How Do I Make a Claim Under a Motor Insurance Policy?
Answer:
Involved in an Accident
Unfortunately accidents do happen.
If you are involved in an accident which causes damage to property or injury to any person, animal or vehicle the Highway Code requires you to stop. Don't argue with other parties or try to decide who was at fault (Insurers or the Police will decide this at a future date). Keep calm!
Get as much information as you can and make sure you write all the information down do not just try to remember it.
Take notes of the following
- Name and Address of independent witnesses
- Name and address of other parties involved in the incident
- Registration number make and model of any vehicle involved.
- Insurance details of other parties, name of Insurer Policy Number or Certificate Number
- Make a sketch of the scene of the accident
- Record what the weather conditions are
- Record the position of any road signs
- What were the road conditions like
- If the Police attend record details of the Police Officer and his number and which station he is based at.
- If you have a camera photograph the scene and any damage caused to your vehicle or other vehicles
- You are required to give your name and address or the name and address of the owner of the vehicle to anyone with reasonable grounds to require the information
- If you do not have your Insurance Certificate with you will have to take it to a Police Station within 24 hrs.
- Do not accept liability, do not discuss whose fault it was (you may prejudice your Insurance Claim).
- Report the accident immediately to your Insurers.
What next?
The Insurance Company will provide you with a claim form to complete. Make sure that you complete the Claim Form quickly and provide as much information as possible.
If the claim involves damage to third party property or personal injury the Insurance Company may either send one of their own Claims Inspectors or a Loss Adjuster to speak to you about the incident.
If you have Comprehensive Cover first consider whether it is worthwhile claiming off your Insurers. If you submit a claim unless you have a Protected No Claims Discount you will loose part of your No Claims Discount. Take into consideration the cost of repairing your vehicle and if you are at fault repairing any other vehicle. In addition you need to take into consideration if you have caused any personal injury to any other party (if you have be very careful about the likely cost of such injuries which may run into £1000's of pounds particularly if the matter goes to court). Compare the loss arising from your loss of No Claims Discount and also the policy excess and decide whether you should make a claim. Remember it is a Policy Condition that you must still advise your Insurers of the accident even if you do not submit a claim.
If you decide to make a claim speak to your Insurers and ask them what you should do.
They probably have arrangements with specific Companies who carry out repairs to vehicles they insure. This will speed up the repair process since you will not have to seek alternative quotations.
Arrange for the car to be taken to the specified repairer they will then deal with the Insurance Company direct who will authorise them to proceed with the repair. The Insurers specified repairers may provide you with a courtesy car whilst your vehicle is in for repair. Your own policy may also provide cover for a hire car (check your policy wording).
When the vehicle is repaired you will probably have to pay the policy excess to repairer. They will not release the car until this is paid. The remainder of the bill net of excess will be paid direct by the Insurers to the repairer.
If they do not have a specified repairer you will need to get two quotations for the repairs necessary to your vehicle. Send the quotations to your Insurers. Do not instruct the repairs to proceed without authority from your Insurers. If you give instruction to the garage you will be responsible for paying the bill. If you have not agreed the repairs with your Insurers you may have a significant contribution to make.
If your car is severely damaged and the cost of repair exceeds its market value then your Insurers may consider the vehicle to be a write off. They may be prepared to let you buy back the vehicle from them. Insurers will base the settlement of the claim on the vehicle's market value. If you consider their offer to be low do not accept the amount. Make your own enquiries into the likely market value by looking in Car Price Guides, Auto Trader and other similar periodicals. Try to find a vehicle similar to yours taking into consideration its mileage, service history and general condition. Provide documentation to your Insurers and ask them to review their offer. If you are still not happy refer the matter to the Insurers Head Office for review prior to seeking the assistance of the Financial Ombudsman. See How to Do I Make a Complaint
If following review your Insurers believe that another party may have been responsible for causing the damage to your vehicle they will look to recover their loss from the other parties Insurers. However they may ultimately agree that both parties were at fault and they will look to apportion the loss between both Insurers. Unless your Insurer recovers all costs which have been incurred you will loose part of your No Claims Discount. If they recover all the costs you will not loose part of your No Claims Discount. Even if you think you had no responsibly it may be that following consideration your Insurers agree to compromise on Commercial Grounds the final decision is theirs irrespective of the effect that this will have on your No Claims Discount.
If you have Third Party or Third Party Fire and Theft Cover then the cost of repairing your vehicle will not be recoverable from your Insurers. If however the accident was another persons fault you may be able to recover the cost of the repairs from a third party or their Insurers.
Write to the other Party involved in the accident and explain why you consider they were at fault. Send two quotations for repairs to your vehicle. Also include any Uninsured losses such as vehicle hire, recovery costs, loss of wages, damage to personal possessions, clothing etc. Ask them to either reimburse you direct or to pass on your letter to their Insurers. Also ask them to confirm the Name of their Insurers, Branch where the Policy is held and Policy / Insurance Certificate Number so that you may correspond with them direct.
If you receive no response from the Third Party you may have to seek legal advice and look to pursue your claim through the courts. This can be expensive and there is no guarantee that you will recover your costs.
If you have optional Legal Expenses cover then make your Insurers aware and ask them to pursue the loss on your behalf.
If the driver of the vehicle is not traceable or if they are not insured you could refer your claim to the Motor Insurance Bureau.
The MIB was established in 1946 for the purpose of entering into Agreements with the Government to compensate the victims of negligent uninsured and untraced motorists. All insurers writing Motor Insurance Policies contribute towards its funding. Their web site advises how to make a claim in the following circumstance
All the necessary forms are available on the site.
If you know the registration number of the vehicle you can make enquiries to establish the owner of the vehicle by contacting DVLA or you can use the Motor Insurer' s Information Centre to trace the Insurer of the vehicle. If you contact your own Insurer (which you should do after an accident) they can often obtain details of the other vehicle Insurer on your behalf at no charge.
If you are unlucky and suffer a personal injury make sure you visit a Doctor immediately after the accident he will record what injuries you may have sustained. If you believe the other driver is at fault you may wish to appoint a Solicitor to review the circumstances and to submit a claim. A list of solicitors in your area can be obtained through the link below.
Solicitor.
If your vehicle is stolen or damaged by fire immediately advise the Police. It is a condition of the policy that the Police are notified. In the case of theft ask the Police to give you a Crime Reference Number. Immediately advise your Insurers and complete a claim form. Insurers will probably ask you for items such as keys, registration document, MOT certificate in support of your claim. They will probably send one of their Claims Inspectors or a Loss Adjuster to deal with your claim.
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