Accident - fault not certain - Should I take a credit hire car?

chrisotherwise

We were parked in a car park and getting out of our car. Somebody drove into the space next to us and hit our open car door. Our insurer consider this to be "no fault" and have referred us to Auxilis for a credit hire car while ours is repaired. This is instead of the "small" courtesy car that we'd normally be entitled to on our policy.

My feeling is that the opposition insurance will probably fight this and claim that we opened the door as their driver was coming in. Given that they will most likely refuse to pay for the credit hire car. If this does happen will we have to pay for it ourselves? Or are we protected against that? What are the general thoughts about this sort of car?

Many thanks for any advice.

Quentin

As long as you tell the truth regarding the incident to your insurer/auxilis then whatever the outcome of the claim won't mean you end up paying for the car hire


But have a read up on auxilis (previously Albany) on here and across the net before you enter any contract with them!

Jamiesmum

As far as I know if your insurance is dealing with your claim and fixing the car then they will also pay for the hire car and then they will get the money back from the other company when liability is confirmed.

Fault should be fairly easy depending on where the damage is? Is it your door damaged and the front side of their car or is it the side of their car, ie damaged from a door opening into it.

chrisotherwise

Jamiesmum wrote: »

Fault should be fairly easy depending on where the damage is? Is it your door damaged and the front side of their car or is it the side of their car, ie damaged from a door opening into it.

The front of their car (under the headlights) has hit and bent the back of the rear door on my car.

OnanTheBarbarian

Jamiesmum wrote: »

As far as I know if your insurance is dealing with your claim and fixing the car then they will also pay for the hire car and then they will get the money back from the other company when liability is confirmed.

Fault should be fairly easy depending on where the damage is? Is it your door damaged and the front side of their car or is it the side of their car, ie damaged from a door opening into it.

Wrong, the OP's insurer has passed them onto a hire co and the repairs have probably been subbed out to the hire co to pursue the other side to authorise.

The OP's insurer does not pick up the tab for the hire car.

The area of damage would not prove the door was open for ages and driven into by the third party any more than if the third party alleges the door was flung open as they were entering the space. Same area of damage expected.

As Quentin correctly pointed out, so long as no fibs are told, if the hire co accept the commercial risk of hiring in this case, then no comeback should arise and they would have to write off any shortfall.

Parking_Trouble

Have Albany changed their name to try and shake off their reputation?

Why take out a policy with a noddy courtesy car if it's not sufficient?
Use it and save us from these credit hire companies.