To go through my insurance

[BrokenRainbow22]

Yesterday me, my sister, friend and our DC went to our local soft play centre. They had their time and when we came out they played on the park area outside for a while.
We sat on a bench having a natter, about 2m from the car park. A grey jaguar was reversing out of his parking spot, I said to my sister and friend 'how close does he want to get to my car' he then went forward a little bit, put the car back in reverse and whack!! Reversed straight into my back bumper, I got up and shouted 'you've just hit my car' his window was fully down so he heard me, he whizzed off the car park as quick as he could without even stopping to look at the damage!!!!

He was in a fancy new jaguar I couldn't actually believe it, he's left a scrape and a crack on my rear bumper. My car isn't anything fancy only worth £3k not like his which is probably worth £15k+

I got his registration and also CCTV from the place so he can't argue he hit it but would you just let it go or claim on my insurance? I'm more miffed that he drove off without stopping knowing I had seen him do it!

Claim and claim for your car seats too

@Isaidnoalready what do you mean by claim for your car seats?

I'd definitely claim.

Won't I lose my no claims discount if I do claim?

It would be a no fault claim. Car seats should be replaced after any impact. He's broken the law by not stopping to leave details as well.

Your insurer will claim against his and his premiums will go up.

This is exactly right.

You must also inform your insurer of any accident, even if you don't end up claiming for it, or agree to settle it between both parties. Though you should always go via insurance really.

Absolutely claim- it was him at fault, not you.

Also if you choose to, as you have evidence, you can report him to the police as failing to stop at the scene of an accident is a criminal offence. That at least might make him think twice about doing the same thing to someone else in future!

0any Road traffic accident inclusion in a car park should be logged with the police. As he left the scene without giving details he has broken the law. I would contact the police first and your insurance company and provide them the crime ref and let them deal with it.

If you pay to protect your no claims then no you won't lose anything. At worst you might lose 1-2 years in my experience so depends on how many you have as to whether that makes any major difference to your premiums.

Absolutely claim just to give him a bit of karma. Also report to police, maybe he will get a knock on the door.

Most people who drive off, do so because they aren't insured. Put his reg into the mot/tax checker and also MIB page to check.

However, it's most likely your premium will go up too even if you're not at fault. There are a few occasions this doesn't happen but it is very much the norm. That's because insurance is based on statistics and after an incident, fault or not, you are more likely to have another crash in the following years.

If you do claim, do not use an accident management company. Go direct through your insurance. Bear in mind that due to parts shortage and the low value of your car, you may have your car written off as uneconomical to repair.

I work in insurance.

Yeah I'd claim. That's what insurance is for.

Also claim for whiplash too 🙄

Thanks I will give my insurance a ring and see what happens. Will they have to collect the car etc?

100% claim that's what you pay it for

Why

@CoraContrary do you mind if I ask about this?

The last time I had an accident my insurance referred me to an accident management company. Why do you say not to use them? And if your insurance passes your case on to them, can you refuse?

My situation turned out fine, it was very clearly not my fault and the claim was settled easily, but I did wonder at why another company had to be involved.

I contacted 101 who said the vehicle isn't of any interest to the police but its a genuine registration so put a claim in with my insurer.
I just feel a little petty in doing so because it will probably cost a couple of hundred to have to have it repaired.

He drove off remember.
I wouldn't worry about being petty

@SunshineClouds1 good point

@Coldilox who did you use? Some are fantastic but most are just in it for themselves, bumping up your costs and making as much margin as possible with staff that don't even understand the categorisation of vehicles or complex insurance processes. They also take some of the proceeds of the car salvage payment that you would be entitled to if you went through insurance. They also have Google searches so their phone number comes up but you searched for your ins co. I have seen people loose their car and be unable to claim on their insurance based on what incident management companies have done.

You won't lose your no claims if he was to blame, but insurance will still go up next year because you've been involved in an accident. Yes, that's how fair it is!

You should claim because it wasn't your fault. You have to tell the insurer anyway, even if you don't claim, otherwise they may invalidate your policy. You won't lose your no claims bonus but you will find your premium is higher when you renew because someone who has been involved in one incident is statistically more likely to be involved in another.

Not petty at all. Accidents happen but him driving off makes him a jerk. You shouldn't have any costs because he's a jerk. If your premiums go up switch.

What a git! No, def claim through your insurance! Also if they can't trace him I would still claim your own policy but dependant on cost of repair and your excess. These things cost a lot more than you think and don't likely take a huge hit to the policy the year after. Although depends if you have protected no claims discount.

You should get a courtesy car until yours is repaired.

Of course you claim! Why would you give a stranger who treated you badly £££ ?

someone told me once that the leaving scene of an accident law only applies to public roads so police won’t be interested but insurance definitely will.

He shouldn’t be bloody driving