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Original poster

Car accident

19 replies

poundthealarm · 28/10/2022 13:40

I'm a complete novice having never had to claim before and am bit confused. doesn't take much

Someone ran into the back of me, has admitted full liability which has been confirmed by my insurer and theirs. We've both contacted insurers pretty much straight after the incident.

I've had a call from their insurer asking if I want to deal with them directly and not claim through my policy but have explained that my insurer is already aware and are dealing which I thought would be the end of that side of things.
I've had 2 further calls from their insurer asking to call back and I'm not sure why.
I will obviously call when I get a minute to do so but why would they not just be speaking directly to my insurer

OP posts:

GreenIsle · 28/10/2022 13:42

No you don't speak to their insurance at all op. Just contact your own insurance and they do all that on your behalf.

Original poster

poundthealarm · 28/10/2022 14:47

Thank you. That's what I thought especially after telling them I was going through my insurer. The further calls confused me, I'll see if they phone back and direct them to my insurer.

OP posts:

primeoflife · 28/10/2022 14:50

Yes you must speak to your insurance to inform them you've had an accident but you don't claim from your insurance.

steppemum · 28/10/2022 14:50

poundthealarm · 28/10/2022 14:47

Thank you. That's what I thought especially after telling them I was going through my insurer. The further calls confused me, I'll see if they phone back and direct them to my insurer.

this actually sounds like a scam.
I wonder if the person who drove into you has got someone pretending to be their insurance company?

primeoflife · 28/10/2022 14:51

Sorry I misunderstood. Why are you claiming on your insurance?

primeoflife · 28/10/2022 14:52

GreenIsle · 28/10/2022 13:42

No you don't speak to their insurance at all op. Just contact your own insurance and they do all that on your behalf.

I had to speak to their insurance when I was rear ended as it was the person who rear ended me that paid for the repair (well their insurance)

SconesJamthenCream · 28/10/2022 14:52

Insurance companies do this as it's cheaper to have their registered repairers deal with the claim. I don't think it's sinister but do what you feel is best for you.

PeekabooAtTheZoo · 28/10/2022 14:55

steppemum · 28/10/2022 14:50

this actually sounds like a scam.
I wonder if the person who drove into you has got someone pretending to be their insurance company?

Show quote history

That was my first thought too. OP I once was the victim of a "crash for cash" scam where two people did an emergency stop on a dual carriageway in pouring rain in the dark, and despite driving at 20 on a 40 road, I skidded into the back of one of them while the other drove off. I was contacted by their insurance to corroborate their version of events. Unfortunately I didn't corroborate their bullshit version of events, which included a significant personal injury claim for a person who wasn't even in the car at the time.
Ultimately that was what unravelled it for them and I ended up exonerated.
I don't blame insurers for wanting to hear it all straight from the horse's mouth, but AFAIK you're under no obligation to talk to their insurers.

PeekabooAtTheZoo · 28/10/2022 14:55

(if, in fact, this is their insurers).

EndlessMagpies · 28/10/2022 14:55

It may not be their insurer who is calling you, they might be trying to pull a fast one, and have got one of their friends to call you, impersonating the insurance company.

Dinoteeth · 28/10/2022 15:00

Don't speak with their insurance. Deal with your own and let them claim the other company.

I think insurance companies are trying to cut costs by dealing with you directly but I prefer dealing with the company I'm contacted too.

BoneAppleTee · 28/10/2022 15:22

Be very careful OP, that does not sound like their insurer but the person you had the accident with. Once your insurer is aware they will contact the other side and deal with it, it costs you nothing as they have admitted liability. Do not engage wiyh whoever is calling you and let them know you'll be reporting all communication from them to your insurer to action. There would be nothing in it for a genuine insurance company to make these type of phone calls.

Original poster

poundthealarm · 28/10/2022 15:29

Sorry I've maybe not explained properly I've reported the accident to my insurer and they're dealing with getting my car fixed and claiming costs back from the other drivers insurance company. The other driver and insurer have accepted full liability.

The other driver has driven into the back of my car because she was "worried the car behind her was going to hit her so wasn't paying attention to the traffic infront of her"

I'm pretty certain the calls are legit and the caller yesterday emailed me after the call and that info would only have came from their driver.
The calls today are what's confused me as I've explained that I'm going through my insurer so not sure why they'd be wanting further call.

OP posts:

b8tes7sw · 28/10/2022 15:37

The other person's insurers are probably checking if you are injured or need a hire car as both of these things can be dealt with by them cheaper than if you go via a solicitor or an external (credit hire it's called) car hire company. It's perfectly normal for the third party co. To be contacting you but you don't HAVE to deal with them if you don't want to for any of those things (or repairs) but if it was me I probably would for ease.

Shade17 · 28/10/2022 15:37

It’s normally much better to deal with the other party’s insurer where there is no question over liability. They will bend over backwards to help you as it’s much cheaper for them then you going through an accident management company. You just inform your insurer of the incident and that the other insurer is dealing with you directly.

AnnaBegins · 28/10/2022 15:37

The at fault driver's insurance wants to ensure costs are kept to a minimum by them having the control, and also hope to win new customers. It's your choice who you deal with. In a similar situation, I initially dealt with my insurers but when they became rather ineffectual and slow and the at fault party's insurance offered to deal with me directly, I switched and they were fantastic.

Original poster

poundthealarm · 28/10/2022 15:56

Ah that makes sense that dealing with the other insurer keeps costs down for them.

I have fully comp insurance with courtesy car etc etc so costs will add up. So far my insurers seem to be on the ball and the damage seems cosmetic to my untrained eye anyway i'll see how things progress.

OP posts:

Justgivemewine · 28/10/2022 16:09

Don’t talk to them, just deal directly with your insurer.

My insurer specifically requests that you don’t speak to anyone other than them about the a claim.

i wondered whether the reasoning behind it was to prevent the other party from getting you to say something that might compromise your claim.

GrunkleStan · 28/10/2022 16:38

A few years ago someone drove into my parked car and damaged the front bumper. They waited around for me and admitted full liability. We both reported to our insurance companies. Their insurance company contacted me in a similar fashion and I decided to go with them.

Car was fixed no issues, courtesy car was given for duration of the repair. I wasn't required to spend any money at any point.

It's very unlikely to be a scam.

It's entirely up to you who you use but I wanted to share an experience where this type of scenario ended positively and I do believe with hindsight the whole thing was sorted fasted than if I'd used my own insurer.

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