Car crashed into my front wall, how can I play it?

lightSwitch_3

Basically the wall had been demolished by the car. I have price estimates for rebuilding it but I've realised that it is better not to rebuild it and leave it as an open drive. It still needs work doing to it, perhaps at less cost than if the wall is replaced.
Can I claim for rebuilding the wall and use the money for creating an open drive? What is their obligation? Can I just ask for cash to cover the cost of rebuilding and do something else with the cash?

Thanks

stugib

Whose car? Whose insurance company?

dogbot

Assuming it the car is a third party and their insurer is paying for it, they will put you back into the same position you were in before the incident and that is it.

You should get an estimate for the lesser work and submit that along with the full re-built to prove it is cheaper.

The work must be essentialy related to the incident, so if it is just clearing the damaged wall and making good the gap left then no problem, but don't expect them to pay for a full paving job as it is nothing to do with the incident.

The insurer will usualy request at least 2 competing estimates and authorise the work to be done rather than send you money, and then pay the contractor once the work is completed and they have a note from you stating that you are satisfied with the work. It is very very unlikley they will give you a cash settlement up-front.

lightSwitch_3

Yes, it is a third party car ie not my car damaging my wall and they have accepted responsibility.
The work I prefer being done is to remove the remainder of the wall (not much of it left anyway) and pave over a small section of a flower bed that is behind the now demolished wall so that my car can drive in. THis is very different to the original situation but definitely less material and work involved.
Also I don't think we can find matching bricks as these are quite unique. Don't know if this would play a part in deciding to fix it different to what it was like originally.

I thought that they could just pay you cash the cost of putting it right, then it is up to you if you want to leave it broken or fix it or change it somehow.