car accident.

[simon_wall69]

Had my first ever car crash yesterday. Driving through some traffic lights on a dual carriageway; someone travelling in the other direction was turning right and pulled out in front of me and, although I swerved, I still hit her and a traffic light. I was doing about 40mph at the time (in a 50).

She was insured and ok etc,. But my car, I assume, is a right off.

Anyway, anybody have any ideas how long it will be for the insurers to sort all of this out? How do they work out guilt? Should this affect my no claims bonus? Who covers the cost of recovery etc,.? I don't actually know what happened to my car as I was carted off in an ambulance; I assume the police towed it away.

 

[television]

As long as everyone is OK Simon thats the number one.

So sorry to hear what happened,, if this was not your fault then the NCB should not be affected.

The insurance companies will sort out the recovery cost,, you can ask the police where the car is if you want to see it or get some personal belongings

 

[hardtop]

take a few photos & some info on what you hit . woman drivers says it all

 

[Philip M]

Sorry to hear about your accident Simon.
My wife was involved in a head on collision over 3 years ago, it was not her fault and she was not in a MB.
The 2 year old car (Suzuki Liana) did everything that modern cars are designed to do and protected her. She too was taken away in an ambulance and I located the car the next day. It was a mess. The insurance co wrote the car off within a week and we had the settlement cheque 14 days after the accident. Compensation took about 18 months, but was acceptable after we initially refused the derisory amount.
Hope you get yours settled as quickly.
Good luck
Philip M

 

[Philip M]

Sorry Simon, forgot to add, my wife retained her NCB, and the insurance co waived the excess on the policy. The other driver, (young man straight from the pub, but not under the influence), was prosecuted, fined £160 and given 3 points.
Philip M

 

[simon_wall69]

I am quite glad I was in the w124 as, considering the impact, the passenger shell of the car was still ok. The airbags went off, doors opened fine and pedals hadn't moved up. Not bad for a 14 year old car that's done over 400,000 miles.

The new clio that I hit was completely ronnied. I hit the passenger door and the front wing and I fear that if anybody had been in the passenger seat they would have suffered serious injury as the door depressed nearly a foot into the car and part of the front wing had rented into the passenger seat area.

I also wonder if I'd have walked away without serious injury if I'd have been in the w123.

I think it's a little wrong to blame the fact that she's female, she must have just misunderstood the junction or switched off for a minute. We all do it. Normally, though, we get away with it.

 

[hardtop]

i tend to make a joke out of bumps with cars as my wife stuffed mine & i stuffed hers so its a draw for now

 

[Xtractorfan]

My advice would be to contact her insurance company and explain the circumstances to them.. they will talk to you if the accident has been reported to them.. you are entitled to a hire car of similar size for 14 days ..if your car is written off..if repairable until the car is properly repaired.. if they do get get stroppy.. ask to speak to the head honcho and explain that your wish is to be rembursed and get your life back on track.. they are normally very good..

 

[hardtop]

your own insurance will deal with the claim. if you get any requests for info pass it to your own insurance to reply on your behalf never talk to the other partys ins your self any mail ect read & pass on to your ins to deal with

 

[stuartmac]

Hi Simon,

Had my first ever car crash yesterday.

Scary. My commiserations.

anybody have any ideas how long it will be for the insurers to sort all of this out?

How long is a piece of string - there are some really good insurance companies out there are there are some truly useless ones.

If the other driver was insured by a good one, and she's told them the truth, you could have 'em 'phoning you up tomorrow offering to sort everything out. That was the experience MissusMac had with Direct Line when another driver scraped our Merc's wing in a parking accident.

Otoh, about two-and-a-half years ago, also in car park, another car hit MissusMac's CR-V and then drove off. Despite independent witnesses getting the other car's reg., it was over a year before her insurance company began proceedings against the other driver. And I had to 'firmly' mention the words 'Insurance Ombudsman' several times before her insurance company agreed not to leave the claim as 'unresolved' (so it counted against her NCB) come renewal time. In this particular case, it helped both that she'd bought the insurance through a broker (who should be on your side in any dispute with the insurers themselves) and I'm deeply cynical about (born of long experience with) insurance companies.

Finally, in the current financial climate, expect horribly little money for your W124.

How do they work out guilt?

The two insurance companies will sort that out between themselves. That the police attended, so they should have collected witness statements, and the other vehicle was turning right are good indicators that the other driver is likely to be blamed. However, if the other driver lies and there were few, or no, independent witnesses, expect it to get messy.

Nevertheless, keep on your insurers' case - every time you 'phone them, ask them to explain what's going on and when the next thing is expected to happen. Note this and 'phone them again at that time then, if it hasn't happened, it's flagged to be chased up. Above all, don't leave it weeks and weeks; even in the best-run claims depts., mistakes can be made and files overlooked - just don't let it happen to your claim.

Should this affect my no claims bonus?

Yes and no. Assuming you're insured Fully Comp., your insurance company will be paying out for things like the recovery and, if your car's a write-off, they'll pay you its value, less your agreed excess.

The key legal point to remember is that's your insurance company paying you - as long as they don't recover their costs from the other driver's insurer, it's your claim so your NCB will be affected.

Another stage of the process is your insurer getting their costs back from the other driver's insurer. If the latter put their hands up, accept blame and reimburse your insurer, then your NCB won't be affected. However, as long as your insurer has costs outstanding, it'll affect your NCB entitlement - something to remember if renewal time comes up and the claim isn't settled.

Finally here, be aware that many insurers don't pursue any claim on your behalf - say, for the excess they deduct from any payout to you. Check when you speak to 'em because, even if you're insured for things like that, it could mean a separate claim with another insurer.

I don't actually know what happened to my car as I was carted off in an ambulance; I assume the police towed it away.

As the police attended, they will have arranged recovery to a safe storage area; they might well have contacted your insurer to have it collected too. In any event, the police should be contacting your for a statement about the accident.

Hth.

Regards,

 

[dragon]

I stay off the road after reverting to GMT, as accidents are very common. I had one 13 years ago taking my son to ASDA to buy comic, the Sierra was written off against an Audi 80. The Audi 80 hasn't got a crumple zone and still intact. My Sierra because of the crumple zone protected us from injury. Took them 6 months to sort it out and have to paid storage and kept it in my garage for a couple of months but got back my pittance and the storage charge. This gave me a lesson not to pay too much for insurance.

 

[Splatt]

I try to stay of the roads between 3-30 and 4-30 as the mothers are collecting from school and have had some brown incidents with them driving on the wrong side of the road while looking over their shoulder to harangue the brats. Even worse they all drive Chelsea Tractors. One did write off the son-in-laws car a few weeks ago.