Drunk driver - van written off

BogManInc

First time having any sort of collision or tip so as a result I'm not up to speed on dealing with insurance companies and the ins and outs of it all, so hoping some of you may be able to help advise in this scenario.

I had my van parked in town and a drunken driver hit my van as a result it is now written off and cannot be driven.

I've been without any transport now for over a week and dealing with the insurance companies has been painfully slow to get anything resolved.

The person who hit my car (whilst parked, nobody in it) was drunk and apparently was arrested shortly afterwards. I don't know all the ins and outs as to whether they turned themselves in or whether they were seen hitting my car, but the guards picked them up shortly after and they were arrested for drink driving and hitting my van.

I've been on to this persons insurance company (which guards provided me details of) and they say they haven't been able to get in touch with the person to get their side of the story - not answering their phone etc...

It seems as though their insurance company do not want to accept liability - despite it being painfully obvious all the liability rests with their policy holder. My van was parked in a safe and secure, proper parking spot and the guards have already stated they were fully liable.

they have suggested claiming off my own insurance however I do not want to do this and lose my no claims bonus and have to pay an excess etc..

I'm still waiting for an assessor to come out and look at my van, however my own mechanic has already told me it's a write off as the chassis is bent.

Where do I go from here? If the drunk drivers insurance company cannot get in touch with the driver who hit my car what happens in this scenario? They want me to claim off my own insurance but I do not want to do this for reasons listed above. Also, I would like to be able to claim for a hire car as I am stuck without transport for a week already and this shows no sign of a speedy resolution.

I've never dealt with a claim or insurance before - whats the norm in the situation? Is there anything I should be doing to speed up the process or what can I do?

Thanks,

BogManInc

jimgoose

Report it to your own insurance company and let them deal with it. That's why you pay them.

Red_Dwarf

Call your Insurance Company and let them deal with the other Insurance Company. No need for you to do it

Anan1

jimgoose wrote: »

Report it to your own insurance company and let them deal with it. That's why you pay them.

This.

BogManInc

I have informed by insurance company too - sorry, should have stated this in my first post.

They have sent me a letter out today informing me to pay an excess of €250 in relation to my "claim" - however I'd prefer not to claim against my own policy.

Sorry, again as I said, I'm new to all of this, never had to make a claim before so unsure of procedures.

Do I just get my insurance company to fight it out with the other insurance company and sit back and let them do the rest?

Who should I approach to get a hire car for the interim whilst this gets sorted?

Thanks for the replies!

jimgoose

BogManInc wrote: »

I have informed by insurance company too - sorry, should have stated this in my first post.

They have sent me a letter out today informing me to pay an excess of €250 in relation to my "claim" - however I'd prefer not to claim against my own policy.

Sorry, again as I said, I'm new to all of this, never had to make a claim before so unsure of procedures.

Do I just get my insurance company to fight it out with the other insurance company and sit back and let them do the rest?

Who should I approach to get a hire car for the interim whilst this gets sorted?

Thanks for the replies!

Ring your insurance company and explain to the stupid child that answers the phone that you are not making a claim, you are reporting an accident in which you are not at fault but in which your vehicle was written off. Inform them that it is your intention to hire a vehicle for whatever length of time it takes for you to be properly indemnified. Ask them if there is a vendor of preference and/or a procedure that they would like you to follow to that end.

vibe666

ditto. you don't have to deal with the other guy's insurance company at all, that's the job of your insurance provider.

i know it's a pain in the hole being without transport, but just be grateful he was actually insured AND that the garda caught him in the act or i imagine you'd be having a much rougher time of it.

Red_Dwarf

BogManInc wrote: »

Who should I approach to get a hire car for the interim whilst this gets sorted?

Again it depends on your Policy.

You will not lose your No Claims Bonus as it was not your fault. Just give your Insurance company the details of the other insurance company and tell them to deal with it

Kenny Logins

Don't you claim from your own company and they then pursue the other for reimbursement?

This is just how I thought it worked, I have never been through the process myself (thankfully).

vibe666

BogManInc wrote: »

They have sent me a letter out today informing me to pay an excess of €250 in relation to my "claim" - however I'd prefer not to claim against my own policy.

unfortunately (and i'm assuming it's the same in ireland as the UK as i've never had an accident here), when you have an excess, you normally still have to pay it in the event of another person causing an accident, then it is claimed back from the other insurance company and you get the money back.

at least that's how it happened to me after an accident (actually two accidents a day apart) in the UK. i also had to pay the excess twice (once for each accident), which was a real pain in the hole as neither was my fault.

Anan1

BogManInc wrote: »

I have informed by insurance company too - sorry, should have stated this in my first post.

They have sent me a letter out today informing me to pay an excess of €250 in relation to my "claim" - however I'd prefer not to claim against my own policy.

Sorry, again as I said, I'm new to all of this, never had to make a claim before so unsure of procedures.

Do I just get my insurance company to fight it out with the other insurance company and sit back and let them do the rest?

Who should I approach to get a hire car for the interim whilst this gets sorted?

Thanks for the replies!

Basically you claim from your own insurance company and they'll reclaim the money from the other party's insurers. I had a similar experience myself a while back, and as long as your own ins co are confident that they'll get all the money back (which it sounds like they will be) they won't penalize you at renewal. Mine gave me a letter stating that the accident wasn't my fault and that they expected to get all their money back, and other insurers honoured my full NCB on that basis. They'll pay you the value of your van and your expenses less the excess, and you'll get that back when (or a few months after in my case!) they get their money back.

BogManInc

Thanks everyone - very helpful, appreciate all your advice.

Gonna get on to my insurance company now.

Caliden

Do you have the info of the arresting Garda that you could pass on?
They will have their own report written that can be given to the insurance company.