I was hit today. Insurance advise please!

[rvt50]

I've never been hit before so not sure what to do... I've been driving around 2-3 years and have never been involved in an accident of any kind. This morning somebody reversed into the side of my car in a car park, she just couldn't have been looking in her mirrors. She completely accepted responsibility - we exchanged details. Now I'm not sure what to do...

I'm 22, so can just about afford insurance as it is... I've read that this claim, on her insurance, would go on my record and therefore put up my insurance premiums for the future? Is this correct? Sounds awful if so. I'm not sure I could do that. Doesn't seem fair of course either.

I haven't spoken to her yet as she'll be back in the evening. Would be it worth suggesting getting a quote first and seeing if cash outside the insurance company would be better? She was elderly, so perhaps it's different for her, but I believe excess + voluntary excess can be quite high sometimes?

The damage isn't massive, but covers a large area. Drivers side doors are both partially scraped, dented. Then the other side has a lighter scrape down the side but I don't believe any dents (the other side was damaged when the car was pushed against a wall/railing slightly when she hit the other side).

Any advise?

[saaby93]

if both sides are gone its not going to be cheap
http://www.europaconsultants.co.uk/
those people have helped quite a few PHers

[TPS]

Why do people suggest a claims company straight away rather than letting their own insurance company sort it out?

[DaveH23]

Step 1. Ring Insurance Company (This is why you pay for it)
Step 2. They will sort the rest.

Simples.

[saaby93]

TPS said:

Why do people suggest a claims company straight away rather than letting their own insurance company sort it out?

As it's a third party claim ideally youd claim direct off the TP's insurer. However if youve little experience of handling it yourself why not get the help of someone who's done it many times before?

If you use your own insurer for a TP claim you may find yourself chasing them up to chase the TP, your NCD is reduced until it's resolved, theyll want to use their favourite repairer, and watch their valuation of your car if it's declared a write off

If its an own fault claim, yes use your own insurer it's what theyre there for

Either you or someone acting for you will have to disclose to your insurer.
As youve put yourself in a place where youve shown youre likely to have an accident the premium could rise

Edited by saaby93 on Wednesday 14th December 16:28

[ZOLLAR]

Regardless of whether you go through your insurance or not you'll still have to disclose the incident to your insurer.
Unfortunately this could affect your future premiums.

[5lab]

ZOLLAR said:

Regardless of whether you go through your insurance or not you'll still have to disclose the incident to your insurer.
Unfortunately this could affect your future premiums.

it can affect things, but I don't think it will by much.

You can try to claim from the reversing woman for future increased insurance costs. I don't know if it'd be sucessful, but unless you try you'll never know.

[jazzyjeff]

DaveH23 said:

Step 1. Ring Insurance Company (This is why you pay for it)
Step 2. They will bugger you about over a prolonged period with disinterest, incompetence and inaction until you are close to suicide.

Simples.

EFA

[DaveH23]

saaby93 said:

s it's a third party claim ideally youd claim direct off the TP's insurer. However if youve little experience of handling it yourself why not get the help of someone who's done it many times before?

If you use your own insurer for a TP claim you may find yourself chasing them up to chase the TP, your NCD is reduced until it's resolved, theyll want to use their favourite repairer, and watch their valuation of your car if it's declared a write off

If its an own fault claim, yes use your own insurer it's what theyre there for

Either you or someone acting for you will have to disclose to your insurer.
As youve put yourself in a place where youve shown youre likely to have an accident the premiums likely to rise!

Edited by saaby93 on Wednesday 14th December 16:21

When you insurance company asks you 'Have you ever had an accident regardless of fault in the past 3/5 or however many years'

Do you say no?

[saaby93]

DaveH23 said:

When you insurance company asks you 'Have you ever had an accident regardless of fault in the past 3/5 or however many years'

Do you say no?

You mean the OP?
He'd have to say 'yes' of course. Why?

[DaveH23]

saaby93 said:

You mean the OP?
He'd have to say 'yes' of course. Why?

I was just curious as to the fact you recomended a 3rd party company outside of the insurer.

I and everybody else pays for insuranc for this exact scenario - I dont understand the purpose of involving another party.

[saaby93]

DaveH23 said:

I was just curious as to the fact you recomended a 3rd party company outside of the insurer.

I and everybody else pays for insuranc for this exact scenario - I dont understand the purpose of involving another party.

You have to look at the roles
If its an own fault claim you negotiate with your own insurer for the repairs to your car

If it's a TP claim at the first level youd negotiate with the TPs insurer for the repairs to your car.
You can use your own insurer to negotiate for you but if youre unlucky you find youre negotiang with your own insurer about your negotations with the TP

If you choose a respected AMC theyre working for you.

Having said that, there are obviously insurers who are good at looking after TP claims and some will direct you to their own AMC. See
http://pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&amp...
for a poll

Edited by saaby93 on Wednesday 14th December 17:14

[blueg33]

5lab said:

ZOLLAR said:

Regardless of whether you go through your insurance or not you'll still have to disclose the incident to your insurer.
Unfortunately this could affect your future premiums.

it can affect things, but I don't think it will by much.

You can try to claim from the reversing woman for future increased insurance costs. I don't know if it'd be sucessful, but unless you try you'll never know.

Some people have done so. The OP will need a statement from his insurers saying what the premium would have been without the accident and what it is with the accident. He will need that statement each year and to claim each year.

many people don't bother, but in my case being rear ended twice in 12 months put my premium up much more than my 9 points.

[anonymous-user]

Have you got whiplash as you should check with a doctor as the pain can come and go.

[simonigrale]

DaveH23 said:

Step 1. Ring Insurance Company (This is why you pay for it)
Step 2. They will sort the rest.

Simples.

It is as easy as this - thats why you pay a lot of money. You're obviously not at fault so no need to worry. If you have no use of another car your insurance company will get you one. All this is charged through the opposing parties insurance company as they're at fault.

Good Luck!

Simoni

[Meldonte]

DaveH23 said:

Step 1. Ring Insurance Company (This is why you pay for it)
Step 2. They will sort the rest.

Simples.

No offence but for me niothing could be further from the truth. You pay for it because you are required to by law and all insurers band together and hold rank to ensure they control the Market and that you the customer are repeatedly getting shafted year on year.

The insurance company will take great pleasure in 'sorting' this so they can happily increase your premiums for absolutely no reason and make even more of a profit out of lubing you up for the next 3-5 years.

I would never even consider claiming for something less than total wipe out / theft of a car and sort it myself, it's just not worth involving them. It's become almost like an organised crime protection racket. You pay it not for the service by because you have no choice.

[rainagain]

DaveH23 said:

Step 1. Ring Insurance Company (This is why you pay for it)
Step 2. They will sort the rest.

Simples.

Step 3. they never return you calls and leave you with no courtesy car.
Step 4. they return your car from their 'approved repairer' with mismatched paint (not our fault your car's faded) and broken headlamp (it was like that when you brought it in)
Step 5. after much hassle you have to take car to decent repairer yourself and have it repaired properly.
Step 6. look sadly over all your wasted time and phone bill

[simonigrale]

I use a really good broker - there is no nonsense with him. great prices every year and when i did have some numpty run into me i made one phonecall and everything was taken care of. Compare the meerkat - i think not !!!

[Bacon Is Proof]

saaby93 said:

As it's a third party claim ideally youd claim direct off the TP's insurer. Why? However if youve little experience of handling it yourself why not get the help of someone who's done it many times before?
Like your insurance company?

If you use your own insurer for a TP claim you may find yourself chasing them up to chase the TP, your NCD is reduced until it's resolved, theyll want to use their favourite repairer, and watch their valuation of your car if it's declared a write off You missed the word "may" out several times there, because as it's written it's wrong and misleading

If its an own fault claim, yes use your own insurer it's what theyre there for They are there to handle any claim

Either you or someone acting for you will have to disclose to your insurer.
As youve put yourself in a place where youve shown youre likely to have an accident the premium could rise

Edited by saaby93 on Wednesday 14th December 16:28

[blueg33]

In my experience a decent claims management company work harder and faster at getting things sorted than your insurance company. They seem to have more time and are better at leaning on the other parties insurers.

Also, many insurers are parts of the same group of companies, I am not convinced that in those circumstances they act in the best interests of the claimant.