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Need some advice re a potential insurance claim.

Wife was hit in the rear by a HGV in slow moving stop start motorway traffic. Damage visibly is minimal but not sure under the surface so to speak.

Got name an number of driver and took photo of HGV reg etc but the driver didnt know insurance info . this is how it was left. Lets hope all above board. Oh it was a UK HGV and UK bloke driving it so no worries there.

What should i do - was thinking of phoning them up seeing if they want to sort away from insurance - i know a good bodyshop. Or do i just phone our insurance and let them take care of it and take the hit come renewal. She has protected no claims.

Never had to deal with insurance so would like some advice

If it was me, I'd get a quote nd then see if they want to sort it without using insurance. Unfortunately if its a large company they may prefer to just let their insurance deal with it. I wouldn't have thought you need to notify your insurance company as its their fault so you could deal directly with their insurance co. As a word of warning though - there was a thread on Pistonheads recently where someone in a similar situation found that the third party insurance company weren't over;y bothered about the standards of repairs (I think at the last count his car had been back in 4 times)

Some photos
Dent under the boot badge and the reg has taken a hit - various scrapes and chips - she was hit twice. Certainly could be worse from an hgv with a trailer - just hope there is no damage underneath

Looks like they were so close they couldnt see her so when the car in front of her pulled off, and she didnt go as quick, they just ran into her.

I have tried calling he guys mobile but no answer. It is a local family run haulier - Looks like the driver is in the family - he is young and has the same surname as on the cab.

http://tinyurl.com/jqfaxzj

My advice would be to let your insurance company deal with it. It's obvious the other driver is at fault so you'll have no issues come renewal as your insurers will make a "full recovery" from the other drivers insurance company.

thanks for the replies

My only worry with this as i understand it, is that her 'risk' will go up even though it was no fault and as a consequence so will her premium. Also will the damage / claim not be registered against the car on an HPI check and reduce the car value?

I agree with the above, you pretty much have to tell your insurer, which contractually you are obliged to anyway. If the haulier goes to their insurer your stuffed anyway. Doing the right thing doesn't always end happily, but it gives you most protection.

We dont have his insurance details - i assume they will be able to trace these from the reg / company name etc

Yes....insurers very close knit when they want to be!

they have actually just called me there - all very decent

Want me to get a quote for repair which i think i will do.

Is it just those scuffs?

Personally, no way I would get the insurance company involved for so little damage. You'll pay £100s more over the years when you have to declare an accident, even a no-fault one.

Didn't see the dent. Arse. Makes it a tougher call. I still think I'd keep the insurance companies out of it.

Got any excess on your insurance ?

yeh there is an excess but i assume this will be added to the opposing insurance costs.
If i was to claim i would be going through the Seat Ensurance thing

tanoga wrote:My advice would be to let your insurance company deal with it. It's obvious the other driver is at fault so you'll have no issues come renewal as your insurers will make a "full recovery" from the other drivers insurance company.

Unfortunately car insurance doesn't work like this.

If they have rung you, are admitting liability, and are offering to pay a bodyshop of your choice privately, sounds simples to me!

Ian_C wrote:

tanoga wrote:My advice would be to let your insurance company deal with it. It's obvious the other driver is at fault so you'll have no issues come renewal as your insurers will make a "full recovery" from the other drivers insurance company.

Unfortunately car insurance doesn't work like this.

If they have rung you, are admitting liability, and are offering to pay a bodyshop of your choice privately, sounds simples to me!

It's "no claims" not "no blame". So you'll get a higher premium.

Damage doesn't look that bad, but I'd still be tempted to just go to the insurance and let them deal with it.

Really tough call though.