involved in a head on collision - insurance advice needed please ?

moralgrace

I was involved in a motor crash on Monday night, driving on a straight road, two seperate cars appear to be racing each other, and one car has crashed into me head on, on my side of the road, my car front is basically crushed, both air bags deployed, felt like my neck was going to snap off at the point of impact, I managed to get out as the engine was smoking. The other driver ran off and got into the guys car he was initally racing and they sped off leaving the car he crashed, thou I believe him now to be arrested, I was taken by ambulace to hospital given neck x rays and told I have neck muscle damage, I have bad neck pain now and headaches.

Theres around 10+ witnesses of local residents to the accident, who say these cars having been dangerous driving 2 nights previous around the village and kept there children inside, they have alerted police who say they can not do anything until they catch them in the act.

I have learned today the car what crashed into me was SORN no insurance,no owner, as I was entitled to a courtesy car on my insurance, the car hire company do some digging to see if they can get you a high spec car and charge to a third party, if not they give you a basic car if your insurer is paying.

im fully comp legal protection and 5 years no claims protected, and they have an uninsured driver policy, ive yet to hear back from my own insurer, thou they have told me they are deducting the access.

Will I get a bare minimum for my car off my own insurer ?

Many thanks if anyone can help, can easily email photos of the cars to back up my story, to anyone can help with this.

arcon5

You'll get market value less your excess

angrycrow

As stated above you should get market value for your car, each insurer hs a different definition of market value. If you are not happy with the offer look on auto trader for local examples of like for like cars to send them as evidence for an increase.

Start looking for a new car now as the courtesy car will be withdrawn 10 days after they issue payment. You are unlikely to get the courtesy car upgraded as the other car was uninsured.

Check the policy wording of your uninsured driver policy as most of them include your insurer refunding the excess if it is proved the other car is uninsured.

Your injury claim can be pursued against the MIB uninsured / untraced driver scheme. If you have legal expenses cover they will instruct a solicitor for you and you will get 100% of your awarded damages. If no legal cover instruct a no win no fee solicitor but be prepared for them to take up to 25% of your damages.

dacouch

angrycrow wrote: »

As stated above you should get market value for your car, each insurer hs a different definition of market value. If you are not happy with the offer look on auto trader for local examples of like for like cars to send them as evidence for an increase.

Each Insurer does not have a different definition of market value.

Jamiesmum

You get pre accident value so what it was worth right before it had the accident. You can get the guys details and take him to court for your excess money, if your insurers don't have anyone to claim the money back from you will lose it. If you feel the valuation is too low you can ask them to up it and send in proof why you feel it's too low.

What kind of hire car cover do you have? I'd be very careful and read your policy very well before accepting a hire car if they can't claim costs back.

AdrianC

The other car was uninsured.
You have fully comp cover, with an uninsured driver clause.

It's a no-brainer. Hand it all to your insurer, and concentrate on recovering.

angrycrow

dacouch wrote: »

Each Insurer does not have a different definition of market value.

Different insurers do have different ideas on market value. My car has just been written off, my own insurers view of market value was 15% more than the third party insurers assessment of market value, they both had all the same information to value it. Guess which offer I accepted.

AdrianC

angrycrow wrote: »

Different insurers do have different ideas on market value. My car has just been written off, my own insurers view of market value was 15% more than the third party insurers assessment of market value, they both had all the same information to value it. Guess which offer I accepted.

Except, ultimately, they are all bound by the same financial ombudsman's view of how to set a value.

maddogb

angrycrow wrote: »

Different insurers do have different ideas on market value. My car has just been written off, my own insurers view of market value was 15% more than the third party insurers assessment of market value, they both had all the same information to value it. Guess which offer I accepted.

whilst I am not sure on the legality of re-defining "market value", I say "re-defining" because it has a meaning already in English so in that dacouch was partially right.
What I am assuming you meant was that insurers "interpret" the meaning of "market value" differently and you are quite correct they do.
but,
"definition" is not a synonym for "meaning"

maddogb

AdrianC wrote: »

Except, ultimately, they are all bound by the same financial ombudsman's view of how to set a value.

unfortunately the FOS standards are so pathetically low in the area of consumer protection and their interests appear to lie more in self serving areas that that point is irrelevant anyway..

AdrianC

maddogb wrote: »

unfortunately the FOS standards are so pathetically low in the area of consumer protection and their interests appear to lie more in self serving areas that that point is irrelevant anyway..

<chuckles, clicks stopwatch off>