Just been rear ended...
Discussion
Morning PH! Just been rear ended by a white van driver and looking for advice on getting this sorted out with minimum hassle and with the best chance of leaving me in the position I was in before the incident.
I was stopped behind a queue of traffic and the van behind me didn't see that I had stopped and crashed into the back of me at 20-30mph. I braked gradually to a stop, almost as you would when approaching a red traffic light. Thankfully I'd left a decent distance to the car in front so it was only the van and myself involved. We exchanged details and took photos. No witnesses stopped.
Van is company owned and insured - currently waiting for the details of the insurance from the company that owns the van. My car is worth about £2k and damage is to the rear bumper and tailgate. There is some deformation inside the boot and one of the rear lights is pushed in slightly but not smashed. Van dropped its coolant and my boot still closes and locks - testament to Skoda build quality! My neck is a bit sore at the moment but I'm not in agonising pain or anything.
Phoned 101 and they said I need to report it in person at a police station, so I will do that later today. I'm insured fully comp with Admiral. I will need a courtesy car as I use it for work.
As I see it the options are as follows:
1. Claim from my insurer, pay my excess and they pursue the other party.
2. Inform my insurer of the accident but claim from the other party's insurance company.
3. Instruct an accident management company to sort it out for me.
Not too sure on what the pros and cons are of each option so advice on this will be much appreciated.
Please don't let this turn this into a debate about whiplash claims, equivalent courtesy cars and insurance premium inflation due to accident management companies!
I was stopped behind a queue of traffic and the van behind me didn't see that I had stopped and crashed into the back of me at 20-30mph. I braked gradually to a stop, almost as you would when approaching a red traffic light. Thankfully I'd left a decent distance to the car in front so it was only the van and myself involved. We exchanged details and took photos. No witnesses stopped.
Van is company owned and insured - currently waiting for the details of the insurance from the company that owns the van. My car is worth about £2k and damage is to the rear bumper and tailgate. There is some deformation inside the boot and one of the rear lights is pushed in slightly but not smashed. Van dropped its coolant and my boot still closes and locks - testament to Skoda build quality! My neck is a bit sore at the moment but I'm not in agonising pain or anything.
Phoned 101 and they said I need to report it in person at a police station, so I will do that later today. I'm insured fully comp with Admiral. I will need a courtesy car as I use it for work.
As I see it the options are as follows:
1. Claim from my insurer, pay my excess and they pursue the other party.
2. Inform my insurer of the accident but claim from the other party's insurance company.
3. Instruct an accident management company to sort it out for me.
Not too sure on what the pros and cons are of each option so advice on this will be much appreciated.
Please don't let this turn this into a debate about whiplash claims, equivalent courtesy cars and insurance premium inflation due to accident management companies!
Had more or less the same with Admiral a few weeks back just be aware they will try to push you onto their own accident management company, which doesn't have the greatest reputation.
I went with option 1, as that's what I pay Admiral for, to do the running around on my behalf but I'll leave the experts on here to give you their opinion.
I went with option 1, as that's what I pay Admiral for, to do the running around on my behalf but I'll leave the experts on here to give you their opinion.
Durzel said:
Why weren't you given the details of the insurance at the time?
Company van - the driver didn't know who they were insured with which is fair enough I thought. I've got the details of the company and the driver's home address so I don't expect any problems getting their insurance details.Almost identical to my situation currently and I went with option 3 - primarily because I didn't really know any other way to do it.
I'm insured with Tesco who passed me over to Albany Assistance who sorted out garage for repairs and courtesy car.
Accident was Wednesday last week (identical damage to you've experienced, no injury claims). Courtesy car was dropped off Monday this week, mine was collected by the garage the same day. Phoned the garage yesterday to follow up and was informed my car should be finished today, so I expect it back tomorrow.
I can't comment on the completion of the process or if any issues might arise because I haven't got that far yet, but so far it's been hassle-free and well organised.
On another thread I was made aware of the Courtesy car/Credit Hire cost issues that can arise, if the 3rd Party refuses to cover that cost it's left to me. I think the fee's are something like £80 delivery, and £70 per day hire costs. Looking at the complaints online, the vast majority seem to be either rather old, or the car hire costs are something crazy like £250+ per day so I'm hoping I wont experience any of that.
I'm insured with Tesco who passed me over to Albany Assistance who sorted out garage for repairs and courtesy car.
Accident was Wednesday last week (identical damage to you've experienced, no injury claims). Courtesy car was dropped off Monday this week, mine was collected by the garage the same day. Phoned the garage yesterday to follow up and was informed my car should be finished today, so I expect it back tomorrow.
I can't comment on the completion of the process or if any issues might arise because I haven't got that far yet, but so far it's been hassle-free and well organised.
On another thread I was made aware of the Courtesy car/Credit Hire cost issues that can arise, if the 3rd Party refuses to cover that cost it's left to me. I think the fee's are something like £80 delivery, and £70 per day hire costs. Looking at the complaints online, the vast majority seem to be either rather old, or the car hire costs are something crazy like £250+ per day so I'm hoping I wont experience any of that.
Thanks guys. Just read this:
http://www.civinfo.com/forum/insurance/100879-help...
Doesn't fill me with confidence about Albany!
http://www.civinfo.com/forum/insurance/100879-help...
Doesn't fill me with confidence about Albany!
TypeRTom said:
Thanks guys. Just read this:
http://www.civinfo.com/forum/insurance/100879-help...
Doesn't fill me with confidence about Albany!
Yup hence why I decided to let Admiral sort it, but I didn't really need a courtesy car urgently and was probably a longer process than using an accident management company.http://www.civinfo.com/forum/insurance/100879-help...
Doesn't fill me with confidence about Albany!
If your going to go option 3, I believe there's a company run by a Ph'er which seems to be recommended http://www.europaconsultants.co.uk
Edited by twinturboz on Thursday 17th July 12:19
I've done options 2 and 3 in the past. Option 3 I got provided with an X-type Jag while they repaired my XJ - the courtesy car had an out of date tax disc and there were a number of delays and cock ups over repairing my car. I complained and they sent me a bottle of whisky (but not an apology) - it was hilarious actually, this bottle of whisky turned up - no details, compliments slip or anything. In the end I figured it out from the postmark.
Option 2, I got a weedy but legal and functional Micra courtesy car while they repaired my Saab - they made a decentish job, but to the extremely critical eye it was visible. Repairs were done much more quickly.
I didn't lose out financially in either case. I had a bad neck before anyone crashed into me - it didn't get any worse so I didn't claim.
Option 2, I got a weedy but legal and functional Micra courtesy car while they repaired my Saab - they made a decentish job, but to the extremely critical eye it was visible. Repairs were done much more quickly.
I didn't lose out financially in either case. I had a bad neck before anyone crashed into me - it didn't get any worse so I didn't claim.
TypeRTom said:
Thanks guys. Just read this:
http://www.civinfo.com/forum/insurance/100879-help...
Doesn't fill me with confidence about Albany!
Yeah there's negative stuff everywhere - but then again so is there about most companies, so I guess that's not TOO surprising. http://www.civinfo.com/forum/insurance/100879-help...
Doesn't fill me with confidence about Albany!
It's mainly the Courtesy car costs that raise alarm bells. Potentially I could be out £430 from a week's hire
The case "should" be open shut really, rear ended at traffic lights, driver admitted fault. I have photo's of the incident and all that sort of stuff. Once I have received my car back and handed back the hire car, I'll be chasing Albany to see where they're at with the case.
TypeRTom said:
Durzel said:
Why weren't you given the details of the insurance at the time?
Company van - the driver didn't know who they were insured with which is fair enough I thought. I've got the details of the company and the driver's home address so I don't expect any problems getting their insurance details.twinturboz said:
Had more or less the same with Admiral a few weeks back just be aware they will try to push you onto their own accident management company, which doesn't have the greatest reputation.
I went with option 1, as that's what I pay Admiral for, to do the running around on my behalf but I'll leave the experts on here to give you their opinion.
For those that watch Telly in the morning, there was a case on "Don't get done get Dom", where a bloke was shunted in a newish car .Third party admitted liability and the ins co said they'd do the work, which was not done to the owners expectations. Advice on program was to let your own insurance company deal with it as then you have legal rights on the repair. I went with option 1, as that's what I pay Admiral for, to do the running around on my behalf but I'll leave the experts on here to give you their opinion.
Legally, you need to inform your Insurer anyway, so why not give them the info that you have and let them deal with it.
They would only need the reg no. of the vehicle. It sounds straight forward and in a way, the amount of damage will prevent any claims that you rolled back into him.
Tim
They would only need the reg no. of the vehicle. It sounds straight forward and in a way, the amount of damage will prevent any claims that you rolled back into him.
Tim
Have notified my insurance. I have legal cover on my policy too. They said I can claim through them without paying my excess and get given a courtesy car.
At the moment it sounds like the only difference if I go through an AMC is that the other party's insurer will have to pay out more because the AMC are involved.
I think my car will probably be uneconomical to repair (probably 4 figures to repair plus courtesy car costs...) so I expect to have a battle to get a fair value paid out for it. Car is 12 years old with 120k but has had over £1000 spent in the last year, bodywork near mint and only one owner before me.
I went to a reputable body repair garage yesterday who will be sending me a quote for the repairs. If the car gets repaired I would much rather use this garage than somewhere the insurance company would like me to use.
At the moment it sounds like the only difference if I go through an AMC is that the other party's insurer will have to pay out more because the AMC are involved.
I think my car will probably be uneconomical to repair (probably 4 figures to repair plus courtesy car costs...) so I expect to have a battle to get a fair value paid out for it. Car is 12 years old with 120k but has had over £1000 spent in the last year, bodywork near mint and only one owner before me.
I went to a reputable body repair garage yesterday who will be sending me a quote for the repairs. If the car gets repaired I would much rather use this garage than somewhere the insurance company would like me to use.
OP, In no particular order.
1.You can take your car anywhere to be repaired it is your choice, don't be bullied by your company.
2.If not a write off the repairer you choose may have a loan car that you can have whilst yours is being repaired.
3.If a write off do not accept the first offer that the insurance company gives you, you can negotiate.
4.DO NOT allow the insurance company to take the car from the repairer until you have agreed a settlement, do not allow them to bully you into handing over the car.
5.Accident management companies are only out to make as much money from us motorists as they can, the garage that recommends them will be getting a referral fee.
6.The car provided by accident management companies will be on a credit hire basis and will be your liability if the third party or their insurers don't/can't/won't pay up. Can run into thousands.
7.If it was me I would claim on my insurance to get things moving quickly.
1.You can take your car anywhere to be repaired it is your choice, don't be bullied by your company.
2.If not a write off the repairer you choose may have a loan car that you can have whilst yours is being repaired.
3.If a write off do not accept the first offer that the insurance company gives you, you can negotiate.
4.DO NOT allow the insurance company to take the car from the repairer until you have agreed a settlement, do not allow them to bully you into handing over the car.
5.Accident management companies are only out to make as much money from us motorists as they can, the garage that recommends them will be getting a referral fee.
6.The car provided by accident management companies will be on a credit hire basis and will be your liability if the third party or their insurers don't/can't/won't pay up. Can run into thousands.
7.If it was me I would claim on my insurance to get things moving quickly.
TypeRTom said:
Durzel said:
Why weren't you given the details of the insurance at the time?
Company van - the driver didn't know who they were insured with which is fair enough I thought. I've got the details of the company and the driver's home address so I don't expect any problems getting their insurance details.I think I had some sort of legal protection run by Admirals accident management company who were notified by default. I wasn't trying to claim for anything other than getting my car fixed so not sure why they got involved! But they were useless. One month after the accident they emailed me to say they had been unable to trace the other driver. Despite the fact I had given full details to Admiral 1 day after the accident! Politely told them to go away!
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