No fault accident advise

rk295

Hi,

I'm looking for some advice, my car was hit while in a car park today. I wasn't in it but the guy left his details and is following it up with his insurance. My question is around who can deal with the claim for me, I know I have to tell my insurance company, but presumably I could get a accident management company to deal with the claim on my behalf. What are the advantages and disadvantages to using my insurance company or going with a third party management company?

ta, for any help!

r

SevenOfNine

It's a distinct possibility that your insurer will dump you in the lap of their own chosen accident management company (seeing as this was a no fault accident) anyway.

Ours uses Albany whose main aim appeared to be claiming for injury (there was none), & extracting more money from us by way of a policy to protect us in case the 3rd party insurer failed to pay for the hire car!

Decided to negotiate directly with the 3rd party insurer instead. They paid for hire car, arranged 'repair' with a garage (which we were happy with) - then promptly wrote off our car.

You will undoubtedly get that advice here from better qualified people than me. You can agree with 3rd party insurer to use own repairer choice, but do remember that if you negotiate directly with 3rd party, if for any reason you need Ombudsman's assistance you can't use them as you are not considered a 'customer' of the 3rd party insurer (only of your own insurer and the claims management company).

We've learnt a lot regarding 'no fault' accidents (& our rubbish Hastings Direct insurer), the hard way.

SteveJW

As the third party you have the right to have the vehicle repaired at a repairer of your choice. Don't let anyone tell you any different.

Put it in the hands of a management company and they will take it where they want

Take the vehicle to a body shop you know, trust or is recommended.Get an estimate for the repairs, send to the third party, unless the insurance company have accepted liability and are dealing with it direct. Quantify your other losses, taxis etc. In most cases the third party insurers will authorise repairs very quickly

No I am not an expert but do deal with around 300 accidents per year on behalf of a local authority with around 70 of these were the third party is to blame

InsideInsurance

Generally it is best to claim directly from the Third Party insurers if there is no dispute on liability. They will be able to arrange everything for you and settle all bills direct with the providers.

Accident management companies do everything on credit and add significant percentages on top of normal rates to cover this credit provision. There is increasingly challenges over if the credit charges were necessary and third parties are having to prove they couldnt have afforded to pay it themselves and claim it back rather than using credit etc.

dacouch

SteveJW wrote: »

No I am not an expert but do deal with around 300 accidents per year on behalf of a local authority with around 70 of these were the third party is to blame

The percentage of fault to non fault accidents is not good, sounds like your authority could do with investing in some driving training / monitoring

EdGasket

Best to get the other person's insurance to deal with it if they agree liability and are getting on with things. Second to that, get an estimate for repairs and claim it from the other person themselves who should pass it back to his/her insurance; threaten small claims if nothing happens. I wouldn't use a management company at all; too many horror stories about the innocent party being left with huge hire car fees and management fees to pay.

EdGasket

I meant to add that the claims management companies have clauses in the 'small print' whereby you agree to pay all the hire charges and costs in the event that the TP's insurance fails to pay them. So if the TP's insurance thinks thay are unreasonable and won't pay, guess where the buck stops?

Horizon81

Have you contacted the guy at all? He's probably legit but you never know if his note was all the stuff of make believe.