Insurance Claim - no visible damage at the scene?
Discussion
Back in February I was coming off a motorway and pulling up to a roundabout, took my eye off the road for a second and hit the car in front, was probably going under 5mph at the time.
There was no visible damage to either car. I also had a Police Van behind me and the copper got out, checked we were ok, told me to be pay more attention and on we went.
Just renewed my insurance and my insurer says there is an open claim and that they are waiting on a bill from the other driver.
I'm confused as there was no visible damage, not even a mark to the paintwork or anything. Don't know any other details like when she took it to a garage or what the damage was.
Where does this leave me?
There was no visible damage to either car. I also had a Police Van behind me and the copper got out, checked we were ok, told me to be pay more attention and on we went.
Just renewed my insurance and my insurer says there is an open claim and that they are waiting on a bill from the other driver.
I'm confused as there was no visible damage, not even a mark to the paintwork or anything. Don't know any other details like when she took it to a garage or what the damage was.
Where does this leave me?
There's not much you can do. The third party were entitled to get the car checked out and there may have been some damage that wasn't obvious. They may even be claiming for whiplash.
Your Insurer is on the back foot, as they weren't aware of the accident. In any event, it's out of your hands now.
Tim
Your Insurer is on the back foot, as they weren't aware of the accident. In any event, it's out of your hands now.
Tim
yes, the other driver has said there is damage.
Bit annoyed as I just renewed my insurance with 5 years no claims (2 months after accident) , but the proof of NCD from old insurer had 3 years because of the accident and they never contacted me to let me know the other driver was claiming for damage to her vehicle or that the claim was still open. I just assumed no damage no claim
So now my new insurer is charging me £285 for a policy with 3 years no claims
Bit annoyed as I just renewed my insurance with 5 years no claims (2 months after accident) , but the proof of NCD from old insurer had 3 years because of the accident and they never contacted me to let me know the other driver was claiming for damage to her vehicle or that the claim was still open. I just assumed no damage no claim
So now my new insurer is charging me £285 for a policy with 3 years no claims
I was hit in similar circumstances once. Didn't look like any damage from the outside as big plastic bumper springs back into shape, but noticed when I got home the panel gaps had changed. Garage took the bumper off and all the energy absorbing stuff inside and the sacrificial mounting bar were cracked and/or bent, so new bar, new bumper and paint just over a grand. TBF, it was doing its job as designed - the actual body panels were 100% fine.
So there's your no visible damage, but still a reasonable claim to make.
So there's your no visible damage, but still a reasonable claim to make.
defblade said:
I was hit in similar circumstances once. Didn't look like any damage from the outside as big plastic bumper springs back into shape, but noticed when I got home the panel gaps had changed. Garage took the bumper off and all the energy absorbing stuff inside and the sacrificial mounting bar were cracked and/or bent, so new bar, new bumper and paint just over a grand. TBF, it was doing its job as designed - the actual body panels were 100% fine.
So there's your no visible damage, but still a reasonable claim to make.
So there's your no visible damage, but still a reasonable claim to make.
And exactly the same happened to me. OP - not everyone's a scammer.
An old Ex of mine managed to hit someone at less than 5 mph on a roundabout.
No visible damage to either car, gave my insurance company a full report on it all, how many people in their car, etc.
My insurance company settled for over 8k in damage and hospital treatment for 5 people.
There was only 2 in the car and they didnt care and just settled, nothing I could do about it or I didnt know what to do as it was well over 10 years ago now.
No visible damage to either car, gave my insurance company a full report on it all, how many people in their car, etc.
My insurance company settled for over 8k in damage and hospital treatment for 5 people.
There was only 2 in the car and they didnt care and just settled, nothing I could do about it or I didnt know what to do as it was well over 10 years ago now.
I hit another car 3 years ago - my fault. Narrow road, I reversed to allow white van man through (I'm considerate like that :-) )
Didn't see Fiat behind me (literally below the rear window line of my Fiat, and narrow enough not to be within mirror view - but no excuses. My fault.)
Lady driver went absolutely ape about her lovely (ordinary) car. Fair enough. Ranted on about getting her car to a Fiat dealer. Her number plate was marked. My tailgate was marked and a plastic bumper cover broke. They still haven't been repaired/replaced. So basically minor damage. Exchanged details etc and moved on.
Insurance Co was on the phone to me even before I'd arrived home, so she had obviously called them. Described situation etc but no forms filled in.
3 years later, the claim is still pending, Lady hasn't claimed, and my damage isn't worth the excess I'd have to pay.
And our Glorious Insurance Companies don't allow us to have multiple No Claims Discounts, but one claim (or more properly, accident) reflects across all policies.
Update on this.
Turns out my insurance company paid for the other drivers rear bumper to be resprayed, yet there was definitely no visible cosmetic damage/scratches at the point of impact.
Other driver says that my insurance company arranged for her car to be collected and inspected, she left it all to them.
My insurance company refuse to give me the engineers report because of "GPDR" but I was adamant when I reported the accident that there was no visible damage. They've not contacted me at any stage to update me on the status of the claim.
Is there anyway I can get the engineers report because they could easily have resprayed for a scratch I didn't cause
Turns out my insurance company paid for the other drivers rear bumper to be resprayed, yet there was definitely no visible cosmetic damage/scratches at the point of impact.
Other driver says that my insurance company arranged for her car to be collected and inspected, she left it all to them.
My insurance company refuse to give me the engineers report because of "GPDR" but I was adamant when I reported the accident that there was no visible damage. They've not contacted me at any stage to update me on the status of the claim.
Is there anyway I can get the engineers report because they could easily have resprayed for a scratch I didn't cause
famasfilms said:
Update on this.
Turns out my insurance company paid for the other drivers rear bumper to be resprayed, yet there was definitely no visible cosmetic damage/scratches at the point of impact.
Other driver says that my insurance company arranged for her car to be collected and inspected, she left it all to them.
My insurance company refuse to give me the engineers report because of "GPDR" but I was adamant when I reported the accident that there was no visible damage. They've not contacted me at any stage to update me on the status of the claim.
Is there anyway I can get the engineers report because they could easily have resprayed for a scratch I didn't cause
Modern cars are designed to absorb impact and spread the stress.Turns out my insurance company paid for the other drivers rear bumper to be resprayed, yet there was definitely no visible cosmetic damage/scratches at the point of impact.
Other driver says that my insurance company arranged for her car to be collected and inspected, she left it all to them.
My insurance company refuse to give me the engineers report because of "GPDR" but I was adamant when I reported the accident that there was no visible damage. They've not contacted me at any stage to update me on the status of the claim.
Is there anyway I can get the engineers report because they could easily have resprayed for a scratch I didn't cause
It is perfectly possible for the bumper to show no external damage but to have damage behind / underneath it.
I'd imagine there was some damage either to the bumper or the parts underneath once he had a proper look when he got home. No one in their right mind would get a bumper sprayed for hell of it, time off work perhaps, no car, waiting for parts, problems matching paint, panel gaps if it was removed etc. Totally pointless exercise. I guess you swapped insurance details at the scene then even though at the time their was no damage claimed? You reported the incident to your insurer but how did his insurer know where to claim their costs? Or do they just have on record what happened because you told them and they have potential claim open on their records?
dacouch said:
Modern cars are designed to absorb impact and spread the stress.
It is perfectly possible for the bumper to show no external damage but to have damage behind / underneath it.
Hi, as explained above - my insurer said they resprayed the rear bumper because there was a scratch "left of centre", they didn't say anything about "structural" damage.It is perfectly possible for the bumper to show no external damage but to have damage behind / underneath it.
oldaudi said:
I'd imagine there was some damage either to the bumper or the parts underneath once he had a proper look when he got home. No one in their right mind would get a bumper sprayed for hell of it, time off work perhaps, no car, waiting for parts, problems matching paint, panel gaps if it was removed etc. Totally pointless exercise. I guess you swapped insurance details at the scene then even though at the time their was no damage claimed? You reported the incident to your insurer but how did his insurer know where to claim their costs? Or do they just have on record what happened because you told them and they have potential claim open on their records?
The other driver said she was contacted by my insurer who collected the car to inspect it. She also said she left it all to them.So I assume that my insurer contacted her so that they could take control of the claim/expenses rather than wait for it to reach her insurer.
They have since told me that they had to respray the bumper because there was damage "left of centre".
My issue is there was no visible damage to the paintwork and I believe they have paid for a bumper respray unnecessarily.
My question is how easy it will be to prove whether I caused the scratch or not. And how easy it will be for me to get a copy of the inspection report - if the scratch/damage was nowhere near the point of collision then surely I have a case?
You may not have scuffed or scratched their bumper.
BUT the flexing of the bumper may have caused hairline cracks in the paint. Look like very very fine lines usually radiating from the flexed areas.
These can be difficult to see, esp if you're not looking for them & when I quote for bumper scuffs I always check very carefully as I've been caught out before. Need to be sanded out & then repaint.
BUT the flexing of the bumper may have caused hairline cracks in the paint. Look like very very fine lines usually radiating from the flexed areas.
These can be difficult to see, esp if you're not looking for them & when I quote for bumper scuffs I always check very carefully as I've been caught out before. Need to be sanded out & then repaint.
paintman said:
You may not have scuffed or scratched their bumper.
BUT the flexing of the bumper may have caused hairline cracks in the paint. Look like very very fine lines usually radiating from the flexed areas.
These can be difficult to see, esp if you're not looking for them & when I quote for bumper scuffs I always check very carefully as I've been caught out before. Need to be sanded out & then repaint.
^ThisBUT the flexing of the bumper may have caused hairline cracks in the paint. Look like very very fine lines usually radiating from the flexed areas.
These can be difficult to see, esp if you're not looking for them & when I quote for bumper scuffs I always check very carefully as I've been caught out before. Need to be sanded out & then repaint.
Had the same, barely visible hairline cracks in my paintwork (didn't see them at all at the scene), on return home I found my boot floor was now a very different shape. Ended up with new bumper and having the floor jigged back into shape, think it cost £1,000 in 2002.
You were never going to be asked for your decision as to whether they repaired the car or not anyway, so I’m not sure why it’s an issue now? How do you intend to prove the damage was pre-existing?
You were always going to lose some of the NCB after the crash, unless it was protected. It’s not really a no claim bonus it’s a “no at fault accidents without no-claims bonus protection” bonus, but that’s not as easy to say
You were always going to lose some of the NCB after the crash, unless it was protected. It’s not really a no claim bonus it’s a “no at fault accidents without no-claims bonus protection” bonus, but that’s not as easy to say
famasfilms said:
Update on this.
Turns out my insurance company paid for the other drivers rear bumper to be resprayed, yet there was definitely no visible cosmetic damage/scratches at the point of impact.
Other driver says that my insurance company arranged for her car to be collected and inspected, she left it all to them.
My insurance company refuse to give me the engineers report because of "GPDR" but I was adamant when I reported the accident that there was no visible damage. They've not contacted me at any stage to update me on the status of the claim.
Is there anyway I can get the engineers report because they could easily have resprayed for a scratch I didn't cause
I had the same thing happen to me. I bumped into the back of someone at walking pace.Turns out my insurance company paid for the other drivers rear bumper to be resprayed, yet there was definitely no visible cosmetic damage/scratches at the point of impact.
Other driver says that my insurance company arranged for her car to be collected and inspected, she left it all to them.
My insurance company refuse to give me the engineers report because of "GPDR" but I was adamant when I reported the accident that there was no visible damage. They've not contacted me at any stage to update me on the status of the claim.
Is there anyway I can get the engineers report because they could easily have resprayed for a scratch I didn't cause
No visible damage to the other car's rear bumper or paintwork. Lots of HD video and high resolution pictures of everything close up to show no damage anywhere
I reported it to my insurance to let them know i was in an accident, with no damage to the third party and i was not making a claim. I told them i had HD video / pictures etc verifying no damage.
On renewal i find out my insurance company paid out £499 for a rear bumper respray and £1000 hire car charges
My insurance didn't collect and perform the repairs but instead invited the third party to get quotes by calling them and disregarded my comments / evidence of no damage.
I later found out it's apparently cheaper for them to settle claims quickly. Hence them contacting the third party and inviting them to claim as such
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