Hypothetical Insurance Claim Question

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Fri 1 Apr 2005 15:52
Hypothetical Insurance Claim Question - Garethj
Imagine you were driving along a single carriageway NSL A road when around the corner ahead of you came a car on your lane. It's overtaking a car in the other lane so you hit the brakes and steer to the left to avoid it.

With the skill of Fangio / the luck of the Irish, you avoid the oncoming car, however you run into the fence on the left which doesn't give way like they did in the A-Team, but causes huge damage to your car.

The cars racing each other have both gone, you obviously didn't get their number plates and you've only got TPFT insurance.

Assuming no witnesses, would the insurance company pay out?
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Fri 1 Apr 2005 15:55
Hypothetical Insurance Claim Question - livefortheday
There is more chance of seeing Haileys comet tomorrow than the insurance companies paying out.
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Fri 1 Apr 2005 16:27
Hypothetical Insurance Claim Question - Ex-Moderator
Your insurance company will probably pay out. But only for the damage you caused to the fence.

You'll get nothing for the damage to your vehicle.

And even if you can trce the other vehicles, without witnesses you'll never be able to pin it on them.

Sorry.
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Fri 1 Apr 2005 15:57
Hypothetical Insurance Claim Question - Altea Ego
"Assuming no witnesses"
"didn't get their number plates"
"only got TPFT"
"would the insurance company pay out"

Dont be silly do you have to ask? April Fool joke?

Anyway which insurance company to pay to whom? You only have TPFT yours wont pay you, you are not insured for damage to your car. The other parties insurance wont pay, you dont know who they are.
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Fri 1 Apr 2005 16:22
Hypothetical Insurance Claim Question - Chas{P}
The only insurance payout would be to the person/local authority (ie third party) that owns the fence.
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Fri 1 Apr 2005 16:31
Hypothetical Insurance Claim Question - Garethj
OK, so if we change to you having spotted one of their numberplates (still no witnesses) and having Fully Comp insurance then what's the chance?

If the other party claims to have done no wrong, would you claim off your own insurance and loose your NCB, or would you try and claim off theirs and take the long wait?
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Fri 1 Apr 2005 16:32
Hypothetical Insurance Claim Question - Garethj
Just read the new replies - thanks.

So in fact, you'd be better off hitting the other car?!
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Fri 1 Apr 2005 17:26
Hypothetical Insurance Claim Question - Ex-Moderator
>>So in fact, you'd be better off hitting the other car?!

Injuries to one side, then yes. Absolutely you are better to hit the car causing the accident than to miss it.
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Fri 1 Apr 2005 17:35
Hypothetical Insurance Claim Question - Bill Payer
So in fact, you'd be better off hitting the other car?!

Yes, but if he's racing he probably hasn't got any insurance.

(Almost) exactly the crash scenario you mention happened to a friend of my wifes. Except that it wasn't a fence, it was a sandstone wall. Fortunately she scraped along it, rather than crashing into it, and, also fortunately, she was fully comp.
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Fri 1 Apr 2005 16:33
Hypothetical Insurance Claim Question - livefortheday
Have you seen the other number plate or not?

Yes/No.
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Fri 1 Apr 2005 16:42
Hypothetical Insurance Claim Question - daveyjp
Never a good idea to hit another car head on because you only have TPFT! +70mph impact speed equals probable death to you.
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Fri 1 Apr 2005 17:11
Hypothetical Insurance Claim Question - Garethj
Luckily it's only hypothetical!

Just wondering about the merits of avoiding an accident or not really
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Fri 1 Apr 2005 17:59
Hypothetical Insurance Claim Question - ihpj
You have to think, how could I prove it was the other driver's fault and not mine beyond any shadow of a doubt? If it means hitting them, then well it might just be that and hope for the best.

Sounds harsh perhaps but when it's all said and done, without 'evidence' and independant witnesses, you're screwed. But if a car were to plough into you, then you have actual facts that cannot be argued against, expcet liability might be 'mitigated'.



**NOTE**

I am NOT advocating that we go around ramming one another etc. just that at the time we should consider the consequences of our actions - which is the lesser of the two evils? Loosing my NCB or my life? At times, I've hit the other party because by avoiding them I would have left myself in the preverbial - so you msut decide what to do.
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Fri 1 Apr 2005 18:07
Hypothetical Insurance Claim Question - barney100
not a hope, insurance companies on pay out are slippery as eels.
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