Car Insurance Counterclaim

mscholes79

Hi,

My car was hit by another car on a roundabout the other day as they tried to switch lanes a the last minute...I maintained full lane discipline and she apologised at the time.

After reporting it to my insurance, they have come back to me to say that the other party is making a counterclaim that I was the one who switched lanes. :mad:

I had 2 passengers in the car as witness, but no independent witnesses . There were no injuries. I maintain 100% non-liability.

My insurance company have advised that the chances are that it will be settled on a 50/50 basis, so I have to pay for everything on my part and lose my no claims...is this right?

If so, would I have any other route to take?

All advice desperately welcome

Thanks in advance

Quentin

You don't have to pay for everything in a 50/50.

If it's unprotected, you will lose 2 years no claim bonus, (usually from a maximum of 5), and none awarded for the current year. So if you had, say, 6 years NCD previously, you will have 3 at renewal.

But you can claim back 50% of your uninsured losses (including 50% of your excess) back off the third party.

You can appeal your insurers decision, though ultimately they will handle the claim as economically as possible for them.

mscholes79

Thanks Quentin.

I suppose that's a slightly better situation than the one I thought I was in.

It's just so infuriating that I have considerable costs (including next year's premium increase) incurred for someone else's poor driving! I guess it's it's just one of things, unfortunately

rs65

mscholes79 wrote: »

It's just so infuriating that I have considerable costs (including next year's premium increase) incurred for someone else's poor driving! I guess it's it's just one of things, unfortunately

Sadly, yes. Your passengers will help as witnesses but not independent obviously. Roundabout accidents often end up 50/50 simply because it is very difficult to prove you stayed in your lane and she didn't.