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Original poster

Car bump - to claim or not?

10 replies

neverwantedthis22 · 12/04/2023 10:58

A few weeks ago someone drove into the back of me. My car bumper (chrome) is scratched quite badly. He was one of these drivers who thought they could push in to the front of a long line of traffic waiting patiently along an exit slip road of a busy A road. I initially didn't let him push in but then I did leave him room as he was SO close to me and he didn't even acknowledge my existence. He just blanked me so I moved forward and came behind me and hit me. I'm not convinced that it wasn't on purpose. It was a very very busy road (lorries thundering past) and so I got out but was scared and took a pic of his car and took his number and got back into my car. I contacted my insurers and told them I can still drive the car and I don't wish to pay the excess but to pursue his insurers first. I've never had to claim before so am not sure how this works. I've only had the car less than a year (4 yrs old) and it's my absolute pride and joy. I've been driving 20 years but this is the first time I've been the main person insured so I have no NCD (in case relevant). Anyway, my mother is now saying that you can hardly see the scratch and not to bother claiming or getting it fixed as it'll bring me bad karma. She's compared it to a crash she caused years ago where the lady got her husband to fix it and didn't go to the insurers. That I'll be to blame if this man who bumped into me loses his NCD. WWYD? I want the scratch fixed and thought I had better go via insurers. I'm not convinced he didn't hit me on purpose so don't wish to contact him myself. I'm single and don't have a partner to help me with all this.

OP posts:
Original poster
neverwantedthis22 · 12/04/2023 10:59

This was supposed to go in chat. I've reported and asked for it to be moved.

OP posts:
NoodleNuts · 12/04/2023 11:27

So did you actually speak to the person who hit you and exchange details? It might be difficult to claim against his insurers if not, its bascially your word against his and he could deny everything.

How big is the scratch, is it worth going through insurance? And as far as I know (and is what happened to me last time), you will have to pay your excess but they will then claim it back from the other insurers. You will also need to declare this accident in the future.

Original poster
neverwantedthis22 · 12/04/2023 12:37

I just took his phone number and a picture of his reg but stupidly not his car behind mine. My excess is £450 so I can't afford to fork out for that tbh.

OP posts:
Original poster
neverwantedthis22 · 12/04/2023 12:37

We did speak and he knew he was at fault.

OP posts:
onefinemess · 12/04/2023 12:52

You don't need a drivers details to make an insurance claim, just a reg number. With that being said, you've made a mistake by letting your insurance company know about the incident. You're now classed as "high risk" and regardless of fault or claim, your insurance premiums will increase at renewal for the next five years. Expect a 20-30% hike as a minimum. Technically. you're supposed to let your insurer know about any "incident", but for minor bumps and scrapes (similar figure to your excess) you'll end up financially worse off if you do, considerably so.

For cosmetic damage, I would never let my insurance company know, if its just a bit of scratched chrome, take it to a body shop and let them fix it.

Anyway, your choice now is, make a claim against the other driver, this will be settled as 50/50 by the insurance companies, as without any independent witnesses it will be impossible to prove who was at fault (you could have rolled back into him). Otherwise, do nothing, pay for your own repairs and suck up the renewal increase. DO NOT make a claim within two months of your policy renewing, an "open" claim on your policy will put you into the highest risk category and your renewal will be a minimum 5X your current quote.

I used to work for one of the "Big Six" insurance companies.

Original poster
neverwantedthis22 · 12/04/2023 16:58

Ok. Thanks that's really helpful. I'm absolutely gutted to hear this though. After 22 years of paying my premium and then stbx running off with my car and having to start again with car loan and no ncd that's galling.

OP posts:
Inkblue · 12/04/2023 17:16

onefinemess · 12/04/2023 12:52

You don't need a drivers details to make an insurance claim, just a reg number. With that being said, you've made a mistake by letting your insurance company know about the incident. You're now classed as "high risk" and regardless of fault or claim, your insurance premiums will increase at renewal for the next five years. Expect a 20-30% hike as a minimum. Technically. you're supposed to let your insurer know about any "incident", but for minor bumps and scrapes (similar figure to your excess) you'll end up financially worse off if you do, considerably so.

For cosmetic damage, I would never let my insurance company know, if its just a bit of scratched chrome, take it to a body shop and let them fix it.

Anyway, your choice now is, make a claim against the other driver, this will be settled as 50/50 by the insurance companies, as without any independent witnesses it will be impossible to prove who was at fault (you could have rolled back into him). Otherwise, do nothing, pay for your own repairs and suck up the renewal increase. DO NOT make a claim within two months of your policy renewing, an "open" claim on your policy will put you into the highest risk category and your renewal will be a minimum 5X your current quote.

I used to work for one of the "Big Six" insurance companies.

You need to let your insurers know if you have been involved in an accident, even if you don’t claim. Check your policy, OP.

mycatsanutter · 12/04/2023 17:32

Your insurers won't pursue the third party for your damages unless they have paid out first . If you want to claim off his insurers direct your legal cover would need to do that . But the chances of him admitting 100% liability is slim .

Original poster
neverwantedthis22 · 12/04/2023 21:15

I have told the insurance company and I do have legal cover so I could try that route.

OP posts:
Original poster
neverwantedthis22 · 12/04/2023 21:34

mycatsanutter · 12/04/2023 17:32

Your insurers won't pursue the third party for your damages unless they have paid out first . If you want to claim off his insurers direct your legal cover would need to do that . But the chances of him admitting 100% liability is slim .

Ok. Thanks that's good to know!

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