Hi all

I came back to my 'other' car last week to find a woman saying she had hit it. Big scrap and dent in rear bumper (Audi so not cheap!)
I contacted my insurance saying I would like to claim on her insurance. In spite of her giving me her details and admitting in front of 3 witnesses she did it, she is now not returning their calls.
Not having had this happen before, is it worth me claiming on MY insurance? Will they be able to reclaim from her? Will I lose my excess?
Will it affect future premiums?
Apparently her insurance cant do anything as she hasn't reported an accident to them (don't think she had much, if any, damage)

Any advice gratefully received!

If you've given her details to your insurance company, as long as you have the witnesses details, let your insurance company handle it. If they pay out they can pursue her or her insurance company for the amount. Hopefully the Doctor will see this thread and advise on a legal perspective.

At this stage you need to stick to your guns and support your insurer. Give them enough ammunition and they will open fire on your behalf. I assume you got contact details of the witnesses and passed them to your insurer? They are the key because she will be outgunned if they are willing to make a statement.

I once witnessed a low speed accident when I was walking through town. A left hand drive car with some Germans driving was doing a 3 point turn in the middle of the high street and bumped into a stationary car that was in traffic.

The Germans blamed the other driver for being too close and you can bet they would have told the insurer a different story. I was the only person to approach the scene and offer my details as a witness. This resulted in a defeat for the daft Germans and I did it because I knew how grateful I would be for an independent witness if I was the victim of an accident. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

I had a similar experience a few years ago. At work we rented a van and I picked it up, while parked in our yard a wagon driver used our yard to turn around (wasn't even delivering to us). The wagon clipped the van causing some expensive damage. The driver came to the office and gave us his details which I passed on to the hire company.

It started out that the haulage company was going to pay out for the repair until they saw the estimate. They then would not answer the phone calls from the hire company. In the end the hire company asked me to fill out an insurance claim on their behalf and it all went through on insurance. I would have thought it would be the same with the OP? Black MY2013 SD4 GS Auto, Wood Company Armrest, Freel2 sticker.
Gone MY2010 Freelander 2 Manual TD4.e S, Alaska White.

Do you have protected no claims by the way? Although that only comes in if you don't claim off her insurer. It's your insurer vs hers and her insurer will admit or deny liability on her behalf without the need for admission from her. The witnesses are crucial. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Many years ago I had a collision with a lady driving a VW Beetle who cut across me to turn right at a set of traffic lights and I could not avoid hitting her with my Peugeot 505 in which I was travelling very slowly (you do not hurry when the wife has sent you to B & Q for paint).
She had a dog sitting on her lap and said she did not see me as she was looking at her husband who had turned right in his car just before her.

Mr Plod arrived and took statements but as nobody injured just told us to swap details. This we did and I then was informed by my insurance co. that she also had not reported the incident.

I contacted Mr Plod who phoned her up and informed her that it is an offence not to inform you Insurers' that you have had a collision.

Got paid out very soon after with no detriment to my no claims bonus..

Perhaps Doc can confirm if it is still and offence not to contact your Insurer?


Bill T. Life Honorary Member of Wallasey Motor Club.
Licenced MSA Radio Operator for 35+ years.
Rallying is the only sport.

I haven't actually given the insurance the witnesses names etc as they didn't SEE the accident, were only with me when she admitted hitting the car. She seemed so up front and honest I didn't think I'd need to.

As The Doc says you must give every bit of info you have to your Insurer and if possible have a word with a Police Offier to see if I am correct in saying she is committing an offence by not informing her insurers that she has had a collision.

Even if she does not claim for her damage she has materially altered the terms of her in insurance conditions.

What will she answer to the question "Have you had an accident in the last 3 years?" when her policy renewal date comes up.

IMHO you must keep after her as people like her are putting up the cost of your premium. I know your no-claims is protected but for haw many incidents and come the time you really need it may not be there.


Bill T Life Honorary Member of Wallasey Motor Club.
Licenced MSA Radio Operator for 35+ years.
Rallying is the only sport.

You were parked so not your fault. The witnesses are still the key if they are willing to make a statement on what she said even if they didn't see it. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Always best to snap a photo with your phone too to show they were actually there.
We had a case at work where a lorry back into one of the vans and took out the rear side panel, I happened to take a photo whilst the lorry was still in position and so you could see its numberplate.
Good job as later the company who owned the lorry said their driver was no where in that area at the time, so we faxed them a photo, oops! and the best bit was they sacked the driver too.

The Doctor wrote:

Do you have protected no claims by the way? Although that only comes in if you don't claim off her insurer.

My wife had a minor bump a few years back, it wasn't her fault but for some reason she insisted it was her fault (another story there!) She said don't worry, I've protected no claims etc. When I went to renew my insurance as she is a named driver on my policy my renewal went up 70 quid as she has been involved in an accident!! Just something to consider if you have to claim from your own insurance company. Black MY2013 SD4 GS Auto, Wood Company Armrest, Freel2 sticker.
Gone MY2010 Freelander 2 Manual TD4.e S, Alaska White.

Stevie5tapes wrote:

70 quid as she has been involved in an accident!! Just something to consider if you have to claim from your own insurance company.

I got rear-ended a few years back, the other driver was at fault.

Click image to enlarge

Due to it being renewal time I filled in a quote on compare the meerkat with the accident details and about 30 minutes later received a phone call from my current insurer!! whilst I declared it to my insurance they apparently didn't record it and as they monitor insurance quotes spotted the difference right away. My premium went up £200 on my policy and my wife's (I'm a named driver) £75 due to some dopey bint hitting me, not a happy bunny!

Thanks for all replies.
After a lot of toing and froing her insurance co have agreed to pay damage and get rental car for period of repair.

The next time I fill out an insurance form, where it says 'have you been involved in an accident/made a claim in the last...years' what do i put? Theoretically I should just put no?

Nope, you should specify you were hit by a third party and succesfully claimed against their insurance. 
Hung like Einstein, smart as a horse.

That is why i will go through to the persons insurance and not involve mine in the process if it is not my fault..Your insurance goes up even though you are not at fault..