How to handle a non-fault accident - your three options

6th December 2024

Few things are more stressful than a car accident, and when it’s not your fault, it can literally add insult to injury. Knowing where to start with the insurance process is unfamiliar to most of us, so to help you work out which way to turn, we’ve set out your options.

If you've been in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you typically have three main routes to handle your insurance claim: filing a claim with your own insurer, claiming directly through the “at-fault” party's insurance, or hiring a specialist accident management company. Each has it’s own pros and cons, as we further explore below.

Claiming through your own insurance

For many drivers, filing a claim with their own insurance company is the obvious and quickest route. By doing this, you report the accident to your insurer, and they take care of the rest—whether that’s arranging for repairs, replacing your car, or covering medical expenses.

Pros:

Quick & Efficient: Your insurer is already familiar with your policy, so they’ll handle most of the paperwork and negotiations with the at-fault party’s insurer.
Better Customer Service: As a client, you can expect a reasonable level of service—though this does depend on your insurer’s claims department.

Cons (things to keep in mind):

Excess Payments: You’ll likely need to pay your insurance policy’s excess up front. While your insurer may try to recover this cost from the at-fault party’s insurer, there’s no guarantee.
Potential Impact on Premiums: Even if you weren’t at fault, making a claim through your own insurer can lead to higher premiums down the line.

Claiming through the “At-Fault” Party’s Insurance

The second option is to deal directly with the “at-fault” party’s insurance company. It can seem a convenient option at the time, especially if the other party obligingly agrees to take care of things on your behalf.

But beware, it means you’ll be negotiating through a third party with a vested interested in minimising their payout. Should the accident be more serious, your future efforts to retrieve compensation - for car repairs, medical bills, car hire costs, and even personal injury claims – could be compromised.

Pros:

No Excess to Pay: Since you're not using your own insurance, you won’t have to pay the excess.
No Impact on Your Premiums: Because you’re not filing a claim with your own insurer, your future premiums should remain unaffected.

Cons (things to keep in mind):

More Time and Effort: Handling a claim with the third party’s insurer can be time-consuming. You’ll need to negotiate directly with them, which can sometimes be frustrating and slow.
Potential for Disputes: Third-party insurers often prioritize their own client’s interests, which may lead to disputes or delays in getting a fair settlement. Disputes regarding liability and compensation amounts can lead to delays and lower than expected loss recovery. Third party insurers tend to promise the earth and then backtrack once you have signed up with them.
Vehicle recovery: even though you’re not at fault, you could find yourself liable for costs to recover your vehicle if undriveable. What’s more, given your vehicle is out of action due to an accident, your breakdown provider will be unable to assist, leaving you exposed to costs through police storage or a third-party recovery provider.

Using a specialist Accident Management Company

The final option is the hidden gem in the insurance world, and it’s often overlooked because insurers don’t want you to know it exists. Signing up in advance to an accident management specialist, means handing over the entire claims process to experts who will work in your best interests, taking care of everything from repairs to negotiations with insurers.

While it involves an initial upfront investment, annual protection can be surprisingly inexpensive - as a MotorEasy member, you can even get no-obligation free cover for a year through our preferred partner Assist Protect.

Pros:

Impartial Advice: a reputable Accident Management specialist will give you unbiased advice, ensuring your interests come first—not the insurer's.
Full Vehicle Recovery Service: most insurers don’t offer this, but a company like Assist Protect will recover your vehicle, arrange repairs, and provide a replacement car while yours is off the road.
Hassle-Free Experience: The accident management company will handle everything, leaving you free from the stress of dealing with paperwork, insurance calls, or complicated claims processes. They will also know how to navigate the complexities of insurance claims, often securing a better outcome than if you go it alone.
No Hidden Costs: all costs will be recovered from the at-fault party’s insurer, saving you both time and money.

Things to Consider:

At-Fault Accidents: If the accident is your fault, or there isn’t an identifiable third party, an Accident Management company like Assist Protect will still provide recovery assistance for your vehicle, alongside expert advice on how to manage your insurance. That said, they will also likely direct you to your own insurer to make a claim.

Conclusion

After a non-fault car accident, your choice of how to handle the insurance claim can impact your stress levels, the speed of your recovery, and the financial outcome.

Handing over responsibility to the "at fault" insurer is a risk that could backfire, particularly if there is damage to your car, or worse, an injury to the driver or a passenger. Managing the process through your own insurer is a far safer bet, albeit carries the risk of a hit to your no claims bonus or future premium. Signing up to a reputable accident management meembership scheme provides a comaratively inexpensive way to get the best of all worlds, combining expert assistance when needed most.

More Information

As a MotorEasy member you can access 12 months of complimentary Total Motor Assist cover from Assist Protect. Their range of services include: