Forgot to grab insurance details after not at fault accident

Lswiggity123 on 23/11/2021 - 19:37

TLDR: Got rear ended - grabbed his rego and license but forgot the insurance. What are my options

Hi Ozb

I got rear ended, Series 300 hit the Ozb car of choice: The Camry aka the car that wont die.

Anyways we exchanged phone numbers, licenses, and rego but stupid me forgot to grab his insurance. He said he will make a claim. Now issue is that I dont think he has made a claim. I can't estimate the damage on the bumper I highly doubt it needs to be replaced. Probably needs to be bent and put some paint (both of which I am highly unqualified to do)

If pictures help I am happy to post them too.

What options do I have? Do I just have to sit around and wait? I just panicked and had no idea what to do :(

Automotive

Comments

  • spackbace on 23/11/2021 - 19:41
    +13

    Claim through your insurance

    Assuming you have it…

    • swiggity123 on 23/11/2021 - 19:49

      I only have third party f+t and they said unless you have Comprehensive its all between you and their insurance company

      • Drakesy on 23/11/2021 - 20:01

        Ooof, my third party policy chases them if they don't have insurance (but weirdly won't chase if they do have insurance?)

        • swiggity123 on 23/11/2021 - 20:08

          My third party does chase him if he doesnt have insurance but he claims that he does have insurance hence my insurance will not step in

      • [Deactivated] on 23/11/2021 - 20:02

        When this is over, change insurance companies, many will cover you even with TPF&T only if you can identify the at-fault party.

        In any case, get some quotes and then send the at fault party a letter of demand. It doesn't really matter to you who their insurance company is because it's the individual that is responsible, insurance or no insurance, you're not a customer of their insurance company unless they ask them to handle it.

        If they haven't contacted their insurance company with your details, their insurance company will just tell you to get lost.

        If you have the at-fault parties phone number just call them and confirm the address to send the letter of demand.

    • SF3 on 23/11/2021 - 20:42
      +1

      With the Eastern states out of lockdown, there are more cars on the road.

      I sense a correlation with more cars on the road and OzB posts on car (lack thereof) insurance matters.

    • pharkurnell on 23/11/2021 - 19:48
      +19

      have you tried calling him yet?

      Dont bring logic to this thread…

      • SF3 on 23/11/2021 - 19:49
        +2

        I just panicked and had no idea what to do :(

        Emotion overpowers logic.

    • swiggity123 on 23/11/2021 - 19:57
      +2

      Youre right ill probably just give him a call and see what he says though I doubt he will pick up considering he hasnt responded back to my text

  • SF3 on 23/11/2021 - 19:48
    +8

    we exchanged phone numbers, licenses, and rego
    What options do I have?

    You have the details, ask him.

    Do I just have to sit around and wait?

    Step 1) Post on OzB
    Step 2) Check with the other driver.

  • iamherenow on 23/11/2021 - 19:54
    +3

    Not sure it matters if you got insurance details. He will claim on insurance or he won't.

    • swiggity123 on 23/11/2021 - 19:56
      +1

      But if I got his insurance I would be able to follow it up and make the claim myself surely? Especially if I had footage and video…right? or no

      • Soluble on 23/11/2021 - 20:00
        +6

        No, it's his insurance, not yours. This is why you have comprehensive. Then your insurance chases up everything.

        • [Deactivated] on 23/11/2021 - 20:07
          +2

          Most TPF&T issuers will chase it up for you regardless, provided you can identify the at-fault party. It's a shitty one that doesn't. They just won't pay for repairs unless the other party is at fault, you can identify them, and then usually capped at $5k.

        • swiggity123 on 23/11/2021 - 20:08
          +1

          Ah interesting, good to know. Really wishing I had comprehensive now:(

  • Seraphin7 on 23/11/2021 - 20:04
    +5

    Another example of why comprehensive insurance is a must … unless you are really happy to accept that any damage to your own vehicle will be covered at your own expense.

    • swiggity123 on 23/11/2021 - 20:07
      +1

      hm yeah except NRMA i pay $284 for fire and theft and Comprehensive is insanely high for a under 25 driver

      • [Deactivated] on 23/11/2021 - 20:11

        NRMA TPF&T policies should cover you up to $5k if the other party is at fault and uninsured.

        • swiggity123 on 23/11/2021 - 20:12

          The thing is that they are insured and thats what he claims to be. But clearly he hasn't made a claim yet.

          • [Deactivated] on 23/11/2021 - 20:18

            @swiggity123: How do you know they have insurance if they haven't told you their insurer? You just need to send them a letter of demand, but curious what your insurance company does when you say it looks like the other party isn't insured after all?

            If this just happened today or yesterday you're panicking too soon (you didn't say when it happened). The process can take weeks, you need to go and get quotes to repair the damage, otherwise their insurance company will just offer you $10 to go away. Their insurance isn't your saviour, their aim is to minimise the amount they pay you.

            • swiggity123 on 23/11/2021 - 20:24

              @[Deactivated]: It happened about 12 hours ago. They said they had insurance you are right - but I cant confirm as I didn't bother asking any further. I have his adress on his license so I could send him a letter.

              At what stage will his insurance company be in contact with me?

              • [Deactivated] on 23/11/2021 - 20:32

                @swiggity123: For something that sounds like minor damage that isn't in any danger of getting worse I'd wait a couple of days before you panic.

                In the mean time, go and find a place to get a quote for the repair, that way when they do contact you, you will know what they should be offering. Depends on the cost of repair really as to how much of a run around they give you. Keep in mind that if the damage is extremely minor, your cost to repair might be less than the other parties excess, so it might be easier for them to just pay you than make a claim anyway.

                See this example of a letter to send. https://www.legalaid.qld.gov.au/files/assets/public/publicat…

                You can't do that until you know what it will cost to fix. First move is yours to make regardless. For anything non trivial they may want to inspect the damage.

                The other parties insurer may negotiate cost with the repairer or offer to do it at one of their preferred repairers.

                • swiggity123 on 23/11/2021 - 20:50

                  @[Deactivated]: Thank you for this - this is very useful, I appreciate it heaps truly.

                  I guess I will start finding quotes then, sounds like a good plan. I just really dont want to take legal action as since I know nothing about the legal system I dont want to be paying lawyer fees.

                  • Youfah Mizzum on 23/11/2021 - 22:01

                    @swiggity123: There are no lawyer fees to pay. Just get in touch with your own insurer and pay the excess. If the other driver is at fault (and typically would be if they rear ended you) then your excess will be reimbursed. As well as any costs to repair damage even if it is an old Camry!

              • dasher86 on 23/11/2021 - 20:33
                +3

                @swiggity123: It's been 12 hrs… The person could be at work and not answering phone or text yet.
                Even if you did have their insurance details, it means didly squat into they make a claim and give you the claim number.

                • swiggity123 on 23/11/2021 - 20:51

                  @dasher86: Yeah true, Im hoping he can start a claim and provide me one - is there
                  a a general time frame you should wait?

                • iamherenow on 23/11/2021 - 20:53

                  @dasher86: You are going way too fast…

                  Give them time to claim. They may not even claim if they don't need repairs and will just pay for your repairs.

                  I'd send an SMS to the other party in a few days and ask for a insurer and claim number. You could also offer to get a quote so they can weigh up if they want to go through insurance or not.

                  Edit : replied to wrong person!

    • [Deactivated] on 23/11/2021 - 20:14

      Not really, most TPF&T policies will cover you up to $5k in the event of an uninsured driver, all others you can pursue legally with minimal costs.

      There's fairly minimal reason to have comprehensive when your car is worth less than $5k.

      • Seraphin7 on 23/11/2021 - 20:49

        There's fairly minimal reason to have comprehensive when your car is worth less than $5k.

        The reason is that you don't get the run around when you have a not at fault accident. All depends on what price you put on your time.

        • [Deactivated] on 23/11/2021 - 21:23

          For people who don't get comprehensive it's usually because the policy cost is approaching the cost of their car (young drivers, cheap cars), at which point you would probably save yourself a lot of running around (which you still have to do with an insurer) by eating the cost and getting a new one. In OP's case if the damage is that minor and time so valuable you're probably still going to save money and time repairing it yourself vs comprehensive, or just living with the damage.

          • Seraphin7 on 23/11/2021 - 22:53

            @[Deactivated]: Precisely my point.

            You either live with/write off any damage that may be done to your car … or you get comprehensive.

            • [Deactivated] on 24/11/2021 - 00:29

              @Seraphin7: Or you just chase the other person for it, it doesn't actually take more than a couple hours of your time…. It's a pretty decent third option for thousands of dollars a year in savings.

              So it's definitely not live with / write off or get comprehensive.

              Also worth noting that my experience with TPF&T in a not at fault accident was that they did chase the other party for me….

              Third party means you write off any damage that YOU do to your car, there's absolutely nothing that makes it so that you write of damage others do to your car. Especially in QLD where small claims is a thing as a worst case.

          • SlickMick on 24/11/2021 - 09:31

            @[Deactivated]: The problem is, those who can't afford comprehensive insurance are usually those that can't afford not to have it.

            However, I knew a guy that was happy to engage a solicitor to write to letter of demand if someone caused damage to his car.
            My concern was his attitude that he doesn't cause accidents so did need insurance to cover himself.

            • [Deactivated] on 24/11/2021 - 18:12

              @SlickMick:

              I knew a guy that was happy to engage a solicitor to write to letter of demand if someone caused damage to his car.
              My concern was his attitude that he doesn't cause accidents so did need insurance to cover himself.

              You don't need a solicitor, anyone can write one, you just legally (in QLD at least) need to send one, I've linked elsewhere a template. The major problem is those most in need of knowing how to do this sort of thing themselves are the least likely to know how.

              I am 100% onboard that if you can't afford at least third party property insurance and to replace your car trivially then you need a cheaper car, if you can't even afford third party insurance you need a bus. Third party property insurance IMO should be mandatory.

              There's a difference in attitude between 'I don't cause accidents so I'll risk writing off someone else's $200k car and paying it off for the rest of my life' vs 'I don't cause an accident every 2 years and I can afford to replace my car if I do, so I will save money over that period only having third party, even if I write my car off'.

              Once you're older the calculation changes, but unless insurance has improved a lot in the last decade or so they're really pricing every young driver as if they were the worst (and the worst are pretty bad).

              Spending thousands of dollars to write a letter isn't really worth it, especially for those that can least afford it. Ironically it's the people that can least afford it often over-paying for insurance (eg funeral insurance) etc that they don't need.

          • md333 on 24/11/2021 - 13:55

            @[Deactivated]: Comprehensive can be cheaper than TPFT if you volunteer a big excess. If the excess is close to the value of the car, you don't get much cover for at fault actions (same as TPFT) but it does mean they'll chase up not at fault accidents. Also if there is a multi car accident, you are paying the excess anyway on the other cars repair (1 excess per claim), so effectively your own damage does get covered.

            • [Deactivated] on 24/11/2021 - 18:05

              @md333: I've got comprehensive now because it's only marginally more than TPFT with the largest excess possible, but I have a cheap car and several decades of spotless record. There's no reason TPF&T should ever be more than comprehensive given it's covering you for less.

              Also if there is a multi car accident, you are paying the excess anyway on the other cars repair (1 excess per claim), so effectively your own damage does get covered.

              Absolutely but keep in mind that for newer drivers they can be in $3000 cars with $2000 premiums and $1500 excesses. Sure, they might be paying an excess regardless, but saving $1700 on the premium they'd have to be having a major accident every couple of years to make it worthwhile vs TPF&T.

              • md333 on 24/11/2021 - 19:19

                @[Deactivated]: I think TPFT was more because they didn't allow the large excess on that. Agree it is pointless if it costs more.
                Above all depends on what prices you are offered, I used to do third party only (no fire or theft) when I was young. Doesn't seem any benefit now, but may be because I'm old.
                Personally claimed on a $3000 car with $2000 excess last year (I think was about $150 annual premium in WA).

                The claim also did not result in my premiums increasing . I'm not sure anything about car insurance costs makes sense.

                • [Deactivated] on 24/11/2021 - 23:14

                  @md333:

                  I'm not sure anything about car insurance costs makes sense.

                  Can be extremely different prices depending on both the insurer, and even who your previous insurer was. Only thing that makes sense is they want your money.

  • Nugs on 23/11/2021 - 21:28
    +1

    We have recently been through same. TPP only, but the at fault driver had comp. Accident to payout was about 6 weeks due to 'we lost your contact details'. It would have been 3 weeks if no delays. There was two inspection bookings, one for crash repairer to quote, then another for insurance assessor to value the pre crash value.
    .

  • kizzy on 23/11/2021 - 21:54

    Wait someone hit you with a landcruiser 300? Ouch!

  • Youfah Mizzum on 23/11/2021 - 21:57
    +2

    OP, I've been driving for 40 years and had had my fair share of accidents.

    Never have I gotten the other parties insurer details. Just tell your own insurer (looks like it's NRMA) all the contact details you have for the other party. Even though it's only 3rd PF&T they will still do the relevant chasing up the other driver. It's not up to you to contact their insurer. Even if you did, they have no contract with you so will not engage anyway.

    Just deal with your own insurer.

    And it's only been < 24 hours.

  • TransportPosters on 24/11/2021 - 09:28
    +2

    My local body shop has a great system which has worked twice for me.

    They have a very stern-sounding older lady on the desk / phones. She calls the other party and very seriously quotes the repair cost and confirms their address to send the bill to if they aren't going to go through their insurance. The other party quickly gets onboard with their insurance details. I leave my car with them when they are ready to repair it and collect it in a few days with no further action needed on my part.

  • OzHunterNSW on 24/11/2021 - 11:48

    That's fine, at least you have their details… just hand these details over to your insurer and they will know who the other party is insured with. All linked to ago number.

  • HeWhoKnows on 24/11/2021 - 13:07

    You don't need his insurance details at time of accident
    No doubt the other driver will lodge a claim on his insurance company.
    Ask him to provide you with the details of his insurance company and claim number after a couple of days to give him time to make the claim.
    i wonder if insurance companies can look up the insurance details of a driver by rego number? After all how do they settle claims? Maybe ask your insurance company..
    Otherwise you can threaten to take him to court and sue him for damages including legal costs.
    Did you take photos? Would be very helpful in proving the point.
    Go and report the incident to the police as well so its on record..

    After 100s of posts where fools have come here and asked for help and they are either uninsured or only have third party insurance you would Think OBs would know better than to rely on 3rd party insurance.

    Its like flogging a dead horse!

    • dasher86 on 24/11/2021 - 14:30
      +1

      need to make a wiki page and copy pasta the link with all the questions answered.

    • [Deactivated] on 24/11/2021 - 18:22
      +1

      Otherwise you can threaten to take him to court and sue him for damages including legal costs.

      In QLD we have small claims, which is great for situations like this (up to $25k damages) because even in the case of someone not paying the costs to pursue them are extremely minimal (no lawyers allowed).

      After 100s of posts where fools have come here and asked for help and they are either uninsured or only have third party insurance you would Think OBs would know better than to rely on 3rd party insurance.

      Honestly if you're in a cheap car then being able to ask for help and getting it means that relying on third party insurance isn't actually a bad idea for a lot of people. If the other driver is uninsured most TPF&T policies will pay out up to $5k anyway, and for those insured a letter of demand is going to prompt them, and if not small claims is easy. No reason to pay half your car cost in premiums extra over TPP insurance if you're not a reckless driver.

      The reason we've had 100's of posts like this is because it's young drivers in cheap cars where it makes sense to only have Third Party Property as a minimum and younger drivers are by virtue of their age, much less likely to have been in this situation before, and thus know what to do.

      In reality they should really teach this stuff when you get your licence and make TPP at least mandatory. When you're young TPF&T only is not mandatorily a bad idea, it just gets that way as you get older and in a more expensive car with cheaper premiums.

      • HeWhoKnows on 28/11/2021 - 10:49

        !00% in agreement !

        But people should also be aware of all the limitations and failings of 3rd party insurance
        Its well documented here on OB in many posts.

        As another poster (dasher86) above said - its worthwhile putting together a master wiki page on 3rd party car insurance

  • kiitos on 06/12/2021 - 07:49

    Any update op?

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