

Time has no indication of favourability only of how busy the firms are and where it sits on their priority list. No doubt it's high priority to you but for bus companies keeping their buses running is a higher priority and assuming the damage to theirs is simply cosmetic it can wait for them. 

Car_54

MyRealNameToo said:

Arsenal2019 said:

MyRealNameToo said:

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. 

Thank you for your response.

im yet to have contact from the bus company / their insurance. I’m just cautious of the fact that the more time that passes and I don’t hear anything, the less favourable it goes to me. I don’t know if to jjst go through my insurance because of this

Time has no indication of favourability only of how busy the firms are and where it sits on their priority list. No doubt it's high priority to you but for bus companies keeping their buses running is a higher priority and assuming the damage to theirs is simply cosmetic it can wait for them. 

I'd imagine keeping the buses running is an entirely different department from dealing with claims.

Arsenal2019

MyRealNameToo said:

Arsenal2019 said:

MyRealNameToo said:

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. 

Thank you for your response.

im yet to have contact from the bus company / their insurance. I’m just cautious of the fact that the more time that passes and I don’t hear anything, the less favourable it goes to me. I don’t know if to jjst go through my insurance because of this

Time has no indication of favourability only of how busy the firms are and where it sits on their priority list. No doubt it's high priority to you but for bus companies keeping their buses running is a higher priority and assuming the damage to theirs is simply cosmetic it can wait for them. 

You’re not wrong about that. I haven’t heard anything today and was told I would do on the Friday last week. I think I’ll use my insurance as I don’t even know who their insurance company is. Despite me emailing for this.

the damage to their bus is minuscule in comparison 

MyRealNameToo

Arsenal2019 said:

MyRealNameToo said:

Arsenal2019 said:

MyRealNameToo said:

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. 

Thank you for your response.

im yet to have contact from the bus company / their insurance. I’m just cautious of the fact that the more time that passes and I don’t hear anything, the less favourable it goes to me. I don’t know if to jjst go through my insurance because of this

Time has no indication of favourability only of how busy the firms are and where it sits on their priority list. No doubt it's high priority to you but for bus companies keeping their buses running is a higher priority and assuming the damage to theirs is simply cosmetic it can wait for them. 

You’re not wrong about that. I haven’t heard anything today and was told I would do on the Friday last week. I think I’ll use my insurance as I don’t even know who their insurance company is. Despite me emailing for this.

the damage to their bus is minuscule in comparison 

Many large fleet firms either deal with their own claims or have appointed a claims handling firm rather than their insurer. Under this type of arrangement they'll pay VAT on the service whereas an insurer would charge IPT which is irrecoverable. 

The reality of large fleets is you will have many claims per year and so these things make a notable difference. A previous life I got involved in a hire car firm's global motor policy, they have a 9 figure aggregate excess each year 

Arsenal2019

MyRealNameToo said:

Arsenal2019 said:

MyRealNameToo said:

Arsenal2019 said:

MyRealNameToo said:

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. 

Thank you for your response.

im yet to have contact from the bus company / their insurance. I’m just cautious of the fact that the more time that passes and I don’t hear anything, the less favourable it goes to me. I don’t know if to jjst go through my insurance because of this

Time has no indication of favourability only of how busy the firms are and where it sits on their priority list. No doubt it's high priority to you but for bus companies keeping their buses running is a higher priority and assuming the damage to theirs is simply cosmetic it can wait for them. 

You’re not wrong about that. I haven’t heard anything today and was told I would do on the Friday last week. I think I’ll use my insurance as I don’t even know who their insurance company is. Despite me emailing for this.

the damage to their bus is minuscule in comparison 

Many large fleet firms either deal with their own claims or have appointed a claims handling firm rather than their insurer. Under this type of arrangement they'll pay VAT on the service whereas an insurer would charge IPT which is irrecoverable. 

The reality of large fleets is you will have many claims per year and so these things make a notable difference. A previous life I got involved in a hire car firm's global motor policy, they have a 9 figure aggregate excess each year 

Thank you for your response. So given what you’ve said, would you recommend starting a claim with  my own insurance, particularly if I want it sorted sooner 

MyRealNameToo

If you wanted it sorted sooner rather than later then claiming off your own insurance is likely to be quicker. 

Claims are typically considered "fault" until the insurer gets their money back so the main secondary consideration is if your policy renews in the next couple of months that could be more painful with an open claim. We are however on the cusp of festive season when many bodyshops close so time is probably of the essence if you are wanting something done this year. 

Arsenal2019

MyRealNameToo said:

If you wanted it sorted sooner rather than later then claiming off your own insurance is likely to be quicker. 

Claims are typically considered "fault" until the insurer gets their money back so the main secondary consideration is if your policy renews in the next couple of months that could be more painful with an open claim. We are however on the cusp of festive season when many bodyshops close so time is probably of the essence if you are wanting something done this year. 

Thank you. That’s exactly what the body shop said yesterday when I went in for a quote (still waiting for it). The car is still drive able, minus the sensors not working as they should be.

just extremely annoying that’s it’s happened and with a bus. I’d rather a regular person / car rather than dealing with a large company as I’m sure this is of no major importance to them. Particularly after little to no damage to their vehicle.