Insurance claim advice
Discussion
I know this sort of post probably comes up regularly, I'm looking for some advice for my daughter after a serious accident today. Apologies in advance if this a long post, but there is detail to share and I'm not getting back to sleep anytime soon!
What happened - daughter was involved in an accident coming home from work. She was hit from behind by a car (traveling at speed), when stationary in a queue for the roundabout ahead,and shunted into the other lane, 3 or 4 other cars were also damaged by the same driver as a result of his speed and inability to stop, including 1 car which went down an embankment at the side of the DC. all emergency services in attendance, road shut for over 2 hours, daughter taken to hospital by ambulance. Her car is totalled. Luckily there were no serious injuries to any of the parties, police said they were all extremely lucky.
For info the accident happened on a dual carrigeway, which at peak times, on a daily basis traffic can be queued from the roundabout ahead, back along the dual carriageway, for about 1/2 a mile or more. There are some very large unmissable signs indicating this, warning of potential queues etc coincidentally about 10 yards or so before the accident location.
Outwith peak hours, with no queues for the roundabout, 70mph at the accident spot would safe and normal before slowing down further up the DC. The accident occured at peak rush hour, in the peeing rain, with traffic (as expected) queuing for the roundabout ahead. 30 mph tops and being prepared to stop would be approach speed in such conditions, the other driver was probably doing between 50 and 70, based on what the police have said and the damage to her car.
Police informed us later on last night after we got back from hospital, that my daughter is not at fault, and the driver that hit her and the other vehicles is "at fault", he will be charged with careless driving (or something to that effect).
Advice sought - I've not had a claim before so not been through the process, my expectation is we claim against the party the police identified as "at fault" for total loss of vehicle, hire car or courtesy car, and any subsequent loss of earnings / injuries sustained (she probably wont be back to work for a while).
So whats the best way to proceed, given the police are charging the other driver, should we claim against this driver either:
1. claim via our insurer (we have a muti car policy with a Nautical character) - I know I need to inform them anyway if claiming via options 2 or 3
2. direct from "at fault" (other driver didnt share any details with my daughter, MIB shows as insured, I would need to pay for a report to get their insurers details).
3. or, is it worth using a claim management company - I beleive there is a member on here who has one (dont know name / company) and has been praised by PH members in the past?
Some pics of the damage, short wheel base corsa, just needs some T-cut.....
![](https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/140826/202406141302706?resize=720[/img]</a> <a href="https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/140826/202406141320642" Target="_blank" >[img]https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/140826/202406141320642?resize=720[/img]</a> <a href="https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/140826/202406141323011" Target="_blank" >[img]https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/140826/202406141323011?resize=720[/img]</a> <a href="https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/140826/202406141324935" Target="_blank" >[img]https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/140826/202406141324935?resize=720)
What happened - daughter was involved in an accident coming home from work. She was hit from behind by a car (traveling at speed), when stationary in a queue for the roundabout ahead,and shunted into the other lane, 3 or 4 other cars were also damaged by the same driver as a result of his speed and inability to stop, including 1 car which went down an embankment at the side of the DC. all emergency services in attendance, road shut for over 2 hours, daughter taken to hospital by ambulance. Her car is totalled. Luckily there were no serious injuries to any of the parties, police said they were all extremely lucky.
For info the accident happened on a dual carrigeway, which at peak times, on a daily basis traffic can be queued from the roundabout ahead, back along the dual carriageway, for about 1/2 a mile or more. There are some very large unmissable signs indicating this, warning of potential queues etc coincidentally about 10 yards or so before the accident location.
Outwith peak hours, with no queues for the roundabout, 70mph at the accident spot would safe and normal before slowing down further up the DC. The accident occured at peak rush hour, in the peeing rain, with traffic (as expected) queuing for the roundabout ahead. 30 mph tops and being prepared to stop would be approach speed in such conditions, the other driver was probably doing between 50 and 70, based on what the police have said and the damage to her car.
Police informed us later on last night after we got back from hospital, that my daughter is not at fault, and the driver that hit her and the other vehicles is "at fault", he will be charged with careless driving (or something to that effect).
Advice sought - I've not had a claim before so not been through the process, my expectation is we claim against the party the police identified as "at fault" for total loss of vehicle, hire car or courtesy car, and any subsequent loss of earnings / injuries sustained (she probably wont be back to work for a while).
So whats the best way to proceed, given the police are charging the other driver, should we claim against this driver either:
1. claim via our insurer (we have a muti car policy with a Nautical character) - I know I need to inform them anyway if claiming via options 2 or 3
2. direct from "at fault" (other driver didnt share any details with my daughter, MIB shows as insured, I would need to pay for a report to get their insurers details).
3. or, is it worth using a claim management company - I beleive there is a member on here who has one (dont know name / company) and has been praised by PH members in the past?
Some pics of the damage, short wheel base corsa, just needs some T-cut.....
I'd let her insurers deal with it, that's what you pay them for.
Also worth bearing in mind the criminal/Police side of things isn't especially relevant to the issue of liability regards insurance.
Hope your daughter isn't too shaken up. You can replace a car and thankfully sounds like nobody's too badly injured. I'm sure the other driver that day didn't head out looking for a big accident, either. All live to fight another day!
Also worth bearing in mind the criminal/Police side of things isn't especially relevant to the issue of liability regards insurance.
Hope your daughter isn't too shaken up. You can replace a car and thankfully sounds like nobody's too badly injured. I'm sure the other driver that day didn't head out looking for a big accident, either. All live to fight another day!
Drawweight said:
I got hit from behind by a young guy in his pride and joy Mk1 Golf.
I claimed off his insurance and got sorted out within days. They are a lot more motivated to get you paid out and out of a replacement car as quickly as possible.
They are but they also want to pay out as cheaply as possible. I claimed off his insurance and got sorted out within days. They are a lot more motivated to get you paid out and out of a replacement car as quickly as possible.
I would claim through your own insurance and let them sort it out.
I did this when I had a legally similar (non fault hit from behind at traffic lights) but far less serious claim - that was in April 2022, and it only just got completely closed out this week, because the 3rd party were very difficult and recalcitrant.
Trying to fight my way through that with them directly would likely not have been a fun experience, as it was, I just let my insurer and their solicitors sort it, and gave my input and statements as needed.
I did this when I had a legally similar (non fault hit from behind at traffic lights) but far less serious claim - that was in April 2022, and it only just got completely closed out this week, because the 3rd party were very difficult and recalcitrant.
Trying to fight my way through that with them directly would likely not have been a fun experience, as it was, I just let my insurer and their solicitors sort it, and gave my input and statements as needed.
Insurance claim underway. The Nautical character called us yesterday to discuss the claim, based on pics of the car, the car is a total loss, with our info supplied etc, they are going after the BMW driver for the costs.
They will come back to us with a settlement. Regarding this I will prep on what same year /model / miles corsa SRi are on autotrader and use these prices as a bisis for the inevitable negotiations on settlement value.
local news confirms white bmw plonker has been charged with motoring offenses.
question to the PH masses - how do I get the Police Incident number for the insurance claim? I went to the Police station the attending officers are stationed, but it was shut, with a notice to call 999 or 101.
I can try another local cop shop today or if I call 101 will they give me the incident number the Insurance company require?
They will come back to us with a settlement. Regarding this I will prep on what same year /model / miles corsa SRi are on autotrader and use these prices as a bisis for the inevitable negotiations on settlement value.
local news confirms white bmw plonker has been charged with motoring offenses.
question to the PH masses - how do I get the Police Incident number for the insurance claim? I went to the Police station the attending officers are stationed, but it was shut, with a notice to call 999 or 101.
I can try another local cop shop today or if I call 101 will they give me the incident number the Insurance company require?
just to close this thread off:
Calling 101 and waiting for ages got me the incident number for the accident.
Insurance paid out last week, after some minor haggling, we got what we felt was a reasonable settlement. Insurance never said, but we assume the BMW drivers insurance accepted liability based on Police report or their client and settled quickly with our insurance, and hence settlement.
Next stop car hunting for a bruised and battered daughter.
Calling 101 and waiting for ages got me the incident number for the accident.
Insurance paid out last week, after some minor haggling, we got what we felt was a reasonable settlement. Insurance never said, but we assume the BMW drivers insurance accepted liability based on Police report or their client and settled quickly with our insurance, and hence settlement.
Next stop car hunting for a bruised and battered daughter.
Mabozza said:
just to close this thread off:
Calling 101 and waiting for ages got me the incident number for the accident.
Insurance paid out last week, after some minor haggling, we got what we felt was a reasonable settlement. Insurance never said, but we assume the BMW drivers insurance accepted liability based on Police report or their client and settled quickly with our insurance, and hence settlement.
Next stop car hunting for a bruised and battered daughter.
Good, speedy result. However you will need to find out the finer detail. Clearly when she applies for insurance she needs to answer about previous claims (responsibility and costs). Calling 101 and waiting for ages got me the incident number for the accident.
Insurance paid out last week, after some minor haggling, we got what we felt was a reasonable settlement. Insurance never said, but we assume the BMW drivers insurance accepted liability based on Police report or their client and settled quickly with our insurance, and hence settlement.
Next stop car hunting for a bruised and battered daughter.
TheDrownedApe said:
Good, speedy result. However you will need to find out the finer detail. Clearly when she applies for insurance she needs to answer about previous claims (responsibility and costs).
Claim closed as "non fault" , all costs recivered from BMW plonker, NCB intact. Will obviously have to disclose non fault claim on future quotes etcGassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff