Hello,
Was wondering if anyone could offer any advice as everyone on OCUK is usually able to offer wise/sage advice. Apologies for the long read but this is the 1st time i've been in an accident so a bit clueless.
Passed my test June 2010, 30yrs old. Had 2001 Fiesta 1.25 zetec. On the 14th December i was driving up a road just in a straight line in my lane at approx 30mph and approx 30 meteres ahead of me there is a turning onto this road and there is a junction for traffic to join with give way signs/marking etc. No lights, just give way to traffic already on the road.
There was a middle aged lady sitting at this junction to perform a right turn onto my road (she would be headed in the opposite direction to me) as i've passed her she has for no reason decided that she wishes to carry out her right turn through my passenger side as i'm passing her. This changes my course of direction, i narrowly miss a head on collision with oncoming traffic as she shoots me across the other side of the road and up the pavement again narrowly missing parked cars.
She caved in my front passenger side wheels/door and has frontal damage to her car. The lady got out of her car, cried a lot, kept saying soething about her son being in hospital never spoke to me or swopped details and as i was getting details from 2 independent witnesses who saw it and said they would back me up if the lady disputes liability by the time i had these details she had vanished.
Luckily someone in the traffic jam at the time came over and asked if the 3rd party had given me her details, i advised no, this lady at the scene then said i know where she lives and gave me her address. I then had to go round to this address myself and it was the correct address. The 3rd party would not come to the door but sent her husband out and he said basically cut her some slack, she's mentally unwell and on medication. I said regardless i need your insurance details and got them out of him in the end.
I am with Asda online car insurance, (i have TPFT) who took my details and put me through to Helphire who intiially seemed quite good and arranged for a courtesy car for me and said don't worry we will make the 3rd party insruance pay.
They wrote the car off just before xmas as they said approx £3k damage and only worth £1500 which is about right. No issues there. They sent me a letter last week saying do i accept this valuation, i did, signed it and sent back last week.
My Fiesta was collected Friday 7th Jan 2011 and they advised me it has been classed as Cat C and wil be put to auction. No issue there.
I took use of the courtesy car on 16th December and had it 2 weeks. The took the CC back off me because when i rang for an update they said the 3rd party has lodged a dispute claiming the accident was my fault as she says i was indicating to go left (i wasnt) therefore that is why she drove into me. They advised it best for me to have the CC sent back to them as i am not fully comp and if the decision goes against me from that date (30th dec) onwards i would have to pay hire charges so i said just have it back, i'll get a bus pass.
The road she was waiting at is not a standard road. The left lane i was (according to her) turning into is seperated by a triangular junction with trees and a walkway so that pedestrians can cross half the road. The distance between where she waiting and where she said i was turning into is approx 15/20 metres.
Helphire sent me out some paperwork asking me to fill out a statement and a diagram of the events of what happened. They have also confirmed they cannot get hold of 1 of the 2 witnesses but the other witness has confirmed i was not indicating and that the 3rd party just drove into the side of me.
CHasing them again today and they are saying they are awaiting this witness to provide a diagram and written statement.
THis is now rouhgly a month since the accident and i have no car or cheque to buy a new one as the claim is ongoing.
It seems to me that the 3rd party is obviously at fault and Helphire have a witness statement even if verbal backing up what i have told them. All these delays are extremely frustrating
Is there anyway i can take this forward?? Is there a proper complaints process for car insurance disputes?
Can i contact the 3rd party insurer??
Any help/advice much appreciated, thanks for taking them time if you read this far!
Was wondering if anyone could offer any advice as everyone on OCUK is usually able to offer wise/sage advice. Apologies for the long read but this is the 1st time i've been in an accident so a bit clueless.
Passed my test June 2010, 30yrs old. Had 2001 Fiesta 1.25 zetec. On the 14th December i was driving up a road just in a straight line in my lane at approx 30mph and approx 30 meteres ahead of me there is a turning onto this road and there is a junction for traffic to join with give way signs/marking etc. No lights, just give way to traffic already on the road.
There was a middle aged lady sitting at this junction to perform a right turn onto my road (she would be headed in the opposite direction to me) as i've passed her she has for no reason decided that she wishes to carry out her right turn through my passenger side as i'm passing her. This changes my course of direction, i narrowly miss a head on collision with oncoming traffic as she shoots me across the other side of the road and up the pavement again narrowly missing parked cars.
She caved in my front passenger side wheels/door and has frontal damage to her car. The lady got out of her car, cried a lot, kept saying soething about her son being in hospital never spoke to me or swopped details and as i was getting details from 2 independent witnesses who saw it and said they would back me up if the lady disputes liability by the time i had these details she had vanished.
Luckily someone in the traffic jam at the time came over and asked if the 3rd party had given me her details, i advised no, this lady at the scene then said i know where she lives and gave me her address. I then had to go round to this address myself and it was the correct address. The 3rd party would not come to the door but sent her husband out and he said basically cut her some slack, she's mentally unwell and on medication. I said regardless i need your insurance details and got them out of him in the end.
I am with Asda online car insurance, (i have TPFT) who took my details and put me through to Helphire who intiially seemed quite good and arranged for a courtesy car for me and said don't worry we will make the 3rd party insruance pay.
They wrote the car off just before xmas as they said approx £3k damage and only worth £1500 which is about right. No issues there. They sent me a letter last week saying do i accept this valuation, i did, signed it and sent back last week.
My Fiesta was collected Friday 7th Jan 2011 and they advised me it has been classed as Cat C and wil be put to auction. No issue there.
I took use of the courtesy car on 16th December and had it 2 weeks. The took the CC back off me because when i rang for an update they said the 3rd party has lodged a dispute claiming the accident was my fault as she says i was indicating to go left (i wasnt) therefore that is why she drove into me. They advised it best for me to have the CC sent back to them as i am not fully comp and if the decision goes against me from that date (30th dec) onwards i would have to pay hire charges so i said just have it back, i'll get a bus pass.
The road she was waiting at is not a standard road. The left lane i was (according to her) turning into is seperated by a triangular junction with trees and a walkway so that pedestrians can cross half the road. The distance between where she waiting and where she said i was turning into is approx 15/20 metres.
Helphire sent me out some paperwork asking me to fill out a statement and a diagram of the events of what happened. They have also confirmed they cannot get hold of 1 of the 2 witnesses but the other witness has confirmed i was not indicating and that the 3rd party just drove into the side of me.
CHasing them again today and they are saying they are awaiting this witness to provide a diagram and written statement.
THis is now rouhgly a month since the accident and i have no car or cheque to buy a new one as the claim is ongoing.
It seems to me that the 3rd party is obviously at fault and Helphire have a witness statement even if verbal backing up what i have told them. All these delays are extremely frustrating
Is there anyway i can take this forward?? Is there a proper complaints process for car insurance disputes?
Can i contact the 3rd party insurer??
Any help/advice much appreciated, thanks for taking them time if you read this far!
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