Car insurance question

[SayCoolNowSayWhip]

DH was driven in to by a elderly lady who is refusing to take responsibility. There was a witness to the incident. We don't have fully comp insurance, only third party.

Our insurance company has told us that our best option is to accept the offer by the woman's insurance company which, although still refusing to take responsibility, has offered us a hire car and the value of our car pre-crash.

Is it normal for insurance companies to tell you to take offers rather than go through the normal channels of a claim, and why should DH have to call the third party insurance himself?

Sorry if this is confusing! It is to us as well.... Would appreciate any advice.

[Collaborate]

You've only paid for insurance to cover you if you're at fault and you have to pay compensation out. Did you opt for legal expenses cover too?

If neither of you were injured you can't claim more than they've offered. Unless you have legal expenses cover your insurer has nothing to do with the accident.

[greenfolder]

The other insurer has offered to give you a hire car and pay the value of your vehicle? I don't understand what you are asking.

[specialsubject]

you don't have to call the other insurer, just yours.

seems a reasonable offer - how long is the hire car for?

not that it would make any difference, but be aware that fully comp can often be cheaper than third party.

[TensionWheelsCoolHeels]

It sounds to me like they are agreeing to deal with your claim in full, on a without prejudice basis. That basically means they are aware their insured isn't accepting blame, so they aren't admitting liability. However, they won't risk you litigating to settle your claim/go along with their insured's stance because they don't think there is merit to her protestations of innocence and they would much rather control the cost of the claim than leave you to rack up huge costs etc. It also leaves their insured to take and fund their own action on her damage, should she feel strongly enough about it (or put another way, if she is faced with funding her own claim against your DH because her ins co won't back her/pursue it for her, she'll likely drop her protestations grudgingly because she's unlikely to push for that if she's paying for it personally).

If you don't have any legal expenses cover included on your policy, then you basically have no one to act for you/pursue your claim against the other insurer. There isn't a problem dealing with her ins co direct, they'll be looking to settle your claim as quickly and cost effectively as possible, with the minimum amount of inconvenience to you (as that costs money too). If it means you get your car fixed, and are given a replacement car while this happens, you won't get a better deal by getting someone else to arrange that for you.

[SayCoolNowSayWhip]

Excellent, thanks so much for the replies. I just wanted some more information - it's the first crash my DH has been involved in in 23 years of driving so he's just never had to deal with insurance etc.
We just wanted to make sure we weren't going to be hit with hidden charges once we'd agreed to the deal iyswim.

Another question - why would fully comp be cheaper than third party?