Car Accident in Work Vehicle While Working

LBlurem on 01/11/2017 - 00:58
Last edited 01/11/2017 - 09:22

Hi everyone, I really need some help and guidance on what I need to do.

To explain, I worked as a delivery driver in warehouse which distributed goods on a permanent part-time basis. I no longer work there.
During my time working I rear ended someone totally by accident while delivering, but the business I worked for said they would cover the insurance costs as they were fully insured.

Fast forward a couple months later, I no longer work there, but have received a letter today from the insurance of the person I rear-ended asking me to pay for the damages! I am inexperienced with car insurance and have minimal understanding of the process. I am also confused as to why they are asking me to pay when the business I worked for already lodged a claim.

My question is, what do I need to do now in order to sort this out? I have been advised to call up the business I worked for to retrieve their insurance details. But as I have said I don't know what details I need, nor the process I need to follow, Any help will be greatly appreciated as the insurance company is asking me to pay ASAP!.

Thank you all.

Automotive

Comments

  • spackbace on 01/11/2017 - 02:00
    +3

    Call your old job, talk to your old boss or the HR department, ask them what the go is.

    There would still be an excess under your old work's insurance policy which you will be up for.

    I would've hoped you'd already called the old work…

    • Blurem on 01/11/2017 - 03:19

      I did call my old work, but it was after hours so will need to call them tomorrow.
      at the time of the incident they covered the excess, would I still be liable for the excess?
      from my understanding I was in a fully insured work car doing work activities so I'm not liable for the excess?

      • ozhunter on 01/11/2017 - 05:48

        You just said your employer covered the excess…

        • Blurem on 01/11/2017 - 07:53

          See this is why I’m confused, why are they still sending me letters to recover the costs directly from me, when the business I worked for had already paid the $2500 excess?

        • Randxyz123 on 01/11/2017 - 09:17
          +2

          @Blurem: Because

          1) When you exchanged details after the accident you would’ve given the other party your details (or they saw your license and copied down your address). Unless you specifically said it belongs to joe blog’s couriers here’s their address, they would assume it’s your van. Hence the bill is coming to you.

          2) The place you worked for wouldn’t have paid anything yet (unless they got their van fixed) in which case they would’ve covered the excess.

          What you need to do now is make a copy of what the other party sent you , find out from your boss who their insurer is and send the bill to them. Send it registered post(very important)
          Then send a text to the other party basically saying

          “Hi xxx
          It’s Blurem from the accident on dd/mm. Just to let you know I’ve organised to claim through my old employer who was fully insured.
          If you have any queries regarding the claim please contact zzzz insurers as I am unable to communicate with you after making a claim.
          Thanks
          Blurem”

          Then that should be that. Don’t respond to anything else.

        • Blurem on 01/11/2017 - 09:41

          @knick007: Thank you for the response, I rang up my ex-boss and received the policy number along with the claim number. Their van has already been fixed. I am on the phone with the other party’s insurance (NRMA) to clarify and they have advised me all I need to do is provide them with this information in order for them to be reimbursed. Should I still send the registered mail letter, or is doing it over the phone sufficient? Thanks again.

        • CLoSeR on 01/11/2017 - 09:51

          @Blurem: The insurer could be pursuing you personally for recovery of costs which is what they will do even though your company already paid excess and claimed repair.

        • Randxyz123 on 01/11/2017 - 09:56

          @Blurem: Always send it in writing. A email would probably be fine in this case presumably because they have the repairer’s bill on their system.

  • chumlee on 01/11/2017 - 06:44
    +1

    Read over your old job contract of employment and see what it says about who pays the excess.

    If you have no luck with your ex employer making a claim on their insurance then head down to your local community legal centre for some free legal advice on what to do next

    • Euphemistic on 01/11/2017 - 07:24
      +1

      I'd be fairly confident in saying that won't be in the contract of employment. It might be in some sort of driving policy or procedure though, but unless it is a big business, you'll be lucky if it is mentioned anywhere.

      Business insurance often have a really high excess to keep the insurance premiums down. Like in the order of $10k or more, they effectively self insure for small amounts. Don't offer to pay the excess if they have said they will cover it. In my experience with MVAs in work vehicles on work time, the company covers everything.

  • Herodotus on 01/11/2017 - 08:42
    +2

    Don't answer or respond to any solicitations. This has worked well for me for some time.

    • Blurem on 01/11/2017 - 09:42

      Wish I had your chilled attitude 😂 much better than my panicky response

  • MITM on 01/11/2017 - 08:44
    +2

    You've done your job delivering the goods and in the process had an accident. That's the risk your ex-employer takes that you'll perform without incident.
    They then hold insurance in case of an incident - such as this.
    Return the letter by registered post to the insurance company with an additional letter - "revert to XYZ business" and a footnote, any further correspondence will be seen as harassment. Be firm with these dicks - they just try it on.
    Wait for the next letter - you'll probably never hear from them again.

    They've probably already been reimbursed by XYZ insurance anyway.

    • Blurem on 01/11/2017 - 09:44

      Thanks for the response, currently on the phone with the other party’s insurance in order to provide them with the details of my ex-work place insurance. Will also take your advice (and that of the previous comments) and send a registered letter just as a backup measure and to have a paper-trail. Thank you.

  • CLoSeR on 01/11/2017 - 09:49
    +1

    I've been involved in minor accidents while using company vehicle, you are not liable unless you're an independent contractor or similar.

    • Jnr202 on 01/11/2017 - 11:40

      Is this true? iWork for a small company and in their policy it states if we have an accident we have to pay the excess. It's a company car.

      • pjetson on 01/11/2017 - 11:53

        If that's company policy, and you agree to it, then that's the situation. If you don't agree to it, the only option open to you might be to find another job.

      • CLoSeR on 01/11/2017 - 12:12

        You should never agree to this.

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