A non-fault accident in Northern Ireland is a road traffic collision caused by another road user rather than you. If your vehicle has been damaged, you may need recovery, repairs and a replacement vehicle, alongside support dealing with the resulting claim.
MAC’s Accident Assist helps drivers across Northern Ireland manage these different stages together. Instead of being left to arrange recovery, repairs, replacement transport and claims support separately, the process can be coordinated from the first call.
What is a non-fault accident?
A non-fault accident is a collision where another party is considered responsible for causing the incident.
A common example is being stationary at traffic lights when another vehicle drives into the rear of your car. Other situations can include another driver pulling out into your path or colliding with your parked vehicle.
The circumstances of every collision are different, and liability may need to be established as part of the claims process. If responsibility is clear, however, the costs associated with the accident can usually be pursued against the at-fault party’s insurer.
What should you do after a non-fault accident?
After a collision, your first priority should always be the safety of everyone involved.
Once it is safe to do so, collect as much accurate information as possible about what happened. Useful details include:
- The other driver’s name and contact information
- Vehicle registrations
- Insurance details where available
- Photographs of the vehicles and damage
- Photographs showing the wider accident scene
- Contact details for any witnesses
- The time and location of the collision
Avoid relying on memory alone. Photographs and information collected at the scene can become important later if there is disagreement about how the accident happened.
Once the immediate situation is under control, contact MAC’s Accident Assist. The team can establish what support you need and begin arranging the next steps.
What happens to your damaged vehicle?
If your vehicle cannot be driven safely after a non-fault accident, recovery can be arranged.
The vehicle may then require secure storage while its condition is assessed and decisions are made about repairs. If it can be repaired, the repair process can be coordinated and the vehicle moved to an appropriate repairer.
Not all accident damage is immediately obvious. A vehicle may appear driveable while having damage to components behind the bodywork, suspension, wheels or other areas affected by the impact. If there is doubt about whether it is safe to continue driving, professional assessment and recovery may be the safer option.
MAC’s Accident Assist can coordinate recovery, secure storage and accident repair management rather than leaving the driver to arrange each stage separately.
Can you get a replacement vehicle after a non-fault accident?
If your vehicle is off the road following a non-fault accident, you may be eligible for a replacement vehicle.
The purpose of the replacement is to keep you mobile while your own vehicle is being repaired or while the claim progresses. This can be particularly important if you depend on your car for commuting, family responsibilities or everyday travel.
Where applicable, MAC’s Accident Assist can arrange a suitable replacement vehicle as part of the wider accident management process.
Eligibility depends on the individual circumstances of the accident and claim, so the available options will need to be assessed before a vehicle is arranged.
Who pays after a non-fault accident?
Where another party is responsible for the accident, reasonable costs resulting from the collision may be recoverable from the at-fault party’s insurer.
Depending on the circumstances, these can include costs associated with:
- Repairing the damaged vehicle
- Vehicle recovery
- Secure vehicle storage
- A replacement vehicle
- Other losses directly resulting from the accident
This is one of the reasons establishing liability is important. If responsibility for the collision is disputed, additional information or evidence may be required before the claim can progress.
Every claim is different, so drivers should avoid assuming that every cost will automatically be covered. MAC’s Accident Assist can explain the process and the support available based on the circumstances of the individual accident.
Do you have to deal with the other driver’s insurer yourself?
You do not necessarily have to manage every part of a non-fault accident claim yourself.
Without accident management support, a driver can quickly find themselves speaking with insurers, recovery operators, repairers and vehicle providers at the same time. Each company may only be responsible for one part of the process.
Accident management brings those different stages together.
MAC’s Accident Assist can help coordinate the practical side of the accident, including recovery, storage, replacement vehicles and repairs, while also providing support as the claim progresses.
For the driver, this means having a clearer process and a single point of contact rather than repeatedly explaining the accident to different providers.
How does MAC’s Accident Assist help after a non-fault accident?
MAC’s Accident Assist provides support from the immediate aftermath of a collision through to getting the driver back on the road.
Depending on the circumstances, this can include:
- Accident vehicle recovery
- Secure storage for the damaged vehicle
- Replacement vehicles for eligible drivers
- Accident repair management
- Non-fault claims support
- Communication and guidance throughout the process
The main advantage is that these services can be coordinated together.
If the vehicle needs recovered, MAC’s can also help with what happens afterwards. If repairs are required, replacement transport can be considered at the same time. If the vehicle cannot be repaired, support can continue while the claim follows the appropriate route.
It removes much of the work involved in trying to coordinate the aftermath of an accident yourself.
Get help after a non-fault accident in Northern Ireland
If you have been involved in a non-fault accident anywhere in Northern Ireland, getting support early can help prevent unnecessary delays.
When contacting MAC’s Accident Assist, have your vehicle registration, location and details of the collision available where possible. Information about the other driver and photographs from the scene can also be useful.
MAC’s Accident Assist can then assess what support is required and help arrange the next steps, from vehicle recovery and secure storage to replacement transport, repairs and claims support.
If the accident wasn’t your fault, you don’t have to work through everything that follows on your own. Contact MAC’s Accident Assist and let the team help get the process moving.
