Car accident - Albany Assistance/police

EdGasket

You can always try phoning or calling in on the police in person to find out as much as you can. It is a legal requirement that a person involved in an accident provide their name, address, and insurance details to the affected party either at the time of the accident, or to the police within 24hours I think. You could remind the police of this and ask for the information as you don't have it. Can't do any harm.

thenudeone

EdGasket wrote: »

Bear in mind that even if you know the TP's insurance details and deal directly with that insurer, they will still not pay out if the TP does not cooperate by reporting the incident.

I'm not sure that's true any more. The insurers are legally liable if their policyholder was at fault, regardless of whether he reports it or not.
I would expect them to take a keen interest in resolving the matter as the alternative would be that they may end up on the wrong end of a summons.
I can't find any links to support or refute my stance, at the moment.

magentacafc

Well - I coughed up the 3.75 and entered the accident details on the MID website. It gave me an insurer and policy number for the car which is something! I just hope it is correct.

I called the insurer, however of course they would not confirm anything over the phone and advised they don't accept third party claims over the phone - so I need to e-mail or write in.

I called Albany, & they now have: Crime reference number, address for the police, car reg, name, address, and mobile telephone number for the other party, insurer and policy number, along with a contact telephone number and an e-mail address for them. I really hope this is enough to get the claim moving - and apparently they DIDN'T have any insurance details - why could they not look this up?!

EdGasket

Well Based on experience I don't think Albany will resolve this for you. You are best off claiming from the third party insurance company; in writing if that is what they insist on.

vaio

^^ what he said

EdGasket

thenudeone wrote: »

I'm not sure that's true any more. The insurers are legally liable if their policyholder was at fault, regardless of whether he reports it or not.
I would expect them to take a keen interest in resolving the matter as the alternative would be that they may end up on the wrong end of a summons.
I can't find any links to support or refute my stance, at the moment.

Last claim I had which was around 2 years ago, the TP's insurance company would not do anything until the TP had reported the incident. As the TP had not reported the incident after 2 months, I had to repeatedly ring up the TP's insurer and pester them into ringing the TP and taking a statement. Once they did this the claim was settled very quickly.
Albany did nothing throughout this; claimed they had written to the insurer and had to give them 90 days to reply !!!