accident

[janetla]

My daughter who is a named driver on my policy recently had an accident, she was stationary and someone ran into her. They admitted fault and gave their details and as far as we knew it was sorted. I now do not have the car and am not insuring but I am a named driver on my husband's policy. She is going to be a named driver on her husband's policy. Which of us should declare the claim on the policy, her because she was the driver when the accident occurred or me because it was my policy the claim was made on. Who is the person considered to be the risk. So far as I can see neither of us, I just own the car and allow my daughter to drive it. She was parked at the time so I don't see how she could have taken any action to avoid the accident. We are both due to do car insurance soon so would welcome any advice.

[janetla]

naturally both of them think we should declare this since they will then both have the opportunity to charge extra for the policy

[Toureman]

Whoever owns the policy, seems to be you?

Makes the claim.

[janetla]

It would appear so from the quote I have had. I was always under the impression that if the claim was made due to someone elses fault, the money was obtained from that person and the policy holder was not deemed responsible. I really cannot see how an insurance company can deem someone to be a risk - which after all is how they determine the cost of the policy - when an accident happens when the car is stationary at the time. I can see a scenario where someone else is at fault but if you had beeen more aware you might have reasonably been expected to know they were going to do something stupid but what can a person do when they are parked up. Nonetheless insurance companies, as banks can do exactly what they like and the average joe blogg just has to take it or leave it.

[janetla]

I could sort of understand that if you have already had an accident you are statistically more likely to have another similarly when you have been burgled you are more likely to be burgled again. All of those elements in place the first time are likely to still be there - whatever these elements are. However when someone runs into you in a car park how on earth can that make you more likely to have another accident. The moral of the story I suppose is avoid car parks.

[ABerrant]

Do not confuse "claim" with "blame" - you accrue No Claims Discount not No Blame Discount. Any incident within the last 5 years that involves a claim, regardless of blame, must be declared by the policyholder. Likewise, any driver involved in such a claim must declare their involvement.

[janetla]

Not sure exactly what is being said here. When someone damages my property, I make a claim from their insurers not from mine. I accre no claims bonus from my insurers. So how can a claim made from someone elses insurer even though I have to go through my own insurer to do it, justifiably affect my bonus. If someone comes into my home to do work, and they damage my property I claim from their insurance, not from mine. How is car insurance any different.

[bushbaby_de]

because your insurance company still has to do all the work to recover the costs from the other insurance company, so it does cost them some money indirectly, therefore they seek to recoup this