To claim or not to claim...
Discussion
Saturday afternoon a lady driver drove into the back of my car, pulling onto a roundabout (she thought I was pulling away..).
It was a fair shunt and I did start to feel something in my upper spine, between the shoulder blades, after getting out of the car once we found somewhere safe to pull over.
She didn't want to go through the insurance and make a claim as it looked like to her that it was just the bumper that was just smashed. But I wondered if there was going to be damage to the body behind it. Anyway, I said I was a little reluctant to go through a claim as I'd have to declare it next time I go to renew, even though it wasn't my fault. Ridiculous that companies punish innocent drivers.
I also have had 12 years without a claim and I wanted to keep that intact.
This morning however I woke up with a sore upper back, between the shoulder blades. It's still painful but I can move alright, albeit with discomfort.
This lady and her horrible young male passenger (kept calling me bruv this and bruv that) really are unpleasant and I had to keep her calm during the conversations post accident. Even though it was her that hit me...
My question is, how much extra in the coming years should I expect to see my premium increase? I will have to go another 12 years claim free to get where I am now. And how long after an accident should you inform the insurance company? The pain I have might just be some soft tissue damage or some minor musculoskeletal injury. But I'm no doctor.
Opinions and info greatly appreciated chaps.
Regards
Cad
It was a fair shunt and I did start to feel something in my upper spine, between the shoulder blades, after getting out of the car once we found somewhere safe to pull over.
She didn't want to go through the insurance and make a claim as it looked like to her that it was just the bumper that was just smashed. But I wondered if there was going to be damage to the body behind it. Anyway, I said I was a little reluctant to go through a claim as I'd have to declare it next time I go to renew, even though it wasn't my fault. Ridiculous that companies punish innocent drivers.
I also have had 12 years without a claim and I wanted to keep that intact.
This morning however I woke up with a sore upper back, between the shoulder blades. It's still painful but I can move alright, albeit with discomfort.
This lady and her horrible young male passenger (kept calling me bruv this and bruv that) really are unpleasant and I had to keep her calm during the conversations post accident. Even though it was her that hit me...
My question is, how much extra in the coming years should I expect to see my premium increase? I will have to go another 12 years claim free to get where I am now. And how long after an accident should you inform the insurance company? The pain I have might just be some soft tissue damage or some minor musculoskeletal injury. But I'm no doctor.
Opinions and info greatly appreciated chaps.
Regards
Cad
To me this screams of claim on your own insurance, its going to increase your premium for a few years. Get checked out at the doctors and put a claim in with her insurance if you have the details, you might find in a few days/months you have to submit an injury claim. This woman sounds unreliable, don't rely on her paying out without hassle.
I've already alluded to the fact that I am reluctant to claim as it will affect my future renewal premiums....Firstly, there is no way you've injured your back in such an accident - sounds to me like you're going to try it on for compensation ! Shame on you.
Secondly take your car to a garage and ask them to have a look - no damage then you're fine. If there is some damage then ring lady and ask her to pay - give her 10 days then claim from her insurance company. Simples. But don't be a billy bulls
tter and make up a fake injury, it's not nice - no obvious damage to your car means she hit you about 5 to 8 mph, nothing in reality.
Secondly take your car to a garage and ask them to have a look - no damage then you're fine. If there is some damage then ring lady and ask her to pay - give her 10 days then claim from her insurance company. Simples. But don't be a billy bulls
tter and make up a fake injury, it's not nice - no obvious damage to your car means she hit you about 5 to 8 mph, nothing in reality.Your premium won't necessarily increase next year due to a non fault accident. Someone ran into the back of my car last year and the claim was settled through their insurance. Unexpectedly, my premium actually went down slightly when I renewed this year.
Sometimes the damage can be worse than it first appears, the spare wheel well / boot floor can get buckled quite easily, so I'd check this thoroughly before agreeing to any settlement outside of the insurance company.
Hope you get it sorted without too much hassle
Sometimes the damage can be worse than it first appears, the spare wheel well / boot floor can get buckled quite easily, so I'd check this thoroughly before agreeing to any settlement outside of the insurance company.
Hope you get it sorted without too much hassle
seveb said:
Firstly, there is no way you've injured your back in such an accident - sounds to me like you're going to try it on for compensation ! Shame on you.
How the actual fk would you know if he is injured or not? You weren't there and have no idea how fast the car that hit him was going.I got hit in the rear by a Passat when in my fully loaded Sprinter. Wasn't all that fast and didn't even puncture the cars Rad despite the vans step caving in the front of her car. I felt stiff and had pain in my back and shoulders for a few days afterwards. It really doesn't take much to cause back injury.
SouthHamsGaz said:
seveb said:
Firstly, there is no way you've injured your back in such an accident - sounds to me like you're going to try it on for compensation ! Shame on you.
How the actual fk would you know if he is injured or not? You weren't there and have no idea how fast the car that hit him was going.I got hit in the rear by a Passat when in my fully loaded Sprinter. Wasn't all that fast and didn't even puncture the cars Rad despite the vans step caving in the front of her car. I felt stiff and had pain in my back and shoulders for a few days afterwards. It really doesn't take much to cause back injury.
I got hit when stationary by a small car doing perhaps 20mph, and it was one hell of a thump, far worse than you'd think at a fairly slow speed. Luckily it didn't affect me but I can see how it could easily cause neck or back pain especially if you just happened to have your head turned to just the wrong position at the time - blimey you can even crick your own neck and that hurts a lot, and thats just by quickly moving your own head. The car that hit me was a Corsa so a larger heavier car or van would be even worse.
SouthHamsGaz said:
seveb said:
Firstly, there is no way you've injured your back in such an accident - sounds to me like you're going to try it on for compensation ! Shame on you.
How the actual fk would you know if he is injured or not? You weren't there and have no idea how fast the car that hit him was going.I got hit in the rear by a Passat when in my fully loaded Sprinter. Wasn't all that fast and didn't even puncture the cars Rad despite the vans step caving in the front of her car. I felt stiff and had pain in my back and shoulders for a few days afterwards. It really doesn't take much to cause back injury.
I might be wrong but there's no legit way you can keep this off the books in a way that doesn't affect your premiums unless you absolutely trust it will get settled privately.
Insurers have you over a barrel because you need to declare the accident to them in all cases. The spiel I believe is that if you don't declare but later need them, they could refuse to cover the claim.
Possibilities
1. Settle privately, but you're screwed if you have hurt yourself (happen to agree that the likelyhood is small...)
2. Make your insurer aware, but it goes it through as a non-fault claim i.e. their insurance pay out to fix your damage. Even though it won't have cost you or your insurers a penny, in 90% of cases your premiums will be up for 3-5 years (until you no longer have to declare on renewals) as you're determined to be a higher risk because you got crashed into. Obviously if you are hurt you should have recourse here to get that checked out etc.
3. Make your insurer aware, and if the other side disputes the event it your insurers will get involved to cover you. Bigger impact on premiums going forward no doubt.
It depends on how much you trust the other party (I'd have zero faith) and how much the damage actually costs to fix. I was involved in something similar a long time back and learned all about how much modern cars are designed to crumple to absorb the energy and the contents of your bank account.
Insurers have you over a barrel because you need to declare the accident to them in all cases. The spiel I believe is that if you don't declare but later need them, they could refuse to cover the claim.
Possibilities
1. Settle privately, but you're screwed if you have hurt yourself (happen to agree that the likelyhood is small...)
2. Make your insurer aware, but it goes it through as a non-fault claim i.e. their insurance pay out to fix your damage. Even though it won't have cost you or your insurers a penny, in 90% of cases your premiums will be up for 3-5 years (until you no longer have to declare on renewals) as you're determined to be a higher risk because you got crashed into. Obviously if you are hurt you should have recourse here to get that checked out etc.
3. Make your insurer aware, and if the other side disputes the event it your insurers will get involved to cover you. Bigger impact on premiums going forward no doubt.
It depends on how much you trust the other party (I'd have zero faith) and how much the damage actually costs to fix. I was involved in something similar a long time back and learned all about how much modern cars are designed to crumple to absorb the energy and the contents of your bank account.
seveb said:
SouthHamsGaz said:
seveb said:
Firstly, there is no way you've injured your back in such an accident - sounds to me like you're going to try it on for compensation ! Shame on you.
How the actual fk would you know if he is injured or not? You weren't there and have no idea how fast the car that hit him was going.I got hit in the rear by a Passat when in my fully loaded Sprinter. Wasn't all that fast and didn't even puncture the cars Rad despite the vans step caving in the front of her car. I felt stiff and had pain in my back and shoulders for a few days afterwards. It really doesn't take much to cause back injury.
JimSuperSix said:
Unless we're reading a different OPs post he said the bumper was smashed and was wondering if there could be structural damage behind that.
Don't have to go that fast to smash someone's bumper.She must've been going pretty slow if there was no visible structural damage.
seveb said:
Because he said there's no damage . . . so speed very low, so no injury. So no claim.
Several years ago my wife was stationary at traffic lights and the car behind her just didn't notice and went straight into the back of her. His car folded up to about half the size and was clearly an instant write-off, my wife's car looked absolutely fine apart from some marks on the bumper. She could barely walk for a few days and still suffers to this day, but her car literally needed no more than a bit of scratch removal. Go through her insurance company, that's what they are there for. Any doubt in your mind to their state of character should be alarm bells. It is highly unlikely to impact your insurance, never did with 2 instances I suffered.
The fact you alluded to pain & soreness is somewhat odd & sounds more fishing for confirmation that an injury claim is possible. Don't be a bellend over it & be honest with yourself. Don't add to the problem.
The fact you alluded to pain & soreness is somewhat odd & sounds more fishing for confirmation that an injury claim is possible. Don't be a bellend over it & be honest with yourself. Don't add to the problem.
Mr Tidy said:
Result OP - a potential licence to print money!
Which is why insurance isn't cheap for the rest of us.
The reason why insurance isn't cheap for the rest of us is because fWhich is why insurance isn't cheap for the rest of us.
king idiots who drive too close/too fast/don't pay attention keep crashing into the back of other people. That's the issue here, bot the fact that the OP was injured by one of these buffoons. .
You can take the high road an not claim ? Or do what 80% do an claim as much as possible. It will probably cover your insurance for next 3 years an a holiday
I didn’t claim last year for taxi driver completely destroying rear of transit connect ( no pun intended )
It moved rear axle forward 6” about 45 mph stationery at lights. Then again ive crashed few time on track but that was the worst as you aren’t braising or at least half expecting it !!
I didn’t claim last year for taxi driver completely destroying rear of transit connect ( no pun intended )
It moved rear axle forward 6” about 45 mph stationery at lights. Then again ive crashed few time on track but that was the worst as you aren’t braising or at least half expecting it !!
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