CAR ACCIDENT- My car written off with baby in car - compensation claims help?

A_little_stressed!!

Today, driving in along a main road minding our own business when a car has pulled out of a side road & we went straight in the side of them.

There are not visable injuries, we went home after, but later in the day I took my 11month old to A&E to check him as he had been tetchy. I also have achey back, sides & neck. Dr. says we're OK, I've got excercises to help neck etc. My partner has same as me but is being blokey & didn't get checked out.

The car is a right off, we don't live on a bus route or near our work. The car seat (bought last week) cannot be used as they can't be used after accidents.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

I'm only 3rd party, they admit liability, will we get a courtesy car? Is there such a thing as courtesy car seat?
It was a 5 door fiat punto, will they match the size of courtesy car so we can fit wiv pram?
Is this pain whiplash? Does my partner need to have this verified by Dr?
Do I go through no win no fee? Who would you recommend?
I've missed work today, can't get to work 2moro as I can't put baby in car with no car seat!

I don't want to take the mickey with claims, but I am still shaky, if we'd swerved into oncoming traffic we might not be here now & I am distraught by this. My little boy hasn't come out'v my arms all day, luckily he is to young to understand what has happened. And I will have to spend all tomorrow on the phone sorting insurance out etc!

Please any help would be much appreciated!
Thanx

Hanxx

You'll need to check your insurance policy to get the courtesy car question answered. If your policy doesn't entitle you to one then speak to your insurers about a hire car and the possibility of claiming the cost of it back when the claim is dealt with (as they are admitting liability).

As far as injuries go write down any aches and pains that you might be feeling. This goes for everybody. Make sure that you also make a note of the severity of the pain (perhaps on a scale of 1 to 10). These are the sorts of questions that you might be asked if you do decide that a personal injury claim is necessary. All 3 of you will need a doctors appointment too, otherwise the personal injury claim could be difficult. You'll start to feel whiplash injuries the day after the accident normally, although it can vary.

Now thank your lucky stars that you weren't seriously injured. All the best.

Gorgeous_George

How do you know that your car is written off? The assessor will make that decision in due course.

Your insurers will advise but I guess that with you being 3rd party you will need to fund the hire car yourselves and claim it back through your insurers (uninsured losses) from the other party. You need to keep the expenses as low as possible,

If you think your car os written off, start looking for a replacement now. When the cheque is issued, you will no longer be able to claim for the hire car.

You should all see the medics. Injuries, however minor at the moment, could become more serious later on. It will be too late to make a claim once the first claim is settled.

Buy a new car seat and keep the receipt so you can claim it back. Hore companies probably can supply a seat but do you trust them?

Remember to use a cash back credit card when p[aying for the hire car, baby seat etc.



GG

A_little_stressed!!

The policeman said it was a right off, basically the whole front right engine was squashed leaking radiator fluid. Its only worth £2200.
I would love to use a cash back credit card, but as my other threads on here show, I've only just managed to get a cc from my bank after months of begging! I'll look into it though.
Thank you all.
Not reckoning on a good nights sleep as the little one has woken up twice! Oh well!

Hanxx

Kids bounce back quickly. Try and get a good nights sleep if you can and start making enquiries tomorrow. Yell if you get stuck.

southernscouser

I don't know if the quacks told you but very often whiplash doesn't occur until maybe 24/48 hours after the impact so keep a close eye on the littl'un and take him back to A&E if you have any doubts.

keithboy40

same thing happened to my wife, however the person who hit her was not insured. how does she stand with compensation. she is also liable to a £300 excess. how can she claim that back.

anybody been through the same thing. she also has whip lash injiries to her neck and arm. my daughter has a sore back and it is effecting her also.

Markyt

keithboy40 wrote:

same thing happened to my wife, however the person who hit her was not insured. how does she stand with compensation. she is also liable to a £300 excess. how can she claim that back.

anybody been through the same thing. she also has whip lash injiries to her neck and arm. my daughter has a sore back and it is effecting her also.

You may still be able to claim via the Motor Insurers Bureau - there is a fund set aside to compensate drivers in this kind of situation. I don't have details handy, but a quick google should sort you out.

maclean2

Little stressed!

Sorry to hear of your accident and your injuries.Would suggest that if you have legal expenses cover you let them handle the claims for

a/ your written off (?) car
b/ hire car
c/ injuries

If you do not have legal expenses cover try one of the big credit hire companies such as Helphire on 0500224455 who can claim for all of the above for you.They will ensure that they are paid direct by the other insurance company and you should not have to pay out anything yourself.If you tell them you have a baby they will be able to provide a car seat as well.

Other credit hire firms are Drive Assist and Enterprise Rent A Car,

Best of luck.If you have any queries someone on here should be able to help.

Raksha

I'd just like to say I'm not sure about the ethicalness (if that is a word) of using a cash back cc and then, I would asume, claim the full cost of the hire car from the insurance company of the driver who caused the accident. Surely this would be making money twice over?

Also be sure the accident was NOT your fault, speed, driving conditions, condition of your car etc. If you were speeding/driving too fast for the conditions at the time, you may find the other driver doesn't have to pay you a penny.......

A_little_stressed!!

Ow! You weren't joking about whiplash coming 24hrs after! My back shoulders and neck are really sore 2day Having trouble lifting the little one!!
There is no way they can say its our fault we we on the main road, clear conditions, it was a 30 and there was steady traffic, at most we could have been doing 32. It certainly wasn't a blind corner for the 3rd party to turn into as the road curves in his favour to see!! He even said something about watchin a woman crossing the road, so obviously wasn't looking at cars!
I don't have legal expenses, but from other posts on here there not always the best people to deal with it.
As to whether its right to use cash back cc, I don't see why not, I'm sure I wont be compensated for time going to shops & arranging hire cars and missing the day shopping to get my baby his birthday presents now I don't know when I'll get the chance as I'm using all my days off to recover & sort these problems out (insurance, trips to Dr.)
I can see I have a long day ahead on the phone, but any help will be very much appreciated. I will be checking up on here all day & hopefully you can lift my mood!
Thanks again!