Insurance / accident question

[AndyP]

This is a theoretical question, not based on real life events in any way, shape or form!

You're driving to work approaching a medium sized 4 way roundabout, you're going straight on. As you get half way over the roundabout a BMW pulls out from the left directly into your path, you brake and try to avoid him but tag the rear of the car. You pull over to exchange details to find that the car is driven by 2 Germans who hardly speak any English, and it's a rental car.

The damage to you car is minimal, broken indicator lens ( £12 ) , scuffed bumper most of which will polish out and a broken bumper grill. Ordinarily, you'd try and settle outside of insurance but as this is a brand spanking new 14 plate BMW 420D M sport, so he is going to have to report it to the rental company.

So, do you report it to your insurance company and get raped for the next 5 years as you have an accident on your record, or do you ignore it and hope that the he admits to rental company that it was his fault and they do not pursue??

[sidrick]

You tell your insurance regardless. You have to.

[Rusty]

As they swerved across you, it may be that you are found not at fault, which helps...

In this case, best report it, as having your insurance cancelled and a black mark against you may be worse

[Cottis]

Any witnesses to this non real life event?

[Michael S2]

Call your insurance company.

Take photos of damage to your car. Insurance co should be able to see it was BMWs fault. Your no claims should not be affected even if they are not protected. Your premium might go up fractionly but not excessively.

[GazzaG60]

unless you have a camera on the dash you will be at fault regardless I feel. this is due to the "you should give enough room to stop" bollacks

also on hire car it will be checked. loss of earnings can be a pita with taxi, hire car and the like.

[rynaqui]

I can tell you for sure that the hire car company will definitely follow it up and if your insurance company doesn't know about it, it could end up worse off for you!

[newsh]

It was the BMW driver's fault, he pulled out on you. Report it and draw a decent diagram of exactly how it happened. You should not be penalised.

[GT500]

Talking rubbish fellas.
Do not tell your insurance.. I work with Easi Drive on non fault accidents. You do not have to tell your insurance company. If you report it, it will go your record and affect your renewal.
I would ignore it unless you want yours fixing. If his hire company come after your insurance then just deal with it as normal or ring me and we can get Easi Drive on to them.

[mackenzie50]

I always remember my insurance company telling me at the time I was clipped by a woman intent on driving her aged Escort into the side of my Defender: 'it's a roundabout! We always see it as both parties are of equal 'blame/fault regardless..that's roundabouts|' God save us from bloody insurance companies!!'..

[K Simmonds]

I take most things an insurance company say's with a pinch of salt, they'll try and scare customers into all sorts of BS. I once managed to successfully claim off a haulage company's insurance without involving mine at all, I did have to write some carefully worded letters and threaten to pass the matter on to my solicitor but I got there in the end. That was after one of their drivers pulled out in front of me because he didn't see me, he did admit it was his fault.

[Rikki Kitto]

Dash cams, it's the only way in cases like this