Hello,
I'm hoping to get some help here because I'm thoroughly confused. Over the weekend I was rear-ended by an old lady who wouldn't exchange insurance details with me. I took down her registration number, contacted the police and found out her name and contact no.
Today I took the car for an estimate and was told that my back-panel is in need of repair, that the tailgate is also broken and that there is a danger of exhaust fumes entering the car so I must drie with the window open at all times (but he didn't say not to drive it).
At the bodyshop, I was passed immediately to an accident management company, who claim to offer a courtesy car and take care of all the liasing with insurers and such - they told me that it didn't matter that I didn't know who the other driver's insurance com[any were and they would sort the whole thing out, and I didn't really have to do anything but give them some details.
It all sounded a bit too good to be true, so I contacted my own insurer; 1) to report the incident and 2) to see what their advice was. I was told that there isn't neccesarily anything wrong with accident management companies, but that to cover all bases I should contact the other driver's insurer first to see what they say, and inform them that I have an accident management company willing to take on my case.
I contacted the other insurer, but was told that I would need a postcode or address for the other driver. I'm worried about speaking to this woman because she was even rude to the police officer that spoke to her, and claims that I 'wanted to leave' and 'told her it didn't matter' - neither of these things are true, but I guess that's by the by.
The main issue is that I don't know whether to just pursue this via the insurers in the normal way (I only have third party cover, I don't know if this should influence my decision) or let this accident management company do it all for me.
Any advice? (sorry it's so long - there's a lot to explain)
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I was also rear-ended (slight damage to bumper and tailgate but still £2.5k to repair) and my insurance policy included the services of an accident management company who handled everything, including getting their legal team on the case and it cost me literally nothing, including my £200 excess. They even negotiated depreciation charges on my 12 month old Corsa and I received a cheque 2 weeks after the repairs were completed in the sum of £750.
My policy was fully comprehensive and I note you have third party cover so I don't know how much it will cost you but my understanding is that they recover the costs from the other party's insurers.
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If you're going to be messed around then you might as well use the accident management company and let them deal with it.
The beef with them is that they jack up the cost of the claim by insisting that you should have a like for like hire car (stories abound of thousand pound per week hire bills for top end cars) and you'll probably be hounded to make some sort of personal injury claim.
You should just be very careful that you won't be held personally liable for any bill the other party's insurer refuses to pay. Some of them ask you to buy an insurance for £10 to cover this. You have to agree that you will go to court to sue the insurer if they won't pay and cases have ended up there.
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I used Accident Exchange, paid the £10 insurance, and got a like-for-like hire car for 3 weeks while repairs were done - car was dropped off, mine taken away, and simply dropped the hire car off at the repairers (my choice of bodyshop) when I picked my car up.
Actually took about 10 months to complete all the correspondence as the 3rd party's insurer were refusing to pay the costs. I was advised that legal proceeedings were being started, and eventually received word that it had been settled.
Was never hounded re. personal injury, simply gave the details of the shunt.
(Was Mrs in car but she let me 'sort' it out!)
Worked for us, but there have been a number of issues about using theses companies - bottom line is make sure you cover any possibility of the company not getting their money from the 3rd party, as it leaves you liable (hence the £10 insurance to cover this).
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I have used www.driveassist.co.uk/ twice a few years ago, for non-fault claims and they were excellent.
If you really want the otehr driver's details, assuming she is the registered keeper, you can fill a form in from the DVLA and pay £2.50 or £5.00.
www.dft.gov.uk/dvla/data/relinfo/howtorequest.aspx
Edited by Hamsafar on 26/01/2010 at 20:32
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If you don't decide to use the services of the accident management company you can obtain the name and address of the old lady who went into you from the DVLA for a couple of pounds.
Being involved in an accident is acceptable grounds for them to supply this information to you.
Have a look at:
www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/Advic...7
Scroll down to "Enquiries by Post"
Also worth looking at:
www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/OwningAVehicle/Advic...6
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I contacted the other insurer, but was told that I would need a postcode or address for the other driver. >>
All you need to know should be here:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=79243&...f
I don't know whether to just pursue this via the insurers in the normal way (I only have third party cover, I don't know if this should influence my decision) .. >>
As you have third party only, your insurance company is unlikely to help. If you have legal cover, that should be of applicable.
or let this accident management company do it all for me. >>
read warnings on previous threads on this forum about choosing a "credit hire" company carefully. HJ has a faq on this:
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=e&t=71...2
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I have mixed feelings over these companies, in most cases if drivers are truthful and honourable costs can be minimised and the whole episode can be put to bed simply and economically without involving them.
Unfortunately thats not the case and as seems to be the OP's situation the driver presumably at fault is being awkward, therefore OP should make good use of professional help.
We all pay extra in premiums because a sizeable (growing?) minority of people think they can shirk their responsibilities to own up and cough up when they are at fault.
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I posted yesterday about whether or not I ought to use an accident management service to help me deal with an incident in which an old lady rear-ended me at some traffic lights.
In an attempt to help me make up my mind, I spoke to my own insurance company, and they advised me to speak to the other driver's insurer, and to find out if they had any preference to who I sorted everything out with in terms of garages etc.
I contacted her insurers, reported the incident (she hadn't yet told them about it herself despite it happening on saturday), explained that she was reluctant to leave details and so I had obtained them from the police. I then asked my question, and received the following answer:
"You can manage your claim in any way you wish, but we won't pay anything unless our policy holder admits liability"
Can they even say this? - I thought the phone operator was very rude for a start, but more importantly, I feel as if I'm being penalised all the way through this situation (even one of the police officers I spoke to made me feel a bit silly) despite the fact that I'm going about everything in the way that you're supposed to. I've reported the incident to the police and to both insurance companies, I've got an estimate on the damage from my car, and I'm doing it all by the book.
What do I do in this situation? Is it best just to let the accident management company deal with it (after ensuring that I won't be liable for what they CAN'T claim, as I learnt from the other thread), because I only have third party insurance - so it's all in the hands of the other driver's company isn't it?
I need advice please! Thank you
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Write don't phone your insurance co and copy her insurance co and her.
Check if you have legal service cover on your policy and if you'r getting nowhere speak to a solicitor
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Merged with the original thread.
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"You can manage your claim in any way you wish but we won't pay anything unless our policy holder admits liability" Can they even say this? -
I thought this was the case, and that you would have to sue the other driver directly.
However somebody who works in insurance pointed out that the law allows you to claim from the other drivers insurance and they must pay if their driver is held to be liable.
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I despise claim inflation.
However after being rear ended three times in the Galaxy I also despise the insurance companies for their policy of giving a Corsa / Fiesta in place of a Galaxy sized vehicle.
Plus NO compensation for loss of time or ancillary expenses, incl an abondoned restruant meal.
Iffen I had reckoned a Corsa would suffice for my driving needs, why did I purchase a Galaxy. This also applies to AA 5* get you home holiday insurance. Doh indeed.
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I was rear ended and the 3rd party Ins Co offered the Micra/Fiesta type car.
At that point I drove 500 mls+ per week so I said they could give me an Astra sized (smaller than my car) OR I would hire an Astra sized car and bill them.
Typically i would have paid £40+ / day and they would pay probably 50% less.
Much grumbling but they agreed to phone me back.
Agreed an Astra sized car...........4 days later a 2 litre Vectra was delivered when my car was towed away for repair. Repairs were to last 3/4 days at their preferred repairer - it took 10 days.
It pays to stand your ground!
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In fact I think you are really claiming from the other driver, and it's down to her to advise her ins co., so I'd write a "without prejudice" letter to her in person sent recorded delivery, with a copy of the quote and a demand for the car rental thrown in. Advise her that if you do not hear from her with XX days then you will proceed and send her the bill in person.
That will concentrate her mind, and I expect she'll call her ins co immediately.
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