Legal cover on car insurance and claim?

robrymond

I'm pretty new to making a claim as it is the first time I have had to make one, but I was recently shunted from behind whilst driving my mums car. I'm with Bell Car Insurance, Fully Comp with 3rd party extension to drive other vehicles.

Myself and my brother felt some slight pain from the jolt of the shunt by a large van and I've been to the doctors today about it, but he told me to take painkillers.

The legal department dealing with me says the car will be fixed with a hire car for the damage to the rear bumper but because I was third party on my Mums car, I can take out temporary legal cover for this particular accident at a cost of £52.50.

Problem is I'm unsure whether to take it out, to claim on the injuries because really they weren't very serious and I don't want to loose £50, but he said the return will be greater than that money spent.

Any advice on this situation? Thanks!

bb2611

You shouldnt need to pay any money for legal cover even if you were driving using the 3rd party extension there are a few companies that will be have to deal with your case without charging you anything up front. I know of a good Accident management company that would help and even advise you about your injuries you may find in a few weeks time that you have noticed side effects following on from the accident. If you want the phone number of the company i have used in the past send me a message and I will send it back to you

robrymond

Thanks sent a PM. Not sure whether it is more hassle as I wouldn't call it 'injury' as such at the moment, whereas the people called Elba or Elby Assistance are sorting out the repair work for the car.

sarahg1969

If everything is sorted bar your injuries, you don't need an accident management company to get involved at all. You can just contact a local solicitor who will deal with your claim.

bb2611 wrote: »

you may find in a few weeks time that you have noticed side effects following on from the accident.

That is usually case when an accident management company gets involved, in my experience. There's no need to involve one in this instance, however. The damage and replacement vehicle are sorted. Cut out the middleman (and associated referral fees between the firms) and go straight to a solicitor.

Crazy_Jamie

Sarah is absolutely right. You do not need an accident management company here, and you should not be paying up front fees. If the injuries are sufficiently serious to warrant a claim, you simply need to go direct to a solicitor, who will handle your claim on a Conditional Fee Agreement ('no win no fee').

How long ago was this accident, and can you describe the symptoms in more detail? How bad the pain was, how long it lasted etc?

robrymond

It was merely a shunt from behind which caused the car to jolt. I've had an aching down my left shoulder to my elbow and round the neck, nothing major but was probably aggravated by working over the weekend. The incident happened on Friday. To me it doesn't seem worth it.

Atermis

you DONT always need a solicitor, ring up the other fellas insurence and claim directly off them (depending on who they are, as some are alot better then other ala Quinn.)

Also you have entered into a credit agreement with Albany, if they cant recover the costs, you can be stung for the costs of the repair/hire. (which will be in the 1000's since they charge massive rates)

TBH do what you want to do, the OMG accident i see ££££ of this board will of course tell you claim for everything under the sun.

You will have ambulance chasing solicitors ringing you up promising they can get you thousands (they dont know that!), as everyone will sell your details on for commision, the garage, albany, your own insurers will, so expect a barrage of calls, these people dont usually give two pence about you and only care about their fees for the most part.

Do what you want to do and dont let anyone pressure you into signing forms you dont understand before youve considered all the options!

If i wanted to claim through a solicitor, i would use a local trusted firm, rather then the massive corp firms (I mitchells et all).

Crazy_Jamie

robrymond wrote: »

It was merely a shunt from behind which caused the car to jolt. I've had an aching down my left shoulder to my elbow and round the neck, nothing major but was probably aggravated by working over the weekend. The incident happened on Friday. To me it doesn't seem worth it.

You are right in that one week's aches and pains are not worth claiming for. If you get to, say, three or four weeks and you're still suffering with symptoms then it might be something you want to look at again. But if things settle down within the next week it's more than likely not worth it.

Atermis wrote:

the OMG accident i see ££££ of this board will of course tell you claim for everything under the sun.

Can't say I've ever noticed members like this. The 'anti personal injury litigation' brigade, however, who make a habit of trolling even those looking to make entirely legitimate and justified claims, are alive and well. They have admittedly been a little less prominent recently, but then again there have been fewer threads like this recently, so that makes sense.

robrymond

Reading the reviews, Albany are pretty poor, so I doubt I'll bother paying them £52 for legal cover.

bb2611

Speaking from my own personal experiences if you have any kind of pain get it checked out 9 years down the line from my claim i'm still suffering having been told last year that the accident has effected part of my vision i now have to have regular MRI scans to monitor the damage

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robrymond wrote: »

Any advice on this situation? Thanks!

All this might have been avoided if you had been named on your mother's policy.

Driving Other Cars is really only a contingency cover. It's not carte blanche to jump into any car you like and drive it for miles. You're almost always better off being named temporarily or permanently on the policy of any vehicle you're driving to take advantage of full policy cover.