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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Accident (not my fault)

97 replies

Beanbaggirl · 31/03/2021 19:13

Not really AIBU but posting here for traffic.

My car was driven into today, the driver of the other vehicle took full responsibility and I had a phone call from her insurance company about 10 minutes after getting home.

They’ve told me not to contact my insurance company as they will deal with it their end as the driver has taken full responsibility.

The side back door on the driver’s side is damaged and a family member has said it may be a write off due to cost of body work and the repaint plus labour, may be more than value of the car.
What happens if it is? Can I still drive the car? Do I get to buy a new one for the same price from the insurer? This is all new to me.

It’s a 2014 Reg car with around 41,000 miles on the clock.

OP posts:

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 01/04/2021 16:05

I think insurance contracts are 'uberrima fides' (not certain of spelling) which mean both parties have to act with the utmost good faith.

The concept of that and pricing is a joke on the part of the insurer, however you need to tell them anything or significance regarding the car, your 'driver status' and the insurance.
I was once charged an admin fee because insurers found out about a speeding ticket it hadn't occurred to me to mention to them.

Original poster

Beanbaggirl · 01/04/2021 16:06

The garage doing the repair isn’t one of LV’s ‘approved’ garages but they said as long as I get a quote and email it to them, it’s fine to use my local bodywork garage. Then they’ll decide whether to proceed with the repairs or to write it off. It’s kind of ruined all my plans for the Easter holidays next week and the one after, I feel really anxious driving the car now, I have anxiety issues already, but I keep replaying it in my mind. The back of my neck really hurts now too. I can’t get through to the GP, I was on hold for over an hour earlier.

OP posts:

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 01/04/2021 16:07

But my insurance didn't go up as the result of someone driving into the back of me

FlyingBurrito · 01/04/2021 16:10

@Beanbaggirl

This is the message I got from them:

Hi Sorry to hear you were involved in an accident with our customer, we'd like to help you. We can arrange to pay for your repairs and/or hire car, you won't need to claim on your policy. Your no claim discount will stay the same and you won't pay an excess. thanks, LV=

So they aren't telling you not to conatct your insurers, merely that you don't need to claim on your policy.

That makes a lot more sense, the telling you not to contact your insurers was what we made me ask if it was genuine initially.

TheMerryWidow1 · 01/04/2021 16:17

Let your insurance company deal with them. When I had my accident (not my fault) her insurance company tried to say I didn't need a courtesy car, not sure how they thought i'd get to work for the following 4 weeks. Less of a pain for you if your insurance deals with it all.

Looneytune253 · 01/04/2021 16:20

We had this but woman changed her mind and denied responsibility and had a solicitor call us after 10 mins. It was all quite bizarre. After solicitor called us we thought we'd best inform our ins company as a precaution and then about 3 months later got a call from them to say she was claiming it was our fault and that her and all her passengers were claiming for whiplash. There wasn't even any damage to her car and we weren't moving at all. We weren't even gonna claim for the damage as it's just superficial snd she was a learner. Lesson learned. Don't be nice again, it bites you in the bottom. It'll cost her way more than us in the long run tho as we're experienced drivers with no other claims.

MrsAvocet · 01/04/2021 16:21

Yes it stinks doesn't it QuiizzlyBear
I was involved in a serious accident several years ago now. Not my fault in any shape or form - the other driver was successfully prosecuted. But on addition to life changing injuries which have led to me losing my job and being left in permanent pain, when I eventually did start driving again, there was a significant hike in my premium. Talk about adding insult to injury!
But apparently if you have been involved in one accident you are statistically more likely to be in another, even if the first one wasn't your fault. I can kind of see why that might be the case as my driving is less confident and decisive now, but it still feels wrong.
You did the right thing in telling your insurers though. If you didn't and it was subsequently discovered you may find yourself uninsured which could be a lot more expensive!

AyyMacarena · 01/04/2021 16:25

Those saying their premium didn't go up, were you later insured on the same car with the exact same parameters?

Your insurance may not go up because your new car is cheaper to insure but it will be more to insure than it would have been if you had not had the accident if that makes sense. It's all statistical. If you have been in an accident, regardless of fault, you're statistically more likely to be in another within 5 years.

wishywashywoowoo70 · 01/04/2021 16:29

If the garage prepares an estimate that's over around 60% of the value of your car it's likely to be written off. As LV aren't your insurer they'll have no interest in the car itself and will simply deduct the salvage value if you want to keep the car. They will value your car from glasses guide. You can then decide to let your local fella do the repairs if you want. This will be on proviso the car isn't a scrap category total loss.

If you aren't happy with the offer you can negotiate it but do your research first.
If the car is repairable they should give you a car for the duration it's in the garage. If it's not then they'll just send you the money. They won't bother giving you a hire car then.
You have to inform your insurers as it will be part of your policy conditions.

Turning to your injury
Tell LV that you're injured they will want to offer to settle this directly too. If you aren't happy with the offers you can use a solicitor, maybe you have legal expenses cover on your own policy?

There's no harm dealing direct with any aspect of your claim, you'll find they'll bend over backwards to help you out as it's more economical to them in the long run

MissConductUS · 01/04/2021 17:14

I don't think it's wise to leave your insurance company out of it. The only reason the other person's insurance would want that is if they think they can settle it more cheaply by dealing directly with you. You pay your insurance company to represent you in situations like this.

Ontheboardwalk · 01/04/2021 22:40

I had a scrape with neighbours car (totally my fault) My company Churchill’s didn’t say for them not to report it to their insurance company but to let them sort it out. They said no

Within 4 days and 2 days of courtesy car my car was repaired. Neighbour had to wait for 2 weeks for their car to be picked up then another 2 weeks of them having a courtesy car (mostly parked on drive due to lockdown) before it was returned

I think you should tell your company but let the other insurance sort the repairs (if not a write off). It’s in their interest to do it ASAP.

You do need to report your injury to your insurance company

safariboot · 01/04/2021 23:23

Whether premiums rise varies by insurer and presumably by customer. But I think decent insurers typically don't increase premiums significantly after a single non-fault accident. Multiple accidents are another matter.

It does indicate more risk. For example if you tend to brake heavily, someone hitting you from behind is still legally their fault, but your driving style makes you more likely to be hit from behind. Or if you drive in areas where bad drivers are common, you're more likely to get hit.

SoupDragon · 01/04/2021 23:33

Those saying their premium didn't go up, were you later insured on the same car with the exact same parameters?

Yes. With the same company.

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 02/04/2021 04:14

soupdragon - yes, same car, same insurer

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 02/04/2021 04:17

sorry, that was at AyyMacarena
premiums drifted down following incident -

AyyMacarena · 02/04/2021 07:00

Same car that was also written off and repaired?

AyyMacarena · 02/04/2021 07:25

Someone went into the back of me and for five bleeding years I paid more. Was £100 more per annum the last few years and like I say I work in insurance so know they bump up where they can for five years after the declared accident. Not saying I don't believe you at all as with all things there are exceptions but you're very lucky.

Sunflowergirl1 · 02/04/2021 07:39

Sadly when you renew you will likely pay more. You can check by searching on a comparison site without the accident declared and then change the parameters to declare the accident.

I generally work on the basis of don't claim for anything under £1000 at the minimum and claim direct from the other party. You still have to declare it unless the damage wasn't from an accident etc.

You are lucky they out their hands up to it...so many admit liability at the scene and then deny it...awful

SoupDragon · 02/04/2021 08:37

@AyyMacarena

Same car that was also written off and repaired?

Why are you quizzing me? My car had very similar damage to the OP's and at one point they said it could be a write off due to the amount of labour needed to fix it.

Please stop implying I'm a liar.

AyyMacarena · 02/04/2021 09:49

@SoupDragon literally just said not saying I don't believe you. I'm just enquiring because it really isn't the norm. Stop being so easily offended.

UseYourIllusion · 02/04/2021 10:12

I had a fault accident and my premiums didn’t rise so as Soup says things aren’t always universally true.
I had protected no claims and the following year my insurance was actually £30 less.

moose62 · 03/04/2021 17:27

My premium didn't go up either. In fact it went down by £80 per year. I had 11 years protected no claims and it was a no fault accident!

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