Advice Needed: Driver driven into garden brick wall!!

jig

A young reckless driver has driven into a front garden wall, knocking it down, causing damage to a laurel hedge, wall and wall light. The driver, a young girl, who didnt have a clue and it was due to her speeding and reckless driving.

I called the police to report the incident. The father of the girl appeared and didnt seem that apologetic, had the car towed, and gave his daughters insurance details and said who would be in touch later. He also claimed to be a builder and said he would take care of the brick work (as he is a builder!?) and replant new laurels as he didnt want to go through his insurance co.

I am concerned if I let him do the work that it may not be upto standard, completed in time of the right quality (same brick work etc,).

What options do I have? I would prefer to source my own builder to rectify and bill his insurance company. Is this the best solution? How will the claim affect my Home insurance? Do I need to ensure I do anything else?

Thanks in advance for all the help and support.

Thanks
Jig:)

seadee

Personally I would report it to your insurers. What did the police say?

shellsuit

It's the girls insurance details you need, not the fathers, so I can't understand why he said he would give you his?

jig

shellsuit wrote: »

It's the girls insurance details you need, not the fathers, so I can't understand why he said he would give you his?

Sorry meant her insurance details. (not at home yet, feeding report back from the folks)

thanks

Armengar

I would deal with the insurers, not her father. What comeback would you have if he starts a job then bodges it? Of course he wouldnt want his daughters insurance damaged but you dont want your wall are garden ruined by shoddy work. It wasnt your fault that she was (possibly) driving recklessly.

If you have house insurance it might be worth talking to them. Sometimes your legal cover at your insurance can do a much better job of resolving it - but get the facts from them to make sure you wont be damaging your insurance!

imfedup

personally I would report to Insurers, you cant guarantee he is a builder and would do a good job. You could ask him to quote for the repairs to provide to your insurers and ask to see works that he has already carried out. If you do use him, check his insurances and indemnity papers before you let him do anything.

Silk

IMO he might be a better builder than one you found in yellow pages etc who's to know untill you see a sample of his work ???
You could express your concerns to him and perhaps ask to see what his work is like and then put a time limit on when it will be done by before you go through insurances etc

jig

Ive would much prefer ( and have decided) to go with a reputable local builder. Will this claim affect my home insurance? What else do I need to prepare for?

Thanks again

Silk

jig wrote: »

What else do I need to prepare for?

Probably a JCB being driven through your repaired wall in the middle of the night, when he takes the hump at you not taking up his offer of putting it right
:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

anewman

Why is it when there's a car accident and your car gets damaged - the other person is a mechanic, or knows one. Someone drives into your brick wall, suddenly they know a builder... Amazing coincidence.

Hintza

Go and get a quote pdq and send it to him, if he refuses then claim against his insurer.