Neighbour smashed his car through my car, my wall and next doors house. Looking for advice on his CF insurance company.

[Havingasmashingtime]

I’m looking for advice or a ‘what would you do’ type response.

Summer 2022 I paid quite a lot of money (for me) for a resin driveway and a new fancy wall to make the front of my house look nice.

November 2023 I buy a new car

December 2023 my neighbour reversed his car into his drive but his slipper slipped of his foot and he ended up smashing his car at speed through my car (which bounced off my partners van) through my new wall (sob) and into my other neighbours bay window.

(FYI- he’s never once said the word sorry but hey ho)

so- his car insurance paid out for my car (eventually and after offering a low amount)

they have just this month agreed to pay the cost to rebuild the wall (again after a lot of faff)

but my reisin driveway they are refusing. Basically his car has dragged mine from one end of it to the other but also the avalanche of bricks also caused damage to it.
hes also chipped the bricks of the door steps.

anyway- I got 3 quotes from resin driveway people and all are basically £10k due to the fact they can’t ’repair Patch’ a resin driveway. They have to put a layer over the top of it.

his insurance company are saying they are not liable to replace old for new and they offer £1000 to clean the driveway.
i have given proof that that won’t make it look how it was but they are not budging.

they tell me I cannot take this to the ombudsman as they are not MY insurance company.

can anyone help me with what to do?
all I want is for my driveway to look how it did before the accident.
I (probably stupidly) spent a lot on the driveway but with the view it would looo good and last a very long time.
now I’m left with a scratched driveway with a few bits missing and a door step with a chunk out of it.

the situation is beginning to stress me out.

thank you in advance for any help or advice.

The person who caused the damage is liable for its restitution. They may wish to get their insurnace to deal with it but if they wont then the liability still rests with them. Advise the insurance company that if they dont settle then you will persue the person who damaged it and then he can try and claim off the insurance company. Worked for me when someone driving a company car damaged ny car, I told I would persue him and the company he was driving for ( as they were responsible for the driver) and ignore them. They paid up in full within a week.

They absolutely CAN try it on for as long as they like till either a) you give up which is their main aim or b) you (or your insurers) take them to court

I discovered this at the tender age of 17 (a long time ago) when a car pulled out of a side turn and knocked me off my bike. Had witnesses galore and clearly was his fault / his myopia /his talking to his passenger, as after the incident he said to me 'Sorry mate I didn't see you' and when I replied he was like 'oh you're not a bloke'
Claimed for bike and tried to get for my injuries as I needed phsyio plus new crash helmet and clothing, but his insurers only paid out for the bike because ' as you haven't got insurance for your helmet or clothing on your bike policy, this means they're not insured so we cannot pay out either'

My mother, a solicitor, was incensed so got a colleague to write an official letter, and almost by return they not only reimbursed helmet and clothing but also paid for physio sessions on my leg, plus legal fees of £300 (would probably be triple that now).

Do you have legal help with your home insurance?