Not At Fault Car Accident Issues

Crimsonlake

Four weeks ago a van smashed in to the back of my car which caused considerable damage. Neither vehicles were driveable and police had to recover both. The other driver was arrested for drug driving, there were also witnesses who came forward.
Yesterday I received an email from the accident management company stating the third party policy holder is denying driving. I think it was an employer driving a works van and he gave me the owners insurance details etc.
They are now pusihng the third party insurers to do liability investigations and deal with the claim according to the road traffic act. They also advised me to sorn off my car.
In all this time the third parties assessor has not even been out to assess whether my car is repairable or is a write off which I am in disbelief about so I am in left in limbo.
Today I tried to push the accident management company to get the third parties assessor out, but they say the other parties insurer which is Admiral are notoriously slow.
In the meantime I have been provided with a hire car, however if I eventually find out my car is a write off i have only 5 days to find a new car before they want it returned.
My current insurance is up for renewal on the 6th of sept, normally I would be looking for a renewal quite well in advance. Now I cannot do that.
I did attempt to try and get a quote out of curiosity but came up against the question of ' have you made any claims in the last 5 years? and is the case settled?'
I have always protected my no claims bonus which comes at a cost. What is the point of doing that when I have to admit making a claim when the accident was not my fault?
Is ther any way to move this along that I do not know about. Tia

400ixl

Another example of not to use an accident management company. There is no rush for them all the time you are earning them money in a credit hire car.

Getting the vehicle assessed and repaired (or written off) by your own insurer is the fastest way. Yes you do have to pay the excess and claim it back but is a much better way to go than these management companies.

Not sure what you can do to speed anything up if you are using a management company and the third party is denying they were involved. You have signed up to do whatever the management company says else they can claim the money back from you.

Crimsonlake

Thank you.
I was not given a choice by my insurer's as they pass everything on to the accident management company.

DullGreyGuy

Crimsonlake said:

Thank you.
I was not given a choice by my insurer's as they pass everything on to the accident management company.

Who do you believe your insurers are? Sounds like you are talking to your broker rather than insurer... Admiral are the only large insurer that routinely passes its customers off to accidentmanagment companies and even they will allow you to directly claim off your policy if you insist.

Have you spoken to the police officer to ask them for the name of the driver? They may say they can't give it to you but a police report won't be buyable by your insurer or AMC until any prosecutions have been dealt with. 

AMCs have no interest in resolving claims quickly, they make more money the slower they are. If you want it dealt with quicker you need to claim your own vehicle damage from your own insurance.

Crimsonlake

My insurers are Churchill. I immediately rang them and they passed me over to  accident management company. I was not given the option to go through Churchill themselves.
Police are suppposed to be ringing me back despite chasing it twice.
I spoke to management company this morning and they did tell me if I went through my actual insurance I would have to pay the voluntary excess which is I think £400

DullGreyGuy

Crimsonlake said:

My insurers are Churchill. I immediately rang them and they passed me over to  accident management company. I was not given the option to go through Churchill themselves.
Police are suppposed to be ringing me back despite chasing it twice.
I spoke to management company this morning and they did tell me if I went through my actual insurance I would have to pay the voluntary excess which is I think £400

How did you get the telephone number? If you googled then there are plenty that advertise on these types of keywords so people who dont check properly end up phoning an accident management company rather than their insurers... normally at least 1 post a week on here like that. 

In principle your excess is payable in all circumstances, it's an uninsured loss. You then have a right to recover it from the at fault party, if you have Legal Expenses cover your insurers will appoint someone to do it for you. In some cases insurers may choose to waive the excess but only where they are certain that they'll be getting their money back. Given there is at least some form of dispute at the moment they are unlikely to do so. 

Crimsonlake

I informed my insurance company of the accident that evening and they put me through to the claim department. No mention made of going through them themselves or any options. Not being through this before and being in shock I just did as instructed.
As I was not at fault I have been told I will not lose my excess? 
I do have legal cover and protected my no claims discount which seems a bit pointless now. My insurance is due up for renewal and out of interest I entered some details until they ask if you have made a claim in the last 5 years and if claim is settled! 

Car_54

Crimsonlake said:

I informed my insurance company of the accident that evening and they put me through to the claim department. No mention made of going through them themselves or any options. Not being through this before and being in shock I just did as instructed.
As I was not at fault I have been told I will not lose my excess? 

As DullGreyGuy has explained above, you may have to pay the excess in the first instance, but it is recoverable from the at-fault party's insurer.

MattMattMattUK

Crimsonlake said:

I informed my insurance company of the accident that evening and they put me through to the claim department. No mention made of going through them themselves or any options. Not being through this before and being in shock I just did as instructed.

What number did you call?

Crimsonlake

Churchill insurance company, their claims line.

400ixl

Unfortunately insurers can make it appear you have no choice but to go the claims management company. In this case Churchill have pointed you at a company that is part of their group and means they can make money out of your claim they wouldn't otherwise.

There really needs to be legislation where they have to be clear on your options.

As for the excess, if it is clear cut that this is a non fault accident they delay the excess payment as they claim it back from the 3rd party. Going through a management company is effectively the same, they will claim it back, but if it turns out to be a fault claim you will still have to pay the excess. So the only real benefit is in some cases you save paying it and reclaiming it.

You are where you are with them, so no point in debating the why's. Any progress with them?