Car rolling down an incline?.

dodgy_damo

My car was parked up on an incline. I put the handbrake on. Went inside, then went back out to put something in the boot. The car looked badly parked, with another car right up against it, I assumed they parked this close due to a dropped kerb. I moved my car further back to be nearer my front door, and continued going in and out to put more things in the boot.
A neighbour approached my and said did I know who's car that was, I said it was mine...they then said that they thought it had rolled down the incline and hit her friends car...my bumper already had scuff marks on it, so I didnt actually realise that it had hit the other car...besides i'm a stickler for using the handbrake.
Anyhow, I didnt argue, gave my details over, took theirs,etc,etc
My query is that I have damage on the rear of my car from this incident (hit and run, van or lorry due to the height of the damage), a smashed wing mirror, and several dents in the passenger door (oh the joys of living in London)
I know that the front bumper will be repaired, but never got round to claiming for the hit and run mirror,etc.
Now my cars destined to go into the workshops, how should I breach the subject of the other damage...will this amount to 2 claims in essence? Or do I cut a deal with the bodyshop once its in?

raskazz

If you want to repair all the damage through insurance then each separate incident is a separate claim under the policy, and thus each will be subject to the accidental damage excess, and you will have multiple (fault) claims on record which will have a relatively large effect on your premiums (even more so if you have not protected your NCD).

As you touch upon in your post, probably the best way to deal with it will be claiming through insurance for the most recent claim (as you will have a fault claim anyway due to your neighbour's damage) and sorting out a deal with the repairer to pay privately for any other work.

dodgy_damo

Yeah I hear that! I think I can swallow a wing mirror...My concern is my boot lid has been dented by a larger vehicle, and they wont be able to hammer it out as far as I can see...so I'm looking at a new boot and light glass.

I actually have 7 years no claims and its protected. It's just I know that neighbours friend will claim, so I will swallow this.

I was under the impression you can make 2 claims and still be protected...this is from mates converstaion rather than policy small print.
Either way i know my premiums going ur next year!:eek:

raskazz

Yes, normally protected NCD allows you to make 2 claims in a 3 or 5 year period.

As you mention, this will not prevent your premiums rising if you make 1 or 2 claims, as you will have the same discount but it will be discounting a much higher figure to begin with.

Might be worth asking the repairer for an estimate of the other damage whilst your car is in for repairs from the latest incident. Then you can decide whether to put another claim in and pay another excess or sort it out privately.

Oscar_The_Grouch

If the other person is going to claim, you may as well claim for the damage caused when your car rolled into theirs; it still only counts as 1 claim.

As for the first incident, have you spoken to your insurers about what effect that will have on your policy? I hate to sound like a stuck record, but I seem to be repeating the same advice over and over again! Pick up the phone and speak to your insurers; that's what you pay your premiums for!!

geri1965_2

Oscar_The_Grouch wrote: »

I hate to sound like a stuck record, but I seem to be repeating the same advice over and over again! Pick up the phone and speak to your insurers; that's what you pay your premiums for!!

That would be good advice if you could guarantee that people who work for insurance companies actually knew what they were talking about.

Quentin

raskazz wrote: »

normally protected NCD allows you to make 2 claims in a 3 or 5 year period.

Don't rely on this.

Many companies (including Pru, Lloyds TSB, Direct Line, Privilege, Churchill) only allow one claim in the current year for protected NCB. (They let you have a total of 2 in a consecutive 3 year period, but not in the current year)

shelly

When I had an accident in 06 the damage was too expensive to repair ourselves so we made a claim. Whilst the car was in having the claim work done we cut a deal to have our front bumper re-sprayed as it was covered in stone chips. Because the paint was already mixed for the passenger side damage we were claiming for we got the bumper done much cheaper than if we were just getting the bumper done on its own.

Also don't assume your premiums will automatically go up just because you have claimed. They might.....but they might not. We pay to protect our NCB too but in the 2 years since the accident our premiums have been getting cheaper. Surprisingly at the first renewal after the accident we paid less than the year before, when I hadn't had the accident.