Help - basic insurance questions!
Discussion
Hi all - I know there are numerous threads around similar but I couldn't really piece it together, and could do with some advice! Will try and keep simple.
My daughter is learning to drive (properly insured!) and a third party got frustrated, tried to overtake after honking the horn at my daughter, but then the road narrowed and she had to swerve back in and hit the front of our car. Swapped details, plus there was an eye witness.
I called my insurance company, but it became clear I was actually dealing with an outsourced company from my insurance company (Accident Management Company?). They spoke to the third party who claimed it was my daughter's fault and my daughter should be liable. I had spoken to the eyewitness who backed our version of events and said the third party had swerved into us.
About an hour later I got an email from what again looks to be an AMC for the third party's insurer saying they believe their client is at fault and offering to pick up and collect, repair the car, provide a hire car etc. Seems to be 'outside' going through both insurance companies and they claim I won't have to pay excess etc.
Should I be agreeing to this? If I want to take them up on it do I just tell my own insurance company I'm doing this? Or should I be insisting my insurance company deal with this (is there any risk that her insurance company will then fight to deny liability despite me having in writing in an email that her insurer's AMC believe she is at fault?) I presume they are trying to do it this way to manage their costs?
Apologies, I think these are noddy questions but I've not been in an accident for many years and had a company car so this world of AMCs is alien to me. I just want the car repaired as quickly as possible and to a good standard.
Would appreciate any words of wisdom!
My daughter is learning to drive (properly insured!) and a third party got frustrated, tried to overtake after honking the horn at my daughter, but then the road narrowed and she had to swerve back in and hit the front of our car. Swapped details, plus there was an eye witness.
I called my insurance company, but it became clear I was actually dealing with an outsourced company from my insurance company (Accident Management Company?). They spoke to the third party who claimed it was my daughter's fault and my daughter should be liable. I had spoken to the eyewitness who backed our version of events and said the third party had swerved into us.
About an hour later I got an email from what again looks to be an AMC for the third party's insurer saying they believe their client is at fault and offering to pick up and collect, repair the car, provide a hire car etc. Seems to be 'outside' going through both insurance companies and they claim I won't have to pay excess etc.
Should I be agreeing to this? If I want to take them up on it do I just tell my own insurance company I'm doing this? Or should I be insisting my insurance company deal with this (is there any risk that her insurance company will then fight to deny liability despite me having in writing in an email that her insurer's AMC believe she is at fault?) I presume they are trying to do it this way to manage their costs?
Apologies, I think these are noddy questions but I've not been in an accident for many years and had a company car so this world of AMCs is alien to me. I just want the car repaired as quickly as possible and to a good standard.
Would appreciate any words of wisdom!
Fatherdougal said:
Hi all - I know there are numerous threads around similar but I couldn't really piece it together, and could do with some advice! Will try and keep simple.
My daughter is learning to drive (properly insured!) and a third party got frustrated, tried to overtake after honking the horn at my daughter, but then the road narrowed and she had to swerve back in and hit the front of our car. Swapped details, plus there was an eye witness.
I called my insurance company, but it became clear I was actually dealing with an outsourced company from my insurance company (Accident Management Company?). They spoke to the third party who claimed it was my daughter's fault and my daughter should be liable. I had spoken to the eyewitness who backed our version of events and said the third party had swerved into us.
About an hour later I got an email from what again looks to be an AMC for the third party's insurer saying they believe their client is at fault and offering to pick up and collect, repair the car, provide a hire car etc. Seems to be 'outside' going through both insurance companies and they claim I won't have to pay excess etc.
Should I be agreeing to this? If I want to take them up on it do I just tell my own insurance company I'm doing this? Or should I be insisting my insurance company deal with this (is there any risk that her insurance company will then fight to deny liability despite me having in writing in an email that her insurer's AMC believe she is at fault?) I presume they are trying to do it this way to manage their costs?
Apologies, I think these are noddy questions but I've not been in an accident for many years and had a company car so this world of AMCs is alien to me. I just want the car repaired as quickly as possible and to a good standard.
Would appreciate any words of wisdom!
I think you need to identify who all the parties involved are - your "insurer" may be a broker and the "outsourced company" may be the actual insurer!My daughter is learning to drive (properly insured!) and a third party got frustrated, tried to overtake after honking the horn at my daughter, but then the road narrowed and she had to swerve back in and hit the front of our car. Swapped details, plus there was an eye witness.
I called my insurance company, but it became clear I was actually dealing with an outsourced company from my insurance company (Accident Management Company?). They spoke to the third party who claimed it was my daughter's fault and my daughter should be liable. I had spoken to the eyewitness who backed our version of events and said the third party had swerved into us.
About an hour later I got an email from what again looks to be an AMC for the third party's insurer saying they believe their client is at fault and offering to pick up and collect, repair the car, provide a hire car etc. Seems to be 'outside' going through both insurance companies and they claim I won't have to pay excess etc.
Should I be agreeing to this? If I want to take them up on it do I just tell my own insurance company I'm doing this? Or should I be insisting my insurance company deal with this (is there any risk that her insurance company will then fight to deny liability despite me having in writing in an email that her insurer's AMC believe she is at fault?) I presume they are trying to do it this way to manage their costs?
Apologies, I think these are noddy questions but I've not been in an accident for many years and had a company car so this world of AMCs is alien to me. I just want the car repaired as quickly as possible and to a good standard.
Would appreciate any words of wisdom!
I'd rather claim from the insurer of the responsible party than my own but again you need to identify who the other insurer is, and who the other company is and the extent of their authority/control.
If nothing else claiming from the other party's insurance should ensure you won't have an ongoing claim on your policy, don't have to fund the excess before trying to reclaim it and can choose the repairer yourself. Your own insurer is likely to insist on using one of their "Approved Repairers".
Googling the names of the firms involved should give you some indication of their roles, but good luck getting a good outcome.
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