In car accident, not my fault

[Foxhound5366]

So with incredibly bad luck, my car was driven into for the second time in a year ... with me in Cape Town for less than 1.5 years. Crazy!!!

My question: if the insurance assessors are satisfied that the car accident wasn't my fault, is my personal insurance risk profile going to degrade at all (and result in higher premiums down the line)?

The reason I ask this is because after my first car accident (a lady T-boned the side of my car when she was looking the wrong way at an intersection), Outsurance didn't change my premiums ... they just ended up cancelling my Outbonus (but did at least manage to claim back my excess payment from the other party).

This time around it's my second accident, but also definitely not my fault. I was driving in slow traffic on the N1 just heading out of Cape Town's CBD, when the guy driving behind me shunted right into me at speed (and I hadn't done any sharp braking ... the other guy immediately conceded he just hadn't been paying attention). Best part was, the guy's rear-end shunt pushed my car into the car ahead of me, but that guy didn't seem bothered because he had no damage at all.

Nonetheless, I was super-annoyed ... not least because I had to spend the start of my weekend at the police station reporting the thing.

Does anybody have any qualified insights into how insurance companies like Outsurance judge things like things? I am NOT a bad driver, this is just really crappy luck coupled with the high percentage of shocking drivers gracing Cape Town's roads.

PS: Whiplash is a BITCH. Take my word for it: adjust your seat to a more upright position to minimise the distance your head travels backwards. I just have ... afterwards.

 

[ichigo]

So with incredibly bad luck, my car was driven into for the second time in a year ... with me in Cape Town for less than 1.5 years. Crazy!!!

My question: if the insurance assessors are satisfied that the car accident wasn't my fault, is my personal insurance risk profile going to degrade at all (and result in higher premiums down the line)?

The reason I ask this is because after my first car accident (a lady T-boned the side of my car when she was looking the wrong way at an intersection), Outsurance didn't change my premiums ... they just ended up cancelling my Outbonus (but did at least manage to claim back my excess payment from the other party).

This time around it's my second accident, but also definitely not my fault. I was driving in slow traffic on the N1 just heading out of Cape Town's CBD, when the guy driving behind me shunted right into me at speed (and I hadn't done any sharp braking ... the other guy immediately conceded he just hadn't been paying attention). Best part was, the guy's rear-end shunt pushed my car into the car ahead of me, but that guy didn't seem bothered because he had no damage at all.

Nonetheless, I was super-annoyed ... not least because I had to spend the start of my weekend at the police station reporting the thing.

Does anybody have any qualified insights into how insurance companies like Outsurance judge things like things? I am NOT a bad driver, this is just really crappy luck coupled with the high percentage of shocking drivers gracing Cape Town's roads.

PS: Whiplash is a BITCH. Take my word for it: adjust your seat to a more upright position to minimise the distance your head travels backwards. I just have ... afterwards.

Not sure, but I am surprised you went with Outsurance after all the bad experiences, I prefer Santam with a broker.

 

[thehuman]

Not nice to cut your out bonus if other persons fault . Did his insurance not paid for repairs ?

 

[Foxhound5366]

Not nice to cut your out bonus if other persons fault . Did his insurance not paid for repairs ?

Yeah, it sucks. His insurance presumably refunded Outsurance, which is why they refunded my excess in the first place.

I agree its wrong to lose your Outbonus even if it's not your fault, but that's purely to discourage claims and promote cautious driving in the only way most motorists feel it ... their pocket.

As for being with Outsurance, I can't complain - always had good customer care from them, and they paid out last time with no quibbles.

 

[Creag]

...

Does anybody have any qualified insights into how insurance companies like Outsurance judge things like things? I am NOT a bad driver, this is just really crappy luck coupled with the high percentage of shocking drivers gracing Cape Town's roads.

...

Outsurance, imo, would not be typical of how insurance companies would handle this. Their policy worked is quite different to the next company. The way in which they handle claims also different.

Your best bet is to familiarise yourself with the policy wording especially claims related stuff to understand your rights. Because this is possibly treat as a no claim bonus, it means that any claim results in a loss of the bonus.

Outsurance should rightly be pursuing full recovery against both of the drivers of the two collisions. Full recovery world result in refund of your excess. Just not sure how they would see you as driver.

A logical and rational company should recognise that you are not at fault and should not penalise you especially if they obtain full recovery.

 

[Hemi300c]

Well that's what happens when withoutinsurance.
Full recovery and they punished you, nice.
Wait for settlement and move. Go through a broker and get a decent insurer.
PS a decent insurer will not punish you if recovery happens.

 

[Foxhound5366]

Well that's what happens when withoutinsurance.
Full recovery and they punished you, nice.
Wait for settlement and move. Go through a broker and get a decent insurer.
PS a decent insurer will not punish you if recovery happens.

Nor will a decent insurer give you a bonus if you don't claim after five years, and every year after that, right?

I can't really argue when something I wouldn't have gotten anywhere else is taken away.

I don't like it, but shooting myself in the foot and paying higher premiums at 'decent' insurer who won't even give me the chance of a bonus anyway just doesn't make financial sense.

What I need to do is leave Cape Town to a place with less idiot drivers per capita.

 

[saturnz]

Nor will a decent insurer give you a bonus if you don't claim after five years, and every year after that, right?

I can't really argue when something I wouldn't have gotten anywhere else is taken away.

I don't like it, but shooting myself in the foot and paying higher premiums at 'decent' insurer who won't even give me the chance of a bonus anyway just doesn't make financial sense.

What I need to do is leave Cape Town to a place with less idiot drivers per capita.

Personally I have stopped relying on a vehicle. I haven't driven a car since I was in an accident in December last year. I am currently in the process of selling all my cars.

Given the adjustments to my lifestyle, I can basically walk to everywhere I need to go and can rely on Uber if I need to go somewhere with a vehicle.

 

[Lord Nikon6]

Personally I have stopped relying on a vehicle. I haven't driven a car since I was in an accident in December last year. I am currently in the process of selling all my cars.

Given the adjustments to my lifestyle, I can basically walk to everywhere I need to go and can rely on Uber if I need to go somewhere with a vehicle.

This is not feasible for most, but if you can do it, great.

 

[adinfinitum]

I'm not too sure about Outsurance but as far as I know being in an accident, regardless of whether it is your fault or not, affects your profile. I have not yet come across an insurance company when getting a quote asking me if the accident I was in was my fault or not. Most of them just ask if you have claimed for the past x years from your current insurer.

 

[Venomous]

I WAS with outsurance

2 accidents
neither my fault, a few weeks appart,
1st rear-ended at a yield
(duh dude my brake lights were on, as I was standing still)
2nd drunkard skipped the red lights
witnesses to prove it was not my fault,
gave outsurance their numbers

.....bought a lil car until I could decide on a better bigger vehicle.....

and guess what?!?
buy the bigger vehicle (in process of paperwork)
call outsurance get a quote.
decided to call around.
got cheaper quotes from everywhere

I settled on Santam.
Santam offered my household, lil car and newer car.
All for about R200 less than outsurance was prepared to charge for just the newer car.

Asked outsurance if they would consider reducing their price, as I am(was) shopping around.
They came back R10less and a higher excess.

fast forward a few days:
collect-a-car day.
standing in dealership I called OS.
cancelled.
then suddenly:
can we relook at the pricing?
lol, even a manager called me.

and he admitted I was now considered high risk though none of the mess was my fault.
but not before telling me he could not match the santam pricing...

 

[Foxhound5366]

Yeah, very interesting Venemous, thanks for sharing. Funnily enough these two accidents have made me seriously go the other route: I'm now contemplating getting a road tank like a 4x4 double cab bakkie instead, and pimp it with bull bars mad max style.

Because seriously, that's what Cape Town traffic needs.

If Outsurance decides I'm too high risk for them, then that's their loss. They've already taken my no claim bonus, so there's nothing to keep me with them apart from the service I receive.

 

[Venomous]

Yeah, very interesting Venemous, thanks for sharing. Funnily enough these two accidents have made me seriously go the other route: I'm now contemplating getting a road tank like a 4x4 double cab bakkie instead, and pimp it with bull bars mad max style.

Because seriously, that's what Cape Town traffic needs.

If Outsurance decides I'm too high risk for them, then that's their loss. They've already taken my no claim bonus, so there's nothing to keep me with them apart from the service I receive.

hehehe
the new car has anti-rollbars in the doors
for the driver there are the following airbags:
steering wheel, roof beam beteeen door and front window, the beam between front and back doors.
and also airbags for front and back passengers, should there be any.

I use to love driving older cars
but after my car collided head-on with the side of another car, I decided airbags are a must.

cracked my ribs on the steering wheel, and got both shins bruised so badly that the bruises only showed signs of starting to heal 6 months later!!!
Then the never forget moments...
the car spinning round and round, and round, and round...
the smell, the high pitched motor whine, everything blurring in the spinning.
And my car finally stopped behind the intersection lines at the other side of the intersection, with the car facing where I came from.

I did twist the steering just before impact as there were 2 other people in the vehicle with me. One in front passenger seat, one just behind. No bruises or crushed legs for them They both walked away a bit shaked with only a bit of whiplash. So the driver side front took the most impact. I could not open my door. And had to force my seat back release my legs and to allow me to get out the passenger side.
And during all of that not 1 window broke.

 

[Foxhound5366]

Yeah, if your new small car has ESP you'll never have to worry about spinning out again, or at least not that badly.

Something I'm really happy about is that my frontal impact wasn't hard enough to trigger my airbags - that would have made it way more traumatic for me and my wife. The seat belts did the job, but I'd have benefited from pretensioning seatbelts that suck you in when you first plug them in (like the Mercedes C-class) to reduce whiplash. My neck's still a bit sore even two days later.

 

[Fazda]

Nothing wrong with Outsurance at all.

They advertise the fact that you will only get your Out Bonus after 3 no claim years. If you happen to claim, you will not get your bonus for another 3 years, then they pay you the full three year amount. i.e. if you were supposed to get R 400 back, you will end up with 1200 after three years, then you go back to annual out bonuses.

I have been with them since they started and am very happy. The claims that I have made, have been promptly dealt with - the last one, the money was in my account within 3 days.

Sorry about the accident Foxhound5366 - sometimes we are simply spectators in the middle of an accident and there is sweet bugger all you can do about it.

The whiplash will stay with you for at least a week or 10 days - best to buy some decent anti inflammatory like Cataflam, and a pain killer, and chill for a while!

 

[Foxhound5366]

Nothing wrong with Outsurance at all.

They advertise the fact that you will only get your Out Bonus after 3 no claim years. If you happen to claim, you will not get your bonus for another 3 years, then they pay you the full three year amount. i.e. if you were supposed to get R 400 back, you will end up with 1200 after three years, then you go back to annual out bonuses.

What Outsurance doesn't explain is why you would want to be with a company that penalises you whenever you have to use the service you've actually been paying for for years.

I still think that your no claim bonus shouldn't be revoked if the accident wasn't your fault, with some transparent mechanism for contesting Outsurance's finding on the matter. Why punish a driver who's already been through a traumatic experience?

Especially where Outsurance gets all their money back from the other party, there's no reason to withold anything because you're STILL a good driver as you weren't at fault.

 

[silver6933]

I'm now contemplating getting a road tank like a 4x4 double cab bakkie

This is another bad decision.

I give you the 1 star rated Nissan Navara (a rather imposing vehicle on the road).

http://www.euroncap.com/en/results/nissan/navara/15768


If you really want safety, you need to look at the NCAP ratings.

 

[silver6933]

the new car has anti-rollbars in the doors

Oohh which car is this?

 

[Foxhound5366]

This is another bad decision.

I give you the 1 star rated Nissan Navara (a rather imposing vehicle on the road).

http://www.euroncap.com/en/results/nissan/navara/15768


If you really want safety, you need to look at the NCAP ratings.

I'm actually thinking of the Ford Ranger, which has 5 stars. Also, as anybody knows, in an accident it doesn't hurt to have the most weight.

More than that though, I've definitely seen drivers act a little more cautiously around bigger vehicles, so if driving a bakkie will result in one of those reckless drivers deciding in a split second against taking a needless risk, then it's even better.

PS: Did you see the story about the Ranger trumping the Hilux again in April for the second time since November last year? The South African motoring tide is finally changing!

 

[silver6933]

The Hilux is on its run out and Ford is finally able to supply enough vehicles.

There are safer cars than a double cab. But I wont debate that with you any more. It like the ladies saying a SUV is safer.