Damage to house by vehicle. HELP!!!

rlb1397

A workman doing some work at my house had a little accident and his van rolled into my brick front porch. He was very honest and told us what happened and has said he will pay for any repair. The front door handle needed replacing and this has been done and paid for no problem. However we have noticed that an internal door adjacent to this wall will now not shut and there is a crack floor to ceiling next to the front door. I need some advice on how to approach this. Do I go through my building insurance and get them to sort it. Do i get the workman to sort through his van insurance or do we just get a structural engineer to survey and fix and sort out the cost between us? I will appreciate any advice people have on this.

Gordon_Hose

Start by calling the guy who did it and explaining what's happening.

Kernel_Sanders

Why would you claim on your insurance when he has admitted responsibility?

missindecisive

Check your house insurance to see if you are covered

Sterlingtimes

You have a contract with the builder so the builder will be liable if it can be established that he caused the tangible damage and he should be insured for public liability (van insurance or his business insurance).

Even outside of the contract the builder could be liable in the tort of negligence.

You might approach your insurers and refer then to the builder's insurers in the same way as you would do for a traffic accident. The insurers would surely arrange a structural inspection (which is really essential).

TBagpuss

let him know of the damage and ask him for his insurance details.

Gordon_Hose

I'd speak to him first, he may be willing to repair it without the need for insurance.

If he's not willing, then go down the insurance route.

dacouch

Sterlingtimes wrote: »

You have a contract with the builder so the builder will be liable if it can be established that he caused the tangible damage and he should be insured for public liability (van insurance or his business insurance).

Even outside of the contract the builder could be liable in the tort of negligence.

You might approach your insurers and refer then to the builder's insurers in the same way as you would do for a traffic accident. The insurers would surely arrange a structural inspection (which is really essential).

It will be classed as a traffic accident and handled by the vehicle insurance.