| No-fault car accident advice please 10:50 - Sep 27 with 6805 views | GloryHunter |
My wife's car has just been written off. Completely the other driver's fault. We're being told we will get only the market value of the car - £500 - which is not enough to buy a similar replacement car.
Any advice as to how we can get our claims handler to extract a more realistic settlement from the guilty party's insurers?
(Wife walked away with only a few bruises and mild concussion, thankfully - saved by the airbags.) |  | | |  |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 10:52 - Sep 27 with 5631 views | TacticalR |
Not Derby players by any chance? |  |
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| No-fault car accident advice please on 10:57 - Sep 27 with 5609 views | Ned_Kennedys |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 10:52 - Sep 27 by TacticalR |
Not Derby players by any chance? |
Insurers will always start low as its financially to their benefit. Send them evidence of what a similar car with similar age and mileage will cost you in the real world and be prepared to hold out for a decent figure. |  | | |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 10:57 - Sep 27 with 5609 views | Jeff |
so as a background, any claim made as a result of an accident is considered 'restitutional' - i.e it puts you back in the position you were before the accident, you can't profit from it, that's 'punitive'
i used to work in RTA claims for many years. if you want to extract more money for the car, buy a parkers guide or visit parkers website and auto trader and find similar cars in the same condition, mileage etc. as your wife's car, and submit these as evidence. if you've recently had it serviced, MOT'd, new parts etc. submit receipts for these too - you won't get the value of the work done, but it might increase the payout value.
is the car completely written off or just a 'Cat C' economic write off? if it's the latter you might be able to get it repaired, and assuming it passes subsequent road worthy tests put it back into use? |  |
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| No-fault car accident advice please on 11:03 - Sep 27 with 5577 views | CroydonCaptJack |
This sounds to me where this so called 'gap' insurance comes in.
I recently bought a new (well three year old) car and was offered gap insurance. This is to cover the difference in value the insurers would pay out against what it would cost you to buy a replacement in the event it is written off.
I didn't take it out but it did tell me I had probably paid over the odds for the car! |  | | |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 11:04 - Sep 27 with 5571 views | GloryHunter |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 10:57 - Sep 27 by Jeff |
so as a background, any claim made as a result of an accident is considered 'restitutional' - i.e it puts you back in the position you were before the accident, you can't profit from it, that's 'punitive'
i used to work in RTA claims for many years. if you want to extract more money for the car, buy a parkers guide or visit parkers website and auto trader and find similar cars in the same condition, mileage etc. as your wife's car, and submit these as evidence. if you've recently had it serviced, MOT'd, new parts etc. submit receipts for these too - you won't get the value of the work done, but it might increase the payout value.
is the car completely written off or just a 'Cat C' economic write off? if it's the latter you might be able to get it repaired, and assuming it passes subsequent road worthy tests put it back into use? |
Thanks. It's clearly a complete write-off. I got the recovery driver to drop it off at my usual garage, and now the claims handler wants me to agree to release it to their salvage firm. But my garage owner is telling me not to release it to them until I've agreed on a settlement. The claims handler say they can't do an engineer's report unless they take it away. So we've got a stand-off at present. | | | |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 11:09 - Sep 27 with 5557 views | CroydonCaptJack |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 11:04 - Sep 27 by GloryHunter |
Thanks. It's clearly a complete write-off. I got the recovery driver to drop it off at my usual garage, and now the claims handler wants me to agree to release it to their salvage firm. But my garage owner is telling me not to release it to them until I've agreed on a settlement. The claims handler say they can't do an engineer's report unless they take it away. So we've got a stand-off at present. |
I am not sure what holding onto it will achieve if it is clearly written off.
The issue is quantifying the valuation. I would quickly gather the info/evidence as suggested by the others on here. If you can clearly demonstrate the value of an identical replacement they should go higher.
Good luck with it all. | | | |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 11:12 - Sep 27 with 5540 views | Ned_Kennedys |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 11:03 - Sep 27 by CroydonCaptJack |
This sounds to me where this so called 'gap' insurance comes in.
I recently bought a new (well three year old) car and was offered gap insurance. This is to cover the difference in value the insurers would pay out against what it would cost you to buy a replacement in the event it is written off.
I didn't take it out but it did tell me I had probably paid over the odds for the car! |
Yeah GAP insurance would get the original purchase price of the car back again but is only worth buying depending on the purchase price of the car originally: not worth it unless car was over £6k to begin with IMO and its only valid for 3 years from the purchase date as well. | | | |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 11:40 - Sep 27 with 5499 views | LongsufferingR |
Wife saved by the airbags eh? |  | | |
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| No-fault car accident advice please on 12:34 - Sep 27 with 5397 views | w7r |
Good luck with this.
I went through a similar ordeal two years ago when my car was nicked off the driveway. I ended up taking it to the Ombudsman, whom unsurprisingly found in the insurers favour - what else would one expect what with them being funded by the very industry they're supposed to keep in check.
The insurer will refer to the CAP book, Glass's Guide and Parkers with the sole aim of shelling the minimum they can get away with.
It's not worth the stress or agg TBH, I had to swallow the £2k loss and move on.
Sorry it's so negative, but you'll end up using so much time and energy making calls, sending emails ,etc it's just not worth the time and effort. [Post edited 27 Sep 2019 13:22]
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| No-fault car accident advice please on 12:44 - Sep 27 with 5376 views | essextaxiboy |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 10:57 - Sep 27 by Jeff |
so as a background, any claim made as a result of an accident is considered 'restitutional' - i.e it puts you back in the position you were before the accident, you can't profit from it, that's 'punitive'
i used to work in RTA claims for many years. if you want to extract more money for the car, buy a parkers guide or visit parkers website and auto trader and find similar cars in the same condition, mileage etc. as your wife's car, and submit these as evidence. if you've recently had it serviced, MOT'd, new parts etc. submit receipts for these too - you won't get the value of the work done, but it might increase the payout value.
is the car completely written off or just a 'Cat C' economic write off? if it's the latter you might be able to get it repaired, and assuming it passes subsequent road worthy tests put it back into use? |
I was business manager in a Ford body shop in another life . If the air bags have deployed the whole system has to be replaced seat belt grabbers etc . It's all over . As has been said evidence the cost of replacement and keep saying no . I would ask them to point you in the direction of adverts of suitable replacements . It's a ball ache cos you still have to declare it on proposals and you will get compo calls for years . At least she is ok . It's just a bit of tin after all . |  | | |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 12:52 - Sep 27 with 5355 views | essextaxiboy |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 11:04 - Sep 27 by GloryHunter |
Thanks. It's clearly a complete write-off. I got the recovery driver to drop it off at my usual garage, and now the claims handler wants me to agree to release it to their salvage firm. But my garage owner is telling me not to release it to them until I've agreed on a settlement. The claims handler say they can't do an engineer's report unless they take it away. So we've got a stand-off at present. |
I know you probably trust him but IMO your garage owner does not want to you to release it as he can charge daily storage to your insurer .Everyone in the body repair game is trying to get a slice and while I think of it remember your policy excess when agreeing a settlement .. If they are making you offers the only reason they want an engineer to look at it is to see whether it is worth more (or less) than the book price . | | | |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 14:04 - Sep 27 with 5247 views | R_from_afar |
I can't offer any better advice than others already have, but I hope you manage to get a better sum. That is a pittance. Glad your wife is OK. |  |
| "Things had started becoming increasingly desperate at Loftus Road but QPR have been handed a massive lifeline and the place has absolutely erupted. it's carnage. It's bedlam. It's 1-1." |
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| No-fault car accident advice please on 14:16 - Sep 27 with 5228 views | GloryHunter |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 12:52 - Sep 27 by essextaxiboy |
I know you probably trust him but IMO your garage owner does not want to you to release it as he can charge daily storage to your insurer .Everyone in the body repair game is trying to get a slice and while I think of it remember your policy excess when agreeing a settlement .. If they are making you offers the only reason they want an engineer to look at it is to see whether it is worth more (or less) than the book price . |
No, he's not charging a storage fee. He's just advising me not to release it until I get a settlement offer. | | | |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 14:47 - Sep 27 with 5185 views | 2Thomas2Bowles |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 14:16 - Sep 27 by GloryHunter |
No, he's not charging a storage fee. He's just advising me not to release it until I get a settlement offer. |
If they can't inspect it, they won't offer a settlement above the £500 they (you) have already mentioned. |  |
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| No-fault car accident advice please on 17:16 - Sep 27 with 5064 views | Lblock |
Firstly great that you’re missus is fine, that is the absolute most important thing.
I’d imagine her neck is really sore, whiplash can be a swine.
Sometimes people need a new car to get over that
Drift
Mine
Catch |  |
| Cherish and enjoy life.... this ain't no dress rehearsal |
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| No-fault car accident advice please on 18:19 - Sep 27 with 4995 views | francisbowles |
Do you have legal cover on your policy? |  | | |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 22:30 - Sep 27 with 4906 views | GloryHunter |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 18:19 - Sep 27 by francisbowles |
Do you have legal cover on your policy? |
Yes we do. And they have been helpful in arranging a medical check-up and physio appointments. But it doesn't seem to extend to negotiating a fair settlement for the written-off car.
It doesn't seem fair that that we've paid for fully comp insurance, and the accident has been admitted as no-fault by the other driver's insurance (the police are going to prosecute the other driver for driving without due care & attention), and yet we are going to have to shell out hundreds of pounds to get a replacement car on the road. | | | |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 19:03 - Sep 29 with 4697 views | francisbowles |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 22:30 - Sep 27 by GloryHunter |
Yes we do. And they have been helpful in arranging a medical check-up and physio appointments. But it doesn't seem to extend to negotiating a fair settlement for the written-off car.
It doesn't seem fair that that we've paid for fully comp insurance, and the accident has been admitted as no-fault by the other driver's insurance (the police are going to prosecute the other driver for driving without due care & attention), and yet we are going to have to shell out hundreds of pounds to get a replacement car on the road. |
I would have thought that if the other insurer makes a settlement offer, your legal cover should be asking you whether you are prepared to accept it and advising you accordingly. If not then they should be refusing the initial offer and trying to push it up. (especially if the other driver is convicted)
I take it they are claiming for all medical costs and pain, injury, loss of income etc as well as recovery of any excess you have to pay.
Your insurance company has a responsibility to ensure that any offer to you is 'fair'.
If you are not satisfied then you could consider a complaint to the financial services ombudsman.
Good luck | | | |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 19:45 - Sep 29 with 4660 views | Rangersw12 |
Your not entitled to the cost of the replacement vehicle your only entitled to the value of the damaged vehicle it's a bit unfair especially if your car isn't worth a lot
Your insurance company will want the vehicle collected as your garage is probably charging storage costs if you don't release it in a timely manner then you could be liable for those charges so just be careful
Just get your wife to make a personal injury claim and you will get a few grand for it . I would say to the at fault insurers your wife is injured and they will do everything for you better than going to solicitors as they will charge 25% [Post edited 29 Sep 2019 19:52]
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| No-fault car accident advice please on 19:50 - Sep 29 with 4651 views | radfords |
I had a similarproblem to you with the insurance company offer insufficient for me to replace my car.
I asked them to source an acceptable replacement car to reinstate me.
They increased their offer when agreeing to purchase a suitable replacement car I found on Autotrader. | | | |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 03:52 - Sep 30 with 4502 views | EastLondonR |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 19:50 - Sep 29 by radfords |
I had a similarproblem to you with the insurance company offer insufficient for me to replace my car.
I asked them to source an acceptable replacement car to reinstate me.
They increased their offer when agreeing to purchase a suitable replacement car I found on Autotrader. |
Insurers do not need to take possession of vehicles before instructing engineer's to provide a pre accident valuation. Each company have their own internal rules on whether the claims handler can make an offer without the necessity of instructing an engineer. Generally it is around the £500 figure.
You do not have to claim from your fully comprehensive insurer and can claim directly from the Insurer of the negligent third party.
If you have legal expenses insurance then contact them and they will pursue the claim for you. You only lose 25% damages if you take out a CFA but this won't apply if you have legal expenses insurance. Your legal expenses policy will appoint a panel lawyer who will pursue a personal injury claim for your wife together with any other losses that you incur. | | | |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 10:23 - Sep 30 with 4400 views | GloryHunter |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 03:52 - Sep 30 by EastLondonR |
Insurers do not need to take possession of vehicles before instructing engineer's to provide a pre accident valuation. Each company have their own internal rules on whether the claims handler can make an offer without the necessity of instructing an engineer. Generally it is around the £500 figure.
You do not have to claim from your fully comprehensive insurer and can claim directly from the Insurer of the negligent third party.
If you have legal expenses insurance then contact them and they will pursue the claim for you. You only lose 25% damages if you take out a CFA but this won't apply if you have legal expenses insurance. Your legal expenses policy will appoint a panel lawyer who will pursue a personal injury claim for your wife together with any other losses that you incur. |
What's a CFA? | | | |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 21:20 - Sep 30 with 4307 views | blacky2013 |
The only problem with a personal injury claim is the time it takes to actually get a payout. I had a motorcycle accident when a driver in an Age Concern van pulled out in front of me (he didn't seem very concerned about my age). I was concussed for a few days, damaged leg and neck and shoulder. It took exactly 3 years to get to court and then just before we were due to go in they agreed to pay up for everything I was claiming for.
So while it is a bugger at the moment. Don't give up. Glad to hear the Mrs is OK. | | | |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 19:45 - Oct 9 with 4081 views | GloryHunter |
Thanks everyone for your advice and good wishes. Mrs GloryHunter is possibly in not such good shape as she imagined immediately after the crash two weeks ago - still aches and pains and a ricked neck. And terrified of driving!
Thing is, the insurers want her to be assessed by a "retired" GP. They've only just told us this today. Does anyone know about this system? And do we have the right to get her assessed by another doctor, who is - ahem - a bit younger, and still in practice?
This sounds like a possible stitch-up to me. | | | |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 20:20 - Oct 9 with 4048 views | Jeff |
| No-fault car accident advice please on 19:45 - Oct 9 by GloryHunter |
Thanks everyone for your advice and good wishes. Mrs GloryHunter is possibly in not such good shape as she imagined immediately after the crash two weeks ago - still aches and pains and a ricked neck. And terrified of driving!
Thing is, the insurers want her to be assessed by a "retired" GP. They've only just told us this today. Does anyone know about this system? And do we have the right to get her assessed by another doctor, who is - ahem - a bit younger, and still in practice?
This sounds like a possible stitch-up to me. |
The retired GP will in fact be a ‘Medico legal expert’ who has experience writing medical reports for car accidents - many GP’s go into this field when they get bored of dishing out antibiotics for the common cold. (S)he will be absolutely impartial - in my many years of personal injury claims never came across a biased one, nor one who didn’t know their stuff - especially on relatively minor whiplash claims.
You can, if you wish, reject their Expert of choice, but bear in mind your local GP probably doesn’t do medical reports, you may need to find another one yourself who writes medical reports, submit it to them so they can chose to reject if you so wish, and will probably have to fund the cost upfront because they won’t be on any sort of invoicing terms with the insurer.
In summary, go with Their recommended expert... | |
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