Insurance non fault claim

josi09

And yes I did declare wheelchair modifications on my insurance policy.

josi09

Thank you Adrian. I’ve saved the advert.
I’ve spoken to the ombudsman today. Apparently I need to wait until I get the final email instructing me to contact the ombudsman.
The engineer keeps insisting that most of the damage underneath is n/s and I was hit front off/side
I was shunted into the kerb. I’ve sent phots of the sooty kerb and tyre tracks left after I moved my car also photos of the other car whose front wheel is virtually hanging off the front of his axle and facing more than 45% in a different direction to his other wheels. Anyway, thank you to all of you. Here’s hoping the ombudsman can help me to get either reimbursed or the repairs done properly. Someone suggested a vosc test. I know it will be taken of the road but I understand it’s a specialised engineers report that they can’t dispute.....?..

josi09

I have know idea which support frame....one of the people in the workshop of the testing station said “The support frame is mangled, they should have changed it” then someone else came out and said “look luv it should have been a write off” very disappointing after having had to wait 3 months for the repair. This is all as well as the airbag flap being opened and my warning light disappearing from the car. They all seem to be in denial. The insurance repair garage have placed a quality label with a big red tick hanging down from my interior mirror. They insist it’s road worthy so end of story. I’m just in shock really.......

AdrianC

josi09 wrote: »

The engineer keeps insisting that most of the damage underneath is n/s and I was hit front off/side
I was shunted into the kerb.

That could certainly do that damage - and the "support frame" would indeed be the front subframe. If that's bent, it's never going to drive properly, and it'd probably push it into a Cat S write-off.

Frankly, I think I'd be pushing for it to be written off now, and buy a replacement. From that ad, I'd say that £5.5k-ish would be a reasonable settlement.

josi09

Adrian I’ve got an emailed report that was enclosed with a final letter stating they won’t change the decision. Had someone look underneath today. He confirms support bracket looks like old damage so fair enough. Friend said it was solid. So not a concern. However I’m still left with the airbag issue that they’re denying and are insisting it was like it when it arrived in spite of me having an MOT that has no airbag issues dated 3 weeks prior to incident. And previous years never had an issue.
Am I able to send you the report to look at by any chance? There’s no mention of airbags at all when they show a picture of assessment and present condition. Page 72/91 shows a picture of something at the back of my car near o/s rear wheel (I think) and comments are 15/08/2019 16:59
rear beam cut in half for wheelchair ramp, custom fabricated bracket next to wheelchair ramp, vehicle will now have independant rear suspension with no roll control. I’m concerned that the pictures shows a rather large crack (magnified I suppose) in the metal by my wheel (I think). Don’t know whether they would say this is old damage??? However if it isn’t safe they surely should have advised me and given me the choice of a write off. This picture was taken at a time when they were going to write my car off. Reversed decision came after 16/8/19 when they realised it was wheelchair conversion. (Declared on my insurance) Also there’s a couple of pictures of Toyota diagnostic charts which I don’t understand. Again no airbag seen or mentioned in these diagnostics I don’t think.... No airbag mentioned anywhere in this report which the engineers have used to assess their decision. Friend has mentioned that the battery they’ve replaced is too big (tall). I have it strapped in. Was secure and was an advisory that I get a proper bracket but friends son has said you wouldn’t fit a bracket on this size battery and they’ve left no room. To fulfil the advisory I would have to replace the battery. The one the took out was around £100 still under warranty. Friends son said that yes the abs looks centimetres out but as your abs light is still working on dash it probably wouldn’t be an mot fail. Don’t mean to impose on you. I just wondered if you could help as you seem so knowledgeable. Regards Jo