Car hit in the rear and other insurers not responding

NurseMoneySaver1122

Can anyone shed any light..

My car was hit in the rear whilst I was approaching a roundabout. The driver was in a work vehicle and so gave me the appropriate details.


I've reported the accident to my insurance (Churchill) and yet all I keep hearing from Churchill is they've yet to respond to them. Is there no time limit an insurance company has to respond, or can they really go on forever ignoring my insurers?


Thanks in advance

starlight_xx

I had a similar problem last year. Involved in RTC and the other insurers ignored my Insurers for months. My Insurance company ended up passing it to their legal dept and finally court proceedings were issued and lo and behold it was settled. The other company isnt linked to SAGA is it??

Dont worry, they might ignore them but your Ins co wont give up and it shouldnt have any affect to you.

NurseMoneySaver1122

starlight_xx wrote: »

I had a similar problem last year. Involved in RTC and the other insurers ignored my Insurers for months. My Insurance company ended up passing it to their legal dept and finally court proceedings were issued and lo and behold it was settled. The other company isnt linked to SAGA is it??

Dont worry, they might ignore them but your Ins co wont give up and it shouldnt have any affect to you.

Thank you! You were right...I managed to speak to someone EXTREMELY helpful at Churchill, who contacted the other party personally by telephone, to find out lo and behold, they have accepted liability.

So I can now take action to get my car fixed, excess free, and arrange my courtesy car!! :T

Fingers crossed they don't now write my car off _pale_

InsideInsurance

Glad its sorted but to answer the original question, they basically have no legal requirement to respond at all until the matter gets to court. That said, if they fail to respond the civil procedures allow them to issue proceedings earlier than if they do respond and the courts may be more willing to award costs to the claimant which may otherwise have been barred because of the TP/TPI's failure to try and resolve the matter outside of court.

That said, solicitors who make reasonable money out of going to court are keen to use the fast track approach. Insurers typically don't and so are more reluctant to and will try harder/ longer out of court.

thenudeone

My OH was hit by a company car two years ago. The driver aandmitted fault. They paid a claims handling company to deal with it. I got the car repaired at the garage of my choice and they paid for a hire car.

Trying to delay dealing with such a claim is a bad move for insurers because some people will just go to a credit hire company which will mean the insurer having to pay 2-3 times what the claim would have been if they'd responded promptly and arranged everything themselves.

NurseMoneySaver1122

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Glad its sorted but to answer the original question, they basically have no legal requirement to respond at all until the matter gets to court. That said, if they fail to respond the civil procedures allow them to issue proceedings earlier than if they do respond and the courts may be more willing to award costs to the claimant which may otherwise have been barred because of the TP/TPI's failure to try and resolve the matter outside of court.

That said, solicitors who make reasonable money out of going to court are keen to use the fast track approach. Insurers typically don't and so are more reluctant to and will try harder/ longer out of court.

That's really interesting to know, thank you!

Although I previously said all is sorted...just had my insurance renewal sent through....

My insurance premium has gone up £272.42 from last year. My excess has gone up by £50 from last year. And they have listed me as having 3 years no claims, when it would have been 8 years this year.

As this is my 1st ever experience of dealing with any kind of car accident, I must be soooooo naive!! After being hit at the rear and the other driver admitting liability, I am so shocked that my premium, my excess AND my no claims discount are ALL STILL affected. How naive am I?!

daveyjp

Have you actually spoke to anyone at the insurance company? Sounds like their claim against the other driver is still open.

InsideInsurance

Whilst the claim is still open it will impact your history/renewals etc. Once it is closed as non-fault (ie once your insurers have recovered their outlay) then your renewed premiums will be recalculated and any NCD/ NCD protection lives reinstated.

Obviously if you switch insurers at renewal it is something you will have to inform them about and do the leg work yourself