What defines "involvement" in an accident.

[asim18]

So if I'm tucked away in bed fast asleep and someone hits my car does that mean I'm involved in an accident?

What if for example, I've let my sister drive my car and its parked outside her house and someone hits it, does that mean she's involved because she was last to drive it or does it mean I'm involved because it's my car? Or does it mean only the person who hit the car is involved? Or does it mean all three of us are involved?

Who's insurance needs to be informed in both scenarios? I'd assume me or an authorised driver of my car would not have to tell our respective insurers anything?

 

[ExRayTed]

Read the T&Cs. I think most insurance companies require you to inform them if the vehicle they insure is involved in an accident. Mine (swiftcover) required it when my car was hit in the car park at work without me in it, although that's because the other party wanted to go through his insurance to fix it.

 

[Nasher]

If it's minor and they offer to pay for it, I wouldn't even tell the insurance company.

 

[hlxbravo]

Each insurer may be different but I had this exact thing happen to a courtesy car I was using, a nissan note, while mine was being repaired, a wagon hit the rear quarter at half past midnight whilst i was in bed. I got screwed for the excess on the courtesy car, my premium for my Audi went up, although I always have protected NCB and to rub it in further....my bike insurance went up cos I had been in a "non fault" accident.

 

[Psycho Sonny]

They never ask this. They ask have you ever been involved in a claim in the past 5 years.

So if your car was in an accident no matter what happened and either parties insurance was notified then you were involved in the claim.

So try your best not to do this for minor things.

So both of your points yes you would have been involved in a claim. You could be on holiday and your car is in the garage of your home and lightning hits your home and sets the garage alight. This would count as a claim and put your insurance up.

 

[Kuros]

I disagree with the above, to be honest. I've always been asked if I've been involved in any accident regardless of claim or injury sustained as opposed to a "has someone claimed on my insurance" (in the last 5 years).

Whilst I'm sure many people don't declare the small ones (and I wouldn't do so myself if it was minor and sorted at the roadside), there's the chance someone could attempt to claim on an injury at a later date. If this happens and they insurance company wasn't informed, they would both not pay out and likely cancel your policy (causing all the further issues that would entail).

(Edit: Screencap from Compare the market)

 

[Kaeo]

People always post this sort of thing^

In cases like these the insurance always pays out to a third party, and if you're found to have not told them aka insurance fraud because it's in your t&c's they will claim back their costs from you.