Anyone with experience in dealing with a crash?

moca12345

Hi,

New poster but have followed the forum for years.

I'm just wondering has anyone on here any experience dealing with the crash assessors? Left side of my car was hit by a car pulling out yesterday afternoon on my way back from lunch. There is quite a lot of damage to both doors, I have no experience in this but both will need to be replaced I'd imagine. My wing mirror is damaged along with the front left headlight and a minor crack to my windscreen. The electrics also seem to have been damaged as the windows no long work. After the crash a few lights also came on on the dash.

The guards were called, the driver who hit me has taken full responsibility for the accident and their insurance is taking care of it. Yesterday evening I was at the garage that my car is at and there was a man photographing my vehicle (assessor?) He asked about what had happened so I explained to him. I told him where the impact had occurred etc. He checked out the windscreen and made a comment that it looked like it had been cracked for a while (which it hadn't, I have windscreen cover so it wouldn't have been an issue to fix had it been). He also made a smart remark about the lights on the dash (The lights that are showing are the headlights, electrics and the abs) maybe been there for a while also.

I have had no experience with this before, I have informed my insurance but as my policy is up shorty I don't really want to involve them in this.

Car is worth about €7,000 (going on done deal and auto trader of same model with similar milage). I asked that they repair it if it's possible rather than writing it off. What I want to know is if they do repair it and the assessor comes to the conclusion that some of the issues were there pre crash and they don't fix them how do I fight that? Maybe it was just a comment in passing but I don't want to be in a situation where I get my car back and it's got more issues than before the crash.

If they write it off I'm worried he will factor in those issues and give me a smaller settlement. I don't want anything from this other than the car I had or a similar one of same year and milage. Does anyone know how the assessor comes to his/her conclusions? If anyone has any experience in this it'd be really appreciated and sorry for the long post!

shietpilot

Don't take the BS from the assessor about things being wrong before the accident. They always try that crap. Just say it wasn't there before the crash. He can go and try to prove it if he wants.

When my mum wrote her car off the assessor was like "the clutch is really bad". We had the clutch and flywheel changed less than a year earlier and when I told him he was "it must have been changed badly" :pac:

Things like this make my blood boil. If I was speaking to him in person I would have made him eat the invoices...

Jaysus, my back would get very sore listening to that kind of attitude. And my back wouldn't have been that sore before the crash.


























(calm down, just a bit of sarcasm!)

kenmccarthy

As a general rule.....DO NOT ENGAGE OR COMMUNICATE with assessor at all.. this is always same......"mmm...how was the tracking before accident etc etc"..... the whole point of assessors is to REDUCE THE PAYOUT! !!
In this case where NO injuries and vehicle has a moderate ( 7K) value there won't be any issue ....don't go over analyzing this guy's remarks ...it's all standard operating practise... bottom line is other vehicle was in the wrong and both parties have valid insurance

moca12345

Deleted User wrote: »

Jaysus, my back would get very sore listening to that kind of attitude. And my back wouldn't have been that sore before the crash. [/SIZE]

I know you're joking but this is it though. I had a sore neck and bad headaches for the entire day, but knew they would subside. I didn't pull the p*ss with them so I sincerely hope they don't with me. I just didn't like his attitude.

kenmccarthy wrote: »

bottom line is other vehicle was in the wrong and both parties have valid insurance

My insurance surely doesn't come into this when the other party is entirely liable?

Hemerodrome

moca12345 wrote: »

I know you're joking but this is it though. I had a sore neck and bad headaches for the entire day, but knew they would subside. I didn't pull the p*ss with them so I sincerely hope they don't with me. I just didn't like his attitude.

I gotta say you're bending over and taking it with this approach. Go to the doctor and get checked out, deciding for yourself that you don't have any injuries or they'll settle down is mental, if you have injuries you need treatment and may be adding them to your claim. As to the idea that you went easy so they should is naive, insurance companies are not your friends, You owe them no sympathy or loyalty, they are supposed to pay out in circumstances like this and they will do their best not to, I suggest you start thinking and acting more assertively before you let them away with it.

moca12345

Hemerodrome wrote: »

I gotta say you're bending over and taking it with this approach. Go to the doctor and get checked out, deciding for yourself that you don't have any injuries or they'll settle down is mental, if you have injuries you need treatment and may be adding them to your claim. As to the idea that you went easy so they should is naive, insurance companies are not your friends, You owe them no sympathy or loyalty, they are supposed to pay out in circumstances like this and they will do their best not to, I suggest you start thinking and acting more assertively before you let them away with it.

Really appreciate the advice but I don't want to go down that route as I'm fine today. I wasn't being naive thinking they'd go easy. All I want or expect is this be dealt with fairly.

My logic on it is I went to lunch with a car I was perfectly happy with and through no fault of my own that car was damaged. I'd like that car back, if not I'd like a car of same year and mileage and not be out of pocket because of it.

Is that too much to expect? Has anyone been in this situation before? If so what was the outcome? Were they ripped off?

Hemerodrome

moca12345 wrote: »

Really appreciate the advice but I don't want to go down that route as I'm fine today.

And what will you do in a few months if you're not feeling fine? I'm not giving a diagnosis, but your description of the damage and your short term pain suggests whiplash. You're mad not to see a doctor and mad to not account for the possibility of long-term injury and a potential claim.

kenmccarthy

The point of saying both cars have insurance was that it's a clear -cut liability/blame situation. Say a driver Didn't have insurance and was in a bang though he was 100% not to blame....the insurance company wouldn't pay. You are obliged with majority of insurance policy's to advise your own insurance company of any accident regardless of blame

moca12345

Hemerodrome wrote: »

And what will you do in a few months if you're not feeling fine? I'm not giving a diagnosis, but your description of the damage and your short term pain suggests whiplash. You're mad not to see a doctor and mad to not account for the possibility of long-term injury and a potential claim.

I'll get checked by my local GP tomorrow but I feel ok since the accident. Thank you for the message.

kenmccarthy wrote: »

The point of saying both cars have insurance was that it's a clear -cut liability/blame situation. Say a driver Didn't have insurance and was in a bang though he was 100% not to blame....the insurance company wouldn't pay. You are obliged with majority of insurance policy's to advise your own insurance company of any accident regardless of blame

Oh ok. The guards advised me at the scene to call my insurance company but they didn't take any details when I told them I wasn't responsible for it. I assume they won't need to become involved unless I need to fight the assessor??



Also on a slight different note two of my tyres were slightly bald, I was actually checked in to have them replaced this Wednesday. They were in no way at fault for the accident ( I was travelling on a straight and car pulled out without looking and hit my left side) Could this work against me with the assessors?

kenmccarthy

Tyres are "manna from heaven" for assessors...did he make a big deal of them / take thread depths and photos etc.?????your best ace is that other driver admitted responsibility/ fault....these things happen.....if your total damage is under^around 2K no insurance company is going to quibble. ....these things do happen....other driver will get 'loaded' for a couple of years...it's no big deal...last thing an insurance company want is you talking of going 'legal'

cletus

Fella drove into me last year, he accepted liability. I didn't have to deal directly with the assessor, but from what I could figure talking to the garage, insurance co etc, it would seem that the garage add a bit on knowing the assessor will try and knock a bit off. The actual cost of the repair work I had done was less that the initial quote, yet all the work was carried out.

I wouldn't be too concerned

moca12345

Spoke with garage this morning, told me the insurance company would call me today but they never did. I asked garage what was situation and they said car was most likely written off.

Not sure what the situation is now. But I have a feeling tyres will be something they will highlight! It's not exactly in their interest to give me a fair deal.

I went to my doctor today and he confirmed that I had a neck injury from the crash. I still don't really want to pursue this avenue but if I'm being honest, if the insurance company rip me off with the pay out (giving me the value of same car and year with similar mileage) then I might cut my losses and go this route. It's been the advice of my solicitor (close friend).

It's just a pity that it may come to this as I'd rather settle it the fairly.

whomitconcerns

Erm if you have medical issues and car issues due to someone else's negligence how is it unfair to settle all through insurance. It doesn't mean taking the piss

shietpilot

whomitconcerns wrote: »

Erm if you have medical issues and car issues due to someone else's negligence how is it unfair to settle all through insurance. It doesn't mean taking the piss

Indeed there is nothing wrong in claiming for a neck injury if you do have neck pain. Claiming for neck injury because your neighbour told you you'd be stupid not to is wrong though.

We pay high prices for a reason so get yourself sorted and not deal with a sore neck for years to come.

moca12345

I would prefer not to go down that road, I don't even know what it all entails. Does it mean I can't go out and do activities etc.

Anyway this seems like the only route to not leave myself out of pocket. Which is completely wrong.

whomitconcerns

moca12345 wrote: »

I would prefer not to go down that road, I don't even know what it all entails. Does it mean I can't go out and do activities etc.

Anyway this seems like the only route to not leave myself out of pocket. Which is completely wrong.

why would it mean that? if you have a medical cost as a result of teh accident, it doesnt matter if you want to bungee jump every day its none of their business.

Its only if you are pretending to be injured that thats a problem.

moca12345

whomitconcerns wrote: »

why would it mean that? if you have a medical cost as a result of teh accident, it doesnt matter if you want to bungee jump every day its none of their business.

Its only if you are pretending to be injured that thats a problem.

Well I'm not pretending to be injured, I have neck pain but other than it being quite sore it doesn't affect my day. The doctor said it's whiplash from the accident and I've been advised that that is a €10,000 pay out. So you can see my reluctance with this. I don't think my pain warrants that kind of money.

endacl

moca12345 wrote: »

Well I'm not pretending to be injured, I have neck pain but other than it being quite sore it doesn't affect my day. The doctor said it's whiplash from the accident and I've been advised that that is a €10,000 pay out. So you can see my reluctance with this. I don't think my pain warrants that kind of money.

It doesn't now, but what if you still have it in ten years?

whomitconcerns

moca12345 wrote: »

Well I'm not pretending to be injured, I have neck pain but other than it being quite sore it doesn't affect my day. The doctor said it's whiplash from the accident and I've been advised that that is a €10,000 pay out. So you can see my reluctance with this. I don't think my pain warrants that kind of money.

Well if a doctor told you that I would be reporting him to the ethics board or whatever we have in ireland. Thats some bull$it doctor.

You claim for your medical bills thats it...I had someone run into the back of me 2 years ago...pretty hard. My neck was sore afterwards, I went got an xray and assesment, minor whiplash, nothing to worry aboyt. Sent them teh bills for assesments and xrays. that was it

moca12345

whomitconcerns wrote: »

Well if a doctor told you that I would be reporting him to the ethics board or whatever we have in ireland. Thats some bull$it doctor.

You claim for your medical bills thats it...I had someone run into the back of me 2 years ago...pretty hard. My neck was sore afterwards, I went got an xray and assesment, minor whiplash, nothing to worry aboyt. Sent them teh bills for assesments and xrays. that was it

The doctor didn't tell me that, a person i know who deals with those matters told me. Doctor just told me I had whiplash.

whomitconcerns

moca12345 wrote: »

The doctor didn't tell me that, a person i know who deals with those matters told me. Doctor just told me I had whiplash.

Well at least that, and no offence to your friend that said it, but thats the sort of person that drives up our insurance premiums. get it checked and make sure they pay the cost.

cletus

The friend who gave the OP the figure of €10,000 is probably basing it on that being the average sum the courts here in Ireland would pay out are this to go to court.

moca12345

cletus wrote: »

The friend who gave the OP the figure of €10,000 is probably basing it on that being the average sum the courts here in Ireland would pay out are this to go to court.

I think that is where he got his figure. He wasn't suggesting I go this route necessarily and it's not the route I want to go either.

I just don't want to be left out of pocket when this was through no fault of my own. If they come back with a fair quote where I can replace my car then I will happily close the claim and move on.

Stheno

cletus wrote: »

The friend who gave the OP the figure of €10,000 is probably basing it on that being the average sum the courts here in Ireland would pay out are this to go to court.

It's more likely given that ops friend is a solicitor that they took it from the book of quantum which is the assessment figures the Injuries board use.

For a minor whiplash injury that is largely recovered within 12 months, they award up to 14,400

moca12345

Insurance rang this afternoon and informed me that it was a write off and that they would be giving me €6,500 for it.

The cheapest I can find on done deal or autotrader of same year and similar milage is €7,000. I feel like it's the insurance companies job to get me back on the road in the condition I was in beforehand (which doesn't include a written off car or being out of pocket). Is that a good price to receive from the insurance and am I being unreasonable? If not then how do I proceed?

Stheno

moca12345 wrote: »

Insurance rang this afternoon and informed me that it was a write off and that they would be giving me €6,500 for it.

The cheapest I can find on done deal or autotrader of same year and similar milage is €7,000. I feel like it's the insurance companies job to get me back on the road in the condition I was in beforehand (which doesn't include a written off car or being out of pocket). Is that a good price to receive from the insurance and am I being unreasonable? If not then how do I proceed?

I think it's reasonable what they've offered, as you'll have an excess on your policy that they will have factored in.

moca12345

Stheno wrote: »

I think it's reasonable what they've offered, as you'll have an excess on your policy that they will have factored in.

Appreciate the response. It's possibly not as bad as I expected or felt they might offer. But in saying that the lowest replacement I can see online is €7,000 and the majority are around the €8,000 mark so I'm not sure.

To Elland Back

moca12345 wrote: »

The cheapest I can find on done deal or autotrader of same year and similar milage is €7,000. QUOTE]

Done Deal, Buy & Sell, Autotrader quote prices the seller knows will be negotiated down and then accepted. The acceptable figure is the true market price, not the starting price

FishOnABike

I think they could offer more. If similar year / mileage cars are listed at 8000 euro you should be looking for what it costs to replace your car and the cost of hiring a car (for a reasonable time) until your own is replaced. You should not be out of pocket or inconvenienced by the actions of another. That is what insurance should be for, to put you in no worse position than you would be had the accident not happened.

moca12345

FishOnABike wrote: »

I think they could offer more. If similar year / mileage cars are listed at 8000 euro you should be looking for what it costs to replace your car and the cost of hiring a car (for a reasonable time) until your own is replaced. You should not be out of pocket or inconvenienced by the actions of another. That is what insurance should be for, to put you in no worse position than you would be had the accident not happened.

Whats the next step then? Anyone have any experience in this? Is their first offer usually their final or is there room to maneuver?

His words were "based on the year and mileage we're prepared to give you €6,500."

pogsick

Stheno wrote: »

I think it's reasonable what they've offered, as you'll have an excess on your policy that they will have factored in.

The excess on her policy wouldn't come into it as she's claiming from the other parties insurance and therefore would not pay an excess

Aongus Von Heisenberg

moca12345 wrote: »

Whats the next step then? Anyone have any experience in this? Is their first offer usually their final or is there room to maneuver?

His words were "based on the year and mileage we're prepared to give you €6,500."

They're obliged to reinstate you to the position you were in before their Insured crashed into you. Contact them to state that the figure offered will not be sufficient to reinstate you and provide a figure you think more appropriate.

If they disagree ask what they are basing their figure on. They may have taken the nonsense you mentioned the assessor coming out with as gospel truth.

If the claims handler is smart he'll keep you sweet.

Don't worry too much about any potential injury claim; recovery from it should be your number one priority so do not be afraid to seek treatment. Keep medical records (doctor's notes and bills etc) both to obtain reimbursement of medical costs from the other driver's Insurer and to provide medical evidence if necessary. Remember you have a two year window in which to bring any claim to the Injuries Board so there's no need to rush into anything.

Pedro K

Stheno wrote: »

I think it's reasonable what they've offered, as you'll have an excess on your policy that they will have factored in.

Not applicable. OP is claiming from another insurance company, not their own. They aren't allowed to charge an excess to a third party.

Stheno

Pedro K wrote: »

Not applicable. OP is claiming from another insurance company, not their own. They aren't allowed to charge an excess to a third party.

Yeah I confused what policy it was

moca12345

Aongus Von Heisenberg wrote: »

They're obliged to reinstate you to the position you were in before their Insured crashed into you. Contact them to state that the figure offered will not be sufficient to reinstate you and provide a figure you think more appropriate.

If they disagree ask what they are basing their figure on. They may have taken the nonsense you mentioned the assessor coming out with as gospel truth.

If the claims handler is smart he'll keep you sweet.

Don't worry too much about any potential injury claim; recovery from it should be your number one priority so do not be afraid to seek treatment. Keep medical records (doctor's notes and bills etc) both to obtain reimbursement of medical costs from the other driver's Insurer and to provide medical evidence if necessary. Remember you have a two year window in which to bring any claim to the Injuries Board so there's no need to rush into anything.

Really appreciate the advice. I don't want to spend a few more days trying to get a better price from them if it's going to be fruitless. But if this is a regular tactic from insurance companies then I'll definitely pursue.

I've been doing a lot of research and the majority of cars of this model are going for €8,000 mark with the exception of the one that is €7,000 and that is the other side of the country from me.

Atlantic Dawn

You should check on Revenue.ie on the VRT calculator for what value Revenue state the car is worth, this might help your case.

Do you have a rental car at the moment while yours is out of action? If not you should tell them you want one while they come to an arrangement on repairing yours.

moca12345

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

You should check on Revenue.ie on the VRT calculator for what value Revenue state the car is worth, this might help your case.

Do you have a rental car at the moment while yours is out of action? If not you should tell them you want one while they come to an arrangement on repairing yours.

Yes I have a replacement car, on that side of things the insurance company have been very helpful.

I went to the VRT calculator and it actually valued my car at €5,700 which seems very low but I don't know.

Stheno

moca12345 wrote: »

I went to the VRT calculator and it actually valued my car at €5,700 which seems very low but I don't know.

That's what the assessors will be basing your car value on, so getting what you are is not so bad tbh.

Factor in a 10% discount for purchasing most cars, and it's fairly close imo.

moca12345

Stheno wrote: »

That's what the assessors will be basing your car value on, so getting what you are is not so bad tbh.

Factor in a 10% discount for purchasing most cars, and it's fairly close imo.

This seems a little low considering cars that are nearly identical are going for €8,000 with the exception of one (€7k). I understand that they may not actually sell for that price but that's still a €1.3k difference! From people's experience is the OMSP calculator a bit off??

I am wondering because I don't want to spend a few days fighting the insurance comoany if their offer was in fact fair and just!