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Original poster

Had a car accident - Other person might not be claiming as no damage what do we have to do?

37 replies

jellyjelly · 16/07/2007 17:19

Had a car accident this morning as this car and mine were going onto dual carriageway. She braked so i braked and hit her back of her car.

We pulled over. Exchange details - my full address and her name and number. She is not sure if she will claim but will get her uncle to check the car out later. We both argeed that there was no damage apart from a very slight and i mean slight scrath to her car and a slight mark to mine which i am not worried about.

Shall i call her or just pass the details to the insurance company. Have 3 yrs and no its not protected.

OP posts:
Nemo2007 · 16/07/2007 17:20

phone insurancejust in case she decides to go for compo..some people are like thsat

Original poster
jellyjelly · 16/07/2007 17:23

Will i lose my no claims if i tell them and she doesnt claim?

OP posts:
cornsilk · 16/07/2007 17:23

This happened to me. We exchanged details and other person was happy as Larry. When my dh phoned later on they'd been in hospital all day as decided to claim for whip lash.
I had summons through as went to court - they wanted to get as much money as possible. There was NO damage to my car and hardly any to theirs. Don't be surprised if you get a letter from their solicitor claiming damages. Phone your insurance company and log it - even if you're not going to claim.

charliecat · 16/07/2007 17:23

yes, tell the insurance company that its happened, just in case she decides shes going to claim for compensation 3 years later...this is whats happening to my mum right now.
Someones claiming against her nudge. Whiplash, unable to hold telephone, ruined life etc.
Little nudge....

charliecat · 16/07/2007 17:24

No you wont, or my mum didnt. You are not claiming. Just informing them.

cornsilk · 16/07/2007 17:24

You won't lose your no claims if she doesn't claim.

NatalieJane · 16/07/2007 17:27

Don't forget it needs to be reported to the police (within 24 hours) as well as it was on public road.

And sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I would fully prepare yourself for getting a summons, people say anything at the side of the road and then all of a sudden realise what they can get out of it later on. Fingers crossed the other driver just lets it go.

cornsilk · 16/07/2007 17:29

I was told it only needs to be reported to the police if someone is injured at the scene. Mine wasn't 'cos as far as I was concerned no-one was injured at the time.
People who claim for bogus whiplash claims make me so

kookaburra · 16/07/2007 17:30

Yes, tell insurance just in case. DH had simialr, and apparently when the otehr person got home boot would not open
I future, suggest keeping a disposable camera in the car to take photos, and check they can open their boot.
(I once had a prang like that and the woman tried to claim for her dog's stress as he had been in the car at the time)

Original poster
jellyjelly · 16/07/2007 17:31

Well neither of us seemed to be hurt adn i would be gutted. Who would call and see if she will be claiming?

OP posts:
charliecat · 16/07/2007 17:32

She can claim for compo any time in the next 3 years

Original poster
jellyjelly · 16/07/2007 17:33

oh sugar

OP posts:
Original poster
jellyjelly · 16/07/2007 17:33

but whos fault would it be if she braked and i then crashed into her because of it?

OP posts:
yorkshirepudding · 16/07/2007 17:36

Message withdrawn

alipigwidgeon · 16/07/2007 17:36

Yours as you ran into the back of her, sorry to say. I would ring your insurers too, better safe than sorry.

Original poster
jellyjelly · 16/07/2007 17:39

I was out of the 2 second rule though.

OP posts:
Original poster
jellyjelly · 16/07/2007 17:40

Would any of you call to see if she was claiming?

OP posts:
cornsilk · 16/07/2007 17:43

I agree, it's usually the fault of the person behind in the eyes of the insurance company. It's important that you tell them.I think it's part of the terms and conditions that you have to inform them of everything. If you're insured anyway, you've got no worries, they should pay out, but it is stressful when a summons comes through your door.

cornsilk · 16/07/2007 17:45

If you ask your insurers they should tell you if her insurance company have made contact. They are supposed to make claiming very un-stressful so they should try to put your mind at rest.

cornsilk · 16/07/2007 17:46

I don't work in insurance or anything - this is just based on my own experience of making a claim, so might be totally different!

funkimummy · 16/07/2007 17:49

Cornsilk - my DH is the king of insurance (well, he's worked in the industry forever doing claims!!)

You don't have to tell the police if no-one was injured.

It is advisable to instruct your insurance co that this has occured, and that the other person might not be claiming. They will then sit on the info until they receive a claim from someone, otherwise they'll just forget about it and won't bother. You have 3 months to claim after an accident. It is 3 years for personal injury. So if she hasn't claimed by then they'll ignore it and it won't affect your no claims bonus. It would only be affected (if it's not protected) if they have to pay out to fix any damage.

In the eyes of the law / insurance industry it would be a fault claim on your part and not hers because in the eyes of the law the driver who hits another in the rear of the vehicle is the party at fault.

I hope this helps!

And no I wouldn't bother seeing if she's going to claim. She may well do, but your insurance co will let you know if she does.

funkimummy · 16/07/2007 17:50

Sorry, meant to be for jellyjelly. Must go and get my glasses!

Original poster
jellyjelly · 16/07/2007 17:55

Why would i get a summons?

OP posts:
funkimummy · 16/07/2007 18:00

A summons in the true sense of the word is a legal document issued to you by the court. Unless you were stopped by the police for a driving offence then you shouldn't get one.

cornsilk · 17/07/2007 17:39

fUNKIMUMMY -I got a summons even tho' police weren't involved - whiplash claim. Insurance company said it was 'cos other party weren't happy with amount being offered by my insurers for their claim, so rather than put pressure on them they issued a summons against me as the driver. Very stressful.