My Parked Car Hit and Run - Insurance Premiums?

Hi all,

My parked car was hit today when another car was avoiding an oncoming car and letting them through.
I got it on dashcam (Viofo A129 - a deal I got on OzBargain, hooray!) and it clearly show's the number plate of the offending driver, who drives off so I do not have their details.

My front driver side wheel, and front bumper has damage and the splitter has been pulled off (might have to duct tape it for now).

I have been to the police station and filed a report and uploaded evidence and have a report number.
I have comprehensive car insurance with AAMI.

In this scenario; I was reading up on it and it is suggested that I file a claim immediately with my insurer to get the ball rolling - however would like other people's experience in this; should I wait for the police to follow up?
I've heard of people's insurance premiums going up even if we are the not at fault party. Obviously I wouldn't want to pay more, especially for something that is not my fault.

Also - I was planning to drive to NSW (from VIC) in a couple weeks time and was unsure what people's experiences were as I've never been in a car accident. E.g if I leave my car at a repair; will they give me a loan car (I guess only I would know if I ask AAMI).

Regardless,

Thank you all for your time.

Edit:
Video link - around 9 second mark. Doesn't look that bad but my bumpers basically off.
https://youtu.be/G9tnOpgPTkQ

Edit 2: Attempted to make a claim online via AAMI - however right at the end "Sorry there's an error when lodging your claim, call 13 22 44"

Comments

  • +25

    Oh my God mate, we've been through this a hundred times. Just claim through your insurance, that's what you pay for.

    • -2

      :( Unfortunately it's my first time. Just don't want to pay $650 excess for no fault.

      • +7

        Well either way if the other party's car has insurance you will be reimbursed your excess but if they don't then you would have to use your insurance down the track anyway. Just save yourself the hassle and claim through yours now.

        • Well that's good to know - wasn't sure if I would be reimbursed for the excess in whatever scenario. Thanks for your help.

      • +5

        when you claim and tell them you have dash cam footage proof, should be no excess. They will chase up that number plate owner and will ask for your police report number

  • +23

    I have comprehensive car insurance

    That’s a first on OzBargain

    • +23

      The legends foretold of a chosen one

      • -3

        … not so… the true chosen one can work this basic stuff out for themselves, use a phone, master search engines, and survive without tribal approval…

  • -5

    wow you describe something that happens in life sometimes.

  • +3

    Having dealt with AAMI in the past for a no fault, they were really good if you have dash cam footage.

    Just claim through your insurance, let them know you have the footage. They'll usually ask you to upload to YouTube (private) or other link.

    Re: loan car, if you mean the repair place; check the excesses if you damage it. Usually it's very very high as it's only meant to be for temp day to day usage.

    Given its a few weeks, your insurer loan car probably won't be applicable.

    Premiums pretty much go up every year but if it's too high, just churn. Most insurers will have a question on any claims but then one further on if you had to pay an excess (eg at fault).

    • Hi there,

      Thank you so much. I'm happy to hear from someone that is also with AAMI.
      Sorry re the loan car; was just wondering if you'd get one if you were to claim and it was in the shop. All good. I don't plan on damaging it but who knows.

      Churning is great advice. I just asked as I do sometimes see people talk about their premiums going up regardless of at fault or not.

      • Loan car from the repairer is different to one from the insurer.

        Repair one can also be complimentary but whereas your car insurance cover can temporarily cover the one from the insurer, you'll get into a different agreement with the repair place.

        Your experience will vary but just read the contract and terms. I've heard of instances where the excess for these can be thousands.

      • technically you could rent a car for the time yours is being repaired and then claim the costs from the other party's insurance (not thorough yours unless you picked the rental car option when getting AAMI's cover). but in your case you don't have those details so not sure how you'd go about that.

  • Sorry to hear it - I’ve been in a similar situation without a dashcam. Ergh

    With that footage and an insurance company chasing them, hopefully the police will prioritise the case and get an admission from the driver.

    You’ll probably be considered at fault - and have to pay the excess now. If they identify the driver, you’ll get it refunded

    • Hope so!
      I believe the police are busy and are protesting their pay (fair enough) so whilst my issue may not really be that important in the grand scheme of things it's just poor timing as I have a car service next week (and the bumpers basically fallen off) and I was due to drive up to NSW soon.

      I hope you have a dashcam now; especially with parking mode! A129 was quite cheap and was able to capture the plate clearly so I am happy. There are much better cameras out there though.

  • +1

    Give us the footage.

    • How do I upload it?

      • Just throw it on YouTube. Make it a private video if you really want, though the link will be public here. Though the link you post would always be public no matter how you hosted it.

        • +4

          https://youtu.be/G9tnOpgPTkQ
          Here you go. Doesn't look like much though… my bumper/side comes off though. Pardon the frames; it's in 1FPS parking mode.

          • +2

            @infringement payer: Nice. Can't believe they just drove off, must have assumed you didn't have a dash cam or hoped that the dash cam was off when parked.

            • +4

              @AustriaBargain: I know this is a pretty negative way of viewing our society but I feel like this would happen in most scenarios where the other driver isnt present.

              • +1

                @infringement payer: Its good the number plate is nice & clear, couple of times my Navman didn't record it clearly.

  • +3

    Same thing, same insurer. Red P plater reversed into my (parked) car in mummy's ute and crushed my wheel cover. Bad luck for him I had the cctv from my office which caught the whole thing. AAMI chased him down, his insurance paid in full, no impact on my insurance premiums and no out of pocket expenses.

    • How bizarre that the insurance company chased him down and yet 99% of the other (trolling ) car insurance scenario posts here deny this happened for them, and they needed some sort of 1 in a million custom solution to solve their 'real' life dilemma.

    • Hey, thank you for sharing your experience. I'm currently on the claim page but they are advising it only be waived (excess) if I provide the full name and address of the driver; something I unfortunately don't have (only the registration number plate). Is this something I can just add later or/police to follow up?

      • I had the same experience with my insurer. Must provide other driver's contact details otherwise you have to pay the excess.

  • +3

    As soon as you get any hint of a dodgyness ie. Hit and run, go with your insurance. They've already shown their true selves, why would you trust them to make you whole with ease?

    • +1

      Yeah, I am trying now. The first time I put in a claim it said error; call the number. Which I did then all the prompts said do it online and hung up. Have tried again and it worked; though now it's asking me to book a repairer and it says they are unable to find any in my area/close by (Carnegie) and did not suggest anything else. Bit of a pain.

  • +1

    Until the cops visit the other car and checks for signs of damage, the dashcam doesn’t really show anything except a car, veering close to yours. If the other car did I do it and got their car fixed, then that’s entirely another scenario.
    Even then, that doesn’t mean anything.

    • The video doesn't show much but if you do look at the grass strip on the left you can see the angle does move at point of contact and then moves again when the car leaves

    • -1

      Yeah i'm not actually convinced from the video they hit you. I can see zero signs of damage or impact on their car.

    • thanks for the tip, I will get my car fixed now, and OP has no way to chase me LOL.
      J/K

  • Regarding getting a loan car when booking for repairs.

    You may find that if your car is driveable then the panel beaters aren't going to take it immediately. The wait is a couple of months at the moment.

  • -4

    Right to drive is a car rental company that the mechanic who is assigned to do ur repairs can direct u to use. Not sure if they operate in Vic, but they deliver u a rental car since ur not at fault. They will deliver the car to ur place or the mechanic so I won't be inconvenienced. And they will also lodge the cost of the rental car to the other person's insurance

    • +6

      I like how this service drives up the premiums of everyone else's insurance who do the right thing.

    • +2

      I actually got a generic email from AAMI asking their customers not to use it.

    • ONLY if the other party has insurance. If they don't, R2D will chase you after they fail litigation.

  • +1

    I'm with AAMI, I had an accident, not my fault.

    My premium didn't raise more than the usual after the accident. It was fairly easy, but you do have to provide contact details for the other driver involved, better call customer service.

    Even though my accident was very straight forward, they asked me to pay the excess while they investigated and once they did, I got the excess back.

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