a couple of years ago (21 Oct 2013 to be exact) while in city centre traffic and low speeds, I was hit in the rear left (nearside) quarter on the lower panel and sidesteps by a young girl in a Peugeot. she was clearly at fault as she changed lane to get around a car blocking her in front but didn't look, indicate or anything!

Damage was minimal to mine and some damage to her right wing. I swapped details and said as damage was so limited to mine she would be better off getting hers fixed herself and not involving her insurance as her premium would shoot up more than the cost of repairs (c. £500 she later said she could get it fixed for.)

Thinking nothing more, I didn't even mention anything to my insurer as it was the equivalent to a car park scrape and I was not going claim.

Then I get a letter this week saying they are claiming I caused the accident and would be settling on a 50/50 blame share!!

What can I do about this? Can I refuse to accept the insurers decision? I would have to had been going sideways to hit her car with the rear left of mine? Sheer Physics makes it impossible!!

what are my options please?

As you didn't report the collision to your insurance company, the only information they have to go on is the spurious allegation and associated claim from the other party.

As much as it may cause financial penalty somewhere along the line, it always best practice to report any collision to the insurance company for the very reason you now find yourself. I believe we are actually obliged to inform them of all collisions as stated in the contract they issue.

All you can do now is report what happened to the your insurers, making it clear that the fault lies squarely with the other party. How they decide to proceed from there is really up to them, I would say, because you didn't tell them at the time.

Make your excuses, plead your case and hope for the best.

You have nothing to loose by trying to make a case (except your sanity!). Do you have any pictures of the damage? Paperwork for the repairs? Unfortunately, insurers seem all the more keen to settle knock for knock; minimum work on their part, and the claims all cancel each other out in the end.  Visiting from DISCO3.CO.UK
Discovery 3 TDV6 Auto HSE Zambezi Silver

If I just let this go, presumably it will negate my 12 Years NCB? Hence why I am willing to fight it.

Yes, unless you have it protected (though your renewal would likely go up even if it is). Visiting from DISCO3.CO.UK
Discovery 3 TDV6 Auto HSE Zambezi Silver

Hang on did I read this right they are trying to claim after 2 and a bit years after she hit you ...... I'm sure your insurance would say to them, on your bike it's been too long now!

Is their a time limit on claims? If it dont work.......burn it!

If the IId tool cant fix it.......burn the FF.

If the FF cant be fixed......buy a Land Cruiser!

If the LC cant be fixed..............................................BUY a horse !!

If it were me I would simply ask for some evidence that I was actually there and also involved in the collision. Only once that has been produced would I entertain pleading a case. If the other party can't prove you were even there they can hardly prove it was your fault.

To be 100% clear, I would not outright deny I was there, but neither would I confirm I was. I would ask for evidence of the fact. As they say in some forums, no pictures, didn't happen.

Your contract with your insurer requires "ultimate good faith" so I would be wary of anything other than telling them exactly what happened. I expect they will regard this as a "claim" even if you were entirely blameless. There will be a time limit, but I don't think it will be time barred yet - I'm not sure what the limit is in England, but I don't think it is under three years. Only Range Rovers since 1988

I'll lay a shade of odds the young lady has been cold called by a dodgy no win no fee outfit who told her to make a claim and a few thousands ponds will be hers for "whiplash".

Recently got an annual renewal quote from existing insurance provider. Had a play with the amend/ edit quote section. Both a fault or pending accident claim resulted in a £50/ year increase.

A non fault accident claim still resulted in the premium increasing £25/year. NCD protected on all permutations.

Neither increase worth fretting about but interesting to note that even a non fault claim would result in an increase. One for the statos

I always take the route of telling them everything then they have no way of sneaking out of a claim.

Swmbo had a blame claim prang a year or so ago, which was on one of my policies so consequently all my policies have gone up by about £90 each even though she isn't on any of them except her car! So chap got £3000 for a whiplash claim and I'm £600 a year worse off...... So the insurance industry will make its money back quick enough from me  There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
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