Accident

Car_54

user1977 said:

Car_54 said:

Android07 said:

What else should I do at this point?

Not at this point, but next time insist on her name and address, which she is obliged by law to give. A phone number may be useless or false.

If they're going to give a false phone number, why wouldn't they give a false name and address?

A fair question.

All I can say is that I've seen several cases (here and elsewhere) where a phone number is either false or simply never answered. I can't recall a single instance of a false address.

Having said that, we'll probably get one tomorrow ...

DullGreyGuy

Android07 said:

Aretnap said:

If your excess is less than £600 (or whatever you think you'll spend on repairs) then you might as well claim for your own damage as well. You are going to have a claim to declare anyway next year due to the third party element, and an extra few hundred pounds on the total will make little or no difference to next year's premium (probably no difference - most insurers don't even ask how much the claim cost).

My excess is £350. The car is worth a grand.
There is also a line in my insurance policy which says using a non-approved repairer will cost me £500. I am not entirely sure if it applies to my own car or a 3rd party's car.

Thats for your own car... no excess to pay on third party vehicles. 

You could ask for cash in lieu of repairs if you have a quote from your own garage.

Android07

This is what my insurer has said -

If you wish to go through the local repairer the Non approved repairer excess is £500 plus the Total excess is £350 which sums up to £850 you will have to pay this whole amount if you choose your own repairer also you will not have to pay the repair cost once the estimates are sent by you to us for the local repairer our engineer will authorize it and we will pay the repair cost but you will have to pay the excess to the local repairer and the estimate you said will be is £600 the excess is more then the estimates.
In this case, I would suggest you to go through our approved repairer and not your repairer as this will cost you more.

As you are at fault you will just have to pay the total excess £350 .

If you go through US you will have to pay £350. If you go through non approved repairer yes, you will have to pay £850 and the £600 will be paid by us but only if this is authorized by our engineer but as the estimates are less then the excess there are less chances this to be approved by our engineer they may also ask you to deal this directly as the excess is greater then estimates.
Apologies, I won't be able to confirm that for you our engineer's will be the best to help you out here. If incase the vehicle is written off our engineer/the total loss team will contact you if incase you are not happy with the valuation amount they give you can let us know and we will make a dispute our engineer will inspect if there can be an increase in the valuation as per your expectation.

Android07

I am a bit concerned that if the insurer determines the repair costs are more than £600, they will just write off the car and will hand me back a grand. There is no way I can buy a car with a grand in this post-COVID world.

I feel like just driving around with a damaged car!

DullGreyGuy

Android07 said:

I am a bit concerned that if the insurer determines the repair costs are more than £600, they will just write off the car and will hand me back a grand. There is no way I can buy a car with a grand in this post-COVID world.

I feel like just driving around with a damaged car!

You would ask to retain the salvage in which case it would be £1k less the £350 excess and less the salvage value (probably circa £200)

Android07

I have informed the insurer that I do not want to claim on my own car but want them to repair the other party's car.

Ectophile

There will be a point where it's cheaper for you to take the car to a back street body shop, who could fit a second-hand door and spray it the right colour.

Stateofart

Android07 said:

After the accident, I admitted that it was my fault. Was I wrong to do this for the sake of legal hassle, etc. ?

Yes - you're advised not to by your insurance company.