Accident – is wife’s car a write off?

Five_Star

Five_Star

Five_Star

Associate
Joined
20 Oct 2002
Posts
1,127
Location
Redcar
Somebody has driven into the wifes car while she was on the way home, thankfully she is ok. It seems from speaking to her and the witnesses that she had turned out of a side street into a queue of traffic, aiming for a gap as the wife was coming the other way. Obviously she couldn’t get out of the way and the impact pushed our car into a poor bloke who was sat the queue on the other side of the road. He is ok and his car drove away but had damaged lights and bumper. The Girl who caused the accident has badly damaged on the front but still drivable. The wifes car as seen below wasn’t drivable, seems the passenger door was bent shut and the left side wheel pushed under the car. Interestingly the air bags didn’t go off, I assume because she was hit on the side and not at the front?

I’ve taken pictures of all the cars involved, the road and junction and of all the people involved as well as got all their details. Thankfully a lady stopped to assist and both she and the lad who was hit after the accident have said it was the other drivers fault.

Having never been in an accident before I’m a little unsure what happens next or what I should do.

1. Have phoned the insurance company and reported the accident, but as we don’t have a hire car on our policy we don’t get one automatically, I asked why we can’t get one from the person who caused the accident and Direct line said because they need to establish blame, how long does this take?

2. What is the chance of a repair; it’s a 52 plate 1.8 Focus in reasonable condition but has been repaired at the front before?

3. I assume the driver of the 3rd car the lad will claim off the young girl who caused the accident and not us?

4. Should I call help hire? What will they be able to do for us?

I’ve already been contacted by the insurance company of the lad, who said they will report that it was not my wife’s fault if we do the same for him, I assume this is standard practice? I do feel sorry for him as he did nothing wrong at all and got hit by the aftermath.

The wife is very upset by this as she really liked the car, she is in the bath trying to relax as she is quite shaken and sore.

Many thanks


 
Last edited:
If your wife is at all injured and/or suspects anyone else might be, make sure you call the police and report the accident.
 
I think she is just shaken, the police station is just up the road for anybody who knows Middlesbrough and it was reported to them at the time.
Some street wardens wanted to call an ambulance but she said she didn't want one, she really isn't the type to suffer I just think its more the shock of it as first she was scared, now she is just angry that somebody drove into her!
 
Hmm that'll be touch and go. I'd say that will probably be repaired but depends on engine compartment and what got pushed back in there.
 
NathanE said:
I believe that, unfortuantely, the 3rd car will need to claim off of you :/
Click to expand...

Umm, that’s going to be a pain. I guess if it comes to it we can argue that it was the other driver that caused the initial accident so should be liable for any resulting damage?

Any ideas on the hire car front? What will help hire do for us as looking on Enterprise website we can hire a Ford Ka for £240 until the end of the month which isn’t great.
 
Five_Star said:
Umm, that’s going to be a pain. I guess if it comes to it we can argue that it was the other driver that caused the initial accident so should be liable for any resulting damage?
Click to expand...

yeah, I think your insurers will just add their claim to yours and put both agains the person causing the accident
 
Defcon5 said:
yeah, I think your insurers will just add their claim to yours and put both agains the person causing the accident
Click to expand...

providing you've got witness;

independant ones at that. If you've got a witness that says the other person was at fault, then you'll be fine

but the way you worded your post, your other sounds at fault for pulling into oncomming traffic, unless ive read it wrong ?
 
Five_Star said:
Any ideas on the hire car front? What will help hire do for us as looking on Enterprise website we can hire a Ford Ka for £240 until the end of the month which isn’t great.
Click to expand...

You can buy an old Fiesta for that much with 6months tax on, it will work out cheaper than a hire car.
 
MrLOL said:
providing you've got witness;

independant ones at that. If you've got a witness that says the other person was at fault, then you'll be fine

but the way you worded your post, your other sounds at fault for pulling into oncomming traffic, unless ive read it wrong ?
Click to expand...

Dawn on the map to illustrate it better, I’ve had a very rushed night, not only did we have the accident to deal with one of our colo servers died at I was trying to fix it while on the phone to insurance, I wonder what’s next?

Chain of events is as follows,

1. wife is driving down hill past stationary traffic.
2. person at fault tries to get into queue of traffic without looking right at the on coming traffic
3. person at fault hits our car as my wife slams on the breaks and gets punted into the guy sat in traffic

mapwi1.jpg
 
That's tricky, quite a lot of panels are damaged (namely the bumper, wing, door and probably bonnet, as well as the light) so they might write it off :( On the other hand I've seen far worse fixed, so you might be lucky. If not, then you'll be able to find another Focus just like it for your wife :)
 
Thanks for all the replies people, it really is a stressful time and I wasn’t even in the accident.
It is a bit over the border for people who know Middlesbrough, it's getting better, but I still wouldn’t walk the streets at night round here. It's actually where I work, next door to the Police station behind the Bongo club.

I’ve been on the phone to help hire too, they are excellent. They’re going to sort out a hire car today (direct line wouldn’t until the 3rd party admits liability and who knows how long that could take) They were pleased that we have an independent witness so hopefully this whole process shouldn’t take too long.

Is there anything I’ve forgotten or should look out for with the repair / possible write off situation?
 
Awesome, HelpHire have delivered the hire car already, we got a Golf 2.0 TDI, full leather etc it's really cheered the wife up. I’m really impressed with how easy and fast they made it.

Only problem now is she is hoping they’ll bin off her old Focus so she can get a Golf!
 
i would say that is a defo write-off. too many panels to fix plus a new door and some hefty damage to the inside of the engine bay.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom