Hit by truck - advice needed
Discussion
Hi all. As per title - was driving home on the M4. In middle lane overtaking an artic in the slow lane, who then pulled into the middle lane hitting around the rear wheelarch of my car. Thankfully he realised what had happened and went back into lane 1 with relatively minimal contact.
Both pulled over - he admitted full responsibility (Irish driver in LHD artic and just hadn't seen me alongside him). Damage looks cosmetic only - taken a lot of paint off the wheelarch and a couple of other marks on the bumper, so I think is just a respray job rather than anything major (although not been able to check it in good light). I've got the details of his employer who is the owner of the vehicle, which looks genuine based on a quick Google (although no livery on vehicle itself). Driver said to get a quote for the work and let them know and they'd most likely pay without arguing as long as it wasn't stupid.
Question then is - is there anything I should do? I suspect I should inform my insurers, but on the basis that I think the work would cost less than my excess even if I was to claim on my own insurance, is this recommended?
Assuming best course of action re. quote for works is to take it into Honda and get a quote from them or their approved supplier?
Thanks in advance - just popping back outside with a Maglite to give it another look...
Both pulled over - he admitted full responsibility (Irish driver in LHD artic and just hadn't seen me alongside him). Damage looks cosmetic only - taken a lot of paint off the wheelarch and a couple of other marks on the bumper, so I think is just a respray job rather than anything major (although not been able to check it in good light). I've got the details of his employer who is the owner of the vehicle, which looks genuine based on a quick Google (although no livery on vehicle itself). Driver said to get a quote for the work and let them know and they'd most likely pay without arguing as long as it wasn't stupid.
Question then is - is there anything I should do? I suspect I should inform my insurers, but on the basis that I think the work would cost less than my excess even if I was to claim on my own insurance, is this recommended?
Assuming best course of action re. quote for works is to take it into Honda and get a quote from them or their approved supplier?
Thanks in advance - just popping back outside with a Maglite to give it another look...
To be honest you'll be lucky if they do accept liability to their insurer. In my experience commerical drivers never accept liability to insurers and always try and argue 50/50 lane changes as a 50/50 won't go against their 3 strikes a lot of company have for their drivers.
If it's only minor damage, give them 7 days to pay for the repairs after giving them the estimate, then get an accident management company involved.
If it's only minor damage, give them 7 days to pay for the repairs after giving them the estimate, then get an accident management company involved.
Cheers guys. Hoping driver doesn't turn out to be a cock...
So is Honda dealer best place to start in the morning to get a quote, or a referral to a preferred supplier?
And by not telling my insurer now, am I risking complications if I do have to involve Anniesdad or similar in a week?
So is Honda dealer best place to start in the morning to get a quote, or a referral to a preferred supplier?
And by not telling my insurer now, am I risking complications if I do have to involve Anniesdad or similar in a week?
If it is a non fault accident my experience is that a third party firm (such as Europa) is much better to deal with than your insurers people (tried both in the last 4 months).
You will have to inform your insurer even as a non fault but the firm will handle everything else for you, including arranging any legal services you need if the truck drivers insurer wants to argue who was at fault.
You will have to inform your insurer even as a non fault but the firm will handle everything else for you, including arranging any legal services you need if the truck drivers insurer wants to argue who was at fault.
Somnophore said:
Just ring your insurer (who are they by the way?) and inform them "for information purposes only" and advise them you are dealing with it privately. Then should you require their services later on they have it on record.
Cheers - just completing the Europa form and will then give insurer a call. Arranged through Flux - hoping any dealings with them result in better experiences than I know some other PHers have had...You're doing the right thing.
You're almost certainly duty-bound, under the terms of your insurance contract, to tell your insurers. And if HGV-man gets shirty later, everything will be much more straight forward if you tell your own insurers now.
And its vital that you write down all the details of the incident (including who said what) while its fresh in your mind.
Just to try to ease your worries... Early last year, a coach took my wing mirror off. The driver made all sorts of wild accusations, but I phoned the coach company, who put me in touch with their claims dept, who checked footage from the coach's CCTV system, and they paid up within a fortnight. So hopefully yours will settle just as quickly and painlessly. The fact that the driver admitted fault means you're off to a good start.
Good luck getting it sorted.
You're almost certainly duty-bound, under the terms of your insurance contract, to tell your insurers. And if HGV-man gets shirty later, everything will be much more straight forward if you tell your own insurers now.
And its vital that you write down all the details of the incident (including who said what) while its fresh in your mind.
Just to try to ease your worries... Early last year, a coach took my wing mirror off. The driver made all sorts of wild accusations, but I phoned the coach company, who put me in touch with their claims dept, who checked footage from the coach's CCTV system, and they paid up within a fortnight. So hopefully yours will settle just as quickly and painlessly. The fact that the driver admitted fault means you're off to a good start.
Good luck getting it sorted.
HellDiver said:
I had a similar hit in my Astra. Bodyshop charged the insurance company £2500 to fix it. It was a bit of a dent in the rear arch, a bit of damage to the bumper. Needed a full respray after the torn quarter was replaced, due to the colour.
that's absolutely criminal. what sort of paint did you have that couldn't be matched? no wonder policies are shooting up in price when insurers are charged £2500 to repair and spray a panel and bumper on an astra.I wouldn't worry too much about what was said, it doesn't count for anything, nor does if they admitted at the scene, many people admit at the time but dispute to their insurer. I've even had written admissions at the scene disputed, and they don't count asthey can claim they were under duress.
That happened to my Wife last February on the M40.
She just joined from the slip road and was stop start when the Irish lorry behind her hit the back of our Celica.
She was over to the left looking at traffic ahead, and he got out shouting at her even though she had not just pulled in front but been there 2 minutes.
Next morning her neck was sore and she is still having Physio however they expect her to make a full recovery by March this year.
Our Insurance (Admiral) took away our car and fixed it,they even left a courtsey car sat on the drive although it wasnt used as she couldnt drive, and there was no excess as it was his fault.
Next thing the Irish idiot claimed it was her fault and even drew pictures of her 90 degrees in front of him. He also made up a story that she said she was a student and in a hurry!!! WTF??
Luckily my mrs took pictures, but the claim is still ongoing.
She just joined from the slip road and was stop start when the Irish lorry behind her hit the back of our Celica.
She was over to the left looking at traffic ahead, and he got out shouting at her even though she had not just pulled in front but been there 2 minutes.
Next morning her neck was sore and she is still having Physio however they expect her to make a full recovery by March this year.
Our Insurance (Admiral) took away our car and fixed it,they even left a courtsey car sat on the drive although it wasnt used as she couldnt drive, and there was no excess as it was his fault.
Next thing the Irish idiot claimed it was her fault and even drew pictures of her 90 degrees in front of him. He also made up a story that she said she was a student and in a hurry!!! WTF??
Luckily my mrs took pictures, but the claim is still ongoing.
Thanks again for help. As per earlier post, have filled in Europa's online form (also going to drop Anniesdad a PM), and have informed the Flux claims line at this stage just for info as I'm hoping that Europa can sort everything.
Assume course of action now then is to wait for a call from Europa tomorrow morning, and follow up with them if I've not heard back by midday?
Re. not going through the haulier's insurers, this was my first reaction however my concern would be that the driver might change his story and leave me shafted, so a little more peace of mind to do everything 'correctly' from the start, even if it does cost them more and most likely have a knock on effect to my insurance costs. (do realise that it will push everyones' premiums up by a fraction of a penny, however you'll be pleased to know that I've informed both Flux and Europa that there were definitely no injuries!)
Assume course of action now then is to wait for a call from Europa tomorrow morning, and follow up with them if I've not heard back by midday?
Re. not going through the haulier's insurers, this was my first reaction however my concern would be that the driver might change his story and leave me shafted, so a little more peace of mind to do everything 'correctly' from the start, even if it does cost them more and most likely have a knock on effect to my insurance costs. (do realise that it will push everyones' premiums up by a fraction of a penny, however you'll be pleased to know that I've informed both Flux and Europa that there were definitely no injuries!)
Good, that'll add about £1500 to the cost of the claim and help push up our premiums a bit more.
Top tip, when you're overtaking a truck, assume they can;t see you in their mirrors ad get past quickly insted of ambling past at 0.1mph speed differential.
Oh and it's lane 1, lane 2 & lane 3 or inside, middle & outside if you like. Either way it's not "slow", "middle" & "fast"
Top tip, when you're overtaking a truck, assume they can;t see you in their mirrors ad get past quickly insted of ambling past at 0.1mph speed differential.
Oh and it's lane 1, lane 2 & lane 3 or inside, middle & outside if you like. Either way it's not "slow", "middle" & "fast"
R1 Loon said:
Good, that'll add about £1500 to the cost of the claim and help push up our premiums a bit more.
Top tip, when you're overtaking a truck, assume they can;t see you in their mirrors ad get past quickly insted of ambling past at 0.1mph speed differential.
Oh and it's lane 1, lane 2 & lane 3 or inside, middle & outside if you like. Either way it's not "slow", "middle" & "fast"
Thank you.Top tip, when you're overtaking a truck, assume they can;t see you in their mirrors ad get past quickly insted of ambling past at 0.1mph speed differential.
Oh and it's lane 1, lane 2 & lane 3 or inside, middle & outside if you like. Either way it's not "slow", "middle" & "fast"
R1 Loon said:
Good, that'll add about £1500 to the cost of the claim and help push up our premiums a bit more.
Well if the insurance companies pulled their finger out when dealing with stuff it would be a lot more preferable to use them. However I still have an ongoing non fault that I asked Admiral to sort for me, that happened nearly 3 months before the one I instructed someone else to deal with that is all put to bed. In both cases the third party accepted liability, and in both cases there is no personal injury claim being chased by me. And if anything the 2nd would have been much easier for the other side to have denied responsibilty than the first one.
boredofmyoldname said:
Well if the insurance companies pulled their finger out when dealing with stuff it would be a lot more preferable to use them. However I still have an ongoing non fault that I asked Admiral to sort for me, that happened nearly 3 months before the one I instructed someone else to deal with that is all put to bed.
In both cases the third party accepted liability, and in both cases there is no personal injury claim being chased by me. And if anything the 2nd would have been much easier for the other side to have denied responsibilty than the first one.
Right, so that will be Admiral who send all their non-fault accidents to Helphire will it? You know Helphire, they're one of these oh so helpful Credit Hire Companies that you're supporting in your post.In both cases the third party accepted liability, and in both cases there is no personal injury claim being chased by me. And if anything the 2nd would have been much easier for the other side to have denied responsibilty than the first one.
R1 Loon said:
boredofmyoldname said:
Well if the insurance companies pulled their finger out when dealing with stuff it would be a lot more preferable to use them. However I still have an ongoing non fault that I asked Admiral to sort for me, that happened nearly 3 months before the one I instructed someone else to deal with that is all put to bed.
In both cases the third party accepted liability, and in both cases there is no personal injury claim being chased by me. And if anything the 2nd would have been much easier for the other side to have denied responsibilty than the first one.
Right, so that will be Admiral who send all their non-fault accidents to Helphire will it? You know Helphire, they're one of these oh so helpful Credit Hire Companies that you're supporting in your post.In both cases the third party accepted liability, and in both cases there is no personal injury claim being chased by me. And if anything the 2nd would have been much easier for the other side to have denied responsibilty than the first one.
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff