Claims company for car accident, that you thought were your insurance

Chantelle1992

I’m so stressed out at this current time, I’m 3 & a half months pregnant, and on Tuesday I was involved in a car accident. Basically I was driving and a car pulled out of its drive, and drove into me. They’ve admitted fault, and all my air bags were deployed, fire brigade, police and ambulance were all in attendance. Myself and my grandad have injuries, thankfully my grandma and 3 year old son who were also in the car appear to be unharmed. At the time of the incident I was advised to inform my insurance. I was so upset and In shock at the time, and googled Hastings number. I informed them of what happened, or so I thought😩😱 it turned out they weren’t my insurance and was actually an accident claims company, named accident support team. They made me believe they were my insurance and told me they were acting on behalf of Hastings. I only realised they weren’t after contacting my insurance about the claim, and then saying they knew nothing about it. I haven’t signed any paper work yet, however they have sent a hire car to me which I have signed for, through Slater Gordon, which is outside my house. As I thought it had been sent from the 3rd party’s insurance. I haven’t used it as I’m too scared to drive after the accident, and too shook up to use it. I rang and told the claims handling company that I don’t want to continue with them, as I believed they were my insurance, and they said that’s fine. However I’ve already been offered a settlement fee for my car that’s being written off through slater and Gordon, but my vehicle remains at the scene of the accident. If I ring the hire company and get them to collect the hire car tomorrow. Can I just deal with the man at faults insurance, with not having signed anything with this claims handling company? I’ve also not agreed this price for my car after realising it’s not from my insurance, or 3rd party insurance. Or am I stuck now I’ve signed for this hire car through slater and Gordon? Even though they have my house number down incorrectly. If I do end up having to use this claim handling company will they deduct money from my car money that’s being written off? Or do they just take money from the injury claim side of things? I’m off work sick as although baby appears to be okay at present, I’ve been told to rest to ensure it remains that way. But I’m so stressed with all this. Can anyone advise at all? It would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.

AdrianC

Woah, slow down a bit! Wall-of-text-a-go-go...

Right, so...
Somebody else hit your car. Your car is a write-off, they admit they're at fault.
You thought you were contacting your insurer, but you've actually instructed a claim management company.
The claim management company have provided a hire car.

You now want to go straight to the other driver's insurer.


Yes, where there's no argument about liability, it's definitely best to go straight to the other driver's insurer.
However, you're going to have to pay for this hire car one way or another - it either gets paid for as part of the claim, or you're going to be handed a bill. Their fee is paid on top of the claim - you still get the same value for your car, and any due compensation for injuries.


Get driving again as soon as possible - the longer you leave it, the harder it's going to be to get over the mental block.

missile

Contact your insurer and ask them to sort it out for you.

Cheapest insurer is not always the best. Unfortunately one realises this after an accident.

forgotmyname

Since Tuesday you have had an accident and had your vehicle assessed and been offered a payout. WOW..

Stick with whoever you phoned if they act that quick.

You can claim from your insurance or the 3rd party, but going with the 3rd party has its downsides.

Spoken to your insurer first? They will want to know who you have employed upto now that bill will be yours.

AdrianC

forgotmyname wrote: »

Since Tuesday you have had an accident and had your vehicle assessed and been offered a payout. WOW..

Not that unusual where there's no doubt it's a write-off.

A few years back, my mother had a crash - nothing VERY major, panel damage but substantial, to a lower-value car which she put through a hedge avoiding a head-on. It was written off, an offer made and accepted the same day.

forgotmyname

From what they said nobody has seen the car yet, so how do they know its condition and whether its uneconomic to repair?

I presume your mum claimed from her own policy? Would the 3rd party's insurer have had the full story from both sides and made a decision as quickly?