Zero fault accident - what to do..?
Discussion
Just happened.
In the station-car Mini. 30mph road, clear on my side, row of parked cars on the other side.
64 plate BMW approaching on the other side of the road, I’m already committed and have right of way as no parked cars on my side. All well below the speed limit.
But he just keeps coming, so I stop completely. He keeps coming and then tries to push the BMW through a gap that isn’t big enough. Just completely misjudged the width of his car.
He stops 100ft down the road and I reverse backwards into a driveway. My damage is nothing, impact and scrape all taken on the big plastic wheel arch liner and a mark on the alloy.
His BMW is a mess though, as even after the first impact he just kept pushing so his car dragged all the way down the side, both doors damaged, possibly wings too.
He didn’t want to exchange details and didn’t ask for mine, but we exchanged phone numbers. Nice kid, but seemed to want me to sort it out for him!!!
My question is; what happens now, i.e. what should I do? I have an unblemished driving record and so REALLY don’t want to have any kind of insurance involvement.
Questions is; do I need to inform my insurance company, I have no damage and no blame. And If I do, will it affect my premiums? I guess he could call his insurer (he’s taxed, MOTd and insured, I checked) and make up a scenario to try and get a shared fault claim.
If he does make a claim against me, neither of us have any evidence of our stories, but I should NOT have a claim against me. I was stopped and he drove into me!!! He was also on the phone, but I don’t know if it was in his hand or in a hands free, but he was on a call and holding it as he got out.
All very unfamiliar and unneeded stress.
In the station-car Mini. 30mph road, clear on my side, row of parked cars on the other side.
64 plate BMW approaching on the other side of the road, I’m already committed and have right of way as no parked cars on my side. All well below the speed limit.
But he just keeps coming, so I stop completely. He keeps coming and then tries to push the BMW through a gap that isn’t big enough. Just completely misjudged the width of his car.
He stops 100ft down the road and I reverse backwards into a driveway. My damage is nothing, impact and scrape all taken on the big plastic wheel arch liner and a mark on the alloy.
His BMW is a mess though, as even after the first impact he just kept pushing so his car dragged all the way down the side, both doors damaged, possibly wings too.
He didn’t want to exchange details and didn’t ask for mine, but we exchanged phone numbers. Nice kid, but seemed to want me to sort it out for him!!!
My question is; what happens now, i.e. what should I do? I have an unblemished driving record and so REALLY don’t want to have any kind of insurance involvement.
Questions is; do I need to inform my insurance company, I have no damage and no blame. And If I do, will it affect my premiums? I guess he could call his insurer (he’s taxed, MOTd and insured, I checked) and make up a scenario to try and get a shared fault claim.
If he does make a claim against me, neither of us have any evidence of our stories, but I should NOT have a claim against me. I was stopped and he drove into me!!! He was also on the phone, but I don’t know if it was in his hand or in a hands free, but he was on a call and holding it as he got out.
All very unfamiliar and unneeded stress.
Without witnesses, if insurers get involved, you might find this going down as a split fault, 50/50 unless you can perhaps show some evidence that it was really the other driver's fault. As it is, the other driver can simply say that he stopped and you scraped along his car. You might be lucky and they might be honest and admit to their insurer what really happened, or simply not claim at all.
It's very annoying, but just how motor insurance works. I'd be tempted not to inform my insurer about anything and wait to see if the other guy claims.
My instinct is not to call them if I’m honest. If it was the other way around, I’d be taking it on the chin rather than trying to scam someone.
I have no damage. I only have a photo of where the incident occurred, but it’s just a picture of the street, and a picture of his car further down the road. We both had to move as it was busy road and as I said he just kept going. But at least that shows where it was.
Legally do I have to inform my insurer does anyone know..?
I have no damage. I only have a photo of where the incident occurred, but it’s just a picture of the street, and a picture of his car further down the road. We both had to move as it was busy road and as I said he just kept going. But at least that shows where it was.
Legally do I have to inform my insurer does anyone know..?
yeti said:
OIC said:
Yep.
They need to be informed of any incident where your insured vehicle touches anything it shouldn't touch.
Thanks, if it s that simple I ll call them first thing. They need to be informed of any incident where your insured vehicle touches anything it shouldn't touch.
While you "should" report any accident, insurers spend all their time dealing with unreliable customers, and are used to it, so in my opinion there's no reason to be upfront if you're likely to lose out as a result. Obviously if the other person claims you'll have no choice.
outnumbered said:
yeti said:
OIC said:
Yep.
They need to be informed of any incident where your insured vehicle touches anything it shouldn't touch.
Thanks, if it s that simple I ll call them first thing. They need to be informed of any incident where your insured vehicle touches anything it shouldn't touch.
While you "should" report any accident, insurers spend all their time dealing with unreliable customers, and are used to it, so in my opinion there's no reason to be upfront if you're likely to lose out as a result. Obviously if the other person claims you'll have no choice.
And when he tells his insurance that it was entirely your fault - how believable do you think your story will be when you only give them the details because somebody else is accusing you of a fault accident?
How can there be so much damage to him but you have "no damage"?
Wait and had a good look in daylight and check for scratches, scrapes and misalignment.
The smallest piece of trim on a modern car can be very costly.
However avoid having a fault or equal fault accident no matter how trivial marked against you as it will follow you for 5 years.
A non-fault accident should not be a problem for future insurance quotes.
Wait and had a good look in daylight and check for scratches, scrapes and misalignment.
The smallest piece of trim on a modern car can be very costly.
However avoid having a fault or equal fault accident no matter how trivial marked against you as it will follow you for 5 years.
A non-fault accident should not be a problem for future insurance quotes.
Actual said:
However avoid having a fault or equal fault accident no matter how trivial marked against you as it will follow you for 5 years.
A non-fault accident should not be a problem for future insurance quotes.
Even if it was 50/50 or fault accident, it won't necessarily make a difference to premiums, despite the usual statements on phA non-fault accident should not be a problem for future insurance quotes.
davek_964 said:
Actual said:
However avoid having a fault or equal fault accident no matter how trivial marked against you as it will follow you for 5 years.
A non-fault accident should not be a problem for future insurance quotes.
Even if it was 50/50 or fault accident, it won't necessarily make a difference to premiums, despite the usual statements on phA non-fault accident should not be a problem for future insurance quotes.
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