Insurance claim - Court case

[GoodDoc]

I'll try to keep this short.

In June last year I returned home from work to discover someone had hit my car while it was parked outside my flat. Not too much damage, the wing mirror was 'snapped off' and there was paint work damage on the front offside wing.

Fortunately for me, someone witnessed the incident and as a result I had the driver's details. I phoned my insurance company the following day, explained what had happened and provided the details of the driver. They arranged for a hire car to be dropped off and my car picked up. A week later I returned the hire car and picked up my repaired car.

However, the third party's insurance company is disputing the cost of the claim. I haven't seen any of the costs so I don't know what their objection is. I've had several letter from the solicitors representing my insurance company, and I've given my side of the story to the solicitor's claims advisor, but now it's going to court.

I received a letter with a court date asking me to confirm that I will attend. The case is being heard in Brentford County court, but I work abroad at the moment. I can rearrange things to be there on the day, it just seems odd that they need me to explain what happened when I was 20 miles away from my car when it was hit.

In all likelihood I will go (never been to court before), but has anyone had experience of this sort of situation?

[911Ads]

I was in a similar situation of having to go to court..even though the other party eventually (after 1year) acknowledged they hit me and was their fault.....but as they hadn't authorised the repair in a reasonable timeframe, my insurance company repaired my car...and chased to get payment from them....which they then disputed the cost.

2 days before the court date...they settled on the claim value...no idea what compromise was made, but I was told it saved them alot of money in court fees.

Hope you get a good result.

Are they disputing the damage that was caused? As that was the issue in mine...luckily, my car had only been serviced & MOT'd a week before, so the dealer had a condition report (when you leave a car with them)..which helped.

[white90]

Yes when I was hit by a car in the works van,
had to tell them I could/would attend
never did, it was settled before the event.
brinkmanship I figured!

[GoodDoc]

911Ads said:

Are they disputing the damage that was caused? As that was the issue in mine...luckily, my car had only been serviced & MOT'd a week before, so the dealer had a condition report (when you leave a car with them)..which helped.

Having spoken to the Solicitor it seems they are questioning their liability. Given that there is an independent witness who saw the third parties car hit my parked car I don't understand how they can deny liability. Hoping this is brinkmanship, but now that I realise they are denying liability I want to attend for all the good it will do.