Historic Claim - Zafira Fire

Chiipper68

Back in Oct 2010 my car was damaged (written off) following a car fire where a lady parked in the adjacent parking bay and her car caught alight. At the time my Insurance company settled the claim and paid out however i lost my NCD and had to pay an excess, as the insurance company were unable to apportion blame (her car was completely burnt out) as no fault was able to be determined. The car was a Vauxhall Zafira which may subsequently (2015) be recognised with a fire-causing electrical fault for which the manufacturer is re-calling.

I guess my question is in two parts: Can I approach my old insurers retrospectively to reveal details of the incident (I shredded all the paperwork after receiving the settlement), If as suspected the vehicle in question is one of the affected models - how to I pursue a claim for damages, and who do I target?

Thoughts/advice gratefully received...

Retrogamer

You would need to demonstrate someone was negligent with the car that caught fire then point your old insurance to them with the evidence of that negligence, or sue them yourself via small claims.

Although there is an issue with Zafira catching fire randomly due to a manufacturing defect you would need to prove that's what caused that particular one to catch fire where you parked (impossible i would imagine seeing as the vehicle will have been crushed long ago). Even if you could you would need to demonstrate negligence as well. If it was that and it was negligence, it would have been on Vauxhall's part and not the driver or their insurance co.