Car Accident - Not My Fault

chris9991 · 23-01-2009, 12:26

Hi

My car was reversed into last week and damage was sustained. The other driver has admitted liability and their insurance will pay for the repair.

However I am required to travel to their repairer to have them assess the damage, which is about a ten mile journey and then I'll need to drive back once they book in the work.

Having spoken to the insurer they say that they won't pay for the cost incurred in me travelling to the repairer. I was under the impression that the insurer has to return you to the state you would be at if the incident never happened.

Is that correct?

I'm not looking for a big pay out just an amount to cover the petrol and time.

LondonRoad · 23-01-2009, 12:31

Have you got legal cover with your insurance. Sometimes a lawyer letter can change their focus.

Wicked_and_Crazy · 23-01-2009, 12:31

So you want to be compensated for less than a gallon of petrol ??

No the insurance company does not have to return "you" to the state of how "you" were before the car was damaged. For example, evidence of repair can reduce the value of the car and also any paint work is often noticable.

The insurance company has return the car to a similar condition to before the accident. There is a technical term for this but i cant remember it right now

chris9991 · 23-01-2009, 12:32

Well, it could necessitate time of work

LondonRoad · 23-01-2009, 12:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris9991

Well, it could necessitate time of work

The time and incovenience can cost a lot more than a gallon of petrol.

**Kymmy** · 23-01-2009, 12:34

As the company doing the repair will want the work just tell them to collect/deliver...they'll then charge the insurance company...

Wicked_and_Crazy · 23-01-2009, 12:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris9991

Well, it could necessitate time of work

in which case it depends on your policy

chris9991 · 23-01-2009, 12:41

In part it's probably me getting a bit annoyed as its my second accident in just over four months (neither my fault; this one far smaller than the previous)

It just seems never-ending, I just want a 'simple' life

Though with all the multiude of people losing their jobs at the mo, maybe I should just be thankful for what I've got

LondonRoad · 23-01-2009, 12:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris9991

In part it's probably me getting a bit annoyed as its my second accident in just over four months (neither my fault; this one far smaller than the previous)

It just seems never-ending, I just want a 'simple' life

Though with all the multiude of people losing their jobs at the mo, maybe I should just be thankful for what I've got

I hope nobody posts that they come in 3s.

Doh!!

**Chris** · 23-01-2009, 12:44

You shouldn't be dealing directly with the 3rd party insurer - everything should be in your own insurer's hands and all correspondence forwarded, unanswered, to them. Call them and ask for advice.

chris9991 · 23-01-2009, 12:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by harmitage

I hope nobody posts that they come in 3s.

Doh!!

I know, but they're getting less severe!

23-01-2009, 12:57

You should have priority on where the car goes for repair shouldn't you?

southwell · 23-01-2009, 13:17

When someone drove into me my insurance company (more than) got the car picked up from work, and rental dropped off within a few hours, i didn't have to get the quote myself it was all done for me....

**Chris** · 23-01-2009, 13:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by southwell

When someone drove into me my insurance company (more than) got the car picked up from work, and rental dropped off within a few hours, i didn't have to get the quote myself it was all done for me....

That's what I'd expect to happen. Your own insurer should deal with this in their own way and then recover the costs from the 3rd party. The OP has no contract or relationship with the 3rd party insurer so I don't understand why they are dictating where and when the repairs should be done.

chris9991 · 23-01-2009, 13:40

I did contact my insurer. They recognised the claim - and at that point waived the excess.
A couple of hours later the insurer of the third party contacted me and said they accepted that their party was liable and they wanted to arrange for the vehicle to be repaired.
Therefore I had two options to proceed. Speaking to my insurer they said that if the third party insurer undertook the repair it wouldn't count as a claim against my insurance and hence is the reason I took the route of using the third pary insurer.

My thinking being not wanting to put another claim against my insurance, though I have protected no claims' I'm not sure how easy it is to change to another insurer