No fault accident - write off, but cash is not going to cover equivalent car

bylromarha

I was stationary at a red light. A large lorry didn't stop in time and rolled into me - probably around 5mph.

My boot, rear bumper, rear lights all need replacing. I don't know if there's any damage to the mechanics, but the lorry was going so slowly, I highly doubt it.

I chose to go through the (large, national) companies insurance rather than through my own as it was their fault.

This accident happened Maundy Thursday - the company refused to accept liability until the Wednesday after at 3.30pm as the driver didn't report it. A hire car was promised the same Wednesday - and the hire company were livid as the insurers know it's a 24 hour turnaround for organising a hire car.

So I was without a car for a week as it didn't arrive until the Thursday afternoon.

And now, as the car is a 54 plate, the insurers have chosen to write off the car via photos. The amount they are offering is in no way enough to buy a like for like car. We bought the car brand new in 2004, have taken very good care of it as we bought it to last the duration of life and it has FSH. The amount they've offered isn't enough to buy one with more mileage than our and no FSH.

The insurer got very stroppy with me via email when I went back to the large national company and said how what I was being offered wasn't acceptable. The company said they'd be in touch and they were - via the insurer. No one seems to get that I'm the victim in this, I was just sitting at a red light and got driven into. Financially, we're expected to accept being in a worse position. Inconvenience of being carless for the Easter weekend and beyond - I have a hire car now, so what's the problem?

Any ideas or suggestions as to how this situation can change please? Feels extremely unfair at the moment and concerns me that it appears the insurers, and large company, can get away with not making good on their error.

Tyler_Du

Do what my dad did in a similar situation a few years back, insist on getting the car repaired, the ins co wanted to write it off. I've had the for well over 5 years now and its still going strong.

bylromarha

Tyler_Durden_UK wrote: »

Do what my dad did in a similar situation a few years back, insist on getting the car repaired, the ins co wanted to write it off. I've had the for well over 5 years now and its still going strong.

They are point blank refusing to get it fixed. I've insisted twice now via email and have got nowhere.

I can't make phone calls during the day due to having no mobile signal at work and a tight personal use policy on company phones.

sheramber

You can ask to buy the car

hey should pay you the write off value less the scrap value. You can then get the car repaired with the money you get.

If you think they have offered too little then you need to provide proof of what you consider the value to be. What a car is advertised for does not mean it sells for that price.

Insurance companies usually offer the value per Glasses guide for the year and condition of the car.

Nasqueron

You can't force the insurer to pay to repair a car that isn't economical to do so.

If the car value is so much different to their offer then go back with adverts from the local area from sites like autotrader proving it will cost more to replace like for like (remembering that private sales are normally priced with the expectation there will be some downward movement)

rtho782

Eh, I would have hired a car myself and claimed this as consequential losses.

If you feel the offer is too low, you can take the insurer to court for your losses I guess, but it sounds like the value of your car may be more sentimental than financial.

superbigal36

Also point out the longer you stay in the hire car not accepting their offer, the higher the costs become.
Tell them your neck is also starting to feel a little twitchy. That might smooth their hardball approach a little.
You were hit by an HGV after all.

rudekid48

superbigal36 wrote: »

Also point out the longer you stay in the hire car not accepting their offer, the higher the costs become.
Tell them your neck is also starting to feel a little twitchy. That might smooth their hardball approach a little.
You were hit by an HGV after all.

Threatening an insurer with a fraudulent injury claim is not going to end well...

bylromarha

Went back to the company who drove into me, found a directors email and contacted him directly. He got involved personally and all sorted within 24hrs.

Offer now finally at the amount where I could actually buy one of the like for like cars on autotrader I'd emailed over links of.

Win for the little man, but so much hassle & time to get there.