Car crash - non fault - advice please.

muddyl

I'm looking for some quick advice please.

My wife had a crash an hour or so ago, another person went into the back of her, then a second and third car got involved meaning she was shunted 3 times.

She's off to the hospital with two of our kids now (necks and backs starting to hurt and wife's wrist off steering wheel too).

Anyway, to the question. is it best to contact my insurance first, or depending what they say at the hospital should it be a solicitor first?

Cheers, Mark

DUTR

Obviously your insurance (after the medical attention) thankfully you are all ok and alive to tell the tale, some are not so fortunate, the PI claim will take months if not a couple of years to conclude.

Wh05apk

So your first concern when she's in an ambulance on the way to A&E is should you consult a solicitor?!!

Contact your insurance company and see how things pan out over the next few days.

McCoy

Wh05apk wrote: »

So your first concern when she's in an ambulance on the way to A&E is should you consult a solicitor?!!

I'll admit to having a similar reaction when I first read the original post.

But that said, a more detached reaction can often be prudent I suppose.

I think informing your insurance company is your first port of call other than the hospital.

InsideInsurance

These kinds of accidents are a pain to deal with, particularly as you say it is a series of collisions rather than a shunt (ie one car hits another and pushes it into you).

Whilst if you are to blame or not is almost certainly clear cut (assuming there's no allegations of lane switching etc) who exactly will be liable is less clear cut (often it is shared by the vehicles behind but depending on how many cars exactly it is will dictate how easy or not this is)

Once you deal with what is hopefully the more pressing concern of your wifes health then you would normally have 3 options:

1) If your Comp then claim from your own insurance and let them deal
2) Instruct an accident management company (aka ambulance chaser)
3) Claim directly from the at fault party's insurance

In this case because liability may be a problem then 3 may not be an issue however sometimes you can get them to deal with it on a without prejudice basis on the basis you are certainly an innocent party

Even if you dont chose 1 you must still tell your insurers about it on a "for information only" basis

Blackpool_Saver

the first place to contact is the hospital

muddyl

Wh05apk wrote: »

So your first concern when she's in an ambulance on the way to A&E is should you consult a solicitor?!!

No. My first concern was coming home from work so I can see to the two other children while she went to the hospital.

I'm not a panicker, never have been, i just sort of get on with things.

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Whilst if you are to blame or not is almost certainly clear cut (assuming there's no allegations of lane switching etc) who exactly will be liable is less clear cut (often it is shared by the vehicles behind but depending on how many cars exactly it is will dictate how easy or not this is)

Once you deal with what is hopefully the more pressing concern of your wifes health then you would normally have 3 options:

1) If your Comp then claim from your own insurance and let them deal
2) Instruct an accident management company (aka ambulance chaser)
3) Claim directly from the at fault party's insurance

In this case because liability may be a problem then 3 may not be an issue however sometimes you can get them to deal with it on a without prejudice basis on the basis you are certainly an innocent party

Even if you dont chose 1 you must still tell your insurers about it on a "for information only" basis

No lane switching. She was slowing for a roundabout and those behind skidded in the poor conditions and didn't stop.

We are fully comp, so i'll just get in touch and let them sort it.

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

the first place to contact is the hospital

She's already there!

Ok. so i'll just contact our insurance as we are fully comp and see where we go from there.
Both of us have been driving for years, but never had to claim so it's all new to us.
Fortunately the hospital have said all are ok, just muscle strain so its time to start sorting things out.

Quentin

Your insurer will want to pass you on to a claims handling pi firm to deal with any compensation over this (and maybe to deal with your car repairs, replacement hire car etc). They will get a large referral fee for this.

You may want to consider cutting them out and instructing your own solicitors to act for you.

Google cashback claims solicitors to find reputable firms sho will pay you £100s just for giving them your business on top of all the compensation they win you.

cordwangle

Be careful over offers of replacement hire car as this can be a real horror with the costs being massive and in some cases you ending up paying out either directly or from your payout.
Its quite interesting how the companies moan about Ambulance chasers but pass the details on to them!