How to handle accident claim without insurance

drogon. · 13-09-2022 11:17am #1

So the missus had a minor accident when reversing from a parking spot and hit the driver behind. The damage seems minimal, so guess it might be worth paying for it with my own money rather than claiming it from insurance. But I have few questions,

Do I still inform my insurance company ?

Once the third party has a quote, if I am happy with it. Do I pay cash or can I ask for bank transfer as proof ?

Do I ask the third party to sign anything stating the claim has been settled outside.

Fishdoodle · 13-09-2022 1:17pm

Most incidents like this work out fine and most people are decent. Hope the other driver was sound. It does unfortunately happen in rarer instances that neck/back pain ‘arises’ -some people are unscrupulous unfortunately. Did you get a photo of the damage?

What’s your ins. policy like - do u have claim protection (eg 2 claims within say a 2 year period without affecting your premium?) . What’s your excess if you claim via ins. ?

All factors to consider. The most obvious is how much out of pocket will you be by going via ins vs reaching mutual agreement with other driver.

This is all very minor (what’s occoured) , so you don’t have much to worry about. Just call it a learning experience in the (hopefully unlikely event of a more serious nature).

For future reference: In a bigger collision between 2cars never claim responsibility where there’s any ambiguity. Just have the facts and you’d leave it to the insurers to sort out. Also if giving a statement to the guards, if you were in any way in shock -delay in giving a statement and you’d write a written one when settled down. Insurance claims can be a headache! It’s no harm to have a dash cam on the car.

For any accident: A good idea to take photos from multiple angles and a photo of the drivers ins disk.if it’s more than minor, witness details are helpful.

Id imagine you’ll likely make an agreement with the other party in this case. Once they’ve a quote for repairs (preferably 2/3 to show) you’d just decide based on the sum to pay , whether to pay the repairs or go via insurance if it’s a lot. If I were the other party I’d choose the garage doing repairs.

User1998 · 13-09-2022 11:33am

It really depends on what the other person wants. They are allowing you to not go through insurance so its up to them weather they want cash/bank transfer or weather they want to sign a disclaimer. Best to speak with them and see what they want.

Bank transfer/disclaimer would be the best way to go about it.

cml387 · 13-09-2022 11:43am

It is wise to get up a document written by a solicitor for the other driver to sign, confirming that the payment is full and complete compensation.

Also wise to inform your insurance company.

drogon. · 13-09-2022 11:55am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119611806#Comment_119611806

But surely if you get a lawyer involved it would add more cost right ?, might as well go with the insurance company then.

bladespin · 13-09-2022 11:58am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119611863#Comment_119611863

It's an added cost but a draft agreement like that wouldn't cost very much and should cover you in-case they change their minds in which case you'll probably end up going through your insurance anyway but with the added cost of the cash already spent.

Patrick2010 · 13-09-2022 12:01pm

Why on earth would you involve a solicitor??. Similar thing happened to me a few years, car rolled into my car in a car park (hand brake left off). No issue with liabilty. Other driver agreed to pay cash , I got a quote and he posted me a cheque for 250 I think, no issues.

Fishdoodle · 13-09-2022 12:39pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058263171/how-to-handle-accident-claim-without-insurance

A few things to consider - be careful with your words when it comes to accidents. Firstly, it's not the driver she hit but the car right? Was the driver in the car at the time -I presume he/she was. Was there any injury -even the slightest chance?

Do you have a picture of the damage -and exactly what damage was caused?

If you go with the insurance company you can expect the quote for repairs will be far higher- no harm in informing them all the same -that's what they're there for. Later you can decide if you claim via insurance or make arrangements with the other party.

You'll need to read the whole situation even down to the vibe of the other driver. -Some people you just can't trust others are the salt of the earth. If you are in any doubt of a further claim (eg injury) go with the insurance company.

while it's still fresh in the memory write down all the details / time / reg / year of the car / what happened exactly (eg obscured vision) ...etc of the accident occurring. If you talk to the insurance company you'll need this anyway and it's good practice to have all the details to hand even just for your self/wife. also it helps to 'mentally park' the event and move on.

If the quote for repair is small, no harm done and you're both happy to proceed, then that's a good way to go and won't affect your insurance.

drogon. · 13-09-2022 12:43pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119612084#Comment_119612084

Thanks. It was literally 3km/h max and the person was in the car. But just worried that something else may pop up after the payment has been made.

Eggs For Dinner · 13-09-2022 1:21pm

Advise your insurer for record purposes. 3kmh or not, an injury claim may follow. If paying cash, get some form of signed acknowledgement that you have paid it. If you don't want to involve your insurer, you have no say in where the other vehicle is repaired or the level of estimate

Fishdoodle · 13-09-2022 1:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119612407#Comment_119612407

Good advice 👍

drogon. · 14-09-2022 7:17pm

The third party stated that she is on holidays and will get a quote to fix the issue when she is back next week.

We have yet to inform our insurance company as the missus is worried that it will still be considered as an accident but won't lose her no claims discount if we were to inform them and pay out of pocket. Is this true ? someone in her work told her this and hence she didn't bother calling them.

Fishdoodle · 14-09-2022 11:12pm

They’d consider it an accident - that’s what it is. Happen all the time!

As other posters have stated -inform your insurer. Look up the terms of your policy to which you have agreed

eg "You must let us know immediately about any event which may give rise to a claim under the policy..."

"You must not admit, deny, negotiate or settle a claim without our written permission and you must co-operate fully with us in investigating and handling any claim."

..Since you agreed to these terms you stick by them.

drogon. · 15-09-2022 6:38am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119620098#Comment_119620098

Gotcha. Cheers.

zg3409 · 15-09-2022 7:58am

There is a separate insurance section for cars, better to ask there. Most insurers insist you inform them, but if you do it's basically an open claim on your policy until it is all sorted. Beware costs for even a minor tip can be very high, new bumper, new bonnet, new light etc. If they get quote from main dealer labor will be high. Consider your options and as said it depends on what other person wants too. Do you have their insurance details?

c.p.w.g.w · 15-09-2022 8:03am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119620098#Comment_119620098

Well in fairness, you have no option but to "agree" to their terms...as you a forced to have insurance

walterking · 15-09-2022 8:27am

DO NOT INFORM YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY.

They will put it on record and whether on not the other driver claims, it STAYS on the record as a potential claim. You will find it difficult to be quoted elsewhere and the insurance will also jack up your price.

Yes, officially you should, but it will be to your cost. If the car driver that was pranged is away, you can take it that there is no injury and there will be no problem. Only a certain subsect of society scam insurance.

JeffKenna · 15-09-2022 8:37am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119620637#Comment_119620637

Alan Farrell TD springs to mind.

User1998 · 15-09-2022 9:06am

To be honest I don’t know why people are telling you to inform your insurance company. Some people are just so by the book and can’t do any thinking for themselves. Just pay for the damage and be done with it. If they come back with a crazy quote then you can consider telling your insurance company

Fishdoodle · 15-09-2022 9:22am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119620766#Comment_119620766

The information the Op has given is quite vague. No description of damage caused, demeanour of exchange with other driver, whether ins details were swapped. If things were to escalate could be a headache. Also, unlikely to affect his premium if he informs insurer & settles privately.

drogon. · 15-09-2022 11:28am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119620863#Comment_119620863

so while reversing the missus bumped the back side bumper of the other car. She was sitting inside herself, waiting to reverse out. There is a slight dent that needs fixing. Insurance details were exchanged, but the lady in question is on holidays till next week so we won’t know how much it will cost. She is on holidays, so health wise she seems good at least.

I guess settling the claim privately means we won’t loose any no claims discount. That is what insurance told us today, when she informed them.

walterking · 15-09-2022 11:55am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119621406#Comment_119621406

Its now on the record that there has been an "accident". On next renewal when shopping around, this will need to be mentioned. Doesn't matter that there is currently no claim. The "injured party" has 2 years to bring a claim forward and that's what the insurance company will have noted.

drogon. · 15-09-2022 12:13pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119621501#Comment_119621501

They assured her that it won’t and they even said that in the no claims doc it won’t be mentioned if we settle privately.

Fishdoodle · 01-10-2022 4:03pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119621578#Comment_119621578

How did you get on with settling the damage?

Hope it’s all worked out for now 🙂

ba_barabus · 01-10-2022 4:13pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058263171/how-to-handle-accident-claim-without-insurance

It doesn't matter if you're happy with the quote or not, that's up to the other party. If you're not happy with it then it's for the insurance company to handle.