Insurance claim Advise needed
 

Hi

Is there anyone I can please talk to regarding an accident claim? I've been involved in an accident for the first time ever. I wasn't at fault but need some expert advise. Many thanks.

Whatever happens you have to accept now that this will cost you. If it's just you time you will be lucky.

Hope you have plenty of witnesses and there's no doubt of who's at fault. A couple of years ago my misses was pulling into a bay at a Dunelm's car park. Halfway in the woman in the Corsa to her left opened her driver's door. My wife's Megane hit the edge of the door and bent it and the A piller. The Corsa had to be towed away, our car was virtually unmarked; just a deep scuff on the plastic bumper.

The Corsa owner admitted verbally it was her fault and we were happy to swap insurance details.

It then took nearly two years of legal effort before the case was closed as the woman changed her story and said she was sat in the car with the door open as it was a warm day and that my wife had driven into the bay at speed and without looking. Initially we were told that the best outcome would now be 50:50 as it was her word against my wife's. A few months later we received a letter to say the case was now closed and it was deemed that it was my wife at fault. No option to appeal :mad:

Yip you need witnesses. Someone drove into me in 2010, 100% her fault but it went down as a 50/50 as there were no witnesses.

First step is admit to nothing even if you are at fault.

Report it to your insurance company giving them full details.

Witnesses are definitely a must and the one thing that you need to get at the time of the accident name/address/phone number or even just registration of other vehicles that stop and are possible witnesses (the drivers that is): Are there any CCTV cameras that might have recorded the event? get on to them quick before the tapes are overwritten and get a copy.
Second:don't claim on your insurance, period. Doesn't matter if you are fully comp - that's not what fully comp insurance is for (it's for when you crash on your own and it's your fault). Of course fully comp will cover you but not really any faster than the other person's insurance (provided they have some). Claim directly from the other driver's insurance. Yes you do have to inform your insurance co. Make it clear that this is a report only (as they no doubt will require) and a not a claim. Keep posession of your vehicle - have it recovered to safe place under your control (prefer your own home driveway/garage). Insist on independant damage assessors. And under no circumstance talk to any 'claims handling' companies!

Keep a written log of everything that happens from hereon -names, dates, times what was said if not written down, all correspondence and email with anything remotely connected to the accident. If the police attended then request any records they may have (might be none at all - honestly!) including the attending policemans notebook notes (if he bothered to make any: make sure you do have his/her number and operations base).

Third: consider getting your own solicitor to handle it.

P.S all this advice is from recent personal experiences.

On another note, I hope no one was injured - but do make sure to get any pains checked out even if you think that you are ok. (and keep records)

Thank you for the advise.

There's no witnesses, unfortunately.

I have one person who didn't see the accident but was present when the other person admitted fault.

I'm not sure if there is any CCTVs. I don't remember seeing any as it was at a busy junction.

There's nothing to admit at my end as I wasn't at fault at all. She shunted me.

I got her name, address, DOB, insurance details etc and pictures on my phone.

I actually called her insurance company first and reported a claim this way. The guy on the phone was really good and says it will be claimed on her policy and not mine and it won't affect my no claims etc. He said he will now try and call the lady to her side of the story before getting back in contact with me.

It's almost certain it's going to be a write off. All I can do is hope for the best.

I will do as advised and make sure the car doesn't leave my house. Also, how do I go about getting an independent assessor? Is this something I have to do through insurance or someone I have to find myself and pay for?

Rav - just take the car to a few garages and get some quotes. The lady that hit you, how was she? I mean, did she seem reasonable? It could be worth asking her for a cash settlement rather than going through insurance companies especially if there is a danger of the car being written off. And she may want to protect her ncb if she has any.

I did ask her about cash at the scene but she said it wasn't an option and she wouldn't be able to afford it and to go through insurance.

UPDATE - insurance company have just called me back to say that they have spoken to the lady for her version of events. Insurance company have ruled she is liable as she didn't leave enough space between her vehicle and my vehicle in front to stop in sufficient time. One less thing for me to worry about as I was worried she might change her mind and blame me for it.

Insurance company have now said they will get one of the of assessor from Arnold Clark who they use for their work to look at my car to see if it's repairable or to be written off. Arnold Clark will call me in due course to arrange this. I don't trust Arnold Clark at all! I've heard nothing but horror stories from them. I did say to the guy that I want my car to be assessed at my home. He said I would have to discuss this with Arnold Clark. He said the other possibility is that in present with the vehicle at all times even if it is taken to their garage to be assessed so I can drive it there and back if need be.

A car camera, running all the time the car is being driven, is much better and more reliable than any witness.

Good luck with the outcome, but at least she has accepted blame - which is a really good start.