Drunk driver crashed into my car today

gemmylouise

Help... A drunk driver crashed into my parked BMW today, did not stop and when caught by the police denied it despite there being two witnesses and marks on her car! The police have told me she was over the limit and she will lose her license.

Her husband has been around to my house at 11.30pm tonight to apologise for her and to say it is his policy and he wants to pay for the damage without going through the insurance!!!! My partner was all for his and said he would fix it... I don't want my partner to have any work or stress sourcing parts because of a drunk driver! I do fee sorry for the husband who says this will mess up this trade insurance but isn't that the risk he took adding this wife to the policy.

The police are prosecuting her for drunk driving so surely I have to go through the insurance so there is evidence? He said the police has told him we can settle if we both agree!!!

Needs new wing, new bumper, new tyre, new fog light! Not going to be cheap!

Advice please

mum2one

Personally I would go through the insurance company, its not as thou its a little scratch, its not just sourcing parts it labour, also if your car is in a garage will you need a hire car ? x

dacouch

Find out their Insurers for a small fee here https://www.askmid.com

(May not work on a trade policy)

gemmylouise

I think I would prefer to go through the insurance as i don't want the hassle of finding the parts and labour and getting it done.

My partner thinks going through insurance will be hassle, driving it across the country and then might get a low offer for it

So confused... Why shouldn't the drink drivers husband get a hefty premium next year, it could have been a life!

I know there insurance details, the police has given me all of their details.

rs65

Why would you need to source parts? Just get a garage to estimate the work and get the guy to pay for it.

gemmylouise

rs65 wrote: »

Why would you need to source parts? Just get a garage to estimate the work and get the guy to pay for it.

The guy has said you find the parts and labour and give me a cost.

So you would go to a garage and not through insurance?

rs65

gemmylouise wrote: »

So you would go to a garage and not through insurance?

Personally I would use my insurance but you'll have to go to a garage regardless. If you are getting a garage to quote labour they may as well quote for parts too.

Quentin

You can contact the guys insurers and see if they have an innocent third party claims department to help you.

If so they will let you choose where the repairs are carried out and arrange a replacement car for you.

If not then you could use a claim handling company to deal with them.

It's not your problem but the third party can reimburse his insurers if he wants to pay himself.

worried_jim

Use their insurance 100% all day long. It's not, nor should it, be your problem.

Tigsteroonie

Was she actually insured? The husband's attempts to get you to settle without involving insurers would suggest otherwise.

Personally I wouldn't settle privately - you'll end up in dispute regarding how much has been spent, the quality of repairs etc. Leave it to your insurance company to sort out.

Enterprise_1701C

Even if you do not go through the insurers, you will still have to declare the accident to your insurers and to any future insurers for the normal time.

You might as well go through insurance companies, it is what they are there for, it should be no loss to yourselves, and if you agree for the husband to pay you risk him turning round and saying it is nothing to do with them and refusing to pay.