Advice needed please

laurag99

Hello, I wondered if anyone would be able to give me their advice or guidence on what to do with my car insurance claim.

Story: I had a car accident which was my fault, I went into the back of another vehicle when I came around a roundabout and the car I hit was stationary in the road and the driver was looking at roadsigns.

Damage: Light body work repairs needed- re-spray of front bumper, new headlight and new bonnet or original bonnet straighted out. ABS warning light came on upon impact. The other vehicle just had a broken number plate ( i only ended up hitting her at a few MPH)

Process so far: I was insuructed by my insurance company to take my vehicle to a local repair centre, where the work was estimated. I was called by my insurance company to confirm they were going to go ahead with the repairs and was I happy to go ahead with the claim- I said yes.

My car has been with the repair centre for 2 weeks and then I get a call to say my car is ready so I go to collect it. Upon collection they tell I cant have my car back because the ABS warning light has come back on. So I have had to leave my car their for further checks.

I had a call from the insurance companies assessor to say that the fault is a ABS pump which needs replacing and will not be covered under the claim and I will need to pay for this seperatly. I am absolutly fuming as I have a car I cannot drive and had i known they were not going to fix my car at the start i would had not gone ahead with the claim (my excess is £550)

Does anyone know if I have a case, i have spoken to a few garages and they have said the ABS pump was probably on its way out but the impact has more than likely caused it to stop working.

I feel really upset about the situation as I feel like they didnt inspect my car correctly in the first place and they are trying to cover their tracks.

Sorry for the essay but if anyone can help i would really appreciate it.

Thank you

forgotmyname

Its your car, get it back with the ABS fault and get it repaired yourself.

Cars breakdown, it maybe accident related but there again it might have broken down the next day anyway.

Have the rest of the repairs been done?

laurag99

Thank you for reading and replying.

Ultimatly that is what I will do but I feel that its the garages duty to repair it, they started the work with out diagnosing it correctly and had I been told at the start before agreeing to go ahead with the claim that they were not going to repair it under my insurance I would have had the repairs carried out privatly. The car I hit didnt claim.

Now i have a car worth £2000 max which the repairs will cost me over £1000 with labour for the ABS pump and a £550 excess due to be paid for the repairs already done.



The insurance company are unwilling to listen but I really feel like they are trying to cover their own backs for not diagnosing it correctly in the first place

Thank you

lil.smartie

Pre-accident there was no ABS light on? I would find out exactly what has happened to the pump as it could have been damaged and if it was fine pre-accident I would argue the car has not been repaired to pre-accident condition if its not done! Not knowing details can't be sure but if it were my car I'd argue it!! Did the ABS kick in during the accident?

Kate

laurag99

Thanks Katie for replying,

No lights on pre accident and I had the car serviced and MOT'd in December (new break pads and discs fitted and new tyres) and the car has always been well maintained (not sure if you can tell if this part need replacing or if its something they check)

Yes the ABS kicked in when I emergency stopped and then came straight on upon impact.

The fact that they didnt diagnose this in the first place annoys me not 3 weeks after having it and just before they go to give me the car back.

I just wanted to get some advice before I can argue the case with the insurance assessor again on Wednesday. Does anyone know what I can do if they are still stubbon because theres no way i will be taking it away from the garage or paying the excess until the car is fully repaired.

Thank you again!

lil.smartie

OK, ABS was working fine at point of impact, no dash lights etc so sounds very odd for it to fail whilst not being used! Talk to the garage, ask then what they think is wrong with it, seal going is not uncommon as a wear & tear fail but you would usually leak fluid before this becomes a dash light on problem IMO. Could be a wheel speed sensor, easily damaged if a wheel was impacted, could also put a dash ABS light on...

What car is it and what type of garage has it gone to? Accident repair/body shop or a more 'mechanic' type of place? Ask them what diagnostics they used and how they have established the ABS pump is faulty?

Also post on the Motoring section on here, there may be something I haven't thought of and they are pretty helpful there too!

Good Luck!

Kate

lil.smartie

Oh and if you do collect the car (they can charge storage fees if you don't!!) make the invoice 'paid under protest' and don't sign a satisfaction note!

Kate