Skidded on ice and damaged car

Norman_Castle

Jamiesmum wrote: »

Well that is a photo of the damage, just incase anyone was interested! I had to claim through my insurers and now they want to write the car off. It seems like madness and obviously counts as a claim against me now. The guy did tell me though they had over 100 calls this morning alone due to ice related issues, so I'm not on my own or just some !!!!!! driver. It happens.

But for what it's worth I'm just wondering now I've uploaded a picture, if anyone has any better idea of the damage caused or is it just impossible without looking under the car. I don't know if it's worth buying it back or to start car hunting.

Thanks for the replies.

Similar happened to a friends Volvo. The bodywork where the suspension mounts to was damaged. He had it repaired. Not sure if the insurers wrote it off and he bought it back. You need to get a quote for the repair before deciding whether to buy it back and repair it yourself. If you do this some insurers may not insure it as it has been previously written off.

Jamiesmum

Well they aren't picking up the car today so I guess I'll try get someone to take another look. I know the car ain't worth much (1.5k ish) but I'd rather put a 1000 into fixing the one I have than to spend more trying find another one. I haven't had to spend any money on it yet except a new windscreen.

What modifications?

And yes the wheels are awful. But it's still a great car though and it drives/drove brilliantly despite the look.

Thanks for the replies

AdrianC

Jamiesmum wrote: »

What modifications?

Those ain't standard-fit wheels...

force_ten

for a 2005 2.0L focus i would say you will be lucky to get a 1.5K valuation from your insurance

my guess at the insurance value would be about £900.00 and if they go north of £1000 then i think you will be very lucky

that is why i said after you take off your £550.00 excess there is not much left

Please come back and tell us what the insurance value was and i hope you can prove me wrong

sun-n-moon

He should have got it checked by local garage first. I assume no breakdown recovery. Now he has told the insurance they will be aware he has had an accident. Will this affect future premiums. I'd get it repaired if reasonable cost with SH parts.
Let me tell you a story.
My daughter skidded into a parked car yesterday morning. Nobody around and both cars damaged. However there was a business phone no on the other car so she photographed it and drove slowly round to my place. Her car has a dented wing, crack in headlight, scratched bumper and crunching noise on full lock though I can't see any wheel contact with bodywork. Conversation centred around telling other car owner and doing the right thing. The wing would pull out but not look prettty and whatever is crunching probably not expensive. Droplink or something? Headlamp easy replace. say £150 and back on the road in days? But what about the parked car? However moral responsibility prevailed and rang insurance. They will deal with other vehicle and will pickup daughters car. 07 Grande Punto in mint condition. Well was. Looks as if it will be written off and she will pay £300 excess which will be taken from final cheque and will leave very little to pay another car. Plus no courtesy car as a writeoff and struggle to get to work for a few weeks. Then loss of some no claims and subsequent premium hikes. That's the reward for doing the right thing. No wonder so many people drive off after damaging anothe vehicle. Mine included in the past.

neilmcl

sun-n-moon wrote: »

That's the reward for doing the right thing. No wonder so many people drive off after damaging anothe vehicle. Mine included in the past.

No, that's the reward for not driving to the prevailing conditions.

What would have been worse is your daughter not doing anything and somebody witnessing what happened and reporting it to the police.

sun-n-moon

neilmcl wrote: »

No, that's the reward for not driving to the prevailing conditions.

What would have been worse is your daughter not doing anything and somebody witnessing what happened and reporting it to the police.

Well thats one opinion and you may well be correct. I won't judge as I was not there and I won't take the high ground. I've been caught out by black ice on more than one ocassion and I'm a professional driver.
You know on the police thing. I'm not sure they would even care. And my eldest lad is a police officer. Must ask him next time he turns up expecting his tea.

Jamiesmum

Hmm, not sure really. I got 1k for a peugeot 206 that was 13 years old. Though that was written off by a drunk driver so had no excess to pay I guess.

I will let you know when I find out though.

Jamiesmum

That's how I bought the car, haven't done anything to it myself. Pretty sure they're normal wheels though ?

EdGasket

Jamiesmum wrote: »

That's how I bought the car, haven't done anything to it myself. Pretty sure they're normal wheels though ?

The round sort you mean?

You'd have been better off not involving the insurance with a £550 excess. You won't get much back but will pay higher premiums for years to come and depending on the insurer, could have your current insurance terminated with no refund for the remaining period left. A complete scam if you ask me but thats how insurers play it and why they love to write-off cars instead of fixing them.

It might not be too late to cancel the insurance claim if you want!