Car insurance claim query

stuarta99

Hi guys,

Not sure if you can help but just after some help/clarification on a current car accident claim.

My wife had an accident which wasn't her fault while driving her dad's car. There are 2 witnesses agreeing that the 3rd party was at fault and she was driving the car on her 3rd party access so the claim is being under her insurance.

We took the option not to have a courtesy car to be fair as another car was available but it turns out this has bitten us as we now have the damaged car lying around until liability has been confirmed and an assessor can be sent out. We've been advised that although the damage is cosmetic and involves a new bumper and headlamp, it will be 'beyond economic repair' and this is where I've had mixed answers.

Firstly the insurance company said that if this is the case and we are not at fault, then the car can still be repaired and full costs will be sent to the 3rd party so no costs to us. However the accident company who it's been passed onto are now saying we would only get back possibly 65% of the value of the car and we would need to pay the difference.

This seems completely unfair when it was clearly not my wife's fault and the car was perfectly fine before and now we need to pay out to get it fixed.

Quentin

No-one will pay for uneconomical repairs, whoever ends up paying

Though the third party insurer will happily let you keep your car plus it's write off settlement (less a small amount for the salvage bay)

You can then get it repaired at a back street garage maybe with parts from a scrap yard

angrycrow

So to confirm your wife was driving her father's car on the driving other cars extension of her own insurance that covers her on a third party only basis. On this basis the only involvement your wife's insurers have is to defend against any claim presented from a third party ie the other driver.

Your wife is responsible for pursuing the claim for the damage to the car from the other drivers insurers. If they accept liability they will almost certainly pay the market value less the salvage value they would expect to receive. This explains the offer of 65% of market value.

I would however suggest that unless this is a particularly desirable car with high salvage values such as BMW or Land Rover than 35% salvage is far too high, negotiate for 15% to 20%.

Sounds like your wife's insurers directed her to an accident management company, as you did not take their offer of an expensive credit hire car (absolutely the correct decision by the way) they have no real interest in progressing the claim as they are not making any money.

stuarta99

angrycrow wrote: »

So to confirm your wife was driving her father's car on the driving other cars extension of her own insurance that covers her on a third party only basis. On this basis the only involvement your wife's insurers have is to defend against any claim presented from a third party ie the other driver.

Your wife is responsible for pursuing the claim for the damage to the car from the other drivers insurers. If they accept liability they will almost certainly pay the market value less the salvage value they would expect to receive. This explains the offer of 65% of market value.

I would however suggest that unless this is a particularly desirable car with high salvage values such as BMW or Land Rover than 35% salvage is far too high, negotiate for 15% to 20%.

Sounds like your wife's insurers directed her to an accident management company, as you did not take their offer of an expensive credit hire car (absolutely the correct decision by the way) they have no real interest in progressing the claim as they are not making any money.

Exactly the case. Insurance company gave the option of going through them or an accident management company which sounded the right decision but reading reviews on the company on both Google and Facebook, doesn't look good. I had also advised that her mum was in the car and I had to take her to the hospital as there are health issues which we advised the insurance company but her mum didn't want to claim.....again trying to be kind but they've got worse so might have to rethink this decision