Car Accident? Claim Without Using Your Car Insurance

If you wish to claim for repairs (or write off cost) to your vehicle after a non-fault car accident you do not always have to use your insurance to do so. If the accident was not your fault you can often claim for the full accident repair costs (or write off value), plus the use of a courtesy hire car, directly from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. By claiming for the accident repair (or write off value) directly you may not have to pay any vehicle excess.

Why Claiming For A Car Accident Directly Can Be A Good Option

After a non-fault car accident drivers often claim via their car insurance company without considering their options. Drivers are often unaware of the alternatives and possible benefits of claiming directly against the negligent parties insurers.

Non Fault Car Accident Claims – Be Aware

Driver often asked the question “will my insurance go up if I claim for a non-fault accident” or “will a non-fault accident affect my insurance?”. 

Unfortunately, all too often the answer is yes. 

Taking the right steps and making the right choices can help mitigate negatives repercussions from a non-fault car accident. 

 

Car Accident Damage Claims

When your car is damaged in a non-fault accident, calling your insurance company and instructing them to claim may seem the simple and obvious solution. However, in doing so many drivers later find they have been penalised for a non-fault claim without realising it. This is because when you claim via your car insurance, the insurer may increase your renewal premium as a result of the claim registered in your claims history. Many UK insurers increase premiums in these situations. So even though the car accident was not your fault, the claim history change often triggers a direct increase to the renal premium. Claiming directly with the negligent drivers insurers may help this situation, and requesting a letter from them stating you’re not liable for the accident can also be helpful. The letter can then be shown to your insurer as evidence you are not responsible for the accident.

Complete Accident Repairs At The Right Garage

Drivers can also find their vehicle is going be repaired at the insurance companies favoured car accident repair centre, not yours. Whilst this may be good for the insurance company, it’s not necessarily good for you as the vehicle owner. This is because cars often need to be repaired by manufacturer-approved repair centres, or specialist repair centres for your vehicle type. This can be extremely important for multiple reasons, ranging from simple repair quality standards to the preservation of vehicle manufacturer warranties. This is of especial importance for newer vehicles. There must also be consideration of the vehicles future value as an accident repaired car, this is highlighted with prestige and performance vehicles.

Leased Or Financed Cars

Other problematic situations occur when a vehicle is leased or was purchase through financing. In these instances, the car accident repairs must be carried out to a set standard usually specified within the vehicles funding agreement conditions. In these circumstances, it is extremely common for vehicle leasing-financing companies to stipulate that all vehicle accident repairs must be carried out by a manufacturer-approved, or an appropriate specialist, accident repair centre. By unwittingly not doing so, the owner becomes liable to correct the work at a later date at their expense.

The Solution

Y may be able to avoid or try to mitigate these issues by simple claiming directly from the negligent parities insurers. You are often entitlement, as the non-fault party in the accident, to recover all losses incurred as a direct result of the negligent party. Therefore in the event of a non-fault car accident, the losses claims are presented directly from the at-fault driver’s insurance company. This is usually done through the use of English ‘Tort Law’.

Car Accident Claim Using Tort Law

A tort, in common law, is a civil wrong that causes a claimant to suffer loss or harm, resulting in legal liability for the person who commits the tortious act. In the event of a non-fault car accident, the resulting claims can be made due to the negligence of the fault driver. The non fault driver can usually claim for vehicle damage, financial losses, use of a courtesy hire car of the same standard to that of your vehicle, and many other heads of claim. At ACC, we may be able to help you with your vehicle damage claim, arrange your repair at a garage of your choice, and provide a courtesy hire car throughout.

Claim Directly From The Fault Driver With ACC

At ACC, we claim vehicle damage directly from the at-fault driver’s insurance company in line with your consumer rights under English Tort Law, and our vehicle claims are processed to industry standards. As a result, you may have no policy excess to pay as you may chose not to use your insurance. Because ACC only acts upon your instruction and in your best interest, you get to stipulate the vehicle repair centre, and we offer further assurance by arranging independent vehicle inspections to ensure your vehicle is repaired to the correct standard. You also receive a ‘like for like’ courtesy car during the vehicle claim process. If you have been involved in a non-fault car accident contact our team today.

Details Required To Claim Off The At-Fault Drivers Insurance Company

You will require the following details to enable a direct claim to be made against the at-fault insurance company:

• Vehicle Owners Name 
• Vehicle Registration Number
• Vehicle Insurance Details 
• The Accident Circumstances 
• Statement Of Liability