Advice needed! Been in a three car accident.

[gti1234]

Hi All.

I’ve been a lurker here for two years now since owning my mk7 GTI but I was just looking for some advice!

I was involved in 3 car accident today.

Basically what happened was:

The first car stopped first and then I stopped behind the first car.  I must admit that I braked a little late but still left a safe distance between my car and the first car in a stationery position. The third car (which was the last car) went into my GTI pretty hard which caused my car to bump into the first car. All cars suffered superficial damages. In the end, all three drivers took pictures of each other’s cars and exchanged contact details.
Later I contacted the owner of the first car and we both agreed that both our cars were stationery and that my car was pushed forward by the last car.

I have still to contact my insurance company as I am concerned that premiums may potentially outweigh the costs of repairing damages privately.

Should I contact insurance to let them know what happened as the owner of the first car seems quite friendly and thinks that there isn’t really any damage to her car at all. 

If we were to all go down the insurance route, would the person at the back be liable for all damage?

Thanks in advance.

[itavaltalainen]

If you both were stationary then car who rear ended you is liable for it all.
Had a similar accident about 10 years ago when a pensioner turned round to his grandkids and failed to stop in stop and go traffic.
I'd be more worried about your rear end - if it actually pushed you forward enough to hit another car. When this happened to me there was significant damage to rear (although immediately apparent as he pushed me 1/3m forward with my handbrake on).

I had a little knock on the back a while in my mk7 too..... luckily no damage at all (had to flash the other driver after she drove off to get her details just in case....). Even if there is only superficial damage use a camera phone and record a video.... there is a cutout at the bottom that you can use to get in to see if bumper mounts and crash domes are damaged or mounts for parking sensors are f**ked.

[Juicetin]

Are you claiming for any damage to your car ? as there are two of you involved who, presumably, will be blaming the third car then anything your insurer pays for repair to your car should be able to be claimed back off the third car's insurance company (your insurer will do this). You will then not lose your no claims discount (if it's not protected). This assumes your insurer deems the third car to be at fault. Were there any independent witnesses who can verify this? If your insurer thinks its not 100% the fault of the third car then they may try to reach a 50/50 settlement with the third car's insurer.

[SRGTD]

Sorry to hear about your accident gti1234. At least it sounds as if no one was hurt.

Regarding whether or not you notify your insurer; I'd check the small print in your motor insurance policy. Most insurers have a condition in the small print that requires you to notify them of incidents such as this, irrespective of whether or not you were at fault.

[Exonian]

The biggest downside of going through the insurance is that even if the third party is 100% at fault you still have to notify other insurers when you get a renewal quote.
So even though your no claims is intact you're still notifying them of a claim!
My bro in-law was an insurance assessor for a while and he said that it's something all insurers use as they say that statistically once you've had a claim, you're more likely to have another...
Which basically spells out that you can dress up statistics any way you like to suit yourself if you're the one writing the small print and therefore have the world by the balls.

[vw spur]

I thought that the car that you got pushed into would claim off your insurance and your insurance would then claim for that money from the insurance of the guy who ran into you and your insurance would also claim for the damage to your car

[corgi]

As stated above, most insurance companies require you to inform them of such incidents as soon as reasonably possible.

The rearmost car is liable for all damage caused in the accident... but it may take a while to sort...

[Juicetin]

I thought that the car that you got pushed into would claim off your insurance and your insurance would then claim for that money from the insurance of the guy who ran into you and your insurance would also claim for the damage to your car

No, you each claim for any damage of your own insurance and then the insurers try and recover their costs from the party who is deemed at fault, in this case the car at the back.

[Mk7-GTD]

If you both were stationary then car who rear ended you is liable for it all.
Had a similar accident about 10 years ago when a pensioner turned round to his grandkids and failed to stop in stop and go traffic.
I'd be more worried about your rear end - if it actually pushed you forward enough to hit another car. When this happened to me there was significant damage to rear (although immediately apparent as he pushed me 1/3m forward with my handbrake on).

I had a little knock on the back a while in my mk7 too..... luckily no damage at all (had to flash the other driver after she drove off to get her details just in case....). Even if there is only superficial damage use a camera phone and record a video.... there is a cutout at the bottom that you can use to get in to see if bumper mounts and crash domes are damaged or mounts for parking sensors are f**ked.

I think if some hits your car and that impact caused you to hit another car then you are at fault for hitting that car.

[Mk7-GTD]

I thought that the car that you got pushed into would claim off your insurance and your insurance would then claim for that money from the insurance of the guy who ran into you and your insurance would also claim for the damage to your car

No, you each claim for any damage of your own insurance and then the insurers try and recover their costs from the party who is deemed at fault, in this case the car at the back.

I had a similar accident a few years ago but I was the first car stopped at the lights. I claimed from the person behind me as they were deemed to be at fault because they didn't leave enough safe room from my car. They lost their no claims bonus as well.