Car Accident - Insurance Claim - What’s The Process?

justanick on 09/04/2024 - 13:56

Hi All,

I’ve been driving in Australia for over 15 years. Touch wood no accidents or insurance issues.

I recently witnessed accidents and participated in discussions with friends and need to know the what to do when:
After someone hits
1) your car in your presence
2) and runs - where you find out afterwards that your car was damaged

I have comprehensive insurance.

Steps for scenario 1:
A) You exchange drivers license and then what if that person refuses to pay for your damages.
B) Do you call your insurance company fix the car send the bill to the person who caused the issue?

Scenario 2:
A) There’s nothing that can be done except call my insurance company and get it fixed by paying excess and lose your life long insurance claim record?

Automotive Car Insurance Insurance

Comments

  • Duckie2hh on 09/04/2024 - 13:59
    +1

    and runs - where you find out afterwards that your car was damaged

    Get a police report, then report to insurance.

  • 87percent on 09/04/2024 - 14:16

    Call your insurance company, give them all the exchanged details, and let them deal with it

  • netjock on 09/04/2024 - 14:35
    +7

    Do not admit fault. Don't even get into a debate.
    Get details of witnesses, camera footage. The other party can say whatever they want.

    Give details to your insurance company.

    Had someone who tried to personally abuse me. I gave details to the insurance company and they sent them a letter saying they were at fault and please pay up. That shut them up really quick and basically begged me to withdraw the claim. It was minor incident (basically a scuff on the bumper and I had zero damage). If they were not at fault they would have filed an insurance claim but obviously tried to bully me into telling my insurance it is my fault and they should just cough up because they said so.

    Lots of scam artists out there.

  • Sye on 09/04/2024 - 14:40
    +10

    First thing you do is post it to OzBargain with a MS Paint diagram.

    • foursaken on 09/04/2024 - 15:00
      +5

      Can confirm.

      Also leave out any detail that implicates yourself.

  • oscargamer on 09/04/2024 - 14:50
    +1

    There is no requirement to exchange licence details. The only requirement is to exchange name and address. Everything else is voluntary.

    When you have a collision, exchange name and address, take photos of everything at the scene, download your dashcam, then read your PDS and do what it says.

    • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 09/04/2024 - 21:06

      Don't forget to ask for name and address of the registered owner of the car. That missed step can cause a lot of grief.

      • oscargamer on 09/04/2024 - 21:13
        -1

        You can ask for whatever you want, but the driver doesn't have to provide anything more than the name and address of the driver.

        • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 11/04/2024 - 18:05
          +2

          " (c) must at the scene of the accident as soon as possible give his or her name and address and also the name and address of the owner of the motor vehicle and the identifying number of the motor vehicle and, in the case of an automated vehicle, state whether it was operating in automated mode at the time of the accident—"
          https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/vic/consol_act/rsa19…

  • Fredfloresjr on 09/04/2024 - 15:07
    +1

    Don't forget to put all the details at Social Media. That will gather extra likes and maybe few sad emoji.

  • Godric on 09/04/2024 - 15:50
    +2

    Read your Insurance Policy PDS

    • Sye on 09/04/2024 - 15:55
      +4

      PDS says to ask on OzBargain.

      • MS Paint on 09/04/2024 - 16:56
        +2

        And so begins the infinite loop

  • Dollar General on 09/04/2024 - 16:51

    Drive your car into the woods, set it on fire and call police to report it stolen

  • justanick on 09/04/2024 - 18:04

    Thank you some of the feedbacks are very useful.

    My friend got bullied by a big aggressive guy recently. The driver bumped into him while parallel parking the car. There were no dash cams or anyone around. After my friend tried getting the address he was bullied and sweared at.
    He took the car pictures went to the police they were not interested but told him to go and call the insurance.
    Insurance company AAMI took note and called him after few days that the driver did not admit at fault so there's nothing that can be done.

    In such situations what can be done to get the driver at fault to pay? If it was hit and run it’s a different story but at least we know who’s at fault.

    • Bignudge on 09/04/2024 - 18:48
      +3

      I learnt this the hard way but was saved by luck.

      TLTR; I got into an accident where I wasn't at fault and had dash cam footage… but was bullied and scared off when I asked for his address.

      I was some small asian kid in a straight piped V6 commodore ute on my red Ps. Some big Aussie dude in a vintage Ford hot rod changed lanes into me. After we pulled over, he begins swearing at me and saying how I cut him off and at fault etc…

      Anyway, I asked to exchange details, and he gives me his name but refuses his address. I thought my excess would be waived at the time cause I had his full name and licence plate.

      I tell my story to NRMA together with my dash cam footage… and I was cleared of fault. But I was still liable for the excess as I didn't have all his required details. I called up NRMA and said the cops wanted none of it and wasn't going to hand over his details. By chance, the guy was with NRMA as well and my excess was waived.

      FINAL LESSON HERE. If they get aggressive, or is refusing to cooperate… CALL THE POLICE. Don't be scared, no IFs… no BUTs. Call the cops and tell them your exact location, and how there's been an accident, and the other driver is becomming aggressive and a fight is going to break out soon, also they refuse to exchange details, and looks like they want to run any second.

      PS. Also get a dash cam, back and front, 4K quality, VIOFO if you're after bang for your buck. (If you get into an not at fault accident, don't disclose your cameras either. Let them lie all they want to the insurance lol)

      • justanick on 09/04/2024 - 23:50

        Thank you so much mate. It really helps me a lot.
        I guess Dashcam is a must. I’ve got Blackvue DR750x-2Chanel. This hasn’t failed me yet but the license plate read isn’t great at all. I had a cheaper model of Viofo and had an extremely bad experience.

        A) I was on the street today thinking if I get into an incident - do I call 000 for police assistance? Or a local number for highway patrol.

        B) How do I give the police the point of location? For example I’m stuck on motor way it’s long and how do I explain this over the phone?

        I know my questions are silly but when something happens out of panic something very normal takes a different course.

        I’m noting all your advice so that I can help myself if something bad happens and also help others.

  • billy72 on 10/04/2024 - 21:56

    From my experience, unless the damage is tiny and can be settled by cash, just claim with your insurance for both scenarios. Save a lot of time, headaches and hassles, and this is what you bought comprehensive insurance for.

    Another thing I always do is select the "choose your own repairers" option, so I can go with some repairer that can pay for your excess.

    • justanick on 11/04/2024 - 01:21

      Thanks mate I didn’t get the part on “…repairer that pay for your excess”. Do you mean some repairer will give me back the excess money by charging a lot to the insurance company? If yes, that just opened up a huge window of freedom for me.

      The only thing is I don’t know any repairer personally. If I ask them this directly they may report me?

      • billy72 on 11/04/2024 - 13:04

        Yes, they will handle the claim for you from A - Z, including paying the excess for you.
        They will make up by charging the insurance company. But you should go with a well-known one, not a shady place.
        Why should they report you? You're their customer and it's a win-win situation.
        Cons are if they make the quote too expensive, the insurance company may decide to write off your vehicle if it's a shitbox. LOL

        • justanick on 11/04/2024 - 18:33

          Hi Billy how do I find one good smash repairs in my area? I’m in Sydney South West. There are lots of dodgy ones and few hard to find good ones. If I don’t have an incident in the past then I don’t have a relationship with them.

          I’m with CommBank car insurance they do provide choice of repairer.

          • billy72 on 12/04/2024 - 23:25
            +1

            @justanick: Sorry I'm in Melbourne so can't help you on that. You have to do your research, ask somebody or just google "smash repair + free excess + Sydney" and check their reviews.

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