Hit & run

Lostkat · 10 Apr 2008 at 08:28

I was in a hit and run accident yesterday outside my house. The guy fled the scene, but was apprehended down the road by the police still trying to drive the car away. Turns out he was an uninsured driver with no license. The car belonged to his girlfriend. The police gave me his details and informed me that they suggested no further action, but they would deal with his other offences separately.

The repair garage called me yesterday to talk about a collection and as soon as I mentioned that the airbags had deployed, they wrote it off. I expected it because it was a head on collision and it's a complete mess.

However, I've been told that I won't get a hire car as it's a write off and they have no one to claim it back off. They also tried to make it a fault incident, but I said I don't feel at fault because of the above, plus the fact that he was overtaking some parked cars at speed (it's 30mph) when he hit me. They've told me that I'm entitled to legal support to make a personal claim off the moron who was driving, yet I still can't have a hire car.

Does anyone know where I stand with this?

Dogbreath · 10 Apr 2008 at 08:42

Speak to the Motor Insurance Bureau, they help to compensate victims of uninsured drivers.

Lostkat · 10 Apr 2008 at 08:45

I had a look on their page last night and they seem to be the last option after not getting anywhere with insurance. As I'm not sure what the situation is yet with insurance, is it a bit premature to be going to MIB or can I do it in conjunction with my insurance claim?

Dogbreath · 10 Apr 2008 at 09:24

The point is that if you claim from your own insurance, MIB will not get involved. You will lose your NC (unless protected) and you will have a claim put down against you. The MIB obviously would prefer that you claim through your own insurance if possible, but you don't have to. The only problem with using the MIB is that it can take a long time to sort claims out, which may not be acceptable in your position. However, it's probably worth a call to discuss this with them over the phone.

You can file a claim against the scrote, but that chances are quite high that he has little or no money so will be paying any damages awarded off at 50p a week

Stinky · 10 Apr 2008 at 09:27

not the s14??? :eek:

Lostkat · 10 Apr 2008 at 09:34

No, the S14a

Dead

My insurance company told me yesterday that the car was actually insured. The police said the driver wasn't insured though. He was borrowing it off his girlfriend.

I rang the MIB just now for some advice and they told me that if the car was insured, then under the Road Traffic Act my insurance company can make a claim against whoever is insuring it.

I think/hope that's good news and wish Sainsburys had explained this to me. However, he also said I need to be patient, which is something I don't have time for. I have an 18 mile drive to work which cannot be reached by bus/train and absolutely no way of getting there.

Argh

Muncher · 10 Apr 2008 at 09:39

Lostkat said:
I rang the MIB just now for some advice and they told me that if the car was insured, then under the Road Traffic Act my insurance company can make a claim against whoever is insuring it.

I think/hope that's good news and wish Sainsburys had explained this to me. However, he also said I need to be patient, which is something I don't have time for. I have an 18 mile drive to work which cannot be reached by bus/train and absolutely no way of getting there.

Argh

Quite right Kate.

Give Europa Consultants a call, they should be able to sort you out with a hire car pretty quickly. I used them before and one of their directors is a friend of mine.

www.europaconsultants.co.uk

Phate · 10 Apr 2008 at 09:43

Tom showed me the pic of the S14a and told me the story last night.

Really feel for you Kate

this sort of stuff always happens to folk that don't deserve it. Hope you get it sorted out soon.

Stinky · 10 Apr 2008 at 09:50

gutted, that s14a was stunning

Tomsk · 10 Apr 2008 at 09:52

The girlfriend could be liable if she knew he had no insurance yet still allowed him to drive her car. Ask the police if they will persue this line of inquiry as it could help your case.

Gaijin · 10 Apr 2008 at 09:59

Argh, you are having a ******* laugh. I'm really sorry to hear this Kate, was a really nice example. Really hope this gets sorted out soon, and well.

Situations like this really **** me off, some little ***** has no insurance and the victim gets shafted. I'd suggest that you do try and take him to court if possible and take him for every penny he has. After there is a chance, however small, that he doesnt do this every week and will pay out.

Absolute gutted for you. What a ****** ****.

All the best and needless to say - you MUST get another.

Lostkat · 10 Apr 2008 at 10:04

Just called Sainsburys again and they told me that I'm not entitled to a courtesy car because it's a write off. Full stop. The guy really couldn't have been much more of a ******** if he tried

What the hell am I supposed to do?

My brother has a 306 DTurbo which he has offered to put through its MOT for me so I can drive it, but I'm not sure how long that's going to take and I need to get to work.

If anyone wants to see the carnage. Here she is:

I know the most important thing is that I'm alive etc., but I bloody love that car

Gutted just doesn't even begin to describe how I feel. Thanks for the sympathy.

Lashout_UK · 10 Apr 2008 at 10:09

Sorry to hear that. Looks like you were lucky too! Hope you don't suffer any ill effects!

Some people....

Bear · 10 Apr 2008 at 10:31

Oh no, really sorry to hear about this as I know how much you liked the car

Glad to hear you arent hurt though, did the seat belt pre tensioners fire as they apparently can hurt quite badly.

paradigm · 10 Apr 2008 at 10:32

Lostkat said:
What the hell am I supposed to do?

This is exactly why I had to buy the 3-series rather than get straight on and fixing the Leon.

The way I saw it, buy a cheap car for £1000~ that won't lose any value whilst I have it for a few months, then sell it on.

Granted, I had the initial outlay, but technically I shouldn't "lose" anything, unlike hiring.

Gutted for you though, that car was stunning

SB118 · 10 Apr 2008 at 10:37

Lostkat said:
Just called Sainsburys again and they told me that I'm not entitled to a courtesy car because it's a right off. Full stop. The guy really couldn't have been much more of a ******** if he tried What the hell am I supposed to do?

Tell Sainsburys to poke it and get onto a 3rd party company if you can. Dunno if you can at this stage now you've got your own insurance firm involved.

Gutting about the car, it was tidy.

rG-tom · 10 Apr 2008 at 10:39

when i spoke to the company dealing with my claim, they said that if my car is a write off i will be in a hire car until the cheque has cleared into my bank account? Can't believe sainsburies are being such *****

Muncher · 10 Apr 2008 at 10:42

Lostkat said:
What the hell am I supposed to do?

Call Europa Consultants! They'll get you a courtesy car and bill it to the third party insurers.

Confused · 10 Apr 2008 at 10:46

Goddamnit Kate

Your S14a was stunning - it's always the innocent parties who get shafted in situations like this

I hope you get this sorted ASAP

Oh, and glad to hear you're OK, too

Lostkat · 10 Apr 2008 at 10:48

Bear said:
Oh no, really sorry to hear about this as I know how much you liked the car Glad to hear you arent hurt though, did the seat belt pre tensioners fire as they apparently can hurt quite badly.

Yeah they must have because I have an achy chest and gut ache. Not too bad though. The main damage was done by the airbag, which has given me a big friction burn on my chin. Luckily I wasn't going very fast... unlike him