3rd party claim - how long should I expect to wait?

thrifty_pete

Four weeks ago I was knocked off my bicycle by a car driver coming out of a side road. I got the numberplate of the car as it drove off, and a couple of weeks ago got the insurance details from the MIB website.
I phoned them and sent a letter (when I phoned yesterday they couldn't tell me if they had received it!). I sent it Signed-for, and the Royal Mail say "it is being progressed through our network for delivery". Maybe that means it has already got there, unless 1st class take 2 weeks!
I am just wondering how long should I expect to wait for the insurer to do something? They are a very low cost, low quality company as far as I can make out. The driver probably bought the policy through a broker, and they are just underwriters or whatever its called.
Is there a Government guideline over how long this will take, or I am I really looking at months (for the police to finish investigating etc)? I am sure the car driver is at fault, and I have a witness to the accident.
If insurance is regulated by the FSA they don't exactly have much consumer info on their website.
Pete

Freddie_Snowbits

I would contact the police,as the 'Driver' left the scene of an accident. If you do not, If the letter landed on my floor, it would be given the contempt it deserved.

Note, some numptie ran into the back of Freda's car and legged it. She got the number and told the police. Car sorted and claim upheld against numptie.

thrifty_pete

Freddie_Snowbits wrote: »

I would contact the police,as the 'Driver' left the scene of an accident. If you do not, If the letter landed on my floor, it would be given the contempt it deserved.

I don't see why my claim should attract any contempt, just because I am cyclist and don't have my own insurer fighting my corner. As I said in my OP I did tell the police. The police are very busy, so I imagine it will be months before they have a report. I was just hoping I wouldn't have to wait months to get some compensation from the driver's insurance.

Freddie_Snowbits wrote: »

Note, some numptie ran into the back of Freda's car and legged it. She got the number and told the police. Car sorted and claim upheld against numptie.

How long did that take?

geri1965_2

Are you claiming for injury or damage? Who is the insurer?

Pssst

The driver clearly left the scene of an accident in which a person was injured. That is an offence. You should report this matter to the Police immediately and that should run parallel with your insurance claim. As it stands,you have no proof of what happened.

thrifty_pete

Pssst wrote: »

The driver clearly left the scene of an accident in which a person was injured. That is an offence. You should report this matter to the Police immediately and that should run parallel with your insurance claim. As it stands,you have no proof of what happened.

I'm sorry but if you don't have time to read my post, you don't have time to reply to it!
The police know about it as I reported it in person at the police staion. I have some quite good "proof" as I have a witness. What more proof do I need? The cctv doesn't cover that part of the road according to the police. If I had made the story up I would look like an idiot, and be facing a "wasting police time" charge. Why would I bother making up a story like this?
All I want to know is if someone has had a similar experience and how long it will take to get resolved. Also if our so-called government has any rules about insurance which is apparently compusory, although 10% of motorists don't bother.
Pete

thrifty_pete

geri1965 wrote: »

Are you claiming for injury or damage? Who is the insurer?

I'm claiming for injury and damage. I don't want to mention the name in case I have to go to court and someone chatting on here is going to prevent me doing that!

Pssst

thrifty_pete wrote: »

I'm sorry but if you don't have time to read my post, you don't have time to reply to it!
The police know about it as I reported it in person at the police staion. I have some quite good "proof" as I have a witness. What more proof do I need? The cctv doesn't cover that part of the road according to the police. If I had made the story up I would look like an idiot, and be facing a "wasting police time" charge. Why would I bother making up a story like this?
All I want to know is if someone has had a similar experience and how long it will take to get resolved. Also if our so-called government has any rules about insurance which is apparently compusory, although 10% of motorists don't bother.
Pete

There is no need to apologise.

You did not make it clear in your OP that you had reported it to the Police at the time of the accident however you did state this in a follow up which,on checking times,overlaps with my offering.

I would ad that i have a similar claim in which i was bumped from behind by another vehicle. Clear negligence. That accident occurred 16 months ago and the litigation is still ongoing. HTH.

thrifty_pete

16 months, that sounds like a long time. Did you have a witness? I would have thought for a civil claim, "the balance of probabilities" would be quite easy to prove with a witness.

dacouch

If there are injuries involved it prolongs the issue as they need to allow time for the injuries to stablise so they can assess the future implications of the injuries, arrange medical tests and any physiotherapy etc

Pssst

thrifty_pete wrote: »

16 months, that sounds like a long time. Did you have a witness? I would have thought for a civil claim, "the balance of probabilities" would be quite easy to prove with a witness.

It was a very clear cut rear end shunt. Typical whiplash scenario with ongoing issues. Insurance cos are often not in a hurry. They try to buy you off cheaply. fortunately i dont need to money so i have all the time in the world. It comes to a point when you finalise it by serving papers for a court appearance and they can then take their chances their if the dont want to sort it out of court.