Does an road accident need to be reported

[Mudball]

Today got rear ended by an OAP while waiting at a roundabout. Family in the car is alright. Nipper at the back said his bottom was shaken but luckily everyone had belts on.

The OAP was completely shaken. I felt more concerned about her well being. She mentioned that her leg slipped and she could not stop. Both car suffered minor damage to bumpers with crumbled but both could drive off after exchanging information. She said she will pay either directly or via insurance.

Question is.. does this need to be reported to the police? I am assuming she will honour her word and I am sure the coppers have better things to do. What happens if she does not take her pills and completely forgets about the incident?

 

[User101]

Only if someone is injured.

 

[Fish]

Inform your insurance company ASAP, pass on all her details to them, along with supporting photos of the collision, hopefully you took some of both vehicles? You don’t wait for her, you have to inform yours and let them do everything.

It’s my understanding with minor collisions you don’t need to inform the police if details have been exchanged without any issues. I’m not 100% though but no police were contacted when a lady side swiped my wife, it was dealt with quickly as soon as both parties informed their own insurance companies and gave them the other parties details.

Whether she’s in the wrong or not, her insurance won’t be happy if their informed she’s admitted liability, even if it’s without doubt.

 

[Reemul]

Inform your insurance company ASAP, pass on all her details to them, along with supporting photos of the collision, hopefully you took some of both vehicles? You don’t wait for her, you have to inform yours and let them do everything.

It’s my understanding with minor collisions you don’t need to inform the police if details have been exchanged without any issues. I’m not 100% though but no police were contacted when a lady side swiped my wife, it was dealt with quickly as soon as both parties informed their own insurance companies and gave them the other parties details.

Whether she’s in the wrong or not, her insurance won’t be happy if their informed she’s admitted liability, even if it’s without doubt.

I work for an insurance company. You know if you report an accident you were involved in even if you don't claim they may increase your premiums. It's a battle we as brokers have, insurers attitudes can be...umm well you seem more of a risk as you were involved in an accident even if you didn't claim.

If you have no intention of claiming at all, i'd keep quiet.

 

[Mudball]

I work for an insurance company. You know if you report an accident you were involved in even if you don't claim they may increase your premiums. It's a battle we as brokers have, insurers attitudes can be...umm well you seem more of a risk as you were involved in an accident even if you didn't claim.

If you have no intention of claiming at all, i'd keep quiet.

That is my view & understanding too. The OAP did not want to use her insurance and said she will pay if it is reasonable. Else she will get her insurance.
In many ways I feel sorry for her and hope the garage does a good quote. I don’t want her to be stuck with a high premium which then stops her from driving around. There is an element of me which says if u know more of her circumstances then I might help her out. What if my mom was in that circumstance

 

[Fish]

I work for an insurance company. You know if you report an accident you were involved in even if you don't claim they may increase your premiums. It's a battle we as brokers have, insurers attitudes can be...umm well you seem more of a risk as you were involved in an accident even if you didn't claim.

If you have no intention of claiming at all, i'd keep quiet.

But if the lady in this scenario doesn’t sort it directly and passes his details onto her insurance, surely as soon as he knows that he himself needs to inform his insurers?

Underwriters always attempt to increase policies imo, it’s mainly them that send renewal notices that are mainly much more than before, but then when getting back in touch with the broker, they knock it back down again. Well that’s the experience I seem to encounter, and I pay large premiums for GIT & H & R.

 

[SocketRocket]

The cost of car body repairs tends to be very expensive. When she understands how much it may cost she will probably prefer to contact her insurance. If I were you I would contact my own insurers straight away.

 

[Smiffy]

If you have no intention of claiming at all, i'd keep quiet.

Is the correct answer.

 

[Maninblack4612]

I work for an insurance company. You know if you report an accident you were involved in even if you don't claim they may increase your premiums. It's a battle we as brokers have, insurers attitudes can be...umm well you seem more of a risk as you were involved in an accident even if you didn't claim.

If you have no intention of claiming at all, i'd keep quiet.

Surely not if you're not at fault?

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Knowing how cars crumple up, and how little an impact speed is need to do unseen damage, I would either get quotes straight away within a couple of days to give her, or just inform your insurance and claim for it straight away. You wont lose out as your excess will be claimed back from her insurance. What you will get is the amubulance chasers hounding you for the next 5 years.
What you cant do is sit on it for too long before telling your insurance if your going down that path, it never goes down well and can make them question the events.
Perhaps an idea of how old your car is, and whether its pcp or yours.

 

[drdel]

Just remember when insurers say "No Claim" they do not mean "No Fault" which is why they can jack up premiums when you 'claim'. Claim, in their world, meaning involving them at all in unravelling the aftermath.

Many cars have soft collapsing 'beams' that mount the front / rear bumpers for low speed impact <10mph - so even if the bumpers look OK these beams may have distorted when absorbing the impact.

 

[Mudball]

Knowing how cars crumple up, and how little an impact speed is need to do unseen damage, I would either get quotes straight away within a couple of days to give her, or just inform your insurance and claim for it straight away. You wont lose out as your excess will be claimed back from her insurance. What you will get is the amubulance chasers hounding you for the next 5 years.
What you cant do is sit on it for too long before telling your insurance if your going down that path, it never goes down well and can make them question the events.
Perhaps an idea of how old your car is, and whether its pcp or yours.

It is going to be checked out on Monday, so not planning to sit on it. I hadnt thought of the crumple beams.. so will get the guys to look into it.
Its a two year old car on PCP.. it was going to the garage on Monday for its second annual service.. Just the timing of this..

 

[Bunkermagnet]

It is going to be checked out on Monday, so not planning to sit on it. I hadnt thought of the crumple beams.. so will get the guys to look into it.
Its a two year old car on PCP.. it was going to the garage on Monday for its second annual service.. Just the timing of this..

For something so new and not yours, I wouldnt even think about anything other than insurance job.
You will have comeback against the insurers body shop if something comes to light after the pcp finishes and the car has gone back to them. Likewise the car will have to look undamaged when they inspect it and take it back.

A no fault claim shouldnt be held against you either, once they have recovered all their costs.

As far as the old lady is concerned, I would ask this.....whilst you and we may feel sorry for her, what if that had been a person or child when she couldnt control that car?
Sometimes incidents like this bring home the truth that the older person shouldnt be driving, and only then they accept it.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

There are many common misconceptions in this thread. I work for an insurance company and i have also been the victim of a 'not at fault' claim. A guy reversed into me while I was stationary, he admitted full liability and his insurance fixed my car, no questions asked. However, when I came to renew I was refused insurance because I had failed to disclose an accident. When I queried it I was told it went against my record and i was now high risk!!!

So to the OP.....get your quote on Monday, contact the lady and if she is still happy to proceed privately then go ahead and do so without informing your insurance. If she prefers to go through her insurance company then you should contact your own insurers and notify them and explain the circumstances.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

There are many common misconceptions in this thread. I work for an insurance company and i have also been the victim of a 'not at fault' claim. A guy reversed into me while I was stationary, he admitted full liability and his insurance fixed my car, no questions asked. However, when I came to renew I was refused insurance because I had failed to disclose an accident. When I queried it I was told it went against my record and i was now high risk!!!

.

Think thats mroe to do with your insurance not being told at the time, and them feeling you werent honest with them.
My wife works in motor insurance, dealing with complaints up to FOS level. She always says to inform your own insurance, regardless of fault as if it comes out after you have with-held info they dont look on it favourably.
The choice and head-ache is yours though

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Surely not if you're not at fault?

Insurers do not look at things that way. Even if you are involved in a 'no fault' accident and the other parties insurers will pay for fixing the damage to your car - your insurers may well increase your premium - simply on the grounds that you have been involved in an accident and so in their eyes you have become a higher risk. And so you have to tell them or risk invalidating your insurance.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

Think thats mroe to do with your insurance not being told at the time, and them feeling you werent honest with them.
My wife works in motor insurance, dealing with complaints up to FOS level. She always says to inform your own insurance, regardless of fault as if it comes out after you have with-held info they dont look on it favourably.
The choice and head-ache is yours though

My insurers were told immediately. The claim was settled in full by the other party, end of as far as I was concerned. When I came to renew, I answered 'No' to the ' Have you made any claims in the last 5 years' question. The person on the phone said they couldn't insure me as I had withheld information. He pointed out what was on the insurers database and when I pointed out I hadn't made a claim he said it didn't matter, I was now high risk :angry:

So....if the old lady wants to settle privately and has not informed her insurers then the OP is best advised to do the same.

 

[PJ87]

I was rear ended at 6am coming home from nights a few months ago .. no damage really.. just some scratches on the 8 year old bumper

the guy admitted fault wanted to avoid insurance.. sent me the money to have it fixed privately

I ended up telling my insurance company because I was worried about "not declaring" said ive had a non fault accident which I dont want to make any claim... now I have to declare it for 5 years and it affects my premium

honesty gets you nowhere

 

[Bunkermagnet]

My insurers were told immediately. The claim was settled in full by the other party, end of as far as I was concerned. When I came to renew, I answered 'No' to the ' Have you made any claims in the last 5 years' question. The person on the phone said they couldn't insure me as I had withheld information. He pointed out what was on the insurers database and when I pointed out I hadn't made a claim he said it didn't matter, I was now high risk :angry:

So....if the old lady wants to settle privately and has not informed her insurers then the OP is best advised to do the same.

Understand now.
My wife had similar, but she still told them of a no fault claim as she says by not telling them gives a dishonest view of you. Her subsequemt policies were unaffected by the no-fault claim.

So as far as the OP is concerned, if he is sure the old lady is going to stay quiet then everything is up to him, however if she does tell the insurance he has no choice for his benefit.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I was rear ended at 6am coming home from nights a few months ago .. no damage really.. just some scratches on the 8 year old bumper

the guy admitted fault wanted to avoid insurance.. sent me the money to have it fixed privately

I ended up telling my insurance company because I was worried about "not declaring" said ive had a non fault accident which I dont want to make any claim... now I have to declare it for 5 years and it affects my premium

honesty gets you nowhere

Not completely true - it gets you peace of mind - though first you have to accept that you have done the right thing