Rear-end shunt.. not our fault..now what?

steampunkmimi

Removed for personal and privacy reason.

Quentin

steampunkmimi wrote:

Advice sought, please. Spouse was driving hime last week when someone ran into
the back of his car, trashing the rear bumper. Insurance company suggested that
due to age of vehicle (14 years) itmay be an economical write-off.


Assessor checked the car and found that the underside has been bshed to.
Obvious dents that will need welding. Other driver admitted fault immediately,
and provided insurane details.

Car was due for MOT ths week, and we have
travel plans in the next few weeks. If defendand has admitted liability, are
the also liable for funding a courtesy vehicle until we're home again (we surely
cannot be expected to find a new car within the next couple of weeks, get it
insured and so on).

Spouse is very upset. All he did was stop at a
roundabout, and now it looks as if our car is to be written off because someone
wasn't paying attention.

Anyone have similar experience/advise?

It sounds like your own insurance is dealing with your claim?

If so you can expect a quick settlement.

Be careful about running up hire car bills unless you can justify them. The third party will pay your uninsured losses assuming liability is accepted, but generally all you can hope for is a few days hire car after the settlement arrives


So get looking for a replacement now

steampunkmimi

removed as per above.

steampunkmimi

see above.

Iceweasel

Removed as the OP didn't like it.

steampunkmimi

see above.

Inch_High_2

Use of a hire car often ends when they write your car off, you maybe lucky and get a week out of them.

You should be put back in the position you were in before the collision. ie cash for a 14 year old car.

Iceweasel

Removed as the OP didn't like it.

morrisoscar

steampunkmimi wrote: »

On a side note, do the insurance company *really* only give a few days of vehicle hire to find a new car? That's insane. How is on supposed to make an infirmed decision, or indeed find a new vehicle, in just a few days?

Assuming (always dangerous) you a claiming on your own insurance you need to check your policy. If you have courtesy car cover and your not at fault they can claim the costs back from the third party so they usually allow you to keep it until around a week after your settlement payment and they have taken your car as they then effectively own it. If you are claiming direct to the third parties insurance technically they cannot write off your car and so can only make a cash offer.

If you don't have courtesy car cover speak to the third parties insurance company and explain about your holiday plans, you may find them helpful and willing to provide a hire car for you until things are settled as it keeps their costs down compared to you getting an accident claims company involved.

4743hudsonj

Is it just me or is 2 weeks more than enough to buy a car? Worst case is buy a dirt cheap car you can use for a few weeks and then even sell on for a small profit.

Iceweasel

Removed as Op didn't like it.