Car accident not-at-fault how to claim

AlexSander_2 · 13 October 2018 at 2:39PM

Hello all,
I had a car collision last week, it was not my fault. It's my first time.
I called my insurance company (I've got aviva comprehensive) and they offered to scrap my 2006 vectra just by looking at the pictures, I'm no expert but shouldn't they at least have someone to look at it?
Can I demand from them to get a proper garage estimate or should I go directly to third party insurer?
I want to repair the car in a local garage if that's possible, how to get the best deal from the insurer to do that?
Also I have a very painful neck afterwards, can I claim personal injury directly from that 3rd party?
I read everywhere that my insurer should deal with everything for me but they don't seem to care.

Zorillo · 13 October 2018 at 2:45PM

You're entitled to the value of your car, which as it's so old will be less than than the estimated cost of repair. Neither insurer will pay any for repairs in that situation. You might be best off accepting the scrap amount from your insurer and asking if you can keep the car.

Quentin · 13 October 2018 at 7:39PM

Your insurer won't deal with your injury compensation claim (it's not covered by your policy)

You need to pursue this yourself. You can use any add on legal expenses cover you have alongside your insurance/instruct a specialist injury claims firm/instruct your own solicitor to act for you

Regarding the write off you can claim directly against the third party insurer for the value of your car immediately prior to the incident (,not just it's current scrap value)

If they accept liability and are happy to deal directly with you then they will let you keep your car for a small deduction from the settlement.

If they won't play ball then consider using an accident management company to act for you against the third party

AlexSander_2 · 15 October 2018 at 9:57AM

Accident management company could take care of all at once for me? Do you know any that you could recommend, it's seems like an unmapped territory. I've heard about the risk that the 3rd party insurer will try to avoid this inflated costs.

Quentin · 15 October 2018 at 11:13AM

Yes an AMC will do it all for you

Beware any private messages you may now get from lurker ambulance chaser reps wanting to take you on

Accident Management Companies have been around years, and you are not in "unmapped territory" using them

The important responsibility for the client is to tell the truth regarding the incident.

The "inflated cost" you refer to is the cost of any credit hire car you are provided with - though no problem if you do need a replacement car till your write off settlement is agreed and paid

(Most no win no fee injury compensation firms will take 25% from any compensation they get you as their fee)

Car accident not-at-fault how to claim

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