Car insurance claim or not.....what a headache

[lchris21]

Good afternoon gents and ladies...
I know there are a few stories on the forum about various motor insurance incidents and pitfalls.
Im now calm enough to try and think logically on the next steps.
So..........
Her indoors arrives home yesterday in the diminishing light after being side-swiped by a car, which was on her side of the road. Basically the driver of the other vehicle tried to squeeze past some parked cars on their side, crossed the white line and made contact with the side. Damaged various panels, drivers mirror, rear wheel, scratches and scuffs. Its a 100% no fault incident in my opinion.
Cut a long story short Ive had a look this morning in the cold light of day, and taken it to a local body shop for an estimate. With the dreaded VAT its looking like approx £1000 to put right
At the time of the incident, my missus rang me as she didn't know what to do. She rang plod, as I advised, but they weren't interested . I told her to get the drivers details, which she did, along with contact details and insurance details. As it was rush hour she was unable to get eye witnesses as nobody would stop and there weren't any pedestrian passers-by.
To complicate matter the car was a left hand drive on Spanish plates....the driver is from UK but lives in Spain, but is just visiting.
Now my dilemma...the car is worth +£25K so unlikely to written off, theres no structural damage, just deep scratching minor dents, from the glancing impact which will need to be blended in with a paint job.
When I was at the body shop this morning they handed me a leaflet on what looks like a claims management company? Never hear of them www.innocentdriver.com ? After a bit of googling they seem plausible, and the body-shop guy was quite sensible and not really giving it the hard sell for commission. They basically pursue the third party insurance company and they also get the excess paid (£250), protect the NCB (she has NCB protection on her policy) My discussion with him, about the repairs was also sensible so see no reason or doubt he can do the job to a good standard, and his local feedback is good.
The wife is insured with Aviva, not some bargain basement comparison firm, so hopefully they should be sensible to deal with.......famous last words
My concern is that the car will be registered on the insurance database and affect its resale value, diminution value Its called, I've learned, plus her record will have a claim against it and affect future premiums, plus she will have to pay the £250 excess.
I think the Spanish plates and insurance will complicate things if I try and get the claims management company involved, and don't really want to shell out £1k in repair costs just to keep it clean and it and her off the database.
Any thoughts, or experiences
What a headache......

 

[vx490]

A few years ago my missus was passing parked cars on her side but one had his wheels turned sharply out into the road. It was dark and cars were coming the other way, and she whacked her front wheel into the parked car’s sticky-out wheel. All the near side suspension had to be replaced, brake disc, wheel, tyre and a wing touched up. We also got a courtesy car. The owner of the parked car also got his damage covered. Insurance covered it all and the car wasn’t categorised at all. I think that’s only when the car is written off.

 

[Mick Annick]

It’s while since I was involved with insurance claims in the UK, but firstly you are almost certainly obliged to inform your insurer of the accident whether or not you make a claim on or through them.

From what you describe the car will get an N marker on the Motor Insurers Database - damaged repairable non-structural, it will affect the value but shouldn’t be much, though I don’t know if insurers routinely update the database, worth asking Aviva.

I agree it sounds like no fault, but in my experience (I used to manage insurance for a firm delivering 300+ cars a day, we had a lot of claims…) insurers will go straight to 50/50 for a collision like that. The other driver’s insurer will probably claim he was already established passing the parked cars so your wife should have given way, she was speeding, he was stationary and your wife hit him… I’ve heard it all. In my experience insurers really aren’t interested in defending anything but serious expensive claims, for the rest they work on you win some, you lose some.

I’ve no experience with claims management companies so can’t comment. Edit - check the small print - if the other guy’s insurers don’t pay up you may be liable for some hefty fees as well as the repair cost and hire car.

 

[dan treg]

if the vehicle is repaired by your approved insurance ie they decide to repair there will be NO marker on car . it will only be a cat s or cat n if they right it off

 

[jmp49]

Ugh, had similar recently too.
10 days back a 76 year old bloke rear ended our clio4 business estate I put a new engine in a few months back while my daughter was driving waiting to pull onto a roundabout and wife in the passenger seat. It had a damaged rear hatch that was repairable, bumper deformation panel, hatch trim, bumper and was leaking diesel after the accident and thats just what could be seen at a quick glance. The driver at first said it wasn't worth a claim and partly her fault for being hesistant so could he give 50e, then went on to claim she had reversed into him, except there was a witness who saw him slew round a parked car on approach, turn his head to shout at the people in the parked car while accelerating and drove straight into the back of them. It went the approved repair centre local and the insurance company was going to write it off for the damage sustained as it twisted the rear axle too besides the visible damage and give the average resale value for the mileage on the original reading on the odo and it was mint, new android 4g head unit, backup cam, one owner from 6 months old etc. My daughter had her driving test scheduled last week and was really shook up by it. Its in the bodyshop today after a robust argument with the assessor but no hit to my wifes insurance and his insurance company accepted the liability at 100% because of the situation and witness. And somehow my daughter has passed her test.

Over the years Ive come to the same conclusion as mick, people absolutely lie when they think they can get away with it, even sometimes when they cant. And its universal of nationality, location whatever. The foriegn plated car is probably back in spain by now and the driver thinking "I wonder if they can even get me over here" having had enough time to get out of the country without repocussions, plus you probably dont have a copy of his green card validating the insurance for the UK...

I used to deal with insurance assessors as part of a job in the UK, and my opinion of them hasnt improved over time also, but sometimes you have to stand your ground with them too even if proved that you are the victim...

If you cant get the other insurance company to acknowledge because of circumstances, you may be able to make a claim via the MIB

https://www.mib.org.uk/making-a-claim/accidents-in-the-uk-involving-a-foreign-registered-vehicle/

 

[Domdom]

Honestly, for a grand I would suck it up. That's not a lot when compared with what the increased premiums will cost you. I had a no fault bump in 2017 where a woman ran into the back of me at some traffic lights. Totally her fault but I was in a courtesy Range Rover (mine was in for service) so I had to go through the dealer insurance on courtesy cars. 5 years of premiums being up by several hundred quid a year even though it was recorded as being 100% not my fault.

If you do go through insurance, make sure you claim for your likely increase in premiums. They will go up if you make any sort of claim regardless of fault.

 

[Mick Annick]

if the vehicle is repaired by your approved insurance ie they decide to repair there will be NO marker on car . it will only be a cat s or cat n if they right it off

I stand corrected - marker is only assigned to write-offs

 

[Smallfry]

I would just leave it. Chances are wifey will hit something else later

Get it repaired when you are thinking of selling.

Then buy something for about £1500 to £2000. Daily driver cars are a waste of money.

 

[lchris21]

Thanks for the input all. I hate dealing with big companies especially insurance. I'm juggling a few different institutions as I typed....last thing I need is another headache.
Luckily this time I'm happy for them to speak with the account holder only ....her indoors.
We decided to go through the insurance to get her indoors stress levels down and make sure she can sleep tonight.
I sat in on the phonecall and they were pretty good to be fair. Unlikely it'll be categorised based on the damage description, plus information on how to claim the excess back.
Wife's stress levels are dropping which is good for me
Whatever develops as regards premium increases over the next 5 years, we'll see, and have to suck it up if so. Annoying but it is what it is, no point stressing over something I've got no control over. Sickening that if you're not at fault you pay, if you're at fault you pay.... Call me a cynic, only one winner as all ways, not the consumer
The Spanish insurance issue could be a factor with the settlement but thats for the insurance to sort out.
I'm with you @Smallfry .....bangernomics for me and don't mind being stranded on the side of the road....but I sleep well at night knowing her indoors is safe, in something reliable and she's happy with.

 

[Nomad]

Last big claim I had (chap crossed a give-way line into me as I was going past, my car was a write-off), his insurers were very keen for me to deal with them direct rather than claim though my insurance.
It all worked out in the end - largely because the other driver admitted fault to the police who turned up at the scene and to my insurance co, the insurance assessor was clueless - he valued my roadworthy (restored, in daily use, ready for paint) 70s classic at £300 until I pointed him at restoration projects for £3K

 

[ukracer]

Thanks for the input all. I hate dealing with big companies especially insurance. I'm juggling a few different institutions as I typed....last thing I need is another headache.
Luckily this time I'm happy for them to speak with the account holder only ....her indoors.
We decided to go through the insurance to get her indoors stress levels down and make sure she can sleep tonight.
I sat in on the phonecall and they were pretty good to be fair. Unlikely it'll be categorised based on the damage description, plus information on how to claim the excess back.
Wife's stress levels are dropping which is good for me
Whatever develops as regards premium increases over the next 5 years, we'll see, and have to suck it up if so. Annoying but it is what it is, no point stressing over something I've got no control over. Sickening that if you're not at fault you pay, if you're at fault you pay.... Call me a cynic, only one winner as all ways, not the consumer
The Spanish insurance issue could be a factor with the settlement but thats for the insurance to sort out.
I'm with you @Smallfry .....bangernomics for me and don't mind being stranded on the side of the road....but I sleep well at night knowing her indoors is safe, in something reliable and she's happy with.

I think you have got it spot on.

The description you describe is almost certainly Knock for knock.
You both get damaged fixed and both get a claim against you. Insurance gets increased premiums unless they are protected.

As for foreign companies.....they are horrendous. My sons BMW was written off in Germany by a speeding driver.
Because he was not prepared to defend it in their courts he was stitched up.

 

[cocker]

I suspect the insurance co will make your wife pay it all back in the long run !
Mrs had a £2000 claim - some burk drove into the drivers door while she was sat in it , parked !! Then drove off !- insurance thieves took her £500 exess then upper her premiums . Robin b stards

 

[angellonewolf]

just to be the devil in this and it prob wont happen

but lets say in a few weeks your insurance company contacts you and they have had a claim because your otherhalf decided to carry on through the other person had a line of cars on there side had pulled out passed 3 cars on there side of the road and with only one left before they pull in back on to there side of the road he was in a posistion that was allready taken your wife thought he should have waited and pushed through thinking there was enough for both of you to pass each other it then makes it knock for knock or even your wife was at fault because she was in a rush

because he was allready passed x amount of cars it then becomes he was on the wrong side of the road to pass parked cars and he was then in the right of way ?

as there was no witnesses its a he said she said

if there was witness youed be a bit better off but is theres not better get your side in first

 

[Dozzer]

to give another perspective, the car will likely get a Cat N, non-structural, cosmetic repairable.
the bad news is this can affect the resale price by around 10-15%
if its Knock for Knock, if the other driver refuses to accept blame, then you could find your premiums go up, trust me that even is its protected you will get some form of loading.

 

[Gritineye]

Even if you weren't going to claim, the body shop will have entered the details on the system, they are obliged to by some insurance trade agreement or other.

You are obliged to report it, so usually a premium raise will happen any way, claim or not.

 

[lchris21]

Sucks...I know, but we all pay in the end. We'll probably end up with increasing premiums as a result no doubt. That's why everyones premiums have gone into orbit the last few year's as nobody gives a crap these days. Too many people in a rush with no common sense and little in the way of morals....

 

[bricol]

Dashcam. Get one.

Some years ago I was hit at around 7.30 am. A telephone call, one email with video, and by 9.30 his insurance had accepted responsibility and offered a car.

Total claim was £40,000. Didn't especially notice my premiums going up afterwards.

 

[ukracer]

Dashcam. Get one.

Some years ago I was hit at around 7.30 am. A telephone call, one email with video, and by 9.30 his insurance had accepted responsibility and offered a car.

Total claim was £40,000. Didn't especially notice my premiums going up afterwards.

In general I don't think they do go up with a no fault accident. But we think they do because they go up anyway. Lol

 

[addjunkie]

Based on my recent experience itll end up 50/50 insurance wont chase it….too expensive easier just to pay out, quicker too.

Im my case Mrs fault apparently but no evidence of a dent in other car-ever produced. When I asked to see evidence then accept our fault, I was told in writing not worth chasing. Tried complaining was wasted effort!

 

[JOEPRO]

1000 and 250 excess means the actual cost would be 750 then.

I absolutely would have repaired the car privately and not went through insurance. You will pay that back 3 fold through insurance one way or another, zero doubt.