car accident advice please

[jimmyk83]

hi, need some advice please on an accident that happened yesterday. Basically i stopped fairly sharply at a zebra crossing and a lady behind hit me, quite hard. Damage is some crumpled bodywork at the rear, number plate smashed etc. Car still perfectly driveable.

 

As far as im concerned its a clear case of being the fault of the third party. I was under the impression that i have to pay an excess, however my father has advised me and seems adamant i should not have to as it wasnt my fault. Is there anyway i can not pay it?

 

Also, if i do have to pay it, it may have to wait a month or so as i havent got the 500 quid needed at the moment. Will the insurers be ok with this?

 

I also (foolishly) declined courtesy car option on my premium. Does anyone know how much one is likely to cost? And how long my car is likely to be off the road? Any advice appreciated, and sorry if these are basic questions, im not exactly knowledgable in this area

[mattaius]

Depends on your insurance policy, check it to see if you're entitled to a courtesy car. It is the fault of the third party as she should have ensured there was enough distance to stop in case of an emergency.

 

You will have to pay your excess in order for your insurance company to pursue your claim for damages to your car and your personal injuries.

 

You could get a hire car but I'd advise you to get a very cheap one, keep all receipts and once the third party has been deemed liable, you will be re-imbursed.

[Mossycat]

You don't pay an excess to your insurers you pay it to the repairers when you collect your car after repairs.

 

Regardless of who's fault the accident is you still have to pay the excess, if the accident was not your fault then you recover your excess (and any other uninsured losses) from the other person.

 

If you don't have the money to cover the excess then get a pro-forma invoice from the garage for the excess and send that to the other person for payment before repairs are complete

 

Mossy

[jimmyk83]

thanks for your replies.

 

Mossy- ive never heard of this pro-forma thing, just had a quick google of it. Can you tell me if ive got the right idea of what will happen.

 

phone my insurers, get their recomended repairer. Go to that garage and ask for a proforma invoice for 500 pounds (thats my excess). Send this to diamond (the third party insurer). Wait for them to respond. Once theyve agreed to pay, take my car into the garage, they repair, i pay nothing. Pay for a hire/courtesy car out of my own pocket, since courtesy car is not included in my policy. Claim back cost of hire car from diamond.

 

Where does personal injury claim fit into this?

 

Sorry if ive got any of this wrong, as i said im rather inexperienced in these matters. Appreciate your time

[Mossycat]

OK a pro forma invoice is given out BEFORE repairs begin or are completed.

 

It's fairly standard in the motor trade / insurance world.

 

Your personal injuries don't fit into this and are part of your other uninsured losses that I mentioned in my earlier post.

 

The reason you need the pro forma is because you don't have the money up front to pay your excess, this is how you get it from the other side up front. Ask them for an interim payment and then deal with other uninsured losses later.

 

As for personal injuries, seek a local solicitor who specialises in personal injury, you won't have any fee to pay because they will recover their fees from the other side.

 

Other than that you've pretty much got the jist of what to do.

 

Mossy

[jimmyk83]

ok, many thanks once again mossy

[mattaius]

You have a private message Jimmy.