Hit a car in the ice - what happens next?

[indieangel]

I've never been involved in an accident before and wondered what is the procedure? I've told my insurance co and they've said they'll have to wait for guy to contact his. But do I lose my no claims (although there's no damage to my car) and how much will it affect my monthly payment.
All advice welcome.

depends on damage, was his car very badly hit? It may not be worth him losing his no claims and paying an excess if minor damage...
Yes you would lose your no claims record if the accident was your fault.
What actually happened?

He said he has to tell his insurance company as the lights on his dashboard came on to show he'd been hit.
We were on an icey hill, going v. slowly, literally just raising my foot off the brake pedal, no acceleration. He slowed, I slowed and my foot brake didn't work, I just slid, so I put the hand brake on but continued sliding and went into his bumper. It wasn't hard, I was going about 1 mile per hour. But I think it's considered my fault. Although really I'm blaming the weather.

Indieangel, erm, can I just get this straight, were you ahead of him going up or behind him going down a hill?

If you were going up, and ahead of him, then whether you slip backwards or not, he was too close for the conditions and thus liaible, at least in part.

If you were going down, then next time allow at least double the room!

He may want to get his car checked by a garage, as there may be more damage than appears - DH had someone go into the back of his very solidly built Toyota a few years ago - the other car was a mess, but DH's didn't have a scratch, so he told the other guy not to worry about it. When the garage looked at it though, they said the chassis was measurably shorter than it should have been - it took a goodish bit off its second-hand value.

It is easy done sadly.

DH hit someone in the ice last week - and had already left loads of room between our car and the one in front. That is pretty academic when it comes to ice and snow - once you slide, esp on a hill (and in our case esp when someone runs a red light), then it is jut luck or not if you miss them or hit them. So, don;t feel bad.

I would, in future, look at getting your no claims protected.

You will lose your NCB if you haven't got it protected. He won't lose his NCB because the accident wasn't his fault. He will also recover his excess from your insurers.

How do I protect our NCB then, for the future, I'm guessing the 5 year certificate I have is now void. Damn!

Once you are at max NCB, if you pay for protected NCB then you are allowed something like 1 fault accident in 1 year/2 fault accidents in 3 years without losing it. Ring your insurance co & see how they work it.