Someone reversed into my car - insurance advice please

[BigTim]

This morning a lady reversed into the side of my car - she was turning in an adjacent turning area. She very honestly knocked on our door to ask if it was our car and ask me to go and check out for any damage. I was in a bit of rush getting ready for work and could not see any obvious damage.

Subsequently I have noticed that it has made 2 cracks in the plastic wing above the wheel arch. I took the lady's car registration number but in my haste failed to get her name and address. Stupid of me I know

I have spoken to a local accident repairer who said that my car needs a new wing and his verbal estimate is £600. He would, also, need the car for approx 8 hours and so I would need a courtesy car

I would welcome anyone who is able to offer me advice on the best way to proceed as this is a new experience for me. I have full comp insurance on my car with Saga - a protected no-claims discount but with a £100 excess . I obviously don't my insurance status damaged by this incicent. I, also, have legal protection on my policy which Saga tell me would assist in recuperating my losses. Should I go through my insurers or should I approach the other driver's insurers direct - if I can speak to her.

I was not at fault in any way with this incident as my car unattended but legally parked outside my house and I was in the house. As I said earlier I have the reg no of the other vehicle and, also, know the other driver by sight - she comes to our road most mornings to walk her dog. I would prefer to speak to her before proceeding.

I've not got much knowledge/experience of car insurance claims so I'd appreciate advice as I don't want my future insurance effected if possible.

Tim

 

[RegandPat]

I had my first accident in over 40 years last month a BMW went up the back of my 4x4, his insurance rang me up next day and said they would have my car repaired but there was not much damage to mine but agreed to let them have the car.

3 weeks they had it and was told if I had there Curtesy car it would go over the limit and they would scrap my 4x4.

After 3 weeks I did get my car back and they did put a new tow bar on but to go all that time with no transport was hell.

I could have done the job my self in half a day, well perhaps not and all the walking I got has made me a lot fitter.

I will never trust an insurance man again, I had better add he said it would only be a couple of days to fix.

 

[Damian]

Tim, the best way would be to speak to the other driver, look out for her when she walks her dogs and politely explain that the car has a bit more damage than you initially thought.

Tell her the situation regarding cost and ask which way she wants to proceed.

I would guess she will opt for insurance to sort out. but tell her that you will still require your excess of

 

[Steve L]

Tim.

I would not put it through your insurance for one simple reason, your insurer will undoubtedly not offer protected no claims at renewal, then should you have a genuine mishap yourself, you will loose out.

You say you took down her car reg number. If you cannot trace her yourself, I would pop round to your local cop shop. Explain the situation as you have here and they probably will trace the vehicle keepers address and contact them requesting they contact you. For obvious reasons, they won't divulge any third party's details without permission, but the other party will get in touch as a call from the police will spur them into acting responsibley.

We have had two carpark prangs where the other party has hit our car. One wrote off our car as thier towball opened up the side of the car. The other incident was simlar but on that occassion I got a written conffession from the driver. My insurance broker asked if I'd held him by the neck until submission as she knew me from my doorman days. But I hadn't. there are some genuine folks left out there.

Mind you I did have one git who knocked my car and the cheeky **** left a note saying "I'm writing this note cos folks are watching, they think I'm leaving my name & address but tuff!!"

Finally, I would not put up with no curtisy car for any reason, especially a threat from the insurer of writing off your car, because the hire car cost is not counted in the actual repair cost of the vehicle.

When you do get your car repaired just watch the standard of workmanship as all repair centers are on fixed cost basis and as such whell them in and spit them out as quick as possible.

Good luck.

Steve L.

 

[602]

Hi,

Write a letter ......

Dear Madam,

I refer to the collision between you car and mine at TIME and PLACE.

This letter is to inform you that I hold you entirely responsible for the damage to my car, and expect you to make good my losses. An INITIAL estimate suggests the cost of repair will be

 

[Philspadders]

if you have protected no claims it is protected in the event of a no fault claim. ( that why its called no claims bonus protection).I made a no fault 2 years ago on my car. All you have to do is make sure you do not make any claims for another 12 month period. You will have to pay the excess (is this a voluntary excess, as there may be another fixed excess hidden in the policy).You would be able to claim back the excess as " out of pocket costs" ,which if you have legal expenses cover would cover the recovery cost of the

 

[Chris_374413356]

I had a similar incident a few weeks ago and the lady who hit my car admitted full responsibility. To cut a long story short her insurance contacted me and took care of the whole thing, including picking my car up on a low loader and dropping off a free hire car. I didn't even have to pay my excess and try to claim it back as my insurance wanted me to do.

Perhaps you could contact her insurance and go the same way and don't even bother with your own company.

 

[Danny_374561559]

hi

i used to be a claims handler for norwich union

if you can speak to the lady first :

*insurance company

*policy

*name and address and contact number

*registration

*make and model of vehicle

Do make sure that you see proof of insurance if you can as if you go to put a claim through you dont want it affecting you if the lady doesnt have any

by all means she may pay for the repairs herself to avoid going through the insurance so always check that first.

With regards to your excess this will not affect you in any way as the responsibility is down to the third party and not you so all costs, excess etc will be claimed from her insurance company once your insurers have fixed your car so you will not be affected by this, with regards to the garage that is one quote only so before you speak to the lady call a couple first. If you do take it through your insurers try and get it in with one of there approved repairers as this case the process will be a lot quicker as it is all sorted in one place and everybody knows where they stand

if you have any more questions just ask and i will help

Danny

 

[BigTim]

Thanks for the advice everyone and particularly to Danny for your kind offer of further help and your reassurance that it won't effect my insurance position - I've only had 2 minor accidents in 30 years of driving and none in the last 10 years or so.

After spending the last few mornings with the front door open LOL looking out for the lady I spoke to her this morning. She has given me all her contact details and is going to let me know here insurance policy number, she's insured with Tesco.

Will her insurers contact me, should I contact her insurers or should I hand it over to my insurers?

Thanks again for your help everyone.

Tim

 

[Danny_374561559]

get in touch with your insurance company, then once you have given them information on damage, where and when it was etc, they will then ask for the third parties insurance documents

with regards to tesco insurance they use there insurance through someone else and carry the name themselves, so it could be direct line etc

so the main thing for you to do now is to contact your insurance company, report it and what they will do after taking her details is to arrange the repairs to your vehicle etc

then after you have reported it to your insurance they will then contact her insurance provider and claim all costs back from them

plus if you report it before the lady all that will happen is your insurance provider will get in touch with her insurance and they will send her a letter etc. policy number isnt too important as when working in the insurance industry we have systems and can find everything out through the registration.

it can be very confusing but if you have worked in it etc all the training pays off.lol

so yes, contact your provider and report the incident and get the ball rolling

as i said any questions just let me know, glad to help

 

[Danny_374561559]

also let us know how you get on tim

 

[emmerson2]

Good luck with Tesco. My son had a similar incident with a Tesco insured driver. At the scene, he admitted liability, but my son failed to get in writing. When he contacted Tesco after three weeks of inaction, they said their driver had disclaimed all knowledge of the incident, there were no witnesses, so goodbye.It cost my son

 

[Steve L]

Some people can be most dishonest.

I had to deliver a claims form from a sand & gravel firms insurance broker to the firm personally to get a result when one of their cement trucks spattered my car with cemet causing

 

[Mikey1]

No need to get liability in writing as you should never say its your fault anyway as it could invalidate your insurance.

Emmmerson you should have pursued it as why else would have all the guys insurance details,report it to the police they can do a simple paint test match to prove it as they take a dim view of people not owning up to motoring offences.

Its also up to your insurance company to chase not you

 

[robert_374565247]

my car was parked on my drive. the drive is on a slight incline toward the house. My oppsite neighbor accross the road drove onto his drive and parked up and went in doors. Next I heard a heavy plastic crunch and car alarms going off

His hand brake had failed and his car had rolled off his drive, crossed the road, onto my drive, and collided with the rear of my car. Two cars, no drivers, one accident.

When he came out to find his car gone from his drive his first thought was it had been stolen. Then he noticed it parked on my drive and the realisation of what had happened was plain to see in his expression. From anger to guilt in a split second

Thankfully his insurers paid for the repairs without question without me having to contact my insurers. I did contact them to inform them but they had no interest

 

[emmitdb]

Greetings,

There is no liability in law for the other party to prove to you that they have insurance.

Following a damage only accident the other party only need to give you their name, the name and address of the owner of the vehicle if different and the reg no of the vehicle he (or she was in).

If he or she does not do those things for any reason then they should report the accident to a police station or a Police Constable as soon as practical or in any case within twenty four hrs.

However, here's the rub.

Following on from her immediate conversation with you, she could argue that there hasn't been an accident so she has no need to either give you the necessary details or more importantly report the matter to the police.

Now, you have now discovered that there has in fact been an 'accident'

You should approach the woman and obtain the above details. It may be that she is willing to pay for the matter without you making a claim via your insurance but if she doesn't want to cough up

 

[BigTim]

I was just about to make a claim with Saga, my insurer when Tesco Insurance, the other party's insurance, contacted me directly offering to have my car transported to a local car body repairer to be repaired at their cost and provide me with a similar size courtesy car whilst mine is being repaired.

As Tesco'r repairers is quite local to me, in fact it was from them that I had already obtained a verbal estimate, and give a 5 year guarantee on body work repairs I have accepted Tesco's offer.

This means that I will NOT be making a claim on my insurance, just notifiying them, and I have advised Saga of this. I have to arrange with the body shop for a suitable appointment but they hope to be able to complete the repair in the next week.

Thanks for all the helpful from people on the forum

Tim

 

[robert_374565247]

I was just about to make a claim with Saga, my insurer when Tesco Insurance, the other party's insurance, contacted me directly offering to have my car transported to a local car body repairer to be repaired at their cost and provide me with a similar size courtesy car whilst mine is being repaired.

As Tesco'r repairers is quite local to me, in fact it was from them that I had already obtained a verbal estimate, and give a 5 year guarantee on body work repairs I have accepted Tesco's offer.

This means that I will NOT be making a claim on my insurance, just notifiying them, and I have advised Saga of this. I have to arrange with the body shop for a suitable appointment but they hope to be able to complete the repair in the next week.

Thanks for all the helpful from people on the forum

Tim

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