Insurance claim

[yocky z3 2.0]

need some information what is the best way to claim some dick head reversed into the front of the 4series in Sainsbury's car park has pushed the front bumper back and took a gouge out just below the drivers side headlight not a lot of damage but will need painting. Got his details and a witness who as given me her details do I go straight to his insurance or contact mine and let them sort it out any help welcome Cheers tony.

 

[yocky z3 2.0]

A few photos

 

[Craig Machin]

I would recommend asking if he wants to pay for the repairs himself first.
If not as him for his insurance company details

 

[Keet]

Contact yours, let them pursue it. You may however lose your NCB until they recoup the costs.

If you have a witness, it should be pretty straight forward and you will recoup any excess you may have to pay.

 

[Craig Machin]

If you advise your own insurance company it may still affect your premium at renewal

 

[Jack Ratt]

I can't get my head round the fact that according to our insurance companies, if we have an accident, even a no fault one, then we are statistically very likely to have another one in the following 5 years.
In my world, the person who causes the accident should be 100% accountable and not the innocent party, and just because you are unlucky once surely it doesn't mean you'll be unlucky again?

Can anyone explain the maths behind the stats?

 

[MalcQV]

I can't get my head round the fact that according to our insurance companies, if we have an accident, even a no fault one, then we are statistically very likely to have another one in the following 5 years.
In my world, the person who causes the accident should be 100% accountable and not the innocent party, and just because you are unlucky once surely it doesn't mean you'll be unlucky again?

Can anyone explain the maths behind the stats?

I hate this, it's absolutely ridiculous.
My younger sister had her Ford Focus parked on the drive a good few years ago, a blocked paved front, off the road. Old chap further up the road left his handbrake off and it rolled down the road and veered off into my sister's car removing the front bumper. She was sat in the lounge watching in horror, he admitted it and paid for the damage through his insurance. You can guess when renewal came what they told her after her premium went up, she lost the right to drive other cars third party. "Statistically madam you are more likely..."

So not only was it not her fault she was not even sat in the car. Legalised robbery.

 

[Redline]

If you claim or even just notify your insurance company they will use that information against you to increase your premium in future, even if you’re in no way at fault.
I may be wrong, but - If you get the other party to tell their insurance that they were 100% liable you can deal with them entirely without impacting or contacting your insurance. This is what happened to us recently even though it was the same insurer.

However, for such a small amount of damage it would be in everyone’s interest to sort it without going through the insurance. If the other driver won’t (especially if there is little or no damage to their car) then you may have to resort to a claim. I would infer to the driver that you will in future go back to them, through the courts if necessary, to reclaim any increased premium as an uninsured loss.
Good luck

 

[MalcQV]

If you claim or even just notify your insurance company they will use that information against you to increase your premium in future, even if you’re in no way at fault.
I may be wrong, but - If you get the other party to tell their insurance that they were 100% liable you can deal with them entirely without impacting or contacting your insurance. This is what happened to us recently even though it was the same insurer.

However, for such a small amount of damage it would be in everyone’s interest to sort it without going through the insurance. If the other driver won’t (especially if there is little or no damage to their car) then you may have to resort to a claim. I would infer to the driver that you will in future go back to them, through the courts if necessary, to reclaim any increased premium as an uninsured loss.
Good luck

A few years back I was reversing out of a tight spot, a car was going past my rear and I did not notice it. I think we may have touched but I did not feel it and had no damage to my car. However the guy in the car said I did. There was some paint rubbed off his car roughly where I might have hit.
I'm still not sure to this day but took his word. I notified my insurance because I believed I had to. He got a quote and I handed over the cash.
Despite all this my insurance broker noted it and in fairness my premium only went up a few quid which is fair with inflation but it is noted even though it never cost the company anything.

 

[Keet]

During my working years and numerous contacts with insurance companies, it was pointed out to me, quite abruptly at times, that it is a No CLAIM Bonus not a No BLAME Bonus.

So, as wrong as it may be, if you make a claim, they will pay out and if they can recoup all their losses from someone else, it shouldn't affect your following years premium. You will find that you have to declare it when asked the question about any accident or claims in the last 3 or 5 years.

Technically, even if you don't go through the insurance, the question they ask is accidents or claims, so you should tell them regardless.

I had more than a couple of "Tactical Contacts" through work and sometimes while renewing my personal car insurance, they would ask about work accidents.

I once dealt with a kid who crashed his car, he'd paid a fortune as a young lad for fully comp. He made a mistake and totalled it. The insurance refused to pay out because he hadn't declared his alloy wheels were non standard. Wheels that were a dealer option when new and were on the car when he bought it as the 3rd owner!

As someone has already said, car insurance is virtually legalised robbery, you have to have it, but they pretty much set their own rules and you will never beat them.

 

[benf]

Same thing happened to me a few months ago, I went straight through his insurance, didn't notify mine. They paid me out directly straight into my bank, its then up to me to get it sorted, but works for me.

 

[yocky z3 2.0]

Would have let him pay for the damage without going through the insurance but he was being a nob saying I hit him even through I had a witness was blasting my horn and he still kept reversing got his details contacting Hastings his insurance this morning

 

[Z Victor 1]

Sorry to hear about the prang @yocky, it's never a pleasant experience . First the damage to your car then the hassle and inevitable expense with insurance.

 

[abh29]

A few years ago I had a Rep from a major company run into my rear [most unfortunate as she had let me in 200 yds before] I spoke to my insurers and they suggested I give her company a call, I did and the following day there insurance company phoned and asked for a copy of the quote. This was faxed over to them, they phoned me and said get it done at the garage on the quote but they were dealing with garage direct. Turned out he was on there list , and he actually got paid a bit more than he had quoted me due to them having an agreed schedule of rates. It had no effect on my own premium.
Two years ago my OH had a bump , entirely her fault, absolutly no damage to her car but bent wing on a VW. Went through our insrance OK and her premium actually went down at next renewal.

 

[Jjim]

As they haven’t admitted liability you will have to go through your insurance company

Do you have a dash camera?

 

[yocky z3 2.0]

Been in touch with Hastings the 3rd party’s Insureance gave them my details and the independent witness details they ar sorting everything out an accessor will come out to see me in the next few days informed my insurance information only all dealt with

 

[g8jka]

If he is being arsey then go through the insurance, they should fight it for you.

When the lad hit mine and I couldn't track him down I informed my insurance that I may have a potential claim, but a day later I managed to contact him and spoke to the insurance saying I don't want to go ahead with a ptential claim and please cancel it. They were fully aware I was not at fault as they had the dashcam footage and was I assured the claim wouldn't be at my expense. I have just had my renewal through and it's actually cheaper than last year. I went and checked through the details and it shows I have had 1 claim in the last 12 months?! If it wasn't cheaper I'd challenge it, just having contact with my insurance has resulted in showing as I've claimed. It was funny as within half hour of speaking to my insurance I had a hire car company on the phone asking where I wanted the courtesy car delivered to. The insuracnce told me not to agree to it as they charge, I wonder how many people fall for that one.

Hope you get it sorted quickly mate.

 

[yocky z3 2.0]

Even though I have a witness he claims I hit him and says he’s got injuries from it cheeky t- - t only going through his insurance informed mine on information only basis. His insurance have rang me today and told me I am entitled to also claim for injuries and will get a minimum of£1000 assessor been in touch asking for photos of damage they are not hanging about

 

[Pingu]

You haven't even told them that you have any injuries and already they want to give you a bag of sand.

I wonder why insurance is so expensive

 

[zedwheels]

Sad news Tony about your car hope it all gets sorted soon for you, bleeding supermarket car parks are the worst. My grandson was waiting at red traffic lights and checked his rear view mirror to see a lad on his mobile phone coming at him he looked to be doing 20mph as a guess, he hit his car, pushed the boot lid upright and he couldn't open the rear doors. Now you would think, no probs a definite no fault. His insurance cover has gone up by a few of hundred quid a year and it took over 6 months to get it dealt with. he's still back and forth the hospital a year on because while he was gripping the steering wheel at impact he now has ligament issues in his hand and needs an operation.
Point i'm making is Insurance companies are a complete rip off. He's being penalised by increased premiums cos they said he's more than likely to be involved in another bump now??