DJD200
Member
- Joined
- 7 Jan 2014
- Messages
- 91
Hi all
In January I was hit from behind while waiting/giving way at a roundabout. To cut a long story short, my car has been deemed beyond economical repair. The bumper is damaged, and the panel behind is also damaged. Otherwise the car is roadworthy, and not dangerous. I also have a personal injury claim ongoing due to having been diagnosed with whiplash.
My insurance company is saying it is their policy to take the car for a payment, also they will only proceed with the claim if I accept this offer, and they only have verbal acceptance of liability from the third party (I have had nothing of the sort in writing and it doesn't look like I will get such). This leaves me at risk of losing my no claims and my premiums going up if the third party insurance decides not to accept full liability. I don't appear to have any other option, I feel I am being backed into a corner, therefore I'm wondering on the best course of action, do I:
1) accept the payment and let the car go (I'm told this will not affect my PI claim in any way but it will obviously be very time consuming and involving for me to have to look for another car and sort insurance, etc.,
2) challenge the policy by taking the car to my local garage and getting a written quote (also maybe a pre-MOT to see if it would be worth keeping at all) to possible prove it would be cheaper for me to keep the car,
3) tell the insurance company to forget the claim and keep the car (if the policy cannot be challenged and if I even still would have that option now its been written off so to speak)
I know the obvious answer is take the money and run, but not knowing how much time I would be allowed to decide, I don't see why I should have to rush going through the process of buying another car and risking buying a bad car. IF the solicitors say I can claim it back, I could take a couple of days off unpaid. I intend to ask them that tomorrow.
Would appreciate any advice from those in the know.
DJ
In January I was hit from behind while waiting/giving way at a roundabout. To cut a long story short, my car has been deemed beyond economical repair. The bumper is damaged, and the panel behind is also damaged. Otherwise the car is roadworthy, and not dangerous. I also have a personal injury claim ongoing due to having been diagnosed with whiplash.
My insurance company is saying it is their policy to take the car for a payment, also they will only proceed with the claim if I accept this offer, and they only have verbal acceptance of liability from the third party (I have had nothing of the sort in writing and it doesn't look like I will get such). This leaves me at risk of losing my no claims and my premiums going up if the third party insurance decides not to accept full liability. I don't appear to have any other option, I feel I am being backed into a corner, therefore I'm wondering on the best course of action, do I:
1) accept the payment and let the car go (I'm told this will not affect my PI claim in any way but it will obviously be very time consuming and involving for me to have to look for another car and sort insurance, etc.,
2) challenge the policy by taking the car to my local garage and getting a written quote (also maybe a pre-MOT to see if it would be worth keeping at all) to possible prove it would be cheaper for me to keep the car,
3) tell the insurance company to forget the claim and keep the car (if the policy cannot be challenged and if I even still would have that option now its been written off so to speak)
I know the obvious answer is take the money and run, but not knowing how much time I would be allowed to decide, I don't see why I should have to rush going through the process of buying another car and risking buying a bad car. IF the solicitors say I can claim it back, I could take a couple of days off unpaid. I intend to ask them that tomorrow.
Would appreciate any advice from those in the know.
DJ