Car accident - wasn’t our fault advice

[Purpletaco]

So my partner used my car last week as his was in the garage (he has a policy where he can drive any car with owner permission) which he did. The accident was a work van going into the side of him on the island, they have admitted full responsibility. The man’s boss contacted my partner the day of the incident and has sent the email he sent to there insurance company where they have stated what happened and admitted it was their fault etc. It has been a week and my partner hasn’t received any contact from there insurance, he has emailed the worker and they have responded there on holiday and have him the lady’s email who is dealing with this he has emailed her and she is out of office to the end of the month.. Is it normally a long process? Does it happen to be longer if jts a work company insurance? As my partner has his car but even though I still have my car all my side is really badly dented snd jts where my child would be sitting and I don’t feel safe driving the car now it’s been in an accident as I have 2 young children who I have had to replace car seats already but currently I’m having to get taxis / buses ect. The whole situation is just very stressful to be in and im unsure what to do. Is it just a waiting game. Any advice
TIA

Yes - you (or your husband) need to contact them. I assume he exchanged details after accident?

Yes. They have to pay.

But if there was any doubt on liability you’d be on your own. You really need to be named drivers on each policy.

(It took 18 months and the threat of court for the third party insurer to pay up when I was driven into while stationary in a car park - that was with dashcam and CCTV footage showing that he was the only one moving. My insurer fixed my car so I didn’t have to wait, but that was because I was covered fully comp.)

If the car is deemed safe to drive you won’t get taxi/bus fares refunded to you.

Yes details was exchanged one the scene and my husband phoned his insurance straight away and then the man’s boss phoned him and emailed him and said they have contacted their insurance company who will be in contact within a few days but because we haven’t heard of them we chased it up he sent and he forwarded the email he sent to the women who I then emailed (rather email as proof)and he and the women who is dealing with it are both on annual leave.
my husband is currently at work but when he finishes he is going to phone up his insurance and see what is going on

Oh ok we didn’t know but thank you for the advice I appreciate it

His insurer isn’t likely to be much help, to be honest. It’s highly likely you’ll be at the mercy of the third party insurer, who may have to get authorisation from the woman that is on leave to proceed.

No worries. I used to work in insurance.

There is no point in him calling his insurance - he needs to call the other driver's insurance. He will not be covered under his insurance for any damage to your car.

Thankyou so much I will tell him and he can contact their insurance.

Can you swap cars in the meantime (named on the insurance!) if you mostly transport the children and don't feel safe in your damaged one?

Do you have the name of the other party’s insurance company?

Honestly, you're overcomplicating this.

Have the policyholder call the insurance company and ask them what you need to do to get your car repaired and alternate transportation, if applicable.

That's it. The rest will sort itself out.

Don't worry about timescales. Whatever you're told, it will be longer and that's normal.

We had someone go in the back of us, their insurance has rang me within an hour as it’s cheaper to deal with me directly than through my insurance.

If they aren’t moving go though your own insurance, makes no difference to you as it’s the same outcome but it can be cheaper for them to manage it with you direct which they aren’t

The policyholder is on leave until the end of August…….

They can’t go through their own insurance because they aren’t covered! Read the thread!

The policyholder in her household, not the TP.

His insurance doesn’t cover the damage to her car and her policy doesn’t cover him driving it. There is no cover in the household and they are 100% reliant on the TP insurer to fix this.

Well, in that case they are at the mercy of the timescales of the TP insurer. How long is a piece of string?

I think you’ll find I already said something to that effect!

Their insurance company just phoned me and have offered me a courtesy car which I can collect today and have refunded me for the car seats, they are picking up my car up tomorrow but they have said it will be a write off and I will get a call with a settlement figure in the next few weeks, they are taking full accountability.

Great news. Hope it all goes smoothly.

Deleted as I have just seen OP's update.

Great news, OP.

Wonderful news! Hopefully you get a really good settlement offer like I did.