My crash story!

andy2k · 25 May 2007 at 02:41

Here is the story,

I was driving to work one morning, i came out from a bend on an NSL country road, a lorry approaching me and two cars overtaking it. There was no time for anything so i swerve out and write off the escort in a ditch. the lorry driver confirms my story, and im not in the wrong.

That was two months ago, my insurance is with Budget and they have instructed a company called CP law, I phone up this company every week to hear " we are still in dispute over liability between the two other drivers, and so basically 9 weeks on, and im still no nearer my payout. My soliter that the insurance have provided says he is waiting for a police report,as they did attend the scene, but this can apparently take upto 6 months. So i have a written off escort blocking my drive way, and im owed about £500.

Any ideas on how i can get this sorted, i feel no-one is taking my case seriously. And its really getting to me now!

Would really appreciate any response,

Andy

paradigm · 25 May 2007 at 07:52

I wouldn't have swerved, very hard for them to dispute a claim when their car is totalled too.

Not sure why they are having trouble working out liability, overtaking is an "at own risk" manoeuver, and the lorry driver has confirmed that both were overtaking in a place evidently not suitable. Have the police said anything?

Poppy · 25 May 2007 at 08:03

paradigm said:
I wouldn't have swerved, very hard for them to dispute a claim when their car is totalled too.

Pretty hard to claim car insurnace when you're dead i think

Baron_Samedi · 25 May 2007 at 08:47

I know where you are at Andy, back in September a geriatric woman in a Honda Jazz crossed the centre line of the road and totalled my car.

Now, the police attended and instantly accused me of crossing the middle of the road and causing the accident.

Fortunately for me, the four cars following her saw what happened and calmed the officer down.

Statement forms were issued, my insurer got a solicitor on the case and guess what, the police report took 8 months to come through!

My solicitor is now waiting again for the third parties insurance to admit liability and pay up the £1200 I am owed.

Oh and the third parties insurance waited until the police report was in before arranging a medico-legal examination...

So, hang on in there, something will happen - you just have to be patient because the police won't be hurried even if you start getting onto them... I know from personal experience.

BTW Paradigm, the only time I wouldn't swerve is if I were driving a Challenger tank...

tblocksom · 25 May 2007 at 08:55

When my car was totalled on the M25 (long time ago now) as part of a 4 car pile-up (quick story: car 1 stops, car 2 (me) stops, car 3 stops but car 4 doesn't, pushing us all in) it took 9 months to get the money from the insurance company. To you and me it seems a simple case of driver 4 paying for everything, but it isn't to the insurance companies. car 4 pays for 3, car 3 pays for car 2, but claims that of car 4, car 2 pays 1 but claims of 3, etc... It almost put me in bankrupcy due to the car hiring fees involved (which again where claimed of car 3). In other words, hang in tight and be prepared to wait a long time for it to be resolved. Especially when there where 2 cars overtaking (which car would you claim from?).

PMKeates · 25 May 2007 at 08:57

6 months? 9 months?

Pah!

I've got a case going from the 27th May.

2005!!

Baron_Samedi · 25 May 2007 at 09:02

Looks like we've got a bit of a wait then!

And my lawyer advises me I won't get interest on the money I have paid out....

ruffneck · 25 May 2007 at 09:09

paradigm said:
I wouldn't have swerved, very hard for them to dispute a claim when their car is totalled too.

you would have prefered a head on collision @ 60mph? :eek:

Phate · 25 May 2007 at 09:15

My claim from November 2006 is still going on.

So shush

Baron_Samedi · 25 May 2007 at 09:15

Been there (well 50mph ) and it ain't nice....

ruffneck · 25 May 2007 at 09:21

still 50mph head on in a £500 ford escort = not good

Baron_Samedi · 25 May 2007 at 09:30

You'll get no disagreement from me on that one - were you hurt seriously?

I walked from mine but my right shoulder and ankle are messed up :-(

paradigm · 25 May 2007 at 09:32

ruffneck said:
you would have prefered a head on collision @ 60mph?

Head on, no, but clip him enough so that he had to stop, yes.

Baron_Samedi · 25 May 2007 at 09:35

Actually that's worse than a head on cos your car would have been raked down the side forcing the drivers wheel into your feet and your right hand side against the drivers door....

A cars protection is against head on and rear end collisions - anything they add for side impact will only make manufacturers brochures look good and not have a great effect in an actual collision.

Akira · 25 May 2007 at 09:36

paradigm said:
Head on, no, but clip him enough so that he had to stop, yes.

rofl

ruffneck · 25 May 2007 at 09:46

paradigm said:
Head on, no, but clip him enough so that he had to stop, yes.

lool

LSPIII · 25 May 2007 at 10:18

PMKeates said:
6 months? 9 months?

Pah!

I've got a case going from the 27th May.

2005!!

I'll go one better... April 2005

Matt82 · 25 May 2007 at 10:47

my thoughts too haha 6 months? if youre lucky.

injury claims have a limitation period of 3 years, monetary claims have a limitation of 6 years.

why not claim from your insurance just to sort it all out and then await the outcome when the responsible driver's insurance takes the brunt.

i find it so hard to beleive they were overtaking so close to a corner etc

alexthecheese · 25 May 2007 at 11:28

paradigm said:
Head on, no, but clip him enough so that he had to stop, yes.

"Meanwhile, back in the real world..."

firstborn · 25 May 2007 at 11:41

Wish I hadn't read this post! My claim is being bounced around everywhere - it's now back with my insurers after 3rd party admitted liability and now, as if by magic, it's not their fault! wtf! I was stopped they drove into back of me..... anyhow looks like i'm in for a long wait.