Insurance claim

[mrbritse]

Driving to work the other night at 6 pm, a line of cars on the other side of the road waiting for the lights. A woman given the space, came out of a side street aiming to cross to another on the other side, she didnt even look. I had no chance, about 20 feet, locked the brakes and of course slid straight into her car, amidships. As I hit her I saw the logo on the side, accident repair specialist! Well I hit the right person I thought but not so, it was a courtesy car, she had caused another crash earlier in the week. As I slid towards her I watched her, she never looked, not once, along the road she was crossing! Damn.:brickwall: Looks like my blingo, that I have been working on for the last 6 months back to some sort of health will be written off. Side members bent, cross members bent, radiator u/s, 2 wings, bonnet, lights, etc. Not a big hit, just enough.
Her insurance company texted and phoned me, saying they would get the repair done, give me a courtesy car, make me an offer there and then for my injuries if I didnt go through my insurance. I said no I would go the distance with mine and instructed them to proceed. Anyone got any advice on this? Would it be easier, better, quicker etc to avoid the lengthy process or is my feeling that they are trying to rip me off, possibly correct?

[j90xxx]

Difficult one.
Depends what they were offering?
Insurance is a minefield, but think you have done the right thing, all above board.
She obviously hasn't learned her lesson...
Hope she is now too high a risk and has to use the bus. :thumbsup:

[pidgeonpost]

Best of luck. In my experience even the most straightforward claim when you are the innocent party can turn into a long-winded nightmare. In our case when someone simply got it wrong and ran into the back of us it took a very stressful 2 years to resolve. Hope you have more luck.

[Ol'Jeffers]

It's a cost avoidance measure. All insurance companies do it.
When I was knocked off my bike in May I was approached by the
other party's company. If they can get all of the repair business
for their approved repairers they get a kick-back on the cost of the repair.
Let your own company do all of the negotiating and hopefully the stupid
woman's company will give her a financial hiding when she comes to renew.
As she was also guilty of an offence it's a shame you didn't involve the police.

.....a bit like this clueless bitch who brought down a mate a mate of mine in Melbourne
recently, she didn't even realise she had hit someone, a passer-by had to run up her driveway
and ask her to come and give her details to my mate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu7jzKsjs7M

Good thing to have camera fitted to your dash.....saves you a lot of hassle.
The Oz police tried to nail him for this....until he showed them the video!

[adam3rdcanvey]

There we go.... people like this give me problems every time I get on my bike! Find super defensive riding is the only answer! ie: every bu**er is out to kill ya!!

Safe driving all...

PS: She did look 90 and blind too!!

[CandR]

Rotten experience, isn't it. Sorry I don't know enough to advise on insurance - just wanted to say commiserations re the blingo which you've put so much into. You mention injuries - hope you're OK!

Richard

[Steve71]

My van had the side smashed in by a fork lift in June. Next day the companys insurers where onto me offering to sort everything out. Like you i was very dubious but to decided to give them a go, same day loads of other firms called sorting out courtesy van, repairing my van, loss of earnings etc. Whole thing sorted very quickly and smoothly and i was able to keep working (i'm a courier) throughout it all.

[taxi]

Q

It's a cost avoidance measure. All insurance companies do it.
When I was knocked off my bike in May I was approached by the
other party's company. If they can get all of the repair business
for their approved repairers they get a kick-back on the cost of the repair.
Let your own company do all of the negotiating and hopefully the stupid
woman's company will give her a financial hiding when she comes to renew.
As she was also guilty of an offence it's a shame you didn't involve the police.

.....a bit like this clueless bitch who brought down a mate a mate of mine in Melbourne
recently, she didn't even realise she had hit someone, a passer-by had to run up her driveway
and ask her to come and give her details to my mate:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nu7jzKsjs7M

Good thing to have camera fitted to your dash.....saves you a lot of hassle.
The Oz police tried to nail him for this....until he showed them the video!

Was that Dame Edna ???
Get a decent camera for approx £30 off ebay -taxicam, well worth it but make sure its got night vision, plus you need sd card.

[mrbritse]

Thanks for the replies. I think I may get back to the other ins. company and see if their offer still holds, even though I have already asked my insurance to deal with it. I wasnt damaged much but it did aggravate old neck wounds (in my 20's I seemed to make a habit of landing on my head when being dumped off my m'cycle) so in some ways I think it best to go the scenic route! In this instance a cam would only have been useful to get her charged with driving without due care, it still chills me that I may have been a m'cycle or bike and she caused some serious damage. I sincerely hope she has learned a lesson.

[evdama]

Thanks for the replies. I think I may get back to the other ins. company and see if their offer still holds, even though I have already asked my insurance to deal with it. I wasnt damaged much but it did aggravate old neck wounds (in my 20's I seemed to make a habit of landing on my head when being dumped off my m'cycle) so in some ways I think it best to go the scenic route! In this instance a cam would only have been useful to get her charged with driving without due care, it still chills me that I may have been a m'cycle or bike and she caused some serious damage. I sincerely hope she has learned a lesson.

Woahh
Bad luck with that its scary how many loonies are out there.It sounds like they know they will pay out for much more so they make a "generous" offer first
I think you would do right by holding out but steve71's experience is very interesting.