no-fault car crash.... write-off... now what?

Videoman

Hi Everybody!
Unfortunately, I was involved in a accident last night on the M1. I was travelling in lane 1 in a 'roadworks' area. A lorry ( in lane 2 ) forced me off the road as he came across into my lane and clipped my wing mirror.
My car went head-on into the start of a concrete barrier that was in place to protect the workforce. The car is a complete write off.
The lorry driver ( fortunately ) stopped a few hundred yards down the motorway and was interviewed by the police. The police told me to take a photo of a piece of red paint that is on my wing mirror. The cab of the lorry was red in colour.
So....
Now I would like to ask you wonderful people what happens next or what should I do? The policeman who took control last night has given me his details and an accident number etc and said he will contact me today with details of the truck driver/firm etc.
As with loads of people in a similar situation, I can see is that my car, a Rover 75 estate, is worth far less than it will cost me to replace a similar vehicle today.. ANY info would be greatly appreciated as I have never written anything off before.
I don't want to be 'done over' ;-)
Thank yooooooooo! :beer:

Nodding_Donkey

After speaking to your insurance company you need to start doing some research on prices. Look on Autotrader etc to find prices of similar cars , with similar mileage and condition in your area and use that figure to negotiate with the insurers.

You don't have to accept the first offer they make

Good luck.

brat

Are you fully comp?

If not, did the police officer tell you that the lorry driver has accepted responsibility for the accident?

AdrianC

Start off with the truck's insurer. Unless the truck driver denies responsibility, then that's the best resolution. If he does, just go through your own insurer and let them fight it out.

You will only receive the market value of your vehicle. Nobody's insurer has any responsibility to put you back in "a nice big comfy estate car" or any other form of betterment. If your 75 was worth a grand, then you'll get a grand - the theory being that you should be able to find a similar 75, availability notwithstanding, for that.

Videoman

yes, fully comp and no policeman didnt say driver had accepted liabilty.
What if a 'have you had an accident in the last three years' caller rings me?? ;-)

Spicy_McHaggis

Videoman wrote: »

yes, fully comp and no policeman didnt say driver had accepted liabilty.
What if a 'have you had an accident in the last three years' caller rings me?? ;-)

Up to you that one.

As said first step the other drivers insurance, then your own if you get no joy. See who your insurance company sell your claim onto.

Rambosmum

Let your insurance know you have had an accident but that you are unsure what you are doing at this time.

Get the truck drivers insurance details and go through them for a repair or write off. The write off amount will be market value minus any pre-existing damage to your car. When mine was written off I got much more than I had anticipated as market value was more than I had realised, and more than similar cars were going on autotrader.

Do you need a hire car, e.g for work or something. You'll need to get this through insurance, or have them ok it for you to get one on your own, but if you don't get it ok's first don't expect them to cough up when you present the bill.

You can claim for uninsured losses - you can use the legal cover on your own insurance or go through an accident management company, your choice. If you are genuinely injured then make a claim for that too, only you can judge that.

If there is any dispute in liability then just go through your insurance.

AdrianC

Videoman wrote: »

What if a 'have you had an accident in the last three years' caller rings me?? ;-)

On behalf of everybody whose insurance premiums they inflate, tell 'em where to shove it. Use as much graphic anatomical detail as you feel able.

londonTiger

hope the !!!! loses his license and never steps in a lorry ever again

Foxy-Stoat_3

Buy a 20p SIM card and give your insurer the number. Once you have your payout throw the SIM away.

This will save you unwanted phone calls and texts for the next 5/6 years.

If you weigh up the value of your car, less your excess, plus £20-£40 for the next few years premium increases against the current value of your car now that's probably worth £100-£130 scrap or if you sell a few bits off it then scrap it, it may worth out cheaper/easier/quicker to buy another £1000 car now and move on.

If you buy another Rover then remove all the undamaged bits from your damaged car and keep them for spares, you can reuse them on your next car.

BeenThroughItAll

londonTiger wrote: »

hope the !!!! loses his license and never steps in a lorry ever again

Yeah, God forbid anyone should make a mistake and be allowed to get away with it.

In this case no-one was killed, and both drivers involved did the correct thing. Police attended etc.

Maybe the police will prosecute, maybe they won't; it's significantly more likely that this was a collision caused by factors other than any which might require a prosecution and licence-revocation or ban from driving. Ever driven a lorry? Have any idea of the visibility and manoeuvrability constraints in a truck? Thought not.

If the lorry driver was drunk, on drugs, texting, having a wee, microwaving his dinner, reading a book, watching TV, having sex with his wife, or any number of other things besides driving his lorry, then yeah, maybe he should lose his licence; but that doesn't warrant your wild and accusatory statement or your calling the lorry driver whichever four-letter word you used.

Never had an accident yourself? Committed insurance fraud?


You and Darkmatter should go and start your own forum for this stuff, it's priceless.