Car Accident Not My Fault
Car Accident Not My Fault
Had a car accident that was not your fault? Discover your claim options and how to claim most efficiently so as not to affect your car insurance, or cost you additional money.
Non Fault Car Accidents
Car accidents are an unfortunate part of modern life, yet due to advances in vehicle safety technology, car accidents are thankfully more often an inconvenience rather than anything more serious. However, drivers are impacted due to their reliance upon their vehicles to enable them to proceed with their daily lives. Finding yourself without the use of a vehicle due to an accident can create a stressful and challenging set of problems to address.
Cost Free Help After Non Fault Car Accidents
The good news for drivers involved in ‘non fault’ road traffic accidents is there are many cost-free courtesy hire car and vehicle claim services available to resolve the situation. These services offer an alternative vehicle claim and courtesy vehicle solution to claiming on your car insurance. Independent vehicle claim and courtesy vehicle services have quickly become the modern effective way to claim after a car accident that was not your fault. The reason claiming this way has become increasingly popular is simple. Note. You do not have to claim with your car insurance if the accident was not your fault.
By claiming via an independent service the ‘non-fault party has no costs and no policy excess to pay. This is because when claiming directly against the negligent parties insurance company, your car insurance policy is not activated. This not only benefits you as it offers a cost-free solution with no excess payment required, but it also can protect your claims history and avoid policy increases. There are other benefits too, through appointing an independent vehicle claim service they have to act upon your instruction and in your best interest, as a result, this means you have full control over your vehicle claim. This is important as it gives you full choice over where your vehicle is repaired, what your vehicle agreed write off value will be, and even ensures that you will receive a true like for like courtesy hire car after the accident without compromise. Independent vehicle claims service works to protect your entitlements and help drivers avoid sustaining financial loss and inconvenience as a result of a non fault vehicle accident.
“Note. You do not have to claim via your car insurance if the accident was not your fault”
Non Fault Car Accident Repair Claims
An often overlooked point of note in relation to vehicle accident repairs. Vehicle owners should remember that vehicles purchased through car finance or leasing agreements, a common condition in these agreements are the vehicle must be repaired by a manufacturer approved repair centre. Repairs must be carried out to OEM standards to uphold the agreement. If this is not done vehicle owners can find themselves with an expensive surprise as they later discover they’re liable for the costs to correct any substandard repairs. Many vehicles also carry manufacturer warranties which to enable their preservation all repairs must be carried out by a manufacturer approved repair centre. By claiming through an independent vehicle claim service you decide where your vehicle is repaired.
Non Fault Write Off Claims
Should your vehicle be classed as a write-off, you get to approve the vehicle write off valuation, not an insurer. Furthermore, by claiming independently you are assured to receive all your entitlements correctly, this includes the use of a ‘like for like’ courtesy car for use after the accident and until your vehicle claim is settled.
How To Claim When A Car Accident Is Not Your Fault
‘The Car Accident Was Not My Fault’
Many drivers claim their car accident ‘was not my fault’ and whilst this may be a true statement claiming an accident is ‘not my fault’ and proving it are two different things. All too often we experience fault drivers accepting responsibility for an accident on the scene only to then have a change of heart after the accident. This can often happen due to the at-fault driver’s insurers or their company policy which advises all their drivers to dispute all claims. This is done on the basis that a percentage of the fault claims that would otherwise be paid out and settled, will then become un-resolvable liability disputes and impossible to establish liability. This is why establishing accident liability through evidence and witness statements is essential to successfully claim for a non-fault car accident. In obtaining the correct evidence and witness statement you will protect your claims history, reduce the risk of an insurance premium cost increase, avoid the requirement to pay a policy excess, and overcome any liability disputes.
How Do I Prove A Car Accident Was Not My Fault?
Whilst liability may appear straightforward at the time of an accident, you must remain cautious and ensure you take steps to safeguard against any potential disputes that could arise after the event. Unfortunately all too often we experience ‘fault drivers’ changing their minds after car accidents which results them disputing liability. To avoid this situation or to win any liability challenges, taking the right steps after a non fault car accident is absolutely essential.
Following a non-fault car accident, it’s essential to gather the correct information to secure your position as the non-fault party. Regardless of how reasonable the at-fault driver may be at the accident scene, gathering the correct information and potential evidence will ensure success should the accident be disputed at a later date. Even the nicest of people change their minds when given time to reflect or most often when they’re faced with financial loss due to their potential insurance increase. To negate these situations take the following information and carry out the following actions to gather supporting evidence to clarify the accident circumstances.
Information To Take After A Non Fault Car Accident
- Take full details of the driver of the at fault vehicle.
- Take owner details of the at fault driver.
- Take note of the fault drivers vehicle registration number.
- Take Insurance Details (Insurance company name and policy number)
- Take contact details of any witnesses
- Take details of any possible cctv.
- Take note of the exact time and location of the accident.
- Take note of the circumstances.
- Take note of any police indent reference numbers or CAD numbers
- Take note of any attending police officers badge numbers
Evidence After The Accident
- Report the incident to the police.
- Take pictures of the accident locations.
- Take pictures of the vehicles involved, including damage.
- Take a picture of the at fault driver.
- Take a picture of their I.D.
- Take any available Dash-Cam footage or record to phone.
- Take any available CCTV footage or record to phone.
- Request the fault driver to make a written statement confirming liability and accident circumstances. Alternatively request they film a clip stating the accident circumstances and confirming liability.
Note. The minimum information required is the fault drivers registration number and ideally their name. We can obtain full details via their registration plate number, however, it’s desirable if as much information as possible is obtained.
Take the following steps after the accident
Report the accident to your chosen vehicle claims service, ideally, you will have obtained some of the information detailed above. Vehicle claim services like ACC will then process the information and carry out liability and suitability checks. These checks will usually take around 40 minutes to process. Once completed the services are offered to resolve your situation. ACC provide a same day courtesy car, delivered fully insured to you directly. We can provide full incident support with vehicle accident recovery and vehicle claims processed and vehicles assessed within 48 hours. Contact our team today for assistance.
At Fault Insurers Can Reduce Claim Costs
There are advantages to the at-fault parties insurers as when a driver claims directly against them. By claiming independently the car accident claim is made directly against them, this can result in a reduced claim cost being claimed against them. For example, due to the direct claim route, no policy excess is activated, so no excess payment claim is made against them. The at-fault insurers can also settle claims quickly, this is due to them being in the position to authorise repairs or pay out the agreed vehicle write-off valuations within days rather than in weeks.
Independent Car Accident Advice
If you have had a car accident that was not your fault some great websites provide entirely independent car accident and claims advice. One of those sites is the UK citizens advice site, this page covers the topic of what to do if the accident was not your fault. It also covers available services available to non-fault drivers and how they can help.