First accident claim, query on procedures
Discussion
I’ve had an accident on a roundabout. No problem with liability. The other car came from the left as I was turning right.
My car is a 13-year-old Focus with 97k on the clock. It’s in excellent condition, at least up until this bloke hit me.
I like the car and my intent was to continue to drive it for at least another year.
There’s a crease in the front wing, but no damage to lights or bonnet fit. It’s fit to be driven.
I anticipate that it will be written off.
Can anyone tell me what happens when an insurance company does this? What are my options, if any? Can I ask to keep the car, and if so, will I get any compensation to enable me to have the car repaired cheaply? It will be Cat D I suppose. Is there any problem with driving such a car re: insurance?
I’ve been driving since 1965. This is my first accident where I’ve been moving. I haven’t got a clue.
It was about to undergo the 100k service next week, so that's a bit of a saving I suppose.
My car is a 13-year-old Focus with 97k on the clock. It’s in excellent condition, at least up until this bloke hit me.
I like the car and my intent was to continue to drive it for at least another year.
There’s a crease in the front wing, but no damage to lights or bonnet fit. It’s fit to be driven.
I anticipate that it will be written off.
Can anyone tell me what happens when an insurance company does this? What are my options, if any? Can I ask to keep the car, and if so, will I get any compensation to enable me to have the car repaired cheaply? It will be Cat D I suppose. Is there any problem with driving such a car re: insurance?
I’ve been driving since 1965. This is my first accident where I’ve been moving. I haven’t got a clue.
It was about to undergo the 100k service next week, so that's a bit of a saving I suppose.
Ask the third party's insurance company to make you an offer where you keep the car.
You'll need to tell your insurance company that the car is now cat "some new fangled classification that used to be cat D."
If the wing is bolt on, find a replacement of the right colour on ebay and do some spannering.
You'll need to tell your insurance company that the car is now cat "some new fangled classification that used to be cat D."
If the wing is bolt on, find a replacement of the right colour on ebay and do some spannering.
Having just been through exactly this... if the 3rd party is, or rather accepts fault, their insurance co will rather pay you out less ‘salvage’ to keep the car than payout and have to dispose of the car for you, more so at the lower end of things like a Focus. The salvage is roughly 21% of the payout from what they told me. Regarding using the car once declared CAT N you are still able to use the car. Some insurance companies require a fresh MOT to ensure car is roadworthy but apart from that it’s carry on as normal
Fb
Fb
fastbikes76 said:
Having just been through exactly this... if the 3rd party is, or rather accepts fault, their insurance co will rather pay you out less ‘salvage’ to keep the car than payout and have to dispose of the car for you, more so at the lower end of things like a Focus. The salvage is roughly 21% of the payout from what they told me. Regarding using the car once declared CAT N you are still able to use the car. Some insurance companies require a fresh MOT to ensure car is roadworthy but apart from that it’s carry on as normal
Fb
Ta. I've contacted my insurance co. and I've been told that their repairer will assess the damage and make a decision as to whether to proceed. Fb
My 50th wedding anniversary next year and I've just booked a cruise at a price that I reckon I could buy the damn boat for. Now is not the time to splash out on an expensive car. Irritating.
BertBert said:
Did you not get details from the third party? Then you could have claimed direct from their insurance.
Bert
The chap didn't know his insurance company. I got a phone call this morning, at 7am, while I was in the shower. My wife told them to call back and told me it was from my insurance company's hire car agent. 8am and I took a call from someone apparently from the car hire company. I'd had a bit of a rough night so wasn't switched on, but after some weird questions I asked who he has and was told the other bloke's insurance company. They wanted me to go through them. Bert
It seemed a bit devious, so will go through mine. The damage is worse than I thought. The front bumper has 'sprung'. The car drives OK, with no rattles. Under braking it doesn't pull to one side. There's little doubt, I think, that it will be written off. Shame.
I get a hire car via my company for the time it takes to decide to write it off, and then an additional 7 days. Not long enough to buy a replacement car.
No major aches or pains, which is a relief. I've got a bit of a back ache and my hip hurts where I stamped on the brake just as we collided.
I'm feeling OK generally, but a bit nervous when driving. I was sick yesterday evening, but no other problem. I've just had a coffee with an additional shot, that's helped. I'm just so irritated. The car suited my needs for the next few months. Everything was planned and, through no fault of mine . . . It's going to cost me.
My wife says we were lucky as it could have been worse, which is true. But I feel like I do when I go to see someone about my back. I was thrown against a table when a police officer. The room was full of tables, with just one, the one I was thrown against, bolted to the floor. I broke three vertebrae. Every doctor has said, some more than once, how 'lucky' I was. Perhaps.
I've just had a thought. I've booked a rather expensive cruise holiday for our 50th anniversary. If I'd had this accident two weeks ago, I probably would have gone cheaper, maybe camping near Bognor. So perhaps a bit lucky.
Thanks for the help. This is the first accident claim I've had where my car was moving.
I would take his insurance company up on their offer to deal directly with them. Buy a roll of gaffer tape and carry on driving the car. If they asses it a total loss, ask them for a payout where you keep the title o the car. In the meantime, get a quote for repair from someone you'd be happy to repair your car.
Then you can make an informed decision whether to continue driving it for the next year gaffer taped up, or repair it, or take the payout from the insurance and buy another banger to do you the next year.
All in all, no physical harm done, have a quiet couple of days and don't worry about it. It's only a car.
Then you can make an informed decision whether to continue driving it for the next year gaffer taped up, or repair it, or take the payout from the insurance and buy another banger to do you the next year.
All in all, no physical harm done, have a quiet couple of days and don't worry about it. It's only a car.
I had a no fault accident last year (also on a roundabout). She admitted liability and I let her insurance company deal with it - there were no issues.
Only minor disagreement we had was when I said I wanted the car transported to the bodyshop - it was perfectly driveable, but the bodyshop I chose would have cost me at least half a day of my time. They took the view that since it was driveable, it wasn't their responsibility to get it transported - but I assured them that it was in their interest to do so. They agreed.
Only minor disagreement we had was when I said I wanted the car transported to the bodyshop - it was perfectly driveable, but the bodyshop I chose would have cost me at least half a day of my time. They took the view that since it was driveable, it wasn't their responsibility to get it transported - but I assured them that it was in their interest to do so. They agreed.
You can ask the TP insurance for a 'cash in lieu of repair' basically the assess the damage but you get a cash settlement to fix the car at a time that suits you. They don't normally assign it a write off either.
Not that common but sounds best practice here, we got it on an old C2 a few years back, engine blew up a few weeks after it was bumped into, the £1500 repair bill went to a new car
Not that common but sounds best practice here, we got it on an old C2 a few years back, engine blew up a few weeks after it was bumped into, the £1500 repair bill went to a new car
If there are no sharp edges and the car drives fine it may even go through a new MOT with cosmetic damage.
If you're only looking for another year from it, I'd retain the salvage (ask to do this) and carry on driving it in its current state - don't even get it repaired or serviced etc.
When done bung it on Ebay and get at least the salvage value back. The payout from the insurance company should more than cover the difference in valuation.
If you're only looking for another year from it, I'd retain the salvage (ask to do this) and carry on driving it in its current state - don't even get it repaired or serviced etc.
When done bung it on Ebay and get at least the salvage value back. The payout from the insurance company should more than cover the difference in valuation.
The repair company listened to what I asked.
They asked if I was willing to accept a second hand wing, albeit one in good condition, and sign to that effect. I said I would. They will remove the car and check for any unknown significant damage. If there is none, then they reckon they'll be able to repair it. It seems my type of plea is hardly unknown. The insurance company, it seems, doesn't care one way or the other. The repair with be guaranteed for three years still, which is a little ambitious given the age of the car.
I might take it to my local, friendly MoT station and get them to have a quick look at the front suspension. There are no marks on the tyre nor wheel, so it appears there was no direct impact.
Thanks for the help.
They asked if I was willing to accept a second hand wing, albeit one in good condition, and sign to that effect. I said I would. They will remove the car and check for any unknown significant damage. If there is none, then they reckon they'll be able to repair it. It seems my type of plea is hardly unknown. The insurance company, it seems, doesn't care one way or the other. The repair with be guaranteed for three years still, which is a little ambitious given the age of the car.
I might take it to my local, friendly MoT station and get them to have a quick look at the front suspension. There are no marks on the tyre nor wheel, so it appears there was no direct impact.
Thanks for the help.
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