Car accident.....what happens now????

stillhere_2

Hi all
I had a car collision last week. I was stationary my car was parked up and a car drove straight into the passenger side of my car. The other has admitted full liability. I was injured during the incident and my car is in a pretty bad way.Im no expert though

This was my first car....only had her 4months and i am lost as to what the procedures are regarding this. I have legal cover included in my policy.

• Do i get my repair costs estimated by a garage of my choice or use the one provided by the TPI.
• If a car payout is agreed how is the amount decided
• What if i am not happy to drive the car if the TPI decide to repair it.
• And if i decided to go down the compensation route Should i claim through the solicitor provided for me by my insurance or appoint one of the companies who advertise on the telly to handle the claim.

And overall does anyone have a general idea how long these things normally take.

lisyloo

The other has admitted full liability.

Did they do that at the time or have your received that in writing?
Did you get any independent witnesses?
You would be amazed how many people change their story afterwards.

Get onto your insurance company straight away because
1) They may change their mind about adimitting liability.
2) Even if they don't you need your insurance (and legal cover) to fight your corner.
3) Often cases can take a long time to sort out so what usually happens is you claim off your insurance straight away and then argue about it at length. These things can take months or years to resolve and clearly you want your car on the road straight away.

Do i get my repair costs estimated by a garage of my choice or use the one provided by the TPI.

You probably want to claim off YOUR insurance straight away (assuming your fully comp). So you will have to see what your insurers say. Usually they have their own approved places but they are usually major garages not back street ones and they are usually guaranteed so there shouldn't be anything to worry about.

What if i am not happy to drive the car if the TPI decide to repair it.

Legally you are entitled to be put back into the posistion your were in before the accident, so if the car can be safely (and economically) repaired then that is what will happen.
You can't demand a cash settlement if the car car be repaired.

If you have proper grounds for not being happy i.e. independent report that car is unsafe, then you can pursue the case but not just because you don't "feel happy".

And overall does anyone have a general idea how long these things normally take

Can take anything from weeks to years.
If they accept liability then it will be quicker as a lot of the time is usually spent arguing about who is to blame.
If the car is driveable then it might be OK to wait, but usually people claim off their own insurance first (because this happen straight away) and then the claim can be settled at leisure.

valiant23

Hi stillhere,

Something I try to remember to do at the time of the accident is get it in writing that they have admitted liability as soon as possible. If they have admitted it verbally, was there an independent witness to that? It just makes things easier.

• Do i get my repair costs estimated by a garage of my choice or use the one provided by the TPI. You used to be at the behest of the TPI choice but I believe that you now have the option of getting the car repaired at a garage of your choice.

• If a car payout is agreed how is the amount decided. Don't know, sorry.
• What if i am not happy to drive the car if the TPI decide to repair it. See above. The car should be repaired to your satisfaction. If it isn't speak to your insurers and ask for their help.
• And if i decided to go down the compensation route Should i claim through the solicitor provided for me by my insurance or appoint one of the companies who advertise on the telly to handle the claim. Personally I would use the appointed solicitor.

I assume that you've reported the accident to your insurers as a non fault accident? If not then you should do that (imo), and if you have then your broker will probably be happy to help with the filling of the accident form. If you use your car for work then don't forget to keep all bus tickets and taxi receipts.

HTH.

stillhere_2

lisyloo and valiant 23 Thankyou for yor replies...... Very helpful.
On the day of the accident i was in a bad predicament because i only have third party fire theft insurance. So that first night i got little sleep worrying how on earth i was going to deal with this. Seeing as i would initially have to meet the costs of getting my car towed, car hire etc.

The other driver who hit my car contacted her insurance company the following day and my insurers called me stating that she admits full liability. I also recieved a letter from her insurers.....mind you i just read it over again and it doesnt clearly state "our client is accepting full liability."

In all honesty this has put me off driving for a while now. Although accidents can happen anywhere.

I just hope next week wont be as stressful
Once again thankyou

fannyadams

TPFT still covers you for the accident - your insurers will claim from her insurers the cost of fixing your car or writing it off. When the time comes to renew YOUR insurance you have to say that yes you have has a claim but No you weren't at fault. I tripped up on this when it came to renew my insurance.

FWIW - the personal injury part of the claim may not be settled for many many months. you see, 'they' have to be certain that you are not going to get any worse or any better as a result of your injuries.
I've had two whiplash injuries the second came just as I was settling from my first (about 3 years apart!!) but the damage claim (first one - struck from behind whilst stationary at set of lights by moron on mobile phone, second one - struck from behind whilst waiting for a box junction to clear so I could proceed, defendant on mobile phone doing estimated (police, calculated from where my car ended up) 45mph in 30mph zone!) was settled within about 2 months.

hope you are on the mend, and back in the saddle again.
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