Car Crashed into parents wall
Discussion
In some inexplicable way, a van has crashed into my parents wall. There are witnesses and we have his contact details.
I've had a builder round to quote and was open to them paying directly and making it simple, but they decided they don't want to pay. Or at least they think it's going to be cheaper than it really is. That's fine - so insurance.
However, my parents are both over 80 so I want to make it as simple as possible.
I rarely ever need to make an insurance claim, so not sure what the best course of action is. Should I be:
a. Logging a claim with the 3rd party's motor insurance directly and instruct them to repair the wall.
b. Logging a claim with my parents buildings insurance and they claim back off the 3rd party's insurance
c. Something else?
Many thanks
I've had a builder round to quote and was open to them paying directly and making it simple, but they decided they don't want to pay. Or at least they think it's going to be cheaper than it really is. That's fine - so insurance.
However, my parents are both over 80 so I want to make it as simple as possible.
I rarely ever need to make an insurance claim, so not sure what the best course of action is. Should I be:
a. Logging a claim with the 3rd party's motor insurance directly and instruct them to repair the wall.
b. Logging a claim with my parents buildings insurance and they claim back off the 3rd party's insurance
c. Something else?
Many thanks
Arnie Cunningham said:
In some inexplicable way, a van has crashed into my parents wall. There are witnesses and we have his contact details.
I've had a builder round to quote and was open to them paying directly and making it simple, but they decided they don't want to pay. Or at least they think it's going to be cheaper than it really is. That's fine - so insurance.
However, my parents are both over 80 so I want to make it as simple as possible.
I rarely ever need to make an insurance claim, so not sure what the best course of action is. Should I be:
a. Logging a claim with the 3rd party's motor insurance directly and instruct them to repair the wall.
b. Logging a claim with my parents buildings insurance and they claim back off the 3rd party's insurance
c. Something else?
Many thanks
"In some inexplicable way"? I've had a builder round to quote and was open to them paying directly and making it simple, but they decided they don't want to pay. Or at least they think it's going to be cheaper than it really is. That's fine - so insurance.
However, my parents are both over 80 so I want to make it as simple as possible.
I rarely ever need to make an insurance claim, so not sure what the best course of action is. Should I be:
a. Logging a claim with the 3rd party's motor insurance directly and instruct them to repair the wall.
b. Logging a claim with my parents buildings insurance and they claim back off the 3rd party's insurance
c. Something else?
Many thanks
Could the extremely heavy frost/ice on the road not explain it?
4rephill said:
Arnie Cunningham said:
In some inexplicable way, a van has crashed into my parents wall. There are witnesses and we have his contact details.
I've had a builder round to quote and was open to them paying directly and making it simple, but they decided they don't want to pay. Or at least they think it's going to be cheaper than it really is. That's fine - so insurance.
However, my parents are both over 80 so I want to make it as simple as possible.
I rarely ever need to make an insurance claim, so not sure what the best course of action is. Should I be:
a. Logging a claim with the 3rd party's motor insurance directly and instruct them to repair the wall.
b. Logging a claim with my parents buildings insurance and they claim back off the 3rd party's insurance
c. Something else?
Many thanks
"In some inexplicable way"? I've had a builder round to quote and was open to them paying directly and making it simple, but they decided they don't want to pay. Or at least they think it's going to be cheaper than it really is. That's fine - so insurance.
However, my parents are both over 80 so I want to make it as simple as possible.
I rarely ever need to make an insurance claim, so not sure what the best course of action is. Should I be:
a. Logging a claim with the 3rd party's motor insurance directly and instruct them to repair the wall.
b. Logging a claim with my parents buildings insurance and they claim back off the 3rd party's insurance
c. Something else?
Many thanks
Could the extremely heavy frost/ice on the road not explain it?
Indeed. It was on thursday afternoon, it was daylight and the road was dry with good traction, as evidenced by the skid marks.
That's just the colour of the road surface.
Skid length suggests he was doing maybe 30 mph when he applied the brakes.
He initially claimed brakes failed - skids marks say otherwise. He then said loss of steering - but drove it home just fine. I also saw him drive the van onto a recovery truck this morning - so even post accident, the steering still works, although I suspect it may now have a bent suspension arm.
Hence inexplicable. I suspect either texting on his phone or alcohol were involved, but can prove neither.
Anyway, it's irrelevant, I don't care about excuses, just getting it fixed.
So is consensus that passing it to their buildings insurance is the best way forward?
That's just the colour of the road surface.
Skid length suggests he was doing maybe 30 mph when he applied the brakes.
He initially claimed brakes failed - skids marks say otherwise. He then said loss of steering - but drove it home just fine. I also saw him drive the van onto a recovery truck this morning - so even post accident, the steering still works, although I suspect it may now have a bent suspension arm.
Hence inexplicable. I suspect either texting on his phone or alcohol were involved, but can prove neither.
Anyway, it's irrelevant, I don't care about excuses, just getting it fixed.
So is consensus that passing it to their buildings insurance is the best way forward?
Edited by Arnie Cunningham on Saturday 23 January 16:33
Unfortunately he scarpered at the time and only knocked on their door the following morning. Which is why I'm slightly suspicious of alcohol - otherwise, why run. I have his insurance details and 2x witnesses who happened to be in their front room at the time who saw it happen, so hopefully will all be easy.
So parents buildings insurance and they sort it seems to be the recommendation. I'm happy enough with that.
So parents buildings insurance and they sort it seems to be the recommendation. I'm happy enough with that.
Mezzanine said:
Was the driver breathalysed?!
It’s a straightforward insurance job if you ask me...let them sort it out with his car insurance.
It’s a straightforward insurance job if you ask me...let them sort it out with his car insurance.
Edited by Arnie Cunningham on Saturday 23 January 16:32
Although buildings insurance policies don't have no claims discount as such, any claim would have to be declared at renewal time, for years.
It's only a brick wall, I'd try to get the vehicle's insurance company to cough up for a new wall first. If no joy, then claim off their own insurance. They've likely got 28 days or similar (check policy details) before a deadline to claim.
Not everybody has buildings insurance (especially if no mortgage) so car insurance companies must have a procedure for this.
It's only a brick wall, I'd try to get the vehicle's insurance company to cough up for a new wall first. If no joy, then claim off their own insurance. They've likely got 28 days or similar (check policy details) before a deadline to claim.
Not everybody has buildings insurance (especially if no mortgage) so car insurance companies must have a procedure for this.
We had an idiot hit our wall with similarly dodgy circumstances. He was going to deal direct until he realised the damage he had done to the car and wall. We went through his motor insurance but I would have thought their house insurance would be the most simple for them.
If you do it I would go through his insurance to ensure he does not get away with it.
Pip
If you do it I would go through his insurance to ensure he does not get away with it.
Pip
RonaldMcDonaldAteMyCat said:
Bigends said:
Claim off his motor insurance - its what hes got it for
That's what I'd do. You don't need your own insurer as they're not liable for anything. Sure, the van driver was negligent, so he is also liable, so the OP's parents have 2 liable parties to claim off. They can choose whichever one they wish. If they choose their buildings insurers, they will have to fix the wall, because they are liable. They can then claim that back for the van driver/his motor insurers, as he was negligent and he has a contract with his insurers to compensate whoever is left out of pocket due to his negligence.
Why would you claim off your own home insurance, thereby affecting claims history, when you can just claim from the van driver’s insurance? The van driver will get off scot free if the OP claims off home insurance as well.
OP, my first port of call would be logging the incident with the van drivers motor insurance. The van driver’s details are known...it’s fairly straightforward..log the claim with his motor insurance.
OP, my first port of call would be logging the incident with the van drivers motor insurance. The van driver’s details are known...it’s fairly straightforward..log the claim with his motor insurance.
Agree - just deal with the van driver’s insurance company. We had our wall damaged by a lorry. I just contacted the lorry firm and they arranged for the damage to be repaired. I don’t know if they put it through their insurance or paid up themselves and I don’t care. It never crossed my mind to go through our own building insurance and then have that on our insurance record going forward.
Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff