Non-fault claim - what is going on?

golla

My partner, who was stationary in traffic, was hit by a guy. My partner started the claim with his insurer and... today he got to know he could scrap his car, because it is cheap o.O The car needs new bumper and new wheel cover. Not scrapping.

In normal world his insurer should take the money for the repair (or organise the repair) from the guilty guy's (third party) insurance company, because it is HIS fault and not my partner's. What is going on? Can my partner still claim the repair from that guy's policy? It should not matter how old is the car which was hit, because it got damaged not by my partner, but by someone else. His policy should just cover the repair.

I am in the same situation but in different insurer (Aviva). My car was hit on the parking and the guy escaped, but a man saw it and gave me his reg. Aviva did not even try to repair my car from MY policy, because it is obvious it is not my fault, but the guy who hit me. I gave the estimate and that is all. I am waiting and they are trying to get money from his policy and they told me straight I would not lose my bonus or my premium would not increase. And my car is 2005, older than my partner's car and I bought if for 800 pounds.

Will my partner be able to repair his car (or get money) from third party's policy? He was hit, his car is damaged and it is unbelievable that his insurer offered him to scrap his car! I am shocked to be honest. We pay hundreds of pounds every year to get the car insured and then what? Scrapping car after non-fault accident? o>O HELP

AdrianC

He can claim off his own insurer, or off the third-party. It makes no real difference.

If the cost to repair the damage is more than the vehicle's value, it will be written off.
For relatively minor non-structural damage, he might get the choice to buy the salvage back, in exchange for a reduction in the payout.
For trivial damage to a low-value car, he might get offered a payment in lieu of repair.

jimbo6977

AdrianC wrote: »

He can claim off his own insurer, or off the third-party. It makes no real difference.

If the cost to repair the damage is more than the vehicle's value, it will be written off.
For relatively minor non-structural damage, he might get the choice to buy the salvage back, in exchange for a reduction in the payout.
For trivial damage to a low-value car, he might get offered a payment in lieu of repair.

Agree with the above. If liability is clear cut, and if the damage is genuinely minor and cosmetic only, then the other driver's insurer will often offer a cash-in-lieu-of-repair settlement, just to get it off their claim-handler's desk.

golla

Hey. So this is exactly what i told him that he should get money to repair the car (yes, plastic bumper, plastic spare tyre cover and few scratches on the body) from that guy's insurance company. But his company did not mention anything like this. We obviously do not want to scrap perfectly working car just because someone hit it. :T

AdrianC

I think you missed the "might". They are under no obligation to.

golla

Why not? I do not get it. Someone hits the car and admits it, then there should not be any disputing about it. That is why we buy insurance and the third party cover is there - if we hit someones car we don't pay for it, but our insurer pays o.O. How come a company can say ''well, we wont pay for it''. I understand if someone lied when was buying the insurance or the insurance was bought after the accident had happened etc. but not when everything is clear. Both insurances are valid, the guy hit our car, admitted it and that is it. Should be straight forward. We pay for this.

AdrianC

golla wrote: »

Someone hits the car and admits it, then there should not be any disputing about it.

Liability is not your beef here, though, is it?

How come a company can say ''well, we wont pay for it''.

They ARE paying for it. They can choose to pay to repair it - or they can choose to pay out the pre-collision value of the vehicle and take ownership of it ("write it off"), leaving them to dispose of it how they please. They are under no obligation to do anything else.

They MIGHT choose to take a third option, pay you instead of writing it off, but they do not have to.

They MIGHT choose to write it off, but allow you to buy it back from them, but they do not have to.

golla

But this is insane. How come they can offer scrapping a car (of even forcing us to scrap it because of the bumper?)? A good working car? It needs a new bumper! I just do not get it. Hitting someone's car should be covered and of course they should be obliged to pay the money (this is what the insurance is for), because this is their client's fault. It is a bumper and not half of the car o.O

Ok, anyway thanks for the answers, because now I have a hope that the car will be repaired. :T

AdrianC

How much is the car worth?
How much is the quote for a full insurance repair, using new, manufacturer-supplied parts, properly blending all paint repairs?

Aylesbury_Duck

golla wrote: »

But this is insane. How come they can offer scrapping a car (of even forcing us to scrap it because of the bumper?)? A good working car? It needs a new bumper! I just do not get it. Hitting someone's car should be covered and of course they should be obliged to pay the money (this is what the insurance is for), because this is their client's fault. It is a bumper and not half of the car o.O

Ok, anyway thanks for the answers, because now I have a hope that the car will be repaired. :T

It's all covered in the terms and conditions you read and signed agreement to when you took out the policy, so no, it shouldn't come as a surprise to you. You agreed to it.

Let's hope you get the outcome you want, though.