Car insurance claim

kingofclare

Hi all just after some advice on behalf of my girlfriend please,
Last October my gf and was involved in a small collision with another vehicle, the usual procedure followed and she quickly sent away her statement including a sketch and photographic evidence, On Friday she recieved a letter back with a copy of the third party statement which plain as day states that my girlfriends version of events has already been passed to them, it then goes to great lengths attempting to discredit every piece of evidence she has supplied (even contradicting themselves at times), does anybody know if this is illegal/wrong prodedure or is the norm with insurance companies ? any other advice gratefully recieved

lisyloo

Sounds perfectly normal state of affairs to me.

Are ther independent witnesses?
If not then it's your word against theirs, so each side puts up a fight and it goes 50/50.

kingofclare

lisyloo wrote: »

Sounds perfectly normal state of affairs to me.

Are ther independent witnesses?
If not then it's your word against theirs, so each side puts up a fight and it goes 50/50.

I understand that part, its the fact somebody should see the other statement before preparing their own that troubles me, it just seems that it would be tough to give an unbiased account when reading somebody elses.

lisyloo

Yep, I understand what you are saying.
It sounds like the other insurer is doing a better job for their client than your insurer is doing for you.
There isn't a lot you can do if your insurer is just rubbish at fighting your corner.

Going to court costs a lot of money especially as you say it's a small accident.
They will shout at each other a lot in letters and then come to an agreement about responsibility.
Often they save time by just agreeing 50/50 if there are no witnesses.

This can be quite unsatisfactory for claimants but arguing both in and out of court costs a lot of money so on an economic basis it just isn't worth it.

At the end of the day you can complain but you are reliant on how good your insurer is and you often don't get to find this out until you claim.

cvillakg

like said earlier by lisy any other independent witness would help, a possible CCTV (if there was any) would be useful as well

kingofclare

cvillakg wrote: »

like said earlier by lisy any other independent witness would help, a possible CCTV (if there was any) would be useful as well

no other witnesses or cctv im afraid we're out in the sticks, i just cant believe it seems our insurer is so easy going as to hand over important documents at will, i already expected things to go 50/50 but to give away all evidence ???:mad:

lisyloo

You could make a formal complaint following their formal procedure.

It may not change anything as insurers are after the quickest and cheapest solution for themselves (which ultimately is the cheapest for motorists).
If something has gone wrong with their admin then they might change their procedures and you might help a future claimant and it might make you feel better.

I feel it's unlikely to alter your claim though.

It's unfortunate but where it's entirely one persons word against another then it's very difficult to have a good case.

Quentin

kingofclare wrote: »

, i just cant believe it seems our insurer is so easy going as to hand over important documents at will......

When anyone (either you as an individual or your insurance company) makes a claim off a third party then of course you have to back up the claim with the reason(s) for wanting the third party to accept liability.

It would be just the same if you had decided to sue the third party - you would have to state your case first, and allow the third party to submit their defence to your claim.

There is little point pursuing an official complaint.

Just leave your insurers to sort it out - if it should be 50/50, then they won't just cave in and accept you are 100% liable for all damages, it's not in their interest!

But the outcome (50/50 or 100%) will still mean you have a fault claim on your history.

lisyloo

When anyone (either you as an individual or your insurance company) makes a claim off a third party

I might have got this wrong, but I inferred that this is not a one way claim
e.g. both parties are trying to claim off each other.

Slightly different to one party claiming off another.

Of course, I could have that wrong as that's based on inferrence.

Belnahua

In rural areas they tend to go for a 50/50 split. Especially where there is argument.

I hit a car once, slipped on oil on the road, but when the documents came through from his insurance he claimed he was doing only 5MPH as the road was dicey. As they say, pants on fire!

Until I showed them photos from the scene showing him a good 100 yards down the road after collision! So the insurance decided on a 50/50. So they concluded he was going too fast, and I lost control.

This is why I have protected no claims, as I know that any accident around here, on single track roads, is nearly always going to be a 50/50.

Quentin

lisyloo wrote: »

I might have got this wrong, but I inferred that this is not a one way claim
e.g. both parties are trying to claim off each other.

Slightly different to one party claiming off another.

No difference as far as passing on the details of the claim.

All parties involved see the other sides "case" and have the opportunity to pass comment (or defend) on what's being said.

There's no question that the insurance company have done any "wrong" by simply passing on the details of what their insured is claiming happened.

And to answer the original question, it is the norm for details to be passed between the parties involved.