Accident - Advice please

[BigRichi]

Hi folks, more of a lurker than a poster but looking for some advice.
Somebody ran into the back of me a few weeks ago.

I was stationary at a roundabout, was downhill so had the brakes applied, waiting on traffic clearing and the person behind me didn't stop in time, skidded and ran into the back of me.

There isn't any major damage, paint scuffed, fog light damaged but as I drove away a warning came up on the dash that the ABS wasn't active, the traction control wasn't active, the hill hold wasn't active and the rear numberplate light wasn't working.

The car has now been into the repair centre and they advised needs a new bumper, splashguard, foglight and painted but they feel that some of the damage wont be put right....ie the stuff relating to the warning lights.

They feel that the accident wasn't severe enough to have did any damage to these systems....and in his words....."its a 100 000 mile Fiat Punto, so is likely to have problems like this"

All I know is that before the accident there was no warning lights on the dash and after the accident there was.

The estimator says he will speak to the insurance company about my feelings but he feels the work relating to the ABS etc wont be covered.

Am I being mad thinking the warning lights are related to the accident??
If they say they arent covering these items where do I stand??, if anywhere

Thanks for any advice

[Steffan]

Argue your case. Insurance companies respect strength.

Clearly if the fault was not there before it was the accident that caused it.

Most likely damage to a sensor, sensors or damage to the ABS controls.

Make a stand: they will fix it.

[davepoth]

All of the symptoms you've mentioned would be caused by damage to either the rear wheel sensors, or the wiring leading to them, so yes, I think it's possible it's related.

[Fastdruid]

ABS warning lights surely should be noted under your previous MOT as an advisory?

Now ok so there might have been a significant period of time since your last MOT but its not unreasonable to assume they haven't all failed in the last <12 months.

I'd suggest that you get the failure diagnosed, if the report comes back as crash related then fire it off to the ins co, if it comes back as "its just failed" you might have to bite the bullet with it.

[varsas]

I guess the accident has knocked a few things about. Have you gone in and tried to read the codes? All the issues you are having could be the result of one wheel speed sensor being faulty, which would be an easy and cheap fix.

I suppose you have a choice. Fight for justice to be done and get them to fix your car or accept it and use your own resources to fix it yourself.

[BigRichi]

Thanks all

The last MOT was done in November and no issues at the time.

I'm glad that I'm not being daft thinking that it could be related.

I don't think the repair centre have read the codes.....so they don't know what's wrong....was just his opinion that these faults wouldn't be related to the accident this kind of accident.

Will wait and see what the insurance company come back and say

[saaby93]

Are you claiming from your insurer or the third party?

[BigRichi]

saaby93 said:

Are you claiming from your insurer or the third party?

I dont really know, I've been dealing with my own insurance company but the 3rd party has admitted liability so I would imagine they will be paying

[saaby93]

BigRichi said:

saaby93 said:

Are you claiming from your insurer or the third party?

I dont really know, I've been dealing with my own insurance company but the 3rd party has admitted liability so I would imagine they will be paying

youre claiming through your own insurance who'll have their own criteria before claiming everything from the third party.
It can be less hassle to claim direct from the TP but hows it going now?

[Somnophore]

100k mile punto should be a write off with that damage.

[BigRichi]

Somnophore said:

100k mile punto should be a write off with that damage.

Away and post nonsense on other threads....I'm looking for sensible advice

[BigRichi]

saaby93 said:

BigRichi said:

saaby93 said:

Are you claiming from your insurer or the third party?

I dont really know, I've been dealing with my own insurance company but the 3rd party has admitted liability so I would imagine they will be paying

youre claiming through your own insurance who'll have their own criteria before claiming everything from the third party.
It can be less hassle to claim direct from the TP but hows it going now?

I've not heard anything from them since, Imagine will hear something tomorrow but will update when i hear

[samdale]

BigRichi said:

Somnophore said:

100k mile punto should be a write off with that damage.

Away and post nonsense on other threads....I'm looking for sensible advice

On a serious note though, what are your feelings about it being written off. If you want it fixed then surely this extra possible damage could be the difference between fixing and right-off?

Depends on what you want done with the car as this may affect whether or not it is worth you persuing.

Just my 2p worth.

[b0rk]

BigRichi said:

Away and post nonsense on other threads....I'm looking for sensible advice

Whilst its not something you understandably want to hear the OP is probably correct tho assuming the car is punto not a grande punto or punto evo even small extra costs could bring you closer or beyond the economic to repair cost point.

But yes a rear impact could have dislodged one or both of the ABS speed sensors, depending on age you would be looking at £30 to £100 per sensor for the part plus labour. ABS, TCS, (ESP if fitted) and Hill Hold all function off the same sensors.

[Somnophore]

Sorry I thought you might appreciate the input of someone with several years accident assessment experience for both insurers and accident management companies.

The basic damage you describe would likely put it over the total loss threashold, depends on year of car and the insurer, however with the ABS/Airbag etc issues it's a definite write off.

[craigjm]

BigRichi said:

Away and post nonsense on other threads....I'm looking for sensible advice

I think you may be surprised at how low the thresholds are sometimes to trigger a car being written off.

[Steffan]

Somnophore said:

Sorry I thought you might appreciate the input of someone with several years accident assessment experience for both insurers and accident management companies.

The basic damage you describe would likely put it over the total loss threashold, depends on year of car and the insurer, however with the ABS/Airbag etc issues it's a definite write off.

I am afraid Somnophore is talking sense here. Not much damage needed to write off a modern car. Repairs are so expensive.

Unwelcome advice if you really like the car. But commercially accurate.

[saaby93]

Steffan said:

I am afraid Somnophore is talking sense here. Not much damage needed to write off a modern car. Repairs are so expensive.

Unwelcome advice if you really like the car. But commercially accurate.

Again depending whether you go through your own insurer or get a claim form from the TP

[BigRichi]

Ok then, taken on board, thought It was just a sarcastic comment as you see so often on here these days.

Its a 56 plate Grande Punto Sporting....not a Ferrari but does the job

And the damage is very light....the assessor says he could fix the bumper but would get a better job putting a new one on.

[BigRichi]

Somnophore said:

Sorry I thought you might appreciate the input of someone with several years accident assessment experience for both insurers and accident management companies.

The basic damage you describe would likely put it over the total loss threashold, depends on year of car and the insurer, however with the ABS/Airbag etc issues it's a definite write off.

Ok, sorry, thought it just a sarcastic comment that you see so on here these days

But it cant be a definate write off....as the garage has already started repairing it