First accident - a little advice
Discussion
So yesterday I was in my first accident, a rear end shunt while sat waiting at traffic lights. We both pulled over and he was very insistent that he didn't want to go through insurance as he only got his car back from another claim last week. He gave me his name and phone number before he left but wouldn't give me his insurer but I have checked askMID and it is showing as insured. I also have front and rear cam footage of the incident.
I was happy to get a quote for him but have just found out that my nearest Ford approved body shop is 45 minutes away which means a 2 hour round trip to get a quote. I'm guessing the next step is to go to my insurer. Should I notify him that this is what I'm doing or just do it. At the end of the day I just want my car back to the condition it was in 24 hours ago.
I know it seems like a basic question of what to do next but I've never been in an accident in my 10 years of driving and I'm unsure on what the norm/protocol is.
Cheers
I was happy to get a quote for him but have just found out that my nearest Ford approved body shop is 45 minutes away which means a 2 hour round trip to get a quote. I'm guessing the next step is to go to my insurer. Should I notify him that this is what I'm doing or just do it. At the end of the day I just want my car back to the condition it was in 24 hours ago.
I know it seems like a basic question of what to do next but I've never been in an accident in my 10 years of driving and I'm unsure on what the norm/protocol is.
Cheers
You can take it through insurance, but it'll still come through as a claim, albeit one you weren't at fault for, so your own premiums may rise regardless.
Or you can just do as he says, and keep things between yourselves. Strictly speaking, you do have to report an accident to your insurer whether a claim is being made or not, but there has been plenty of cases of peoples premiums rising, so I'd not bother.
If damage is insignificant, then it'll be in both your interests to get it sorted out of insurance, but you're well within your right not to.
You can always get a quote for repair, and factor in travelling, hassle, and any time off you'd have to take etc.
I'd get someone who knows their way around cars to inspect yours - It might just look like body work damage on the surface but there could be damage within.
I rear ended someone recently (albeit at ~5-10mph), and I just gave her the cash to get it sorted.
Or you can just do as he says, and keep things between yourselves. Strictly speaking, you do have to report an accident to your insurer whether a claim is being made or not, but there has been plenty of cases of peoples premiums rising, so I'd not bother.
If damage is insignificant, then it'll be in both your interests to get it sorted out of insurance, but you're well within your right not to.
You can always get a quote for repair, and factor in travelling, hassle, and any time off you'd have to take etc.
I'd get someone who knows their way around cars to inspect yours - It might just look like body work damage on the surface but there could be damage within.
I rear ended someone recently (albeit at ~5-10mph), and I just gave her the cash to get it sorted.
Sycamore said:
If damage is insignificant, then it'll be in both your interests to get it sorted out of insurance, but you're well within your right not to.
You can always get a quote for repair, and factor in travelling, hassle, and any time off you'd have to take etc.
I'd get someone who knows their way around cars to inspect yours - It might just look like body work damage on the surface but there could be damage within.
Nail - head. You can always get a quote for repair, and factor in travelling, hassle, and any time off you'd have to take etc.
I'd get someone who knows their way around cars to inspect yours - It might just look like body work damage on the surface but there could be damage within.
Damage to my car isn't too bad on the surface, black bumper trim doesn't quite sit as it did, rear grill has pushed in and can't be pushed out without removing the lower diffuser and the diffuser's clips that attach it to the bottom of the car have broken off.
It was a little bit more than walking pace, it was in a 50 zone and he was slowing down but can be seen chatting to his mate and then bumping into the back of me. I'd estimate it was 15-20mph but its hard to judge. It was enough to throw my head into the headrest which I'm glad I had adjusted correctly!
My main worry is that although I'm over 25 (27) I am with a modified friendly insurer and would hate to see it rise too much due to a non fault claim. I'm off tomorrow so going to get it inspected and go from there. Thanks!
It was a little bit more than walking pace, it was in a 50 zone and he was slowing down but can be seen chatting to his mate and then bumping into the back of me. I'd estimate it was 15-20mph but its hard to judge. It was enough to throw my head into the headrest which I'm glad I had adjusted correctly!
My main worry is that although I'm over 25 (27) I am with a modified friendly insurer and would hate to see it rise too much due to a non fault claim. I'm off tomorrow so going to get it inspected and go from there. Thanks!
benjo09 said:
So yesterday I was in my first accident, a rear end shunt while sat waiting at traffic lights. We both pulled over and he was very insistent that he didn't want to go through insurance as he only got his car back from another claim last week. He gave me his name and phone number before he left but wouldn't give me his insurer but I have checked askMID and it is showing as insured. I also have front and rear cam footage of the incident.
RTA 1988 Section 170 places no obligation on the TP to divulge the name of his insurer. He can try avoiding the issue all he likes but that will avail him nothing if you decide not to buy his farm. If you report it to your insurer, his is going to find out pdq that their policyholder has been involved in another incident.funkyrobot said:
Odd that he didn't tell you his insurer. Maybe the vehicle was insured but he wasn't? 
See above.As for the other driver possibly not being insured, see the table at the bottom of page 7 here - http://www.cii.co.uk/media/6632643/p94_bulletin_no...
KevinCamaroSS said:
Go through insurance. There will be more damage than is cosmetic at that speed.
I would too. A rear ender while the OP is stationary at traffic lights backed up by dashcam footage should be a no-brainer. Insurance premiums across the board are set to rise soon so it will be difficult to work out how much keeping below the radar would have benefited the OP at renewal. Judging by your description of the obvious damage on your car I can guarantee that just that alone is more than £1K to return to original ,add in the hidden damage and it goes on and on .
Just got his car back from repair and had another bump ?
I would be very careful he doesn't cause you all sorts of grief.
Just got his car back from repair and had another bump ?
I would be very careful he doesn't cause you all sorts of grief.
I suppose I'm biased, but I'd be reporting this to your insurer. They'll get your car fixed and, as they have access to more detail on the MID than you and I do, they'll be able to take it up with the other guy's insurer regardless of whether he tells you who it is.
The fear for many is that your insurer just rolls over and doesn't pursue a recovery. This is rare in my experience but just keep an eye on progress or, if you have been sensible enough to use a good broker, have them chase up a settlement. It all sounds pretty cut and dried anyway so I can't see how the other party will wriggle out of it. It's only when a successful recovery looks unlikely and the insurer starts to consider risk vs. reward - i.e. it's going to cost more in legal fees than they'll get back - that they bail out.
The fear for many is that your insurer just rolls over and doesn't pursue a recovery. This is rare in my experience but just keep an eye on progress or, if you have been sensible enough to use a good broker, have them chase up a settlement. It all sounds pretty cut and dried anyway so I can't see how the other party will wriggle out of it. It's only when a successful recovery looks unlikely and the insurer starts to consider risk vs. reward - i.e. it's going to cost more in legal fees than they'll get back - that they bail out.
OP,
His insurance may get in touch with you and offer their services to you to include vehicle repairs, replacement vehicle etc. My personal experience of this though is that the repairs often do not come out as one would like. So if you take this option (which lots do as it seems so straightforward) do your homework on the approved repairer instructed to repair your car. You can though insist that your chosen repairer carry out the repairs however expect to meet some resistance. Do not of course accept any service offered by them that might cost you money. You should carefully consider taking the hire car from them though as the cost to them is likely to be less than it would be if you hire a car yourself or hire one on credit. If you do hire a car and receive such an offer then do act upon receipt of the letter and advise your representative of the offer, so it can be properly dealt with.
You should notify your insurers of the incident and if you then nominate your insurers to pay for the repairs under your contract of insurance then that in my opinion is the better option. Your insurers are less likely to argue about your chosen repairer despite their probable protestations that you choose their approved repair network. It is your car, you can insist who you choose to repair it. If contractually you are obliged to pay twice the excess (isn't it great they do this as punishment almost for not using their approved repairer!) then just pay it and claim it back.In clear no-fault cases some insurers waive the excess completely so it no longer becomes a consideration. Your insurers may as an alternative choose instead to simply pass your details to their preferred AMC who you can expect will look to manage this for you and provide a credit hire car at the pertinent time should you genuinely need one to keep mobile and also arrange to have your car repaired. Your insurers or the AMC should be able to check who the other car is insured with.
His insurance may get in touch with you and offer their services to you to include vehicle repairs, replacement vehicle etc. My personal experience of this though is that the repairs often do not come out as one would like. So if you take this option (which lots do as it seems so straightforward) do your homework on the approved repairer instructed to repair your car. You can though insist that your chosen repairer carry out the repairs however expect to meet some resistance. Do not of course accept any service offered by them that might cost you money. You should carefully consider taking the hire car from them though as the cost to them is likely to be less than it would be if you hire a car yourself or hire one on credit. If you do hire a car and receive such an offer then do act upon receipt of the letter and advise your representative of the offer, so it can be properly dealt with.
You should notify your insurers of the incident and if you then nominate your insurers to pay for the repairs under your contract of insurance then that in my opinion is the better option. Your insurers are less likely to argue about your chosen repairer despite their probable protestations that you choose their approved repair network. It is your car, you can insist who you choose to repair it. If contractually you are obliged to pay twice the excess (isn't it great they do this as punishment almost for not using their approved repairer!) then just pay it and claim it back.In clear no-fault cases some insurers waive the excess completely so it no longer becomes a consideration. Your insurers may as an alternative choose instead to simply pass your details to their preferred AMC who you can expect will look to manage this for you and provide a credit hire car at the pertinent time should you genuinely need one to keep mobile and also arrange to have your car repaired. Your insurers or the AMC should be able to check who the other car is insured with.
Edited by anniesdad on Thursday 23 March 15:19
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