Been in first car accident tonight - what do I need to do

lexilex

I know they are different, I have been diagnosed by two different doctors now though as having whiplash so looks like the dr at a&e was wrong.

I've already mentioned that I wouldn't be able to use a hire car anyway (not that I think the damage to my car is bad) because of the whiplash, I wouldn't be able to drive.

Hermann

Pew_Pew_Pew_Lasers! wrote: »

Its very very difficult to come up with a valid reason for ploughing into the back of someone else's car.

"There I was stationary in a line of traffic when the idiot in front of me stuck her car in reverse gear and reversed into the front of my car. Twenty of my friends who happened to be walking past on their way to a hen night saw all this and can vouch for me."

lexilex

Hermann wrote: »

"There I was stationary in a line of traffic when the idiot in front of me stuck her car in reverse gear and reversed into the front of my car. Twenty of my friends who happened to be walking past on their way to a hen night saw all this and can vouch for me."

Honestly, I am totally expecting to hear something along these lines! I'm just hoping the fact she admitted responsibility infront of a PCSO will be enough.

jimmo

First things first, how are you? If you are recovering maybe your worries about whiplash are going away. If not then I think the last thing you will want to do is compromise your claim for injuries. If you allow the other driver to pay for the repairs to your car privately you might do that and, quite frankly, that is not sensible.
One thought that has occurred to me is that last year I had an accident that was definitely my fault where I reversed into the side of my neighbour’s car and caused quite a lot of damage to her car. However the damage to my car was virtually nothing.
After confessing to my neighbour I rang my insurance company, told the accident was entirely my fault and they did the rest. Within half an hour my insurance company arranged for my neighbour to take her car to one of their approved repair centres and have a courtesy car whilst hers was repaired.
As regards my car the damage was really very minor and my insurance company told me that if I wanted it repaired I would have to pay my insurance excess. However if I decided not to have it repaired I would have to pay nothing. The damage to my victim’s car was fully covered and the insurance excess only applied to my car.

Quentin

jimmo wrote: »

If you allow the other driver to pay for the repairs to your car privately you might do that and, quite frankly, that is not sensible.

No.

It makes no difference to your position whoever pays for the damages. (In fact you may not know who actually pays, but it is irrelevant whether the costs are paid by the third party themselves or their insurers).

lexilex

Sorry, I missed the most recent posts on here, must of been too busy tracking santa

This whiplash has gone down a little, it's not really painful constantly like it was at the start. When I sit in the same position for more than say 5 mins it stiffens up really quickly and starts to hurt. Is this normal? Even been a passenger in my parents car the other day, the pain in the bottom of my back was unbearable.

As for my car, taken it into two garages, looks like the damage is pretty bad. I'm a total girl when it comes to car but apparently I'll need a new panel because it's bent, as is my exhaust. Both garages thought insurance would want to write off my car because it won't be worth much. One of them said it was unroadworthy, but we think he was trying to make a bit of money out of us. It hasn't been driven since anyway. Thing is, my car is in really good condition. It's an R reg corsa which has done about 26,000 miles! Every mechanic that has looked at it since I got it has said how mint the engine is and that I will be lucky to get a car like it again.

Insurance have closed the claim and it's in the hands of their solicitors who I haven't heard from except when they rang for a description of the accident a week ago. Asked them about my car, they said that I would have to pay for the damage and get it back when the other womans insurance accepted responsibilty, or leave it til it's all sorted, which is taken much longer than I thought, I know it's Xmas and stuff but it's getting a bit stupid.

Asked about the cortesy car, I have got it on my policy but only if it's set on fire or stolen. Have to go through her insurance to get one otherwise.

Have to say I've found my insurance totally useless. There were many others cheaper when I was looking for quotes but I went with them, Prudentual, 'cos they're a well known name. They couldn't care less now they've got there money, even the attitude of the customer service people has been crap!

lexilex

Just got a quote through from one of the garages, nearly 900 quid:eek: Only paid 1100 for my car. It's not looking good!

mum2one

Basically as your only insured 3rd party, fire + theft that is the only time the courtesy car would come into place, and then for only 5 days. It would be the same whether or who u were insured with.

Fromexperience, this is what I would suggest, ring the solicitors and explain about the car, obviously they will need to work with the other parties insurers, and none move to quickly, as although u have got 2 quotes, the other insurers may want to get the car checked independantly.

Re going through her insurance, dont contact the insurers direct, you need the solicitor to do that, - when I had my write off, (appriciate that was back in 2000), but when solicitors are involved thats who they deal with,

Ask your solicitor to see if her insurers will authorise a hire car until the matter is settled, either via repair to ur car or an insurance write off. If u hire privately the costs can escalate, where as the ins compnay will be paying trade rates. I ended up with a hire car for 8 weeks, even though liability had been admitted, whilst the claim process was going through.

May be worth going back to the gp and asking for a referral to physico.

x

lexilex

My GP and also the nurse who rang up to assess me are both supposed to be referring me to physio.

I've heard nothing from anyone since 22nd. Granted it's been xmas, but there has still been days when they have been open. I'm getting pretty fed up now. No one seems interested in fixing my car. I'm stuck in, been told it's my responsbility to keep travel costs down. There are places I need to go that aren't on a bus route but I daren't get a taxi because I don't know if insurance will pay up.

I'm not sure if I want a hire car, from what I've heard it could be more trouble than it's worth with them inspecting it etc. I go on holiday this week anyway. If I haven't heard anything from solicitors before then I'm going to ring them myself, ask whats going on, and tell them I want them to speak to my parents when I'm away so my holiday doesn't slow anything down.

hellokitty08

I cant really offer you any advice, just wanted to offer some sympathy. I know what its like sometimes to feel like a helpless woman, and think that in circumstanaces like this that everyone seems to be against you. I would suggsest however chasing up the Doctors if nothing else, at least that should be fairly easy, with the insurance, its a pain, but you might just have to wait and see. Hope everything works out ok for you and that you manage to enjoy your holiday.