As mentioned in another thread, a lorry slid on black ice into my wife's parked car and pushed it down a hill until a lamp post stopped both vehicles. My wife was not in the car at the time, having parked it just 5 or so minutes previously.
I thought it would be interesting to keep a diary of events as to how this unfolded, especially as this is the first time we have ever had to claim on car insurance. Its also handy to be able to refer to if required at a later date. I will try and keep it as factual as possible and be non judgemental but when it comes to ambulance chasers I don't have much patience!
7 Dec 2012 07:25
Lorry slides on black ice, down a hill and takes my wife's car with it.
After exchanging details etc, phone and report the accident to our insurer, Admiral.
Pass all the details on to Admiral who then pass me onto their claims company called Albany Assistance Ltd as it looks clear cut that this is 100% the fault of the other driver.
Albany take all the details again and arrange for a hire car. As part of this process they insist on speaking to both myself and my wife individually to obtain all our details and to set up a conference call with DVLA to confirm licence details. This takes the best part of 40 minutes all in.
7 Dec 10:56
Albany then send us an email with pdfs attached for the terms and conditions that we need to complete an online declaration to say that we are happy with these.
7 Dec 12:36
Albany confirm that that they have received my online confirmation.
7 Dec 15:00
The recovery truck arrives at our house to collect the damaged car even though we clearly stated that the car was still where the accident happened as it was stuck and undriveable.
7 Dec 15:30
Recovery driver phones to advise us that there is no such address that we have given him (even though there is and he subsequently finds it)
7 Dec 16:00
Courtesy car is delivered, a 5 door Corsa
7 Dec 16:15
I receive a call on my mobile from Lyons Davidsons solicitors. I explain there are no injuries, there was no one in the car at the time. They sound disappointed. They want to speak to my wife. I tell them to phone her on her mobile number.
8 Dec 11:00
Solicitors phone the house but get no answer.
10 Dec 10:55
Solicitors phone my mobile and leave a message for my wife.
11 Dec 09:30
I visit bodyshop to see car which is up on lift. Bodyshop man advises that they had sent their report off yesterday with a whole load of accompanying photos. In his opinion he thinks the car will be written off as
a. 9 year old car
b. So much panel damage that once these are replaced, the car will effectively need a full respray
c. There is evidence of suspension damage and the rear wheel has been twisted into the bodywork when it hit the lamp post.
Man is very nice , general chat suggests he has personal experience with my wife's work (a hospice) and advises me that he will contact me if he hears anything back, will ensure the car goes nowhere until I have confirmed re plate transfer and if car is confirmed a write off, if I want to swap any tyres then I can do so (wife's car has all seasons on front which have only done about 5k miles).
11 Dec 14:00
Claim assistance company for the lorry insurance phone my wife's work to speak to her. I call them back and they are phoning to see if we had instigated repairs yet and I advise we have.
12 Dec
Receive letter from Admiral confirming that they have passed our details onto Lyons Davidsons solicitors who will deal with any claims on our behalf. Their documentation advises that Lyons Davidsons will pay Admiral up to £900 as a referral fee. All documentation enclosed is heavily weighted towards claiming for injuries etc etc.
Receive letter from Albany Assistance advising of the name and address of the repairer that the car has been taken to. They also enclose a Vehicle Repair Finance Agreement and a Credit Protection Policy from Helphire which we need to complete and return. Now, as part of my job I need to be able to read Property Leases and understand them so I don't think I am totally thick but I have had to read these agreements a few times before I can understand what they are about. If my understanding is correct I have:
Vehicle Repair Finance Agreement - "When your vehicle has been damaged in an accident which is not your fault this agreement allows you to delay paying for repairs while the Third Party's insurer is pursued for payment. You will enter into a repair contract with a Bodyshop and will be responsible for its charges in the usual way, but We will finance those charges for you, allowing you credit for a period of up to 49 weeks while we pursue the Third Party on your behalf for payment."
so in other words, we will not attempt any repairs until the third party do so but in the meantime we will run up a bill for your hire car and associated costs. Now if my car was repairable I would be pretty hacked off as I would have assumed Admiral would have instructed the repairs and then separately claimed off the other driver. But it would appear that they will just sit and wait until the other party instigate repairs. But no mention of what happens when car is written off which is the likely outcome in this case.
Credit Protection Policy - "this provides cover to indemnify you against vehicle hire and repair charges to your vehicle............"
Receive Letter from Lyons Davidsons solicitors. Their covering letter advises that as required by Law Society of Scotland, they need proof of id from us. This is before they then go on to advise me to complete the attached 23 page form / questionnaire all about the accident and also enclosing lots of literature explaining all the things that can be claimed for if anyone has received an injury, right down to if you normally do your own DIY and can't then you can employ someone to do it for you and claim it back.!
So I don't actually know whether I am obliged to complete all this paperwork if there is no injury! As things stand, I see my claim as being
a. The repair or write off value of the car as and when that is decided
b. The excess if I am asked to pay this or have it deducted from my premium
c. The hire car charges
d. The potential cost of putting the number plate on retention with the DVLA.
I will email them for clarification.
I may be very naive and I know I am inexperienced with this sort of thing, but when I had comprehensive insurance and a clear no blame accident, I always thought this meant that my insurance company would deal with everything in a timeous fashion and I paid them my premiums to do this. I did not realise that what they actually do is just pass all my details onto other companies who pay them for the privilege, and then all the paperwork is landed back in my lap to deal with. I don't know if all Ins companies act this way now or this is where you get the service your premium bought?
Anyway will keep this updated with developments for both my own record, and for anyone who is interested!
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