Car accident

[Poddledoddle]

Hi, I posted a few weeks ago about a car accident we were in and just need some advice about an update.

So we were traveling on the main road and a car pulled out of a side road/junction and he drove off, but my daughter got his number plate so we reported to the police.

The police have emailed me saying the other driver claims he didn't know there was any damage to my car, but has provided his insurance details.

I've contacted the insurance company this morning and they said he's already updated his account with the accident but they need to speak to him to confirm his version of events.

They asked if myself and my daughter were injured and I said yes we both had whiplash and went to a and e. When the call was coming to an end he said something along the lines of "we'll be in touch regarding a personal injury offer" i was confused and didn't really understand, I didn't say we were looking for compensation. What does this mean?

Also when I informed my own insurance they've said even though my car has minor damage the cost of the repairs are more than half the car is worth so its technically a write off. I'm wondering what his insurance company are going to say.

Sorry for posting in unreasonable but I couldn't find a category in chat.

I'm not really sure what you need advice about. Both insurance companies are now involved, so let them sort it out. Regarding the whiplash, you've said you were injured so that will be part of the claim. Sit back and let the events unfold.

Have you spoken to his insurance and they’ve confirmed that he’s updated the accident?

You do not need to speak his insurance at all and they shouldn’t be giving you any updates as to what he has or hasn’t informed them. That all needs to come from your insurance. Your insurance should be aware of the whiplash because in most where there has been injury people will look for personal injury compensation.

It doesn’t matter what his insurance say about your car being written off. Assuming you weren’t speeding, he’s pulled out of a side street and hit travelling on the main road. You had right of way. He drove off from the accident without providing details. You and your daughter needed hospital treatment so your insurance should be using all those as counter-arguments to whatever the other tells his insurance. No insurance wants to pay but it’s now for the insurance companies to work through.

You shouldn’t speak to his insurance company, just your own. You’re meant to just pass their details to your own insurers and let them deal with it.

Has your whiplash been diagnosed ? My understanding is that it needs to be diagnosed by a medical professional

@WhereIsMyLight it was my insurance that said my car was a write off.

@FictionalCharacter Oh right am I? I've never heard that and they didn't say that. I also had to go to another drivers insurance several years ago and was sorted out from there. Very confusing.

@ExtraOnions yes we went to a and e and then to a physio a few days later.

Thank you everyone. I guess I've just been confused because my insurance haven't done anything and I've been waiting for the police to get back to me.

You shouldn’t be speaking to the other parties insurance just deal with you own. It is your insurances job to liaise with the other insurance company. From now on only speak to them.

Don't take first compensation offer.

I’m sure you can’t claim for whiplash now anyway?

Police won’t do anything as in their eyes it’s no longer leaving the scene of an accident.

Have you provided your insurance with your account of what happened and any evidence? If you have, they need to contact the other car’s insurance and then they will argue who is at fault. If your insurance can’t successfully argue a no fault claim, they may come back to you with more information. Once fault has been established they will then look to peruse the other insurance company for money. In the meantime, they need to be buying your written car off from you or giving you the money/sorting a garage for the repair. If the car is a financial write off, that still counts as a write off. You can decide to repair it but when you sell it, it will show on the car’s history and May make it harder to sell (not a problem if you’re planning on running the car into the ground and scrapping).

You can, but only for a very limited/capped value.

Let your insurance company deal with it - that's what you pay them for.

A RM van drove into me a few years ago and wrote my car off - I didn't speak to their insurance company at all. My insurance dealt with everything, got in touch when needed but otherwise I didn't need to worry. I had a payout for my car within three days of the accident and a courtesy car to cover me from the day after the crash.

If his insurance company contact you, let your provider know - there's nothing else you need to do now.

I had a minor car accident a few years ago while pregnant (car pulled out of side road and hit me) I had to have physio. Insurance paid for all my treatment and I had a few thousand in compensation as well as my passenger.

You don't have to take first offer, but honestly I couldn't be bothered to wait any longer and wanted the whole thing closed down. My injuries were minor and I was suprised to get anything

Why so many people posting bull about "you can't speak directly to his insurer"???

Nothing like motoring law/insurance to bring out the 'clueless but determined to post anyway' gang...

There is absolutely NO reason that you can't go directly to a 3rd party's insurer. Absolutely no reason whatsoever.

Whether it's the best course of action in this case is debatable but that's a different matter.

If your car is a technical write off, ie can be repaired to an acceptable standard, you can buy it back, usually for a nominal sum from your insurer. And get it repaired yourself ask the repairer if they can use second hand bits, new parts can be ridiculously expensive.

@WhereIsMyLight The police have said they are pursuing it as he has left the scene.

@SofiaSoFar I've never seen anything in my insurance details about only dealing with my insurance and they've actually been pretty useless so far so I thought I'd cut out the middle man.

@twomanyfrogsinabox yeah its just got small damaged to the bumper, scuffs and paint transfer. I just don't know if I'm supposed to wait for his insurance to investigate and then pay for it or if I can get it sorted now and then they reminburse me.

Thanks everyone.

@Poddledoddle you need to remember that his insurance has his interests at heart - not yours. They want to figure out how to pay out as little money as possible.

Exactly. This is why people are saying speak to your insurers not his. We're not saying it's forbidden, just inadvisable. You pay your own insurer to pay for your losses, and because it was his fault they'll pursue his insurers for the money. It's the job of the two companies to sort it all out.

I would wait and make sure you get a full inspection. It may seem like superficial damage, but chassis (frame) damage can occur, even if its just causing a weakness.