If you have been involved in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, you may worry that the repair process will be stressful. However, it doesn’t have to be! You are able to make compensation claims for any damage through the insurance company of the driver who was responsible for the accident, covering the cost of vehicle repairs. Even though their insurer will likely recommend using their approved repairers to carry out any repair work, you have no obligation to go with their suggestion. You are free to choose to have repairs on your vehicle carried out wherever you prefer.
What counts as non-fault insurance work?
When you are involved in a collision caused by another party, such as a driver crashing into you or hitting your parked car, they are liable to pay for any damage caused to your vehicle. Non-fault insurance work is carried out when the third party’s insurer pays for the repairs on behalf of the driver responsible, with their premium increasing as a result.
Your rights in a non-fault accident
You are protected by law when you are involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault, as the other person involved is responsible for physical or financial harm. Therefore, they are liable for any losses that you may have suffered. This is why their insurer will be responsible for settling any car accident or personal injury claims you make against them and will need to pay for repairs to your vehicle.
What are non-fault insurance repairs?
Non-fault insurance repairs are required to repair any damage that your vehicle may have suffered as a result of a non-fault accident. These can cover any aspect of your vehicle’s bodywork, repairing any scratches, dents, and scuffs. These repaired areas will then be seamlessly and painstakingly blended in with the surrounding panels so that the vehicle is restored to its original, pristine appearance.
- As soon as a non-fault car accident takes place, you should get the details of the other driver involved, including their name, address, and registration number. You should also try to ask any witnesses for their details if possible.
- Any non-fault accident claims you make can be carried out through the insurer of the driver responsible for the accident. This will prevent you from making any claims on your own car insurance, ensuring your no-claims bonus will be unaffected.
- It is likely the third-party’s insurer will encourage you to have your car repaired at one of their approved repairers so that the job is more convenient and cost-effective for them. However, this may not give you the high-quality repairs that you are looking for.
- You are within your rights to refuse this suggestion and make your own decision as to where these bodywork repairs are carried out.
- Choosing your own repairer means you can work with a team that is local to you, who you trust and may have used before. This will also allow you to prioritise attention to detail and repair quality rather than efficiency and low costs.
Paying your insurance excess
If you contact your insurer to declare a non-fault claim before speaking to your chosen repairer, you will need to claim on your own policy and may have to pay your policy excess. Even if the other driver has admitted fault and contacted their insurer, you may still have to pay out as you’ve been in an accident. However, if your insurer is certain that you are not at fault, you will be able to get this refunded.
Contacting a team of expert repairers first can save you the inconvenience of paying this excess. At AutoSport Customs, we understand that when an accident takes place that isn’t your fault, you should not have to go through this tedious process. This is why we can take care of claiming back this excess on your behalf, ensuring you do not end up out of pocket or unnecessarily inconvenienced. Then, we can carry out any bodywork repairs your vehicle requires to the highest standard.
Managing non-fault claims on your behalf
Here at Autosport Customs, we want to make the claims process as straightforward as possible when you have had an accident that wasn’t your fault. We can take care of your non-fault claim so that you don’t have to worry about the hassle of dealing with insurance companies.
- Once you get in contact with us, simply provide the details of the driver responsible for the accident and the circumstances in which it took place, and we can take control of the rest of the process.
- We will speak directly to the third-party’s insurer on your behalf, informing them of your decision to choose us for your vehicle repairs.
- Our expert technicians will then use their skills and knowledge to repair your car. Our tailored approach and meticulous attention to detail ensure that we achieve a finish beyond perfection.
- Whilst your vehicle is being worked on and we are carrying out the necessary bodywork repairs, you will be provided with a courtesy car. This prevents you from being inconvenienced.
Our specialist non-fault repair services
Our comprehensive bodywork services include bumper repairs and expert paintwork correction. We will keep in contact with you throughout the process to update you on the condition of your vehicle and the progress of our repairs, as well as our conversations with the third-party’s insurance company to resolve your claim. Once your vehicle has been restored to pristine condition, we can even apply a ceramic coating or paint protection film to prevent further damage and preserve the results.
