Car accident while on compnay business in rental car paid for by employer-are they liable for my increased insurance ?

[needadvice1]

Hi.

 

I had a non fault accident while I was on biz for the company I work for.

 

I believe I have to notify my insurer of this when my policy renews. I know my premium will cost more because of this. I believe my company should pay the difference.

 

Just to clarify. I was in a rental car and the insurance and car was paid for by my company directly so it was not my personal insurance.

[honeybee13]

Thread moved to the motor insurance forum for advice from the guys there.

 

HB

[unclebulgaria67]

Hi.

 

I had a non fault accident while I was on biz for the company I work for.

 

I believe I have to notify my insurer of this when my policy renews. I know my premium will cost more because of this. I believe my company should pay the difference.

 

Just to clarify. I was in a rental car and the insurance and car was paid for by my company directly so it was not my personal insurance.

 

Techically it is part of your driving experience, so yes you should advise current and future Insurers during the next 5 years, as required by Insurance declarations.

 

Because the rental car was not in your name and it was arranged by your company, it won't appear on any database in your name. Many people might then decide that a company rental car is not related to private car insurance and decide it is not relevant. They therefore don't advise private car Insurers and don't pay a higher premium as a result.

 

The other issue you have with declaring rental car accidents is that once this appears on databases it can get confused with your experience driving your own car. It will just appear as a ticked box that you have had an accident claim and the notes about it being in a rental car will be on whatever insurance companies system you advise about the precise details. Using comparison sites will also make life complicated, as that data will then be available to all insurance companies who buy it and you then have this accident claim to explain to all companies you approach for quotes.

 

What is technically correct and what is less hassle will be the choice chosen by many.

[WarrenBuffet]

Very diplomatically put, UncleB.

[needadvice1]

I had a non-fault accident while on company business in a rental car paid for by my employer. even though its non fault, I'm sure this will increase my personal car insurance premium. am I liable to pay the increase out of my own pocket? or is my company liable? help please! thanks very much.

[Ganymede]

If it's non fault then there shouldn't be an Increase.

 

If there is then it's hard to see how your employer could be responsible. Probably too remote.

[needadvice1]

as I understand it, many insurance companies increase premiums for fault and non fault accidents. I can prove the increase is down to the accident because I can ask for a quote with and without the accident being in the calculation, is that makes sense.

[ssparks2003]

Why should your employer pay for any insurance increase? were they the party at fault in the accident?

[unclebulgaria67]

If the hire car is in the companies name and accident non fault, then most people would not think private car insurers need to be advised. Technically it is part of your driving experience and should be advised, but given that a non fault accident will add a small loading increasing premiums, you will understand why people might not be motivated to pick up the phone. If the hire car was in the companies name, there will not be any central database record with the drivers names that could be checked. Most hire companies have repair garages and will seek a recovery from an at fault third party without touching their own insurance.

[needadvice1]

Why should your employer pay for any insurance increase? were they the party at fault in the accident?

 

because the accident would not have happened if I was not out on business for them.

[needadvice1]

If the hire car is in the companies name and accident non fault, then most people would not think private car insurers need to be advised. Technically it is part of your driving experience and should be advised, but given that a non fault accident will add a small loading increasing premiums, you will understand why people might not be motivated to pick up the phone. If the hire car was in the companies name, there will not be any central database record with the drivers names that could be checked. Most hire companies have repair garages and will seek a recovery from an at fault third party without touching their own insurance.

 

so should I advise my insurers or not?

[unclebulgaria67]

because the accident would not have happened if I was not out on business for them.

 

You have follow the logic on this.

 

Say you travelled on a train for a business trip and the train crashed causing your death, would you expect your family to be able to sue your employers ?

 

No of course the employer could not be held liable. Your family would sue the train company or track operator depending on evidence of their liability.