car accident - dispute over liability

Kilty_2

This risk does not include a Dachshund running across the road because such a small dog can be run over without any danger."

UK law says different, so that's not really relevant is it?

victor2

As already said, that is going to drag on for some time. The fourth driver is obviously going to get the blame for hitting the third car as he was at the back and didn't stop in time. If the third didn't hit you until after he was hit, then clearly it isn't his fault. Even if he did hit you first, he could be thinking to shift the blame to the one at the back.
It really should be your insurance company sorting out the blame, you can only tell them what you remember. Unfortunately, your premiums will go up if it isn't resolved in your favour before renewal time.

birkee

Exactly the same thing happened to me.
It's simple really. You claim from the driver who hit you. If he has a case, then they claim from the driver behind him / her. So it's the insurers of the car behind who have to deal with the problem. They will want all the facts possible though, in order to claim from the next in sequence.

poppet48

Thanks for the replies. I must admit the person I'm most annoyed at is the idiot who didn't lock their dog up securely in their garden and let him go wandering off to cause an accident. Sadly he's the one getting off scot free from all this....
From what my insurers have said it seems that I'm not going to get any pay out for the write off until liability has been determined. Fortunately I've got six months till I need to renew my insurance so I'm hoping that this may be able to resolved before then.

mikey72

If you knew whose dog it was, you could try a claim on the liability insurance on their household cover.

Quentin

poppet48 wrote: »

From what my insurers have said it seems that I'm not going to get any pay out for the write off until liability has been determined. Fortunately I've got six months till I need to renew my insurance so I'm hoping that this may be able to resolved before then.

Why aren't your insurers sorting you out now, and sorting out liability later?

In the meantime have they given you a replacement/hire/courtesy car?

(Or do you have third party cover only?)

birkee

poppet48 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. I must admit the person I'm most annoyed at is the idiot who didn't lock their dog up securely in their garden and let him go wandering off to cause an accident. Sadly he's the one getting off scot free from all this....
From what my insurers have said it seems that I'm not going to get any pay out for the write off until liability has been determined. Fortunately I've got six months till I need to renew my insurance so I'm hoping that this may be able to resolved before then.

I can understand that poppet, but don't forget the idiot in front that braked hard because of a dog.
Had you been less in control, you might have swerved into an oncoming car, and caused deaths.

Had my Wife next to me, and elderly parents in law in the back of my car years ago, when a dog ran into the road. Little room to stop, and the choice was either parked cars, or oncoming traffic. The dog got it.
Not hard, it was only about 15mph, but I then had to follow at terrified dog speed as it ran for about half a mile up the centre of the road.

You weigh up the risks before you stamp on the brakes.

Strider590

Quentin wrote: »

Why aren't your insurers sorting you out now, and sorting out liability later?

In the meantime have they given you a replacement/hire/courtesy car?

(Or do you have third party cover only?)

Standard practice these days, they won't budge until they're sure they'll get their money back.

Quentin

If the OP has comp insurance, they should be dealing with the OP now!

kwaks

OP, as far as you are concerned liability is settled, and you are not liable. You should be paid out from car 3 insurance, as far as you are concerned that is all that matters. Car 3 insurance can argue with car 4 as long as they wish to get their money back, but does not need to inconvenience you.

One way to speed this up is to demand a hire car until you have been paid out as non fault, the mounting costs will hurry them along. Your insurance company does not need to be involved, and if fully comp do not accept them settling until liability is determined. Time for you to become the proverbial pain in the.... Hourly calls for updates, bug the life out of them.