I've had a crash, what happens now so I don't get screwed?
Discussion
Hi,
I'm just looking for some advice really please. Driving for 12 years now, clean licence, never had points, never been in a crash etc. Unfortunately I was involved in an accident the other day, traffic slowed up in a 30mph limit fairly quickly which was no biggie, I stopped, lots of room, sadly the driver of a large Mercedes ML behind me didn't, and went straight into the back of my car. Due to the age of the car, and the fact that the boot is caved in, boot is out of alignment, towbar is now relocated inside the spare wheel well etc, I'll be staggered if my car isn't written off.
No other cars involved, the driver of the ML is cool, has given me his insurance details and thus far is admitting liability, I can't see how he couldn't in fairness as he's gone straight into the back of me.
My question is, what do I do? I rang my insurer (EUI) who were keen to have my car collected within 72 hours, and then settle with me for the value of my car less my excess, until they have settled with the other parties insurance. This means I'm down my excess until this point, and also my NCB which will also be suspended until it's all resolved, and of course they couldn't give a timeline.
I got out of them that if I contact the other parties insurance directly and can resolve it, then the other parties insurance will deal with the claim and pay out, meaning I don't have to claim on my insurance at all. This seems like a far better option to me.
Basically, how can I sort the whole thing out as fast as possible with as little hassle as possible? I just want my car either repaired or paid out for, and to get on. I'm personally fine, and I have no interest in pursuing a personal injury claim for any mythical whiplash or anything like that, I just don't want to end up getting stuffed by my own insurer, which it sounds like I will if I let them handle the claim?
Thanks in advance.
Matt
I'm just looking for some advice really please. Driving for 12 years now, clean licence, never had points, never been in a crash etc. Unfortunately I was involved in an accident the other day, traffic slowed up in a 30mph limit fairly quickly which was no biggie, I stopped, lots of room, sadly the driver of a large Mercedes ML behind me didn't, and went straight into the back of my car. Due to the age of the car, and the fact that the boot is caved in, boot is out of alignment, towbar is now relocated inside the spare wheel well etc, I'll be staggered if my car isn't written off.
No other cars involved, the driver of the ML is cool, has given me his insurance details and thus far is admitting liability, I can't see how he couldn't in fairness as he's gone straight into the back of me.
My question is, what do I do? I rang my insurer (EUI) who were keen to have my car collected within 72 hours, and then settle with me for the value of my car less my excess, until they have settled with the other parties insurance. This means I'm down my excess until this point, and also my NCB which will also be suspended until it's all resolved, and of course they couldn't give a timeline.
I got out of them that if I contact the other parties insurance directly and can resolve it, then the other parties insurance will deal with the claim and pay out, meaning I don't have to claim on my insurance at all. This seems like a far better option to me.
Basically, how can I sort the whole thing out as fast as possible with as little hassle as possible? I just want my car either repaired or paid out for, and to get on. I'm personally fine, and I have no interest in pursuing a personal injury claim for any mythical whiplash or anything like that, I just don't want to end up getting stuffed by my own insurer, which it sounds like I will if I let them handle the claim?
Thanks in advance.
Matt
Firstly, thanks all for your input.
By way of update, I've now settled this.
I cancelled the claim with my own insurer as it would have meant losing out on my excess and NCB until they had resolved the claim with the 3rd party insurer, and they didn't want to give me a time frame for this.
I settled the claim directly with the 3rd party insurer, the other driver admitted full liability, my car was assessed, deemed a Cat C total loss due to a kink across the boot floor, and the 3rd party insurer arranged for my car to be collected, and promptly sent me a cheque, which cleared today.
Happy days, I didn't need to pay my excess, my NCB is unaffected, and all is well in the world.
As I'm fine I didn't claim for whiplash, however the amount of people calling me trying to get me to do so is staggering. No wonder insurance is f***ed.
By way of update, I've now settled this.
I cancelled the claim with my own insurer as it would have meant losing out on my excess and NCB until they had resolved the claim with the 3rd party insurer, and they didn't want to give me a time frame for this.
I settled the claim directly with the 3rd party insurer, the other driver admitted full liability, my car was assessed, deemed a Cat C total loss due to a kink across the boot floor, and the 3rd party insurer arranged for my car to be collected, and promptly sent me a cheque, which cleared today.
Happy days, I didn't need to pay my excess, my NCB is unaffected, and all is well in the world.
As I'm fine I didn't claim for whiplash, however the amount of people calling me trying to get me to do so is staggering. No wonder insurance is f***ed.
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