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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think I shouldn’t have to use my car insurance for this?

91 replies

Mar124 · 03/12/2023 12:10

In my work place carpark, a large tree limb fell on my car damaging it badly. I was in the car when it happened. The car is now financially written off, and I’ve had no car for two weeks. This is because I was told my employer’s insurance would cover it. I was since told, they will not cover it now and I’ve to use my own insurance. I’ve never had to touch insurance in my life and now face losing my no claims bonus higher premium etc. for something completely not my fault. AIBU to not want to use my own insurance, when I was told it was being sorted by my employer?

OP posts:
JoanOfAllTrades · 03/12/2023 12:15

You tell your insurance company (which you already should have) what happened. They will pursue your employers and since you’re not at fault, and if your insurance can get them to pay, you should be able to keep your NCD.

Inform your insurance provider of the details, police crime number, any injuries you sustained. This is what car insurance is for - so that they can ensure that any accident/injury can be dealt with as efficiently as possible without you being out of pocket.

Original poster
Mar124 · 03/12/2023 12:16

@JoanOfAllTrades They know. My point is employer said they could, then were told they couldn’t.

OP posts:
Wingedharpy · 03/12/2023 12:16

In my experience, you do have to inform your insurers, regardless of whose fault caused the change in circumstances.
Insurance companies then usually sort it out between themselves.
Realistically, what's your alternative?

Riverlee · 03/12/2023 12:16

I presume your car insurance will contact the company to claim the money back.

Fieldofbrokenpromises · 03/12/2023 12:18

I posted to warn you this might happen when you posted about this originally.

Blame the law if you want to blame anything - but your employer's insurance will only cover any legal liability they have. If they aren't legally liable (for example they couldn't have reasonably foreseen the tree falling on a car) then they aren't liable and that's why you have your own insurance.

Not everything that happens in the world is someone's fault.

Floralnomad · 03/12/2023 12:19

Just call your insurance company back and tell them what your employer has said and let them deal with it . I don’t understand the angst surely this is why you pay for insurance .

Fieldofbrokenpromises · 03/12/2023 12:19

Mar124 · 03/12/2023 12:16

@JoanOfAllTrades They know. My point is employer said they could, then were told they couldn’t.

As I pointed out at the time - that isn't their decision to make.

Wingedharpy · 03/12/2023 12:20

Who owns the tree?

Fieldofbrokenpromises · 03/12/2023 12:21

Wingedharpy · 03/12/2023 12:20

Who owns the tree?

Owning a tree doesn't confer strict liability.

Original poster
Mar124 · 03/12/2023 12:21

@Floralnomad You don’t understand the impact of losing your no claims bonus and higher premiums for something that isn’t your fault in any shape or form? Right so!

OP posts:
Original poster
Mar124 · 03/12/2023 12:21

@Wingedharpy It’s on the grounds of my workplace carpark.

OP posts:
Munchyseeds2 · 03/12/2023 12:24

Your premium will go up either way!
Let the insurance sort it out, that's why you have it

Chiar · 03/12/2023 12:25

I think YABU I'm afraid. Someone probably just meant well and got it wrong.

A car park will often have a notice up saying "park at your own risk". I'd be amazed if a workplace would cover random acts of god that could befall a car in their carpark.

You might have a claim against your workplace for not maintaining the tree but it will be on you if you want to pursue that. Personally I would get your insurance to sort it and move on. You can often end up out of pocket when no-fault things happen to your car, but it's just one of the costs of running a car.

Fieldofbrokenpromises · 03/12/2023 12:27

Some insurers may allow you to keep your NCB - most won't - and as they will remind you, it's a no claim bonus, not a no blame bonus (in most cases).

The fact of a tree falling doesn't automatically make the owner liable.

Chiar · 03/12/2023 12:27

And thank your lucky stars you weren't in he car at the time!

BarbaraofSeville · 03/12/2023 12:27

Munchyseeds2 · 03/12/2023 12:24

Your premium will go up either way!
Let the insurance sort it out, that's why you have it

This. Very unfair but even if its not your insurance that pays for the damage,they now have you down as someone who parks under unsafe trees and will charge accordingly.

Original poster
Mar124 · 03/12/2023 12:27

@Chiar No I wouldn’t pursue them for anything. Just most people have told me it should be covered.

OP posts:
WelshNerd · 03/12/2023 12:27

It's annoying that you were misinformed by your employer but I think it's perfectly normal to use your insurance when a tree falls on your car.

Wingedharpy · 03/12/2023 12:27

It may be in the grounds of your workplace OP, but your employer may not own the grounds.
Could be leased and the landlord has responsibility for maintenance etc.
Claim on your insurance and they will untangle who pays for what.

Sometimes you're the pigeon in life and sometimes you're the statue.

It's a bummer but realistically your potential increase in premiums will not cost as much as a new car.

Fieldofbrokenpromises · 03/12/2023 12:28

Mar124 · 03/12/2023 12:27

@Chiar No I wouldn’t pursue them for anything. Just most people have told me it should be covered.

You have been talking to people with no knowledge of Insurance or the law unfortunately.

Beautiful3 · 03/12/2023 12:28

I'd call up my insurance and explain what happened, and what was said. They may claim it back from them.

Original poster
Mar124 · 03/12/2023 12:28

@Wingedharpy I’ve to buy a new car now!! My car is a financial write off due to the extent of the damage.

OP posts:
Munchyseeds2 · 03/12/2023 12:30

I suspect the next issue you will have is that your insurance will not want to give you as much as you think they should for your written off car....

Original poster
Mar124 · 03/12/2023 12:31

@Munchyseeds2 seriously? I’ve zero knowledge of insurance. Never had anything at all in the car since I started driving, and this time is not my fault either.

OP posts:
SonwflakesAreForWimps · 03/12/2023 12:31

Upthread someone said that sometimes things aren't anyone's fault. This sort of scenario is exactly why we need (and use) insurance.

It may not be fair but life isn't fair.
Someone stole my car once. It wasn't my fault but I still had to make a claim on my insurance to get a replacement. Life isn't fair.