Non-Fault Car Accident

StarMoon27

Hi all,

Looking for some advice really as I've never had a car accident and don't know how to 'be'

Yesterday evening I was stationary in a short line of traffic. Out of nowhere, a pick up truck in front either started reversing or let his foot off the brake (it was on a slight hill) and he rolled back into me. My bonnet is badly dented, the reg plate and fittings destroyed, both front grills cracked (i think the lower one will fall off), front bumper cracked/dented/scratched and just looks a general mess. I was beeping but he just kept on going and before I'd had chance to move, there he was. We both got out of our vehicles, he was extremely apologetic (blamed tiredness) and said it was his fault. We swapped information and I went on my way (carefully).

I rang my insurer (Esure) when I got home. They were very helpful, said it would be non-fault and could be booked in straight away etc EXCEPT I would need to pay my £500 excess once the repairs had been carried out then they would claw it back from the other insurer (corporate policy - Allianz). I can't really afford £500 right now and explained that to Esure, who said that's fine, speak to Allianz and do it directly through them.

I've got in contact with Allianz who are being awful. They need to speak to their customer 'who will likely have representatives', they need to establish liability, and could be 7-10 days until they speak to me next. I told them that Esure had advised me to contact them which they decided was 'very unusual'.

Is there anything I can do to push Allianz to be more helpful or am I better off just forking out my excess and hope I get it back eventually? I'm not really sure what's the done thing.

Thanks

foxy-stoat

Not really, they need to get the facts off their driver before they can deal with your damage. Where there any witnesses?

Worse case is their driver tells them a load of lies that you drove into him, best case is he tells the truth and they get your car repaired costing you nothing.

You will have to wait for them to get back to you but give them another call in a few days if not.

Quentin

You could consider using an accident management company to act for you who would deal with the third party insurer

Alternatively you can claim off your own policy, and pay your excess. Assuming no issues over liability it will be reimbursed to you along with any other uninsured losses by the third party insurer.

StarMoon27

Quentin wrote: »

You could consider using an accident management company to act for you who would deal with the third party insurer

Alternatively you can claim off your own policy, and pay your excess. Assuming no issues over liability it will be reimbursed to you along with any other uninsured losses by the third party insurer.

Thanks for this, I've had a little look into accident management companies but the reviews are extremely mixed - I wouldn't know where to begin.

foxy-stoat

No win no fee will work for you assuming liability is not in dispute.

If liability is in dispute then the TP insurers should appoint an engineer to inspect your car and arrange for repairs.

neilmcl

It's nothing to do with the TP insurance being "unhelpful", they simply can't accept your version of events until their customer has been in touch and they've decided he is liable.

elsien

Accident management companies only really want to know in the clear cut cases. You would need to be careful here because if the other driver denies rolling back (any witnesses?) then it potentially be deemed to be you at fault for going into the back of him.
You don't want to then be held responsible for the cost of the replacement car the accident management company have given you in the meantime. For example.

StarMoon27

foxy-stoat wrote: »

No win no fee will work for you assuming liability is not in dispute.

If liability is in dispute then the TP insurers should appoint an engineer to inspect your car and arrange for repairs.

I wouldn't think the liability is in dispute as I was stationary and he did the reversing. Of course, he could lie but I don't think they have managed to contact him yet. As it was a corporate policy, I assume it's his employer that's responsible - is it worthwhile contacting them do you think?

StarMoon27

neilmcl wrote: »

It's nothing to do with the TP insurance being "unhelpful", they simply can't accept your version of events until their customer has been in touch and they've decided he is liable.

Yes I do understand this, it's just frustrating.

Quentin

StarMoon27 wrote: »

I wouldn't think the liability is in dispute as I was stationary and he did the reversing. Of course, he could lie but I don't think they have managed to contact him yet. As it was a corporate policy, I assume it's his employer that's responsible - is it worthwhile contacting them do you think?

When you are claiming off a third party insurer like this you are in their hands - if you are being inconvenienced then 2 ways to resolve it (as you have been advised)


1) Use your own comprehensive policy to claim and get things moving immediately


Or 2) Use an AMC.


(Unfortunately when third parties have time to reconsider they often retract their roadside admission of liability - which doesn't "count" anyway!)


(In future consider reducing your excess to something you can afford - if you are involved in an incident where you are to blame or there is no liable third party then you would have to pay it or not get your car back from the repairer till you did!)

AdrianC

StarMoon27 wrote: »

I've got in contact with Allianz who are being awful. They need to speak to their customer 'who will likely have representatives', they need to establish liability, and could be 7-10 days until they speak to me next.

If somebody contacted your insurer and said "StarMoon rolled back into the front of my car, and admitted it was all his fault", wouldn't you at least want your insurer to confirm that story with you, rather than simply say "Ooops, how silly. Here's several grand."?