Accident - use insurance or solicitor to sort out repairs?

[Plexman]

Hi all,

A few days ago a car drove into the back of me. Now I have the option of using a solicitor or my insurance company (NIG) to sort out the claim and get the repairs done. Is there any benefit either way?

Cheers.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Do not use your insurance company. Notify them of the accident but tell them not to sort it. Otherwise they will fix the car for you, remove your NCB, log it as a fault claim and THEN set about reclaiming the cost from the third party. Only once they've done this do you get your NCB back, etc etc.

Instead, either do it yourself via the third parties insurer, use a solicitor or use an accident management firm. I dont really understand why you'd want to use a solicitor when an accident management firm is probably better placed to help you.

 

[Hutch]

No real benefit..

Think most insurers will give you a small courtesy car if you use them, but solicitors/accident management companies arrange credit hire, so if you dirve a larger car you will get something equivalent.

The final outcome shouldnt be any different regardless of which option you choose. Oh if you go with your insurance you would have to pay excess and have it reclaimed after.

Edit: Damn fox beat me But yeah use an accident management company. Accident exchange would be my choice.. From the perspective of someone who works for an insurance company claims dept (albeit part time), they are the ones we fear ^^

 

[[TW]Fox]

Every time I've seen an Accident Exchange car it has been like a mobile advert covered in stickers. Why would you want that? I wonder why anyone uses the management companies that do this. I'd far rather chose a management company which isn't going to use me as a billboard.

 

[Plexman]

Thanks for your very quick reply's. Will stick with the solicitor and let my insurance company know.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Who is this solicitor and how have they come into the equation? What are they offering to do for you?

Also make sure you buy a Mondeo.

 

[jamoor]

Don't tie in your insurance company, it's unnecessary headache.

Call europa consultants or helphire or similar.

 

[Hutch]

Every time I've seen an Accident Exchange car it has been like a mobile advert covered in stickers. Why would you want that? I wonder why anyone uses the management companies that do this. I'd far rather chose a management company which isn't going to use me as a billboard.

Dont know anything about this side of things.. They even do that with the porsche they charge 300+ quid a day for?

 

[Scort]

As the guys have already said, don’t go to your insurance company – sadly I was unable to not do this myself, and as such, I am now waiting around for my excess to be repaid and to know whether my no claims is still intact.

Scort.

 

[Plexman]

The solicitors is horwich cohen coghlan http://www.hccsolicitors.com

I brought my policy though express insurance http://www.expressinsurance.co.uk/ and when had the accident I contacted them and they passed my onto horwich cohen coghlan. They may also be sorting out a neck injury claim for me and that's why I think I was passed onto them so they could sort everything out.

At the time I didn't even know you could use other companys to sort out your claims.

 

[gobbo]

I've had the same and are currently dealing with Helphire, so far they've been excellent. I've also heard good stuff about Europa Consultants.

 

[Scort]

The solicitors is horwich cohen coghlan http://www.hccsolicitors.com

I brought my policy though express insurance http://www.expressinsurance.co.uk/ and when had the accident I contacted them and they passed my onto horwich cohen coghlan. They may also be sorting out a neck injury claim for me and that's why I think I was passed onto them so they could sort everything out.

At the time I didn't even know you could use other companys to sort out your claims.

Spooky! Mine is the exact same situation, only I had bike cover with Express

Edit: HCC are only sorting the personal injury out for me, everthing else was dealt with by the underwriter that Express got the policy from.

Scort.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Personally I wouldn't want it being dealt with by anyone related to your insurer. I'd do it all through a third party. Helphire et al.

 

[Plexman]

Spooky! Mine is the exact same situation, only I had bike cover with Express

Edit: HCC are only sorting the personal injury out for me, everthing else was dealt with by the underwriter that Express got the policy from.

Scort.

Small world

 

[Ev0]

As Fox said, I'd firstly go through their insurer, or if they are contesting it go through your legal cover.

The legal cover isnt too bad as it's usually another company seperate from your insurer and they claim their costs in the settlement independantly from your insurer.