Insurance claim query

[Yaboo]

Apologies if in wrong section, but just after some comments regarding a recent car insurance claim.

During the storm last week, a wall collapsed onto my car causing (what I think) is extensive damage. See attached image.

Car is a 2018 Volvo v40 d4.

Insurance company have taken a verbal history and are sending a garage to collect as they believe it is repairable.
Appears not eligible for courtesy car as deemed “at fault”.

I thought it would be written off…

Anyone comment on the time to repair something like this? (There appears to be significant internal damage as well)

Edited by Yaboo on Monday 27th January 20:26

[vikingaero]

Is it being repaired by one of those India YouTube repairers who can make a Bugatti from a Peugeot 208?

[Yaboo]

They’re definitely going to have to have some “special skills”

I wonder if they may change their mind when they “see” it.

But just trying to get a picture of what I need to do in terms of transport (and for how long) in the meantime.

[Zero Fuchs]

T Cut?

[Benmac]

I would be staggered if that is not written off.

Who owned the wall? If your car insurance won't pay for a hire car then go after whoever insured the wall (even if it's your own house insurance).

[MitchT]

Benmac said:

I would be staggered if that is not written off.

Me too.

I saw a BMW 440i for sale as a repairable write-off. Car of equivalent age/milage/spec would be listed for £28k by a dealer. Minor damage to front nearside corner, bumper, bonnet, wing, headlight and any gubbins behind the headlight that might be damaged. Also, front passenger airbag deployed and winscreen cracked as a result. Written off.

Benmac said:

Who owned the wall? If your car insurance won't pay for a hire car then go after whoever insured the wall (even if it's your own house insurance).

Car insurance will be liable unless negligence by the wall owner can be proved, meaning no courtesy car if car insurance won't provide one in this instance. I know this as my mum's next door neighbour just had their car damaged by tiles blown off the roof of the next house up the road. They were told as the roof was in good repair the buildings insurance covering that roof wasn't liable, so it would be their car insurance that had to cough up. Totally unfair but that's how it is.

[Freakuk]

I assume the fence was erected after the wall had collapsed?

[rhamnousia5]

Benmac said:

I would be staggered if that is not written off.

Who owned the wall? If your car insurance won't pay for a hire car then go after whoever insured the wall (even if it's your own house insurance).

Totally agree that it’s going to be written off, no way that can be repaired economically (if at all).

Totally disagree on the bit in bold. You can’t sue yourself for your own negligence. First off you would have to prove the wall owner was at fault for the collapse. If they were then you could claim off them. However, not if it’s your wall. If you drive your car into the side of your own house, then your car insurance is paying to repair your car on an at fault basis and your home insurance will repair the home. Neither can recover the cost from the other. The same applies vice versa.

[Jakg]

Yaboo said:

Appears not eligible for courtesy car as deemed “at fault”.

I had an obviously-written off car (fire damaged), the insurance company wouldn't provide a courtesy car as they claimed that was for the repairing garage and they weren't going to repair it.

...however they also weren't going to pay out or actually write it off until it'd been inspected a week later.

Benmac said:

I would be staggered if that is not written off.

Obviously a write off.

[Yaboo]

Freakuk said:

I assume the fence was erected after the wall had collapsed?

Yes - that was put there by the council.

[essayer]

How big was the wall?!

[samoht]

It's just pining for the fjords!

[Yaboo]

essayer said:

How big was the wall?!

2 storey commercial premises.

[ro250]

Yaboo said:

essayer said:

How big was the wall?!

2 storey commercial premises.

It's a gable end wall isn't it - so surely your insurers contact whoever owns the building?

[Pica-Pica]

Whether 2018 or just out of the show-room, that is a write-off.

[DaveCWK]

Have the insurers seen the picture of the damage? Either way it will be written off.

[Neil H]

Damage on all panels, roof caved in, major interior damage - I can’t see that being an economical repair.

Lucky nobody was there when the wall came down, looks devastating.

[smokey mow]

ro250 said:

Yaboo said:

essayer said:

How big was the wall?!

2 storey commercial premises.

It's a gable end wall isn't it - so surely your insurers contact whoever owns the building?

Why? There would need to be negligence on the part of the building owners. Unless you can prove that then it’s the OP’s insurance which would pay.

[essayer]

Agree, it's surprising that a brick building fell down in a storm though. Was it under repair/renovation? Might be some comeback on whoever was doing the work, if so.

But this is for your car insurers - as soon as they see the extent of the damage I'm sure they'll be ending the policy and sending you the cheque, so time to start car shopping

[Mr Tidy]

To be honest going by your description of the damage I would be hoping it was written off, although it does usually mean you won't get a courtesy car.

Given that it was a named storm there is no way you can demonstrate negligence on the part of the owner of the building, unless you can prove the wall was defective in some way before the event.