Just Had A Crash Would Appreciate Some Advice

UnderPressure

Hello

Gutted does not even come near, not a serious crash a low impact 30mph but it will be enough to see my old faithful Mazda off that is for sure!
I know it was not my fault, I wont go into it all here, I am not an arrogant person and if it was clearly my fault I would honestly admit it but in the actual circumstances I am sure I was not at fault!

Anyway, we swapped details, I took some photos, both cars seemed driveable so we went on our way. Upon getting home I telephoned my Co-Op insurance claim line number reported the accident and gave them all the details,after driving the car home it became obvious there was an issue somewhere with either suspension or steering so I "nursed" it home, not for only a mile or so and have parked it on the drive. Towards the end of the phone call she told me someone would ring me back from the co-op claims department on Monday as they are not 24 hour and they provide cover for out of hours.

I asked about courtesy car, I am fully comp and in an accident not my fault I am entitled to a courtesy car, going to need one only a 1 car house! She told me I needed to speak to the co-op claims people when they ring, I said but that is going to be Monday, she said yep! I can try them tomorrow after 10am she thinks they open for a short time on a Sunday.

Is this right about the courtesy car? What do I need to be aware of throughout this process. My car is an old banger so almost sure to be written off in some way but is there any way I can speed the process up? I really need some kind of car for Monday morning, can I contact a local repair centre and ask them to come and take mine away and drop off one of their courtesy cars and the just tell the insurance where it is or do I just have to wait till Monday?

Any nuggets of wisdom extremely welcome, many years of driving, no claim no accidents no tickets for anything! grrrrrrrrrr.

Thanks in advance.

Cornucopia

If you are confident that it is going to be 100% the other party's fault, then you could simply hire a car yourself, at least for a couple of days whilst a courtesy car is sorted out. You'd then add that cost to your claim.

As you are fully comp, beware of your insurers pushing ahead with the claim before the other side has formally accepted liability. Also beware of them appointing a claims management company.

You could approach the other party's insurers and ask to make a claim directly against them.

Did the other party accept liability at the roadside?

Aretnap

As far as a courtesy car goes there are two separate issues - what you're entitled to from your own insurer and what you're entitled to claim from the other guy's insurer.

What you can get from your own insurer depends on the terms of your policy and has nothing to do with fault for the accident. A standard policy will not provide a hire car at all - rather if your car is being repaired the garage may provide one as part of their normal customer service. Obviously this only kicks in when your car is actually at the garage. If you want your insurer to provide more than that you have to opt for an add-on called (something like) Guaranteed Hire Car at the time you buy the policy.

Independently of that, if the accident's not your fault you can claim the cost of a hire car from the other guy's insurers. You can either hire a car yourself and claim the money back from them, or you can use a claims management company who will provide one on a credit hire basis and claim the money from his insurers on your behalf, or you can speak to his insurers directly and see if they'll provide one themselves (generally the easiest option if they'll admit liability quickly and play ball). Your own insurance company won't do this for you, though they might refer you to their own game credit hire company. Note however that claiming the money back depends on either the other guy's insurers admitting liability, or you being able to prove that he was liable - which is not quite the same thing as you being sure that it was his fault. More details are needed before we can give you a sensible opinion in that side of things.

UnderPressure

Hello

Thank you for replying, no neither of us accepted responsibility, I vaguely knew the woman so said probably best to leave it to insurers.

Thanks

Mojisola

UnderPressure wrote: »

Thank you for replying, no neither of us accepted responsibility, I vaguely knew the woman so said probably best to leave it to insurers.

Without independent witnesses, the insurance companies may go for 50/50.

motorguy

UnderPressure wrote: »

Hello

Thank you for replying, no neither of us accepted responsibility, I vaguely knew the woman so said probably best to leave it to insurers.

Thanks

No matter how it pans out, let the insurance company / companies sort it out. No one was hurt, its only a car. Worse things happen at sea!

You've done the right thing ringing the insurance company.

These things have a habit of taking over your life with worry and stress, but thats what insurance is there for

UnderPressure

Aretnap wrote: »

As far as a courtesy car goes there are two separate issues - what you're entitled to from your own insurer and what you're entitled to claim from the other guy's insurer.

What you can get from your own insurer depends on the terms of your policy and has nothing to do with fault for the accident. A standard policy will not provide a hire car at all - rather if your car is being repaired the garage may provide one as part of their normal customer service. Obviously this only kicks in when your car is actually at the garage. If you want your insurer to provide more than that you have to opt for an add-on called (something like) Guaranteed Hire Car at the time you buy the policy.

Independently of that, if the accident's not your fault you can claim the cost of a hire car from the other guy's insurers. You can either hire a car yourself and claim the money back from them, or you can use a claims management company who will provide one on a credit hire basis and claim the money from his insurers on your behalf, or you can speak to his insurers directly and see if they'll provide one themselves (generally the easiest option if they'll admit liability quickly and play ball). Your own insurance company won't do this for you, though they might refer you to their own game credit hire company. Note however that claiming the money back depends on either the other guy's insurers admitting liability, or you being able to prove that he was liable - which is not quite the same thing as you being sure that it was his fault. More details are needed before we can give you a sensible opinion in that side of things.

Hello

Thanks for replying sounds like fun! I did realise the courtesy car would come from the repair company I just expected my insurers to spring into action and arrange for one to come and collect the car straight away, I suppose it makes sense now you have explained it thank you.

Are these claim management companies worth me thinking about? No personal injuries, well none mentioned yet anyhow.

Thanks

Astronaughtwannabe

Case law, by which insurers tend to decide where liability rests has not always followed a common sense path. For that reason, motorists can sometimes be surprised by the 'non common sense' decision made by insurers.

You'd receive better advice if you post a synopsis of what happened.

Dr._Shoe

I seem to remember that if your car is written off you won't be insured to drive the courtesy car because your insurance cover expires with your car.

dacouch

Dr._Shoe wrote: »

I seem to remember that if your car is written off you won't be insured to drive the courtesy car because your insurance cover expires with your car.

Fortunately your memory is letting you down.

arcon5

Mojisola wrote: »

Without independent witnesses, the insurance companies may go for 50/50.

You for real? You don't even know what happened !