Vehicle insurance claim time limit - no driver details provided

cliogb

Hi

Please can someone help me out?!!
A company van hit my vehicle whilst it was parked in a residential street. The driver of the van has caused quite extensive damage and although they left a note on the windscreen, it only stated the company name, phone number and registration of the vehicle.

I tried to contact the company to get the driver's details as my insurance company say they need this information in order to show that the other party accepts full liability. Unfortunately the company never return my calls. My insurer has also tried to call them but they have the same problem.

I am fully comp but seeing as they have left a note I don't feel inclined to pay my excess when the van driver is at fault. My insurance company tell me they are restricted by law in the time frame they have to keep a claim open where "full liability" has not been admitted. Does anyone know if this is true?? They are threatening to close the claim and was reported under a week ago.

Also my insurance company seem reluctant to do anything other than phone the van company and I feel pressured into accepting to pay the excess on my own insurance to get the repairs done. Any ideas??

forgotmyname

Under a week seems rather short.

goto askmid.com and get the vehicles details yourself.

Go and sit outside the firm?

maninthestreet

The van driver committed an offence by not leaving his name.
Have you reported this to the police?

Tilt

Yep, i'll second the above.

Quentin

forgotmyname wrote: »

goto askmid.com and get the vehicles details yourself.

Go and sit outside the firm?

Paying askmid would be a waste of money (they don't know who was driving the van!)

Quentin

cliogb wrote: »

Also my insurance company seem reluctant to do anything other than phone the van company and I feel pressured into accepting to pay the excess on my own insurance to get the repairs done. Any ideas??

Your excess isn't covered by your own insurer. They won't proceed with your claim unless you agree to pay it!

Thus if you don't want to claim off your own insurer (and pay and reclaim your excess off the third party), then cancel the claim and pursue the third party directly.

(Otherwise, if you want the job doing quickly, let your claim proceed and take its course - but even when liability is not disputed claims can take months rather than weeks to be concluded, and your excess returned and NCD reinstated)

Tilt

I would contact the company which the van belongs to and inform them that you will be reporting the matter to the police unless the driver provides his details.

vax2002

The Driver of the other vehicle is Liable, if he has his liabilities insured that's another matter, call the police, give them the registration and tell them the other driver is refusing to provide details and the company is refusing to answer with the drivers details.

Once you have these, get 3 quotes for your repair and send the other driver the bill, which he will probably claim on the companies insurance.
Tell your own insurer you will deal with the issue yourself, it will save you thousands in increased premiums over the next 6 years.

Notmyrealname

cliogb wrote: »

My insurance company tell me they are restricted by law in the time frame they have to keep a claim open where "full liability" has not been admitted. Does anyone know if this is true?? They are threatening to close the claim and was reported under a week ago.

Yes it is true. That Statute of Liability applies. You have up to 6 years to claim. After 6 years, no chance. So you've a while yet.

colino

Easy enough to get a name, check out the company details and let the owner/MD know by phone/answer machine that you'll assume that he/she was driving at the time unless they reply differently.