Damage to car caused by dad before he died

bunnydrumming

Hi. My dad recently died and left me his car. The car has some damage, caused a few weeks before he died, when he reversed into a wall ... twice. This was 6 months ago and I am only just being able to sort out his estate. My question is can I get the damage fixed on insurance as I need to sell the car and obviously need a good price so i can pay the finance off in it.

The car is insured through fleet insurance on my dads farm. Does it matter that the damage was caused some months ago. i think it's about 1000 worth if damage as it's hit 3 different areas and the plastic bumper.

DCFC79

Could you go through insurance since the policy is in your dads name (I have no idea so not sure myself) ? No harm in asking.

Whats the excess on the policy ?

Get some quotes from local accident repairers.

Sorry for your loss.

bunnydrumming

I'm not sure what the excess will be. I'm not sure if I can claim on insurance 6 months later though. My dad had two encounters with walls probably in April or may and died in June. It's only now we are nearing probate with my dads estate and I'm trying to sort things out.

rs65

Most farm insurers are sensible and I don't see a problem in the circumstances.

You have nothing to lose by asking them anyway.

The excess will be payable twice though so see if its worthwhile claiming.

bunnydrumming

Thanks for that. Dad dealt with the same guy for a few years for his car insurance so he may be able to help shed some light. My brother seems to think there's no hope as dad would have had to put in the claim before he died.... even though it's fleet insurance. Unfortunately I don't really have a clue!!

jonesMUFCforever

1 Don't accidents have to be informed by a certain date after the event eg 24/48 hours not 6 months?
2 Technically when dad died did the contract cease as well?

I can't see them entertaining a claim IMO.

rs65

bunnydrumming wrote: »

My brother seems to think there's no hope as dad would have had to put in the claim before he died

He's probably right but in the circumstances I would think there will be a bit of compassion.

System

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

Technically when dad died did the contract cease as well?
.

But debts can still be enforced by or against the executors.
Isn't the estate in administration a sort of living continuation of a deceased person until probate has been granted?
But I don't think claims can be pursued after probate - surely it's the executor's job to trace and settle all these before everything is rounded off with the final settlement?

CKhalvashi

Clifford_Pope wrote: »

But I don't think claims can be pursued after probate - surely it's the executor's job to trace and settle all these before everything is rounded off with the final settlement?

A claim against him definitely could be, as there was an insurable risk while the policy was valid.

Whether this type of claim could be though, I don't know. It would be up to OP to ask the insurer.

mattk_180

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

1 Don't accidents have to be informed by a certain date after the event eg 24/48 hours not 6 months?
2 Technically when dad died did the contract cease as well?

I can't see them entertaining a claim IMO.

1. Only if there's a condition in the policy that states so. Even if there isn't, I'm not completely sure if more than 6 months on is too long now.


2. Policy would normally be transferred into the name of the executor until new ownership is found.

TheBanker

Just a question - if the car is on finance, do you have the option to simply tell the finance company that your father has died and let them deal with it? I think it depends on the type of finance but it's worth looking into as potential way of avoiding the hassle?