First crash...advice please

[Scelto]

SanguiniusZ said:

"show-and-go" = simultaneous signal-and-manouevre, without reference to anything that might be approaching from behind, or might actually even already by in lane(s) adjacent (not "land" as I typo'd before)

Oh! I've never heard of that before and didn't get anything with a quick Bing. Like the previous poster I assumed it was hit and run. Lane makes all the difference to my understanding too.

Every day's a school day....

[saaby93]

Ki3r said:

Thanks! Think I might need it!

I dont have hire car as an extra on my insurance, mainly as I was working during the day and could get by with lifts to work, however my hours have now changed (flexie), and the next couple of weeks I'm doing early starts (5:45) and a few late nights (23:15). So unable to get lifts. Would I be able to get a hire car and get it back from the third party?

you could if you stopped trying to do things through your own insurer and started treating it as a claim from the third party's insurer - even if they are the same

[Ki3r]

saaby93 said:

ou could if you stopped trying to do things through your own insurer and started treating it as a claim from the third party's insurer - even if they are the same

How do I do that? :s. Just phone them up and say I want to make a claim against the driver of XXX XXX?

[saaby93]

Ki3r said:

How do I do that? :s. Just phone them up and say I want to make a claim against the driver of XXX XXX?

While everyones watching us dig you into a hole
You have to make your own mind up how it's going - it's no use any of us saying when we dont know what you have

If your own insurer has taken control, inspected the car and well on the way to offering you a payout or repair you might as well stick with it

If not and you want to take control phone them up to make sure youre not making a claim through your own policy and are making it direct from the third party's policy - have they sent through a claim form? Have you arranged for your car to be inspected by a few body shops so you have some quotes?

If that sounds like hassle see previous post for people who might handle it all for you

[Ki3r]

saaby93 said:

hile everyones watching us dig you into a hole
You have to make your own mind up how it's going - it's no use any of us saying when we dont know what you have

If your own insurer has taken control, inspected the car and well on the way to offering you a payout or repair you might as well stick with it

If not and you want to take control phone them up to make sure youre not making a claim through your own policy and are making it direct from the third party's policy - have they sent through a claim form? Have you arranged for your car to be inspected by a few body shops so you have some quotes?

If that sounds like hassle see previous post for people who might handle it all for you

I think I'll leave it to them, I really don't understand how it all works (sure that is very clear ha!).

Gave them a ring today as they said they would phone today to give me a update as I had work.

They've said its up to the other person to prove the damage was already there...which is not going to happen. They'll also get the garage to have a look to see what was there before hand.

Might need to get a hire car for a bit, as I'm doing stupid hours at work and can't get lifts . Guessing I won't have to pay? Will double check tomorrow though.

[collateral]

My smash was caused by another of their fellow customers. iirc I didn't actually have a loan car policy, but made a fuss about living in the middle of nowhere and they gave me one anyhow

[BMWBen]

collateral said:

My smash was caused by another of their fellow customers. iirc I didn't actually have a loan car policy, but made a fuss about living in the middle of nowhere and they gave me one anyhow

Gaaargh!! It's because you're not claiming off your policy. Your own insurance policy is completely irrelevant here. You are making a claim against someone else

If you had reversed into a wall, you wouldn't have got a hire car, because you'd be claiming off your own policy, which doesn't give you a loan car.

[collateral]

BMWBen said:

collateral said:

My smash was caused by another of their fellow customers. iirc I didn't actually have a loan car policy, but made a fuss about living in the middle of nowhere and they gave me one anyhow

Gaaargh!! It's because you're not claiming off your policy. Your own insurance policy is completely irrelevant here. You are making a claim against someone else

If you had reversed into a wall, you wouldn't have got a hire car, because you'd be claiming off your own policy, which doesn't give you a loan car.

As we were both with the same company presumably they were costing themselves money?

[Ki3r]

Still not heard from my insurance yet, gave them a ring this morning, and they had the quote from the garage. Because its old (2001) they are seeing if its worth repairing or not. Something like 66% of the value and they write it off.

Will need two new doors, front and rear panel respray, and alloy refurbished. No idea what its going to cost.

Should hear by Monday.

[BMWBen]

collateral said:

As we were both with the same company presumably they were costing themselves money?

Yes, but it's not relevant at all. The other person is liable for your losses, those losses are underwritten by an inurance company. Who you actually are, and any other relationship you might have with that insurance conpany doesn't matter.

It gets confusing because you deal with the insurance company as an agent - but, you do not actually make a claim against the insurance company, you make a claim against the person. Your own policy will dictate what they will cover in terms of your own losses, but will cover any losses to third parties that you are liable for. In this case, there is someone else who is liable for your losses, so the second lart of their policy comes into play.

Hth.

Edited by BMWBen on Saturday 21st January 08:22

[Ki3r]

Good morning PH!

Hopefully just a little bit more help needed!

Had a phone call from my insurance, they have said its beyond economical repair, so are going to write it off. I could buy it back, but I would never get round to getting it fixed, and I would like a new car.

They've said they'll give me £1,200 for my car, which is what I said it was valued at when I got my policy out, which might be the problem! They've said they will give me the money to put me in the same position as before. Similar cars (2001 Y reg Ford Focus, 1.8 TDDi LX, 110k miles) are going for between £1,650 - £2,300 on AutoTrader, that are local to me (I'm not going to drive 200 miles for a car that isn't worth that much, just to save a couple of hundred).

They've also said they'll send the cheque in the post and come and collect my car. I hope I'm correct here, but its my car until I agree on a valuation, and they can't take it off me. Is this right?

I've also tried asking about claiming the increase in insurance I'm going to have to pay for the next 5 years, they've turned round and just said no. Bit unfair, someone drives into me because they didn't look, and I have to pay extra.

Any ideas on how the best way to get them to agree on paying that bit out? Was thinking along the lines of them having to put me in the same position as before the crash.

[saaby93]

You've confirmed what happens if you pursue it through your own insurer.
Wouldnt most people now bank the cheque, let the car go and stop worrying about it.
If youd wanted any different youd have claimed direct from the TP.
You could try to refuse the cheque, clamp the car to prevent it being lifted, send the auto trader listings, pick one thats most like yours, but what are you trying to achieve?

[jazzyjeff]

Ki3r said:

Good morning PH!
I've also tried asking about claiming the increase in insurance I'm going to have to pay for the next 5 years, they've turned round and just said no. Bit unfair, someone drives into me because they didn't look, and I have to pay extra.

Any ideas on how the best way to get them to agree on paying that bit out? Was thinking along the lines of them having to put me in the same position as before the crash.

First thing you should do is put it in writing, saying exactly that. A letter, emailed and/or posted to them. The third party is at fault and therefore is liable for any increase in premiums for the next five years. Of course, you can't claim that straight away since you won't have paid those premiums yet. There's no reason however in not obtaining a written agreement in principle.

[saaby93]

jazzyjeff said:

First thing you should do is put it in writing, saying exactly that. A letter, emailed and/or posted to them. The third party is at fault and therefore is liable for any increase in premiums for the next five years. Of course, you can't claim that straight away since you won't have paid those premiums yet. There's no reason however in not obtaining a written agreement in principle.

While not disputing that's what he could try, hasnt he already reached the level of indemnity expected of his own insurer and really what he's after now is with respect to a third party claim?

[Ki3r]

saaby93 said:

hile not disputing that's what he could try, hasnt he already reached the level of indemnity expected of his own insurer and really what he's after now is with respect to a third party claim?

We're with the same company, which is why I was asking them about it. If it was another company (say Tesco/Elephant), I would claim from the other company. I got a bit confused with it being the same company though .

[saaby93]

There may be other threads where an insurer has queried the replacement value vs value of goods insured and whether they're going to pay out at all.

Why doesnt everyone insure for a value the car might cost in replacement?

[Ki3r]

saaby93 said:

There may be other threads where an insurer has queried the replacement value vs value of goods insured and whether they're going to pay out at all.

Why doesnt everyone insure for a value the car might cost in replacement?

I know very little about cars, and thought that it would only be worth £1,250 or something, clearly I was wrong.

[saaby93]

Ki3r said:

I know very little about cars, and thought that it would only be worth £1,250 or something, clearly I was wrong.

See what BMW ben said earlier.
Your insurer may be thinking they're doing you a good deal at £50 less than you thought it was worth when you insured it

Another one about to begin here
http://pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&amp...

[Ki3r]

Bit of an update, finally settled on an amount. £1,500 and I keep my car. Just need to get a MOT and VIC whatever that is! Thinking of scrapping it though, can get £183 for it, or maybe pop it on eBay and see what happens.

Thanks for all the help and advice everyone . Pretty pleased with what I got for it in the end, paid £1,700 for it a couple of years ago, and its not the most looked after.

[StoatInACoat]

Breakers yard, two doors for £100 and a couple of hours work = fixed car and £1500.