Minor bump. What would you do?
Discussion
18 year old son with one year no claims has just had an accident. He was stopped behind a delivery van who then reversed into him on a busy road. The car is fitted with a black box so I presume the fact he was static can verified.
Delivery van driver claims son came up quickly and he didn’t see him. Van is insured.
I wasn’t there so can’t vouch for any of this.
Would you
A. Claim on insurance. It will get sorted and there will be no impact on son’s NCD.
B. Don’t bother. It’s not expensive to fix ourselves (~£300) so just suck it up.
C. Something else.
I’m inclined to A but could see this being resolved 50:50
Delivery van driver claims son came up quickly and he didn’t see him. Van is insured.
I wasn’t there so can’t vouch for any of this.
Would you
A. Claim on insurance. It will get sorted and there will be no impact on son’s NCD.
B. Don’t bother. It’s not expensive to fix ourselves (~£300) so just suck it up.
C. Something else.
I’m inclined to A but could see this being resolved 50:50
SloppyClock said:
I mean this in the nicest possible way, but an 18 year old going into the rear of another car after driving too fast doesn't sound unlikely. Hell, I did exactly the same thing. If a black box is fitted all that could do is verify the fact. Will you get an increase in future rates if you claim? Would you lose NCB if he's proven at fault?
You didn't mention what car it is. If I were you, I would do nothing - if the damage is superficial, he'll be embarrassed and it'll hopefully act as a deterrent on doing something like that again. Maybe make a deal with him whereby if no other scrapes are gained for a year you'll fix it.
Although if I were him I'd rather it were sorted because it is proper embarrassing driving around in a smashed up car.
You didn't mention what car it is. If I were you, I would do nothing - if the damage is superficial, he'll be embarrassed and it'll hopefully act as a deterrent on doing something like that again. Maybe make a deal with him whereby if no other scrapes are gained for a year you'll fix it.
Although if I were him I'd rather it were sorted because it is proper embarrassing driving around in a smashed up car.
PistonBroker said:
C. Speak directly to the van's insurers and have them sort it all out.
This I think.Van driver seems to be admitting reversing without being aware of vehicle behind him. Sure vans have poor visibility but make them aware that you have a black box with telematics to prove you were stationary at the time of the bump.
Correct procedure is to notify your insurance of the accident in all circumstances. That way if a claim is made against you then you have complied with the T&C of your insurance.
If after notifying your insurance company you do not wish to claim or involve them. Inform them that the there is no claim being made and that the information is for notification purposes only.
Then repair the car your self and handle any claim against the van driver or against yourself.
Otherwise let your own insurance handle it.
If after notifying your insurance company you do not wish to claim or involve them. Inform them that the there is no claim being made and that the information is for notification purposes only.
Then repair the car your self and handle any claim against the van driver or against yourself.
Otherwise let your own insurance handle it.
C - try to get some cash off the van driver
I once hit a car in the same manner, I slowly drove past the space whilst indicating and reversed into the space.
A small car had come up behind me (stopping about 2ft from my bumper) ignoring my indicator and reversing lights and was completely hidden from my view (in a van)
The first I knew it was there was when I heard my towbar hitting his number plate
I gave him £10 for a new plate on the spot - as I was the moving vehicle it has to be my fault although IMO I did nothing wrong and other than installing a camera there's nothing else I could do differently.
I once hit a car in the same manner, I slowly drove past the space whilst indicating and reversed into the space.
A small car had come up behind me (stopping about 2ft from my bumper) ignoring my indicator and reversing lights and was completely hidden from my view (in a van)
The first I knew it was there was when I heard my towbar hitting his number plate
I gave him £10 for a new plate on the spot - as I was the moving vehicle it has to be my fault although IMO I did nothing wrong and other than installing a camera there's nothing else I could do differently.
Read the T's and C's your son is to abide by under terms of insurance.
The van driver may tell his employer he was in an accident, so your son's insurer would find out any way
The van driver could make an "injury" claim, which would make things difficult for your son
Lying to an insurer can make it very difficult to get insurance in future
Once declaring any "accident" he will have to declare accident in any future negotiation to buy insurance (normally upto about 5 years....this is annoying especially when it was not your fault!)
May I suggest buying a front and rear camera for his car......the evidence from this would really help establish "fault" in the future
Maybe suggest to your son to stop at least "tyres and Tarmac" distance from the vehicle in front in future ( a distance he can clearly see about 30cm/1 foot of tarmac behind rear wheels of vehicle in front) and further from a van.....when behind a van carefully position vehicle so van driver can see his vehicle in his mirrors.....so if van reverses.....can lean on his horn to warn him he is there....also attracting attention of independent witnesses who maybe near by
I would never agree to "settle" at the side of the road, anyone wishing to do so maybe uninsured/car has no MOT/Tax/ driver has no licence etc... hence why wanting to settle there and then
good luck...update what happens
The van driver may tell his employer he was in an accident, so your son's insurer would find out any way
The van driver could make an "injury" claim, which would make things difficult for your son
Lying to an insurer can make it very difficult to get insurance in future
Once declaring any "accident" he will have to declare accident in any future negotiation to buy insurance (normally upto about 5 years....this is annoying especially when it was not your fault!)
May I suggest buying a front and rear camera for his car......the evidence from this would really help establish "fault" in the future
Maybe suggest to your son to stop at least "tyres and Tarmac" distance from the vehicle in front in future ( a distance he can clearly see about 30cm/1 foot of tarmac behind rear wheels of vehicle in front) and further from a van.....when behind a van carefully position vehicle so van driver can see his vehicle in his mirrors.....so if van reverses.....can lean on his horn to warn him he is there....also attracting attention of independent witnesses who maybe near by
I would never agree to "settle" at the side of the road, anyone wishing to do so maybe uninsured/car has no MOT/Tax/ driver has no licence etc... hence why wanting to settle there and then
good luck...update what happens
Sir Bagalot said:
eybic said:
Unfortunately you will still need to inform your son's insurers at renewal time which is a shame.
Not always.Some firms ask have you made a claim? Others ask have you had an accident? Two very different questions.
He will still have to tell insurance at renewal if either of those questions are asked as he has claimed from the tp.
SmoothCriminal said:
Sir Bagalot said:
eybic said:
Unfortunately you will still need to inform your son's insurers at renewal time which is a shame.
Not always.Some firms ask have you made a claim? Others ask have you had an accident? Two very different questions.
He will still have to tell insurance at renewal if either of those questions are asked as he has claimed from the tp.
eybic said:
They will more than likely see him as higher risk now he has had a coming together with another vehicle.
In this case they would be right. A more experienced driver would not have pulled up so close behind a van. The accident is still the van's fault, but next time, he may not be in his car when he gets reversed into, or the tp might drive off before he can get a reg number. Then it'll be a claim on his own insurance. Sir Bagalot said:
eybic said:
Unfortunately you will still need to inform your son's insurers at renewal time which is a shame.
Not always.Some firms ask have you made a claim? Others ask have you had an accident? Two very different questions.
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