Insurance claim query

brathnach

Hey guys,

Hoping this is in the right forum to ask this type of query. I was involved in a car accident recently. The other car was fully liable. It was a small commercial van I was driving.

I rang my insurance to notify them of the crash and details of the other driver etc etc. They told me that even though i had a fully comprehensive policy that I couldnt get another vehicle out (on hire) on my policy and also that none of the equipment/items I was carrying was covered on my policy, but that I may be able to recover these costs from the other drivers insurance. Neither covered was the storage the garage may charge for storing the vehicle until its taken away. I suffered injuries as a result of the crash so Im not able for much these days.
I was a bit disappointed with this to say the least. I thought they'd be of a bit more assistance to be honest. They are one of the more reputable insurance companies.

Anyways, in relation to my vehicle they offered me two options.

1. I pass on the details to them of the other driver and the insurance details and make a temporary claim off my insurance for the cost and then they'll recover it from the other drivers insurers. They also told me that if they cant recover the money, my premium will go up.

2. I take it on myself and deal directly with the other insurance company myself.

Im just not sure which is the best way to proceed on this one. Either way Ill have pursue the other drivers insurers for some stuff i had that got damaged and it just comes across as very piecemeal to me if I have my insurers deal with the vehicle and then myself pursuing for other costs.

Im concerned that as I had a passenger who is hurt and I myself am injured that there'll be medical and injury costs associated with the incident. My own insurance said first time i rang that medical issues are for me to sort out with the other drivers insurance company. Second time I rang they said to send in hospital, ambulance fees etc. They just dont seem to know how to deal with me to be honest, and Im sure they deal with this sort of stuff day in day out.

Anyways, first things first. What would you guys recommend. Recover the costs for the vehicle from the other insurers myself or have my own insurance company deal with it. If Im going to be charged storage I reckon id be better off sorting it out sooner rather than later but I obviously dont want to incur any losses as Im not responsible/liable for the crash.

Im not looking for legal advice here but just peoples opinions that may/may not have been involved in similar circumstances and what they may have found the best way to proceed.

Cheers,

Jim

greendom

I think you need to say who this insurance company is. I would want to avoid them like the plague. What's the point of an insurer if they suggest that you pursue the claim yourself.

mickdw

I thought it was pretty normal that when a case is opened up, you are regarded as being involved in a claim & this effects premium etc during that time but all will revert to normal once claim is finalised.
Why do you feel they may not be able to get the costs from other insurer

brathnach

I dont feel that they wont be able to recover the claim from the other insurers. I just thought it was a bit of a throw off for me when they said "we can do it all but if we cant recover the money your policy takes the hit". This was even after me telling them that I wasnt liable and the guards and other driver are of the same opinion. I know they probably said it as it covers their tails if they cant recover it. It just felt a bit like that if they didnt do anything, they could charge me a bigger premium next year, even though I know thats not really in their own best interests either.

I was a bit annoyed. I have a commerical van insurance fully comp. Cant hire out another van on my policy, didnt cover anything I was carrying. I feel a bit peeved off to be honest whether rightly or wrongly.

.

Ideo

surely your insurance company should provide whatever assistance you require and seek the costs from the other drivers insurance company themselves? who is the insurance company by the way? As the other poster says, I'd want to avoid them!!

Our man in Havana

1. I pass on the details to them of the other driver and the insurance details and make a temporary claim off my insurance for the cost and then they'll recover it from the other drivers insurers. They also told me that if they cant recover the money, my premium will go up

Grand in the short term, but you may find that they won't then claim off the other lad and you are then stuck with a knackered NCB. Feck all you can do at that stage.

2. I take it on myself and deal directly with the other insurance company myself.

Best option if you don't want the situation above occurring.

tommy21

brathnach wrote: »

Hey guys,

Hoping this is in the right forum to ask this type of query. I was involved in a car accident recently. The other car was fully liable. It was a small commercial van I was driving.

I rang my insurance to notify them of the crash and details of the other driver etc etc. They told me that even though i had a fully comprehensive policy that I couldnt get another vehicle out (on hire) on my policy and also that none of the equipment/items I was carrying was covered on my policy, but that I may be able to recover these costs from the other drivers insurance. Neither covered was the storage the garage may charge for storing the vehicle until its taken away. I suffered injuries as a result of the crash so Im not able for much these days.
I was a bit disappointed with this to say the least. I thought they'd be of a bit more assistance to be honest. They are one of the more reputable insurance companies.

Anyways, in relation to my vehicle they offered me two options.

1. I pass on the details to them of the other driver and the insurance details and make a temporary claim off my insurance for the cost and then they'll recover it from the other drivers insurers. They also told me that if they cant recover the money, my premium will go up.

2. I take it on myself and deal directly with the other insurance company myself.

Im just not sure which is the best way to proceed on this one. Either way Ill have pursue the other drivers insurers for some stuff i had that got damaged and it just comes across as very piecemeal to me if I have my insurers deal with the vehicle and then myself pursuing for other costs.

Im concerned that as I had a passenger who is hurt and I myself am injured that there'll be medical and injury costs associated with the incident. My own insurance said first time i rang that medical issues are for me to sort out with the other drivers insurance company. Second time I rang they said to send in hospital, ambulance fees etc. They just dont seem to know how to deal with me to be honest, and Im sure they deal with this sort of stuff day in day out.

Anyways, first things first. What would you guys recommend. Recover the costs for the vehicle from the other insurers myself or have my own insurance company deal with it. If Im going to be charged storage I reckon id be better off sorting it out sooner rather than later but I obviously dont want to incur any losses as Im not responsible/liable for the crash.

Im not looking for legal advice here but just peoples opinions that may/may not have been involved in similar circumstances and what they may have found the best way to proceed.

Cheers,

Jim

I think you're missing the point - you're talking to the wrong insurance company! The other person has admitted liability (though you can only presume at this stage that they did the same to their insurance company rather than just you). Their insurance company has the onus to pick up the damaged car, tow it away, sort you out with a rental etc. - I was in an accident at start of year and that is how it went. Though it was a pain in the arse, the other person admitted liability and I had to call her insurance company everytime I wanted something done. For example they said at start "Oh you are responsible for towing car to our assessors" I said this was unreasonable given their client had admitted liability, but they countered with "Her insurance policy doesn't cover towing fees." So I told them either cover it or pay for my solicitor so they backed down. Same deal with rental car - instead of giving it to me for a realistic period e.g. renewed each week say, I had to constantly ring them every 3 days to renew it. Absolute curse and I gave the car back after a week and half (took 3 weeks to get settled for my car) due to this hassle. Make sure to fight your corner.

You are obliged to inform your insurance company of accident. I did this but then called the other driver's insurance company to get the ball rolling. That said it is a pity your company did not advise you of this. So I'd go with option 2, option one seems messy. The whole point of claiming off another's insurance is so that your premium does not go up and you don't lose your no claims bonus.

As regards injuries and medical bills etc. that is separate to the current stage. Once your car is settled you can choose to pursue claim through the injuriesboard or if you wish you can get a solicitor to represent you and do the groundwork -t hough be warned whole point of injuries board is that it is supposed to cut out need for solicitor so no coverage for solicitor fees - that said I read recently that 80% of people choose to get one anyway in belief they may get more of a settlement. They are also far more likely to be able to settle with an insurance company outside of the injuries board. Whether this is true or not, I went with one and under way.

Edit: Btw keep all receipts you will need them. Also the only medical rep that has any mettle in the eyes of the injuries board is your GP, so make sure to keep seeing him/her.

brathnach

Can I name them here? To be fair my comment above makes it clear who they are. Any dealings Ive heard of other drivers with them, they were pretty good! i.e. not finicky about every detail of the car, paying out and all that.

Anyways, do you think I'd get a better value for the van if i did it myself, solicitor etc. or should I tell them to fire ahead and get whatever they get for it.

I just basically want to get all the costs resulting from the crash back.

Bit of a balls that I have take the hit to hire out of a van, even if im not able to drive yet.

Our man in Havana

Who is the other guy insured with?

brathnach

Very, very informative post tommy21. I may have another query or two over time but Im usuallly a bit sharper to these things but just a bit out of sorts these days.

Thanks a million

tommy21

brathnach wrote: »

Very, very informative post tommy21. I may have another query or two over time but Im usuallly a bit sharper to these things but just a bit out of sorts these days.

Thanks a million

No worries, I'm not an expert by any means but sounds like you are starting on same path I am currently on so feel free to post (I'll subscribe to this) here or pm me if other questions. Personally I would not name company here. Why run even small risk of prejudicing your claim? Once it is complete you can come back here. People should be able to work it out at this stage anyway.

danjo

"Im not looking for legal advice here but just peoples opinions that may/may not have been involved in similar circumstances and what they may have found the best way to proceed"

If it were me I would be getting legal advice. From your post I would say that you are looking at a substantial claim. I would consult a solicitor without delay.

brathnach

I agree,

Id prefer not to go naming companies etc as its not only myself thats involved.

CiniO

To be honest, I always was natural to me, that you claim from insurance company of the party that was at fault. It's him who caused damage, so he has to pay for it, and because he had insurance, it's his insurance paying.
I don't see any reason why your insurance would take care of this.

Claim straight from them, and if any problems get solicitor.

oldyouth

OP, Tommy21 has given the best advice. Always remember that the person responsible for an accident is liabile for 100% of the injured party's financial losses. If you wish to claim under your own policy (as an interim measure) it is down to the terms and conditions of the policy that you agreed to

brathnach

cheers guys,

makes it a bit clearer for me

jim