Should you inform the insurance company for clipped mirror?

[pete101]

Hi i got into a very minor incident a few days ago where by i was going down a main road of 3 lanes and after the traffic lights a sweeping bend joins the main road so there are 5 lanes total.

As i went through the lights a car came speeding round the sweeping bend on the right and joined my lane in front of me nearly causing an accident.

Instincively i turned the steering wheel left slightly to avoid a potential accident and the car just swerved in front of me and drove off straight none the wiser.

Unfortunately at the time a big coach type bus from national express was next to me and my wing mirror turned inward gently.

Im also unsure whether the coach was drifting into my lane at the time also so not 100% sure if it was me or him who did it possibly both.

The coach driver pulled to the left in the bus lane to stop but i was unsure if he was stopping to let off passengers or stopping to exchange details.

I didnt want to pull left into a bus lane and get a ticket so i pulled right to find a place to stop (bear in my the width of the road is 5 lanes).

I couldnt find a safe place to stop as there were cars parked in front and behind on red yellow line the only gap was in between but was blocking some businesses drive way i pulled into that but then realised i couldnt park there so tried to pull out nearly causing another accident as the road is very busy all while my wing mirror still wasnt turned back.

I waited in that gap and after about 20 secs the coach driver just drove off and looked at me from a distance meaning he was stopping to exchange details but never actually got out the coach to come over to me even though I was half stopped half pulling out still on the right trying to find somewhere to park.

Long story short do i need to inform the insurance company of such a tiny infraction risking my premium going up?

I am aware that national express & other coach companies normally inform their superiors of any type incident (as it happens so often they clip people's mirrors and have a department that pays out directly to fix motorists wing mirrors to avoid going via their insurance we are talking like 100s of clipped wing mirrors a year via their thousands of coaches).

What im not sure of is if they also inform their insurers of such incidents? I think they do for prudent sake as they have cover for this in case a claim is escalated.

The thing is wont my insurance company then find out and I'll have to claim i only noticed and didnt know who did it and there was no damage so i pulled up pushed the wing mirror out and went on my way?

It literally pushed my wing mirror inward i think at worst a tiny bit of paint was scratched off but it already was scratched so i wouldnt notice any difference.

Should i report it to the insurance company on the basis knowing national express drivers usually log such incidents with their superiors and likely inform their insurers too?

I think they do it just in case of a claim or maybe only inform insurers if there is a claim i dont know.

Im not sure at night whether the driver could even see my license plate in the dark from 5 lanes across of a main busy road.

[55palfers]

No actual damage then.

[pete101]

55palfers said:

No actual damage then.

Not on my side anyway dont know about the coach though

The point is i thought you have to inform the insurance just in case?

Normally when people clip your wing mirror coming from other direction they dont stop or exchange details unless you chase them down.

But this isnt another motorist it is a driver of national express and i know they have procedure of informing superiors of such incidents (they are covered and have some cctv but mainly the front and back of the coach for commissions not sure if it picks up 360 on the side) and i assume also inform their insurers as they are covered for this as it happens so often ie 300 of these a year adding 1 more clipped wing mirror isnt going to affect their premiums as it is expected.

My issue is more if my insurers find out as i haven't informed them yet?

[jondude]

You are asked to inform your insurers but that risks your NCD being suspended (lost) until they are satisfied no claim will be made against you. During that time and subsequently you will have an accident record on file which could well mean increased premiums.

From your description of events I'd just leave things and see if the coach insurers contact you. You can say as there was no damage and the coach driver did not stop to chat, you presumed all was well.

Or if you also want to do the right thing, call the coach company and ask if the coach was damaged - hopefully at most a scratch and they may suffer the cost of a polish out due to you being nice about it.

[Pica-Pica]

No. Tell me which car is it that still has ‘wing’ mirrors?

[e-honda]

Pica-Pica said:

No. Tell me which car is it that still has ‘wing’ mirrors?

wing mirror
noun
a rear-view mirror projecting from the side of a motor vehicle.

I have a car that is unusual in not having wing mirrors

[HJG]

Pica-Pica said:

No. Tell me which car is it that still has ‘wing’ mirrors?

Oh come on .... besides I hear wing mirror far more than I hear door mirror.

OP sounds like you're overthinking it. If it's staying on your mind maybe ring the coach company and ask them if it's been reported their end.

[Sheepshanks]

I'd be more concerned about what the police are going to say as you failed to stop after an accident.

[Ussrcossack]

Why don't you get in touch with national express

[otolith]

Pica-Pica said:

No. Tell me which car is it that still has ‘wing’ mirrors?

Only the ones that have light bulbs - i.e. those not owned by pedants.

[Centurion07]

Pica-Pica said:

No. Tell me which car is it that still has ‘wing’ mirrors?

[DavePanda]

pete101 said:

I am aware that national express & other coach companies normally inform their superiors of any type incident (as it happens so often they clip people's mirrors and have a department that pays out directly to fix motorists wing mirrors to avoid going via their insurance we are talking like 100s of clipped wing mirrors a year via their thousands of coaches).

They really don't

National Express own virtually none of their coaches, they're all run by partner coach companies in National Express colours and i can assure you get scratched and dinged every day of their working life.

Stop worrying and get on with your life

[pete101]

Sheepshanks said:

I'd be more concerned about what the police are going to say as you failed to stop after an accident.

I did stop after the accident on the right but couldnt find a spot which could park properly as single red and double red

Tried to move out but too busy

[pete101]

jondude said:

You are asked to inform your insurers but that risks your NCD being suspended (lost) until they are satisfied no claim will be made against you. During that time and subsequently you will have an accident record on file which could well mean increased premiums.

From your description of events I'd just leave things and see if the coach insurers contact you. You can say as there was no damage and the coach driver did not stop to chat, you presumed all was well.

Or if you also want to do the right thing, call the coach company and ask if the coach was damaged - hopefully at most a scratch and they may suffer the cost of a polish out due to you being nice about it.

It was weird because i wasnt sure if the coach was stopping to let off passengers or stopping after an accident as it wasnt clear and dark so couldnt tell from 5 lanes across.

I tried pulling over in a space on single red but was blocking a drive way that was in 24 hours use so tried to pull out then cars from behind started beeping angrily so if the coach driver saw me pulling out thinking i was leaving too so he left

I pulled over but couldnt stop properly and get out and the coach driver didnt come over either.

If he reports i didnt stop after an accident the insurance company might ask why i didnt report this to them even for just info?

I pulled over to the right but didnt actually get out as was unable to and didnt have enough time to find a space as behind and in front were parked cars as said.

I just have to figure out what to tell the insurance company if they ask.

I just know national express coaches have cctv and they all report incidents to their superiors and i think their own insurers for info in case the motorist claims for wing mirror damage (very common they are used to it)

[vonhosen]

pete101 said:

jondude said:

You are asked to inform your insurers but that risks your NCD being suspended (lost) until they are satisfied no claim will be made against you. During that time and subsequently you will have an accident record on file which could well mean increased premiums.

From your description of events I'd just leave things and see if the coach insurers contact you. You can say as there was no damage and the coach driver did not stop to chat, you presumed all was well.

Or if you also want to do the right thing, call the coach company and ask if the coach was damaged - hopefully at most a scratch and they may suffer the cost of a polish out due to you being nice about it.

It was weird because i wasnt sure if the coach was stopping to let off passengers or stopping after an accident as it wasnt clear and dark so couldnt tell from 5 lanes across.

I tried pulling over in a space on single red but was blocking a drive way that was in 24 hours use so tried to pull out then cars from behind started beeping angrily so if the coach driver saw me pulling out thinking i was leaving too so he left

I pulled over but couldnt stop properly and get out and the coach driver didnt come over either.

If he reports i didnt stop after an accident the insurance company might ask why i didnt report this to them even for just info?

I pulled over to the right but didnt actually get out as was unable to and didnt have enough time to find a space as behind and in front were parked cars as said.

I just have to figure out what to tell the insurance company if they ask.

I just know national express coaches have cctv and they all report incidents to their superiors and i think their own insurers for info in case the motorist claims for wing mirror damage (very common they are used to it)

Did you report it to Police (as you weren't able to stop & exchange details)?

s170 Road Traffic Act 1988.

[pete101]

DavePanda said:

pete101 said:

I am aware that national express & other coach companies normally inform their superiors of any type incident (as it happens so often they clip people's mirrors and have a department that pays out directly to fix motorists wing mirrors to avoid going via their insurance we are talking like 100s of clipped wing mirrors a year via their thousands of coaches).

They really don't

National Express own virtually none of their coaches, they're all run by partner coach companies in National Express colours and i can assure you get scratched and dinged every day of their working life.

Stop worrying and get on with your life

Ok thanks was not aware of this i assumed from what i read allbeit old article about their cctv onboard and reporting every incident in case they knock of someone elses wing mirror

But dont the other partner coach companies drivers report such incidents to their insurers just in case a motorist claims for damage?

[pete101]

vonhosen said:

pete101 said:

jondude said:

You are asked to inform your insurers but that risks your NCD being suspended (lost) until they are satisfied no claim will be made against you. During that time and subsequently you will have an accident record on file which could well mean increased premiums.

From your description of events I'd just leave things and see if the coach insurers contact you. You can say as there was no damage and the coach driver did not stop to chat, you presumed all was well.

Or if you also want to do the right thing, call the coach company and ask if the coach was damaged - hopefully at most a scratch and they may suffer the cost of a polish out due to you being nice about it.

It was weird because i wasnt sure if the coach was stopping to let off passengers or stopping after an accident as it wasnt clear and dark so couldnt tell from 5 lanes across.

I tried pulling over in a space on single red but was blocking a drive way that was in 24 hours use so tried to pull out then cars from behind started beeping angrily so if the coach driver saw me pulling out thinking i was leaving too so he left

I pulled over but couldnt stop properly and get out and the coach driver didnt come over either.

If he reports i didnt stop after an accident the insurance company might ask why i didnt report this to them even for just info?

I pulled over to the right but didnt actually get out as was unable to and didnt have enough time to find a space as behind and in front were parked cars as said.

I just have to figure out what to tell the insurance company if they ask.

I just know national express coaches have cctv and they all report incidents to their superiors and i think their own insurers for info in case the motorist claims for wing mirror damage (very common they are used to it)

Did you report it to Police (as you weren't able to stop & exchange details)?

I was able to stop on the right the coach driver didnt come over and exchange details i was still in the middle of trying to find another safer place to stop.

Report what to the police that the coach pushed my wing mirror in?

[vonhosen]

pete101 said:

vonhosen said:

pete101 said:

jondude said:

You are asked to inform your insurers but that risks your NCD being suspended (lost) until they are satisfied no claim will be made against you. During that time and subsequently you will have an accident record on file which could well mean increased premiums.

From your description of events I'd just leave things and see if the coach insurers contact you. You can say as there was no damage and the coach driver did not stop to chat, you presumed all was well.

Or if you also want to do the right thing, call the coach company and ask if the coach was damaged - hopefully at most a scratch and they may suffer the cost of a polish out due to you being nice about it.

It was weird because i wasnt sure if the coach was stopping to let off passengers or stopping after an accident as it wasnt clear and dark so couldnt tell from 5 lanes across.

I tried pulling over in a space on single red but was blocking a drive way that was in 24 hours use so tried to pull out then cars from behind started beeping angrily so if the coach driver saw me pulling out thinking i was leaving too so he left

I pulled over but couldnt stop properly and get out and the coach driver didnt come over either.

If he reports i didnt stop after an accident the insurance company might ask why i didnt report this to them even for just info?

I pulled over to the right but didnt actually get out as was unable to and didnt have enough time to find a space as behind and in front were parked cars as said.

I just have to figure out what to tell the insurance company if they ask.

I just know national express coaches have cctv and they all report incidents to their superiors and i think their own insurers for info in case the motorist claims for wing mirror damage (very common they are used to it)

Did you report it to Police (as you weren't able to stop & exchange details)?

I was able to stop on the right the coach driver didnt come over and exchange details i was still in the middle of trying to find another safer place to stop.

Report what to the police that the coach pushed my wing mirror in?

s170 Road Traffic Act 1988.

[DavePanda]

pete101 said:

Ok thanks was not aware of this i assumed from what i read allbeit old article about their cctv onboard and reporting every incident in case they knock of someone elses wing mirror

But dont the other partner coach companies drivers report such incidents to their insurers just in case a motorist claims for damage?

No, if they did they would never get covered. Most damage would be paid for by the company anyway, insurance wouldn't be involved unless it was a big claim. Large companies would likely self insure anyway

[Roofless Toothless]

I love this country.

Once upon a time I lived in South America. The roads were carnage. If someone got run over they used to put a few candles on either end of the body so other drivers would have a chance of spotting it and not turn the cadaver into mush. The family of the deceased would have to come and search the roads when their loved one failed to show up. If you reported the accident to the police they would lock you up, as they now had a ‘guilty party’. So nobody reported anything.

In this country we go into paroxysms of guilt if our wing mirror gets bent back, and the insurance company might not like it.