Your thoughts please - write off?

NaughtySausage

Hi
On Friday morning my Mitsubishi Colt was 'rear ended' by a bus. Not a little nudge - a proper old BAM. Boot smashed (could not be opened), Rear window shattered, things in boot broken by the crash. My 4 and 6 year old were in the car was were scared beyond belief.

My car is probably worth £2300 approx (its a 56 plate).

Does any of you have any thoughts as to whether the Insurance Co (Direct Line) will write the car off or fix it? How will I know? Are there any give away signs that the damage is bad enough to warant a right off?

DH went to look at the car at the garage place where it was recovered to. They had removed the damaged stuff and DH had a look and could not see any creases etc but I suppose that they would look under the car or use some kind of machine to fully assess the damage?

Sorry if I sound daft or an asking a silly question but have never had this (or anything like this) happen to me before!

Thanks guys
NS x

attila_

i would say def a write off.

mcjordi

id say write off..
is the boot floor crumpled? if so id say deffo write off..

mikey72

And don't forget to include all the stuff in the boot in your claim.

NaughtySausage

thanks guys -I appreciate your thoughts.

DH did look at the floor of the boot and said it did not look to be crumpled. Maybe it was just a crumple zone doing what crumple zones are meant to do and the main frame of the car is OK?

Can you tell its playing on my mind? lol

Just glad my kiddies are OK - metal can be fixed / replaced.

McKneff

Inform your own insurance for 'Information Only'

Deal directly with the other parties insurance company if they have admitted liability.

It will really speed things up.

If there are an injuries you may have to appoint a injury lawyer.

Do yu have any legal cover with your insurance, either car or house. (for personal injury only)

Unfortunateley, even though you werent to blame in any way, your premiums may rise. Some insurance companes do and some dont.

Hope youre all okay

mianjakesmummy

NaughtySausage -

sorry to hear about your accident

i am going through a similar thing at the moment - i was hit on a roundabout and ended up head on into some metal barriers on wed eve, (although i was on my own, i had just dropped my daughter off luckily)

where the lady hit me just looked like the panel was a bit crumpled and would need a new one but my front bumper was ruined, i thought the majority of the repairs would be to the front where i hit the barriers and the engine but the repair centre phoned me yesterday and told me it was beyond economical repair (my car was bought 4 months ago for 2300 and i insured for that price)

it turns out the majority of the damage was infact where she hit me, the axle is bent and suspension is shot that alone apparantly will cost 1k to repair - total cost for parts is 1800 labour is 2500 (eek!!) then paint is 400 and vat on top of all that

but i suppose it all depends on how cheap the garage is iykwim - my car was taken to the insurance 'approved' garage (vospers) they are going to be more expensive than a back street.

have you spoken to the garage - if they are doing the repairs they may already have an idea of the cost - vospers actually told me it would be a write off before my ins co - when i phoned them it hadn't been through the 'total loss' dept yet!

check to see if you have personal injury cover or legal cover, i had this included with my policy.

the advice given to me was to research your car in the auto trader, find prices for a similar spec car as if your car is a write off you want to make sure it is a fair offer x

NaughtySausage

McNeff - I have already told my insurance company and they are going to deal with the Bus Co Insurance co. From your post this may not have been the best course of action but I cant change that now! I do have legal cover on the car insurance policy