What Is a Non-Fault Claim?

Auto insurance will likely be involved at some point when you’ve been involved in an automobile accident. The driver who is found to be the cause of the accident will be the one who bears the financial responsibility for any injuries or damage caused by the accident.

When it comes to insurance and accidents, insurance providers will assess and determine who is responsible for paying the repair costs and any compensation by investigating both drivers. The insurance company will use all evidence they can find, like speed cameras or eyewitness statements filed by the police, to determine who is at fault.

This makes it so important to gather as much evidence as possible after an accident, especially when you can recognise the accident was not your fault. You may want to hop out of the car and apologise, but this act of being polite can end up being used against you as an admission of guilt.

This article will discuss things you need to know about non-fault claims.

Non-Fault Claims vs Fault Claims

A non-fault claim is when your insurance provider has recovered the costs of the claim and other compensation from the liable party’s insurance. There are car repair experts that may be able to make your non-fault claim easier and reduce the stress and hassle of your repair.

When your insurance company pays out a claim but cannot recover the costs, the claim is considered a fault claim. While it may sound like a “fault” claim is placing blame, it does not relate to whose fault the accident was. The name simply means that the losses were not able to be recovered. That means that, even if you were not to blame, your claim could come back as a fault claim. 

For example, you’re driving along, and an animal runs in front of your car, or maybe someone hits your car and then drives off. There isn’t a third party to claim against, so, unfortunately, the liability comes back to you, and the claim will be considered an at-fault claim.

Do You Declare a Non-Fault Claim?

You must declare a no-fault accident, even if the other driver involved in the accident offers to pay in full for any of the damages caused. Most insurance providers have clauses in their policies that require you to declare any incidents that happen within the past five years.

If you fail to report an accident, and your insurance provider finds out about it later, your policy could be invalidated. In addition, if you were to switch car insurance providers, you will be asked for your claims history.

Will a Non-Fault Claim Affect My Insurance Premium?

Sometimes, a non-fault claim may cause your insurance premiums to go up due to circumstances surrounding the accident and the concern that you may have more accidents in the future. There are a few ways that you can reduce the cost of your insurance when you go to renew your policy:

• Raise your voluntary excess
• Add an additional driver
• Swap your car for one in a lower insurance group

In many cases, an at-fault claim will have a more significant impact on the cost of your insurance than a non-fault claim would. If you make a non-fault claim, you can lose some or all of your no-claims discount you have gathered over the years, but if you choose to protect your no-claims bonus, it will not be affected.

Caversham Coachworks Can Help With Your Non-Fault Insurance Claim

Regardless of who’s at fault, any type of vehicle accident is stressful. And while the other driver’s insurance company should cover the cost of any repairs or injuries sustained because of the accident if they are at fault, dealing with the insurance company and all of the required paperwork can be a daunting task. Having experienced car repair professionals on your side to deal with insurance companies can ease the stress of having to negotiate claims.

At Caversham Coachworks, we take care of everything from insurance, crash, and car body repairs to dent and scratch repairs and many other services. As the leading independent vehicle repair centre in Berkshire and Central Oxfordshire, we promise to offer exceptional service and quality work.

We have extensive experience negotiating with insurance claims and want to get you back on the road in your own car as soon as possible. We offer replacement cars while your car is in the process of being repaired by our professionals. We’ll take care of the daunting paperwork, deliver your repaired vehicle to your door, and ensure that your premiums and no-claims bonus are unaffected.

If you have recently been in an accident and are looking for repairs, contact us today to speak with one of our experts or use our free and easy estimator tool.