A non-fault accident is an accident in which the other driver admits accident responsibility. Our insurance company gathers evidence like accident videos, Vehicle photographs, witness statements, CCTV footage, and police reports, and, after a review, declares who is responsible for the accident.
The accident can be by colliding with an animal or a hit-and-run accident, and there is no other person to recover the cost, in such cases, you will be liable to pay for the accident. This will be a faulty accident, and your insurance cannot recover any losses.
Many of us, after a non-fault accident, contact our insurance company to inform them about the road traffic accident. It is necessary to keep our insurers updated about the accident for the safety of your claim.
When we report the accident to our insurance company, they will process the claim against your insurance policy, which will affect our insurance.
If we do not want our insurance to be affected, the best option is to contact the accident management company soon after the accident and provide them with all the details and evidence.
Types Of Insurance Cover
There are different types of insurance cover, in case of a non-fault accident, your insurance cover will not affect your payouts.
Third-Party Cover
If you have a third-party insurance cover, then we can directly claim the at-fault party insurance. The insured driver and their insurance agree they are not responsible; they should cover your cost, which includes repairs, hire vehicle, and other compensation.
There is no need to get your insurance involved with the claim, but you should stay informed and updated.
Comprehensive Cover
If you have comprehensive insurance coverage, then you will claim your insurance company and will pay the policy excess.
Uninsured and Untraced Claims
If the vehicle involved in the road traffic accident was not insured, then the Motor Insurer Bureau will handle your claim for vehicle repairs, injuries, and financial losses.
Motor insurer Bureau also handles claims when the at-fault driver leaves the place of the accident. These are untraced drivers.
If a foreign vehicle is involved in an accident in the UK or anywhere, these claims will be referred to the Motor Insurers Bureau. The process can take more time to get settled than a normal claim settlement.
Insurance Premium
When you contact your insurance company after a road traffic accident, it will affect your insurance premium even if you are not responsible for the road traffic accident. Your insurance premium after a no-fault accident claim can vary because of many factors, like your insurer’s policies and your previous driving history.
On the other hand, if you have a long history of safe driving and you have your first non-fault accident after years, your insurance company can offer some more leniency in this case.
Insurance Excess
When you pay the excess after a non-fault vehicle accident, we can claim this back from the insurance company of the at-fault driver at the time of settlement; if the insurance company refuses to pay your compensation or another cost, contact a legal advisor for guidance. They will issue court proceedings, and the judge will decide on your compensation after the review of evidence.
No-Claims Bonus
If, after the accident, the other party admits responsibility and your insurance company pays no amount to the involved parties, or if you have a comprehensive policy for your vehicle’s damage and your insurance company has recovered all the losses from the at-fault party insurance company, then your No Claims Discount should not be affected.
Car Insurance Increase
Even if the other party admits liability, your car insurance might increase. This is because the claim gets added to your claim history and records. The non-fault accident will stay on your vehicle insurance record for 3 to 5 years.
What An Accident Management Company Do
Suppose an accident management company is our first point of contact after a road traffic accident. In that case, we need to discuss the accident circumstance with an experienced handler and tell them that the accident is not your Fault.
The handler will manage your claim professionally from submission to settlement, and you will get your compensation. If your vehicle is not drivable, then the accident management company will provide you with a replacement vehicle within 24 hours while your vehicle is repaired.
Accident Management Company Vs. Insurance Company
We can compare the services of an accident management company with an insurance company.
Replacement Vehicle
The accident management company will provide you with a like-to-like vehicle according to your requirements. In contrast, your insurance will provide you with a standard vehicle if mentioned in your policy.
Claims Bonus
If you contact an accident management company to file a claim, your claim bonus will not be affected. In case you speak to your insurance company about the accident, it will affect your claims bonus.
Claim Handling
Accident management companies deal with all the overheads of the claim, like accident reporting, vehicle recovery, storage, hire vehicles, claim handling, and end-to-end services. While with your insurance, you will have to deal with recovery, storage, and other claim overheads.
Protection of Financial Risks
An Accident management company will handle all the claims and will recover the losses. They will take care of every detail, like vehicle damages, recovery, or any other legal claims.
How do I know that I was at Fault?
You have to gather the information from the scene of the accident to decide if the accident is your fault or not. There are some common scenarios where you might be liable for the accident.
Such as:
- When we hit the rear of the other vehicle
- If we fail to check the right way
- Do not keep our vehicle stationary at a red light
- Wrong Turn
- Apply the Brake or stop the vehicle suddenly
Conclusion
The non-fault accidents may not directly affect your insurance, but it’s necessary to handle the situation carefully and follow the required steps by documenting the accident, reporting it to your insurance, and seeking legal advice; you can protect your interests and ensure a smooth and simplified claims process.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know that the accident was my Fault?
You have to gather the information from the scene of the accident to decide if the accident is your fault or not.
Can I claim if the other vehicle is not insured?
Yes, you can claim. The Motor Insurer’s Bureau manages these claims.
What is third-party insurance coverage?
Third-Party Cover
If you have a third-party insurance cover, then we can directly claim the at-fault party insurance.
