Shunt

[Boogle]

Tbh if he's going to contact his insurer, even to notify - you have to do the same. It's already been mentioned that all incidents are logged on a shared database, this can come up later. Generally the insurance company won't bother checking the incidents database when you take out your policy. But if you should have a big accident in the future which causes them to look for loopholes on how not to pay out - this will be one of the loopholes.

Notify your insurer, but don't start a claim process. See what the other guy wants to do with regards to insurance / private. This way your covered should he decide to go down PI because you've notified your insurer. You will have to notify future insurers for 5 years that you had an incident that was your fault - but no claims. It won't increase your premium much at all at your age. Basically there's very little to lose by notifying your insurer, but a lot to lose if you don't.

 

[nick_z4]

No worries, just added a thread in the Newbie section

 

[ferrelscent]

Tbh if he's going to contact his insurer, even to notify - you have to do the same. It's already been mentioned that all incidents are logged on a shared database, this can come up later. Generally the insurance company won't bother checking the incidents database when you take out your policy. But if you should have a big accident in the future which causes them to look for loopholes on how not to pay out - this will be one of the loopholes.

Notify your insurer, but don't start a claim process. See what the other guy wants to do with regards to insurance / private. This way your covered should he decide to go down PI because you've notified your insurer. You will have to notify future insurers for 5 years that you had an incident that was your fault - but no claims. It won't increase your premium much at all at your age. Basically there's very little to lose by notifying your insurer, but a lot to lose if you don't.

Thanks for all the comments. On balance I tend to agree with this from Boogle above.

For me motor insurance is there mainly for liability to people rather than the cost of car repairs,..the former having scope for getting into big figures. So I will inform my insurer and take the risk of increased premiums rather than risk other liability.

I never have had protected no claims, mainly because I figured for it to have any benefit on future renewals I'd have to stick with the same insurer. As someone said, when you move to a different insurer they just ask if you have had any 'accidents or claims' in recent years so I don't see how having protected no claims would help you at that point.

I took a better look at my front end today and it's amazing how little damage I've taken, most of what I thought were cracks and scratches were just dirt. I think it was more of a push than a bump, ...perhaps he was still moving forward a bit when we made contact. As I say..I can't be sure that the exhaust movement actually happened in this shunt,...it looked like some special exhaust (boy racer style) which maybe was badly fitted in the first place. And the fellas car was pretty small, old and crap, so I am not as surpised as some that the weight of mine pushed his to the extent that the bumper was popped out of its fastenings. As far as I could see the only other damage he had taken was a registration plate light hanging down by the wires.

PS - PvR - I don't work in car insurance. And I'm a bean counter anyway, not claims !

 

[ferrelscent]

Sounds like if you broke his bumper, cracked your bumper, bent his exhaust, etc that you were doing a lot more than 1mph. Sounds more like a 5mph+ impact, so you therefore leave yourself open to whiplash claims from a young lad once he speaks to his mates in the pub.

I would discuss it with him and in the light of day see what he's up to and considering, but he has nothing to lose in any aborted injury claim, and you'll have to pay all his repairs anyway, so frankly I'd go insurance and swallow the loss and increase in premium.

Personal experience - someone rear ended my daughter 100% their fault. Put a claims managment company on it and 2 years later she's still fighting a whiplash claim, her fault claim, loss or earnings by them, repairs,hire car etc. £5,000+ claim on what was a £250 damage (And she was the one hit!!!!)

Thanks cj,

Why is your daughter fighting the claim ? didn't the insurer just take over the whole case for her ?

 

[aquazi]

I never have had protected no claims, mainly because I figured for it to have any benefit on future renewals I'd have to stick with the same insurer. As someone said, when you move to a different insurer they just ask if you have had any 'accidents or claims' in recent years so I don't see how having protected no claims would help you at that point.

Protected no claims means even when you change insurance company you can say you have 6+ years no claims... without if you have an accident you lose this.... So while you are right in that notifying them you have had an accident (regardless of fault) will increase your premium it wont be as much as getting a renewal with 0 NCD.

Good luck with the out come... hopefully this will be a quick fix which you can do outside of the insurance company.

 

[srhutch]

Did you take any pictures of either car?

 

[lacroupade]

as far I know all accidents have to be reported to the police btw.

If the damage is only between vehicles and people its not a police matter....needs third party non-vehicular property to be damaged before police need to be involved. Also domestic pets excluding cats, but not sure about farm livestock, suspect it should be but...?

 

[doofus4000]

as far I know all accidents have to be reported to the police btw.

If the damage is only between vehicles and people its not a police matter....needs third party non-vehicular property to be damaged before police need to be involved. Also domestic pets excluding cats, but not sure about farm livestock, suspect it should be but...?

from a police officers mouth, in northern ireland anyway, they have to be reported regardless if no vehicle damage, people or whatever.

 

[ferrelscent]

I never have had protected no claims, mainly because I figured for it to have any benefit on future renewals I'd have to stick with the same insurer. As someone said, when you move to a different insurer they just ask if you have had any 'accidents or claims' in recent years so I don't see how having protected no claims would help you at that point.

Protected no claims means even when you change insurance company you can say you have 6+ years no claims... without if you have an accident you lose this.... So while you are right in that notifying them you have had an accident (regardless of fault) will increase your premium it wont be as much as getting a renewal with 0 NCD.

Good luck with the out come... hopefully this will be a quick fix which you can do outside of the insurance company.

Aquazi, this is what I thought would be the case. But it is not what I have read elsewhere. Have you actually gone through the process of protecting with one insurer then relying on that fact when moving to another insurer post claim ? In other words, do you know this as fact or is it wishfull thinking ? I don;t have experience of it so I don't know.

To me,..if you pay one Insurer an extra premium for no claims protection, and subsequently prove to be a bad driver/have an accident,...what would be in it for the next insurer to honour your no claims protection ? (...if they never benefitted from the extra premium ?)

 

[shambolic]

Sorry for hijack
But this happened to me today......


Auld dear in motability motor ran into the bacK of my works van(not mine or my insurance but companies). Not much damage to mine but I had to inform work obviously as I would get dug up for damage when lease runs out.
Woman wasn't that bothered about hers as she kept pointing out all the previous damage on her front bumper.
I still don't know how she managed it as we were approaching merging lane in contraflow and she had been crawling behind me for a mile.
I came to a stop with the traffic in front and she shunted into me. Only 5-10 mph but bumper pushed in slightly and some scrapes.
Do I need to inform my own private insurance as they will use it as an excuse to bump up my premium?

 

[BMWZ4MC]

Same rules apply... You've been involved in an accident, so at renewal they would expect for you to own up. Of course, you're one step removed, so the issue of the database is less relevant perhaps.