hit from the rear when stationary

[tuono]

Hi
Could anyone please reassure me http://www.e-clypse.org/forum/images/smilies/fluffle.gifthat if I am hit from the rear whilst stationary that I can be in no way accountable (ie: no fault)?
Yesterday between junct 2/3 m25 in outside lane (travelling about 50ish) ...car 2 infront of me stops, car infront of me stops (witness) , I stop , 'white van man' behind me doesn't http://www.e-clypse.org/forum/images/smilies/mad.gif http://www.e-clypse.org/forum/images/smilies/mad.gif
Also I'm currently praying that they don't try any say my car is 'beyond economic repair'. Damage doesn't look tooooo bad (SICK) but the back is a mess and the rear quarter panel is creased and it's a Skyline!!! (yes ALL the mods were declared and are on my policy!!!)
How much are they likely to quibble about value ?(when they took my premium they agreed a value of £17000) http://www.e-clypse.org/forum/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif At what repair cost will they 'write it off'?
I feel sick sick sickhttp://www.e-clypse.org/forum/images/smilies/cry.gif http://www.e-clypse.org/forum/images/smilies/cry.gif http://www.e-clypse.org/forum/images/smilies/cry.gif

[russ]

Morning, 1st thing is don`t worry, it`s only metal, at least you are ok :)

If you have an agreed value policy then you shouldn`t have any problems when it comes to value. Bet you are glad that you advised of all your mods :) :)

As for repair, difficult cars as some of the parts may have to be sourced from outside the country, always a problem with 3 doored cars when the rear quater panel is damaged. It all depends on what it has done behind the panels and really needs and expert garage or insurance engineer to have a look at it.

As for you, have you got a car to run about in at the moment ? if not contact your or his insurance company and get yourself a courtsey car while yours is damaged.

As for liability, can`t see there is a problem, you have a witness and would think it`s pretty open and shut fault for the van driver.

Shout if you have any further questions

[tuono]

Thanks for the reply

What exactly is 'an agreed value policy'?.
The broker just asked the cars value (and how much I paid for it).
Is this the same thing :confused:

I've contacted the Highway authority to see if they have the 'event' on cctv.
Is it 'normal' to use this? (As I said the third party is, at the moment admitting total blame, but it's better to be safe than sorry methinks)

Yes I suppose I am 'lucky', I could have been on my motorbike :angel:

[russ]

An agreed value policy would have to be just that, agreed between the insurance company and you. To be honest i doesn`t sound like you have one.

Again don`t worry, best to go down that road if you need to. Wouldn`t worry about the CCTV, if they are admitting fault then you have no problem.

Let us know how you get on with the estimaes for repair and if we can help further just shout

[tuono]

Surely the fact that the insurance company have the cars value stated on my policy forms part of the contract. If they had not 'agreed' I would have gone elsewhere or got an independant evaluation
Anyway another more 'challenging' question
The car has a valuable number plate. 'Obviously' this does not effect the value when estimating repair however it undoubtedly has 'value'
Surely I won't have to pay to get it back if ,(but pry g*d it isn't), it is deemed beyond economic repair. Can the insurance co say they own the rights to the reg no. It was not insured seperately, should it have been?
Starting to feel sick again...............

[Turboderv]

It is very unfortunate that the insurance companies use the Glasses
guide which is written for them and the motoring trade.

It is actually impossible to purchase a car for the prices listed in Glasses.

My brother has just had his Golf written off, he paid 10K for it and told the insurance co the value when he started his policy a few months ago.

He bought it at retail from a VW dealer as an approved car, the insurance company will only offer him 6.5 k as this is the price listed in the Glasses guide.

After searching high and low all he could find for that was a 1.6 golf which was one year older and a much higher milage, his was a 2.0 GTI which was in A1 condition with all history.

After arguing with them he got an extra £180 !!! It has cost him £8,900 plus p/x his wifes car at £1,100.00 to get a golf GTI which is a year newer than his old one.

So, when the insurance ask you what the value of the car is it doesn't matter because it is ignored.

Good luck !

[tuono]

Sorry to hear that, maybe one of the insurance experts may be able to comment, however, my car is import and is not in Glasses so pressumably they can only go by 'market rate' ie: checking to see how much they are selling for.
If insurance companies ignore value why do they ask it?
Your policy is a contract between you and the insurance company
I'm sure if I had 'valued' it at £1700 instead of £17000 they would be only too happy use that as the figure
They can't have it both ways

[Kris]

Insurance companies use Glasses guide to value cars as that is what the civil courts & the Insurance Ombudsman have decided is a reasonable independent "expert" opinion on the value of the car.

Insurance policies run on a principle of indemnity ie the insurance comapny has to put you back in the same financial position as you were in beofre an event , i/.e they have to give you the value of the car at the time of the incident NOT what it costs you to buy another car.

The most common complaint from insured is "but I bought this from a dealer x months ago for £XXXXXX" I cant go back to the dealer & buy another car from him for the amount you've given me.

A couple of things to remember here

1) Most cars deprciate in value , some more than others & this can be by the day, week or month.

2) The "value " of a car isn't the price that the dealer sells it for. Car dealers are in business for 1 purpose, to make money. They have overhaeds to clear such as the costs of valeting the car, HPI checking it, servicing it, buying a warranty to put on it, staff salaries, property costs etc. If they sold the car for its "value" without taking these costs into account then they would be out of business very quickly.

3) Insurance companies dont deliberatly rip people off or deliberatly give them low values for their car. The Courts & the ombudsaman require a fair & realisitic valuaiton of the car & yes if the value is more than you have declared it you will be paid the "market value" of the car. The market value question on your proposal form is simply an idea of what you feel the car is worth & doesnt normally come into premium calculations unless the car is very valuable.

For a car that is not listed in Glasses guide the inspecting engineer ( the qualified expert who inspects cars & values them for insurance companies) will base a valuation on research they do in the used car market pleace and often with organisations such as owners club who are able to provide a realisitic opinion on what the car would be sold for in the open market.

[tuono]

Thanks Kris here' hoping it's irrelevant anyway (ie: the car can be repaired)
Could you answer my other question though (ie: who would own the reg no) ?
thanks

[Kris]

Number plate is an interesting one. It depends on the wording of your policy. Generally you can keep the plate number BUT the insurance company probably wont pay out until you have sent all the car's docs (MOT, Logbbook & Insurance Certificate) to them whioch of course would be delayed if you are keeping the plate.

[russ]

Thread split. Turbodevs questions continued in "Question on car insurance settlement values"

[tuono]

"Generally you can keep the plate number " :confused:
Some plates are worth £1000's :eek:
So if these vehicles are 'totalled' seems like a nice little earner for insurance companies
Surely the you can send the docs with a letter saying you wish to keep the plate. Afterall it's not needed since if the car is not deemed repairable it would not longer need to be registered for the road

[russ]

Ok, When Kris said generally i expect it`s because he/we cannot know exactly what your policy was agreed on. There may be a clause saying that they get the plate, you may have agreed that it was part of the insurance. We just don`t know.

That`s the problem with Insurance there are soooo many different policies :( I`d say that you`ll be pretty much ok but the only real people that can tell you 100% is your own insurance company. Give their claims team a call and they will let you know exactly what to do and how they process this. It`s not uncommon and they will have a specific procedure in place.

[Mice_Elf]

If it puts your mind at rest at all, I had a private plate on my old 300ZX which the insurance companies didn't bother about at all. I still have ownership of the plate, it's just currently not on a car.

[Kris]

Yep generally the insurance company are not interested in the plate so if oyu write to them saying you want to keep it then their shouldnt be any problem.

As for it being a nice earner the only thing the insurance company would do is sell the car on as quickly as possible to a salvage dealer to get the car moved from storage (some garages charge in excess of £10 per day to store cars) as in general terms it would take too long for the company to do it on eahc car & then there is the hassel of reselling it again.

[tuono]

Thanks again for all the replies. Sorry if I appear a bit paranoid but 'expect the worst......'
Anyway AXA assessor is looking at my car tomorrow.......
Starting to feel sick again.....

[russ]

Nice and quick at least, let us know how you get on :)

[Mice_Elf]

How'd the assessment go?

[tuono]

The man from AXA he say yes!!!!!!:banana: (after a detailed 'up on ramp' inspection he is sure damage is confined to rear end damage up to wheel arch...........despite drivers door sill having gaps at both ends?)
Parts my well be difficult to source (probably some will have to come from Japan so I don't know how long that could be :( ) but price of repair should be 'nowhere near' value of car :D
Now I just need worry about how good a job is done :rolleyes: (and getting my £500 excess back) If screen is damaged (it is, from a gps which was thrown against it) could that mean a second excess?
At least I haven't had to try driving it today (Maidstone, Kent had a few 'snow flurries' today ) Could have proved 'exciting' to say the least :eek:
I'll go in to see repairer's a the week-end to check they have found everything (like the drivers seat, which is broken).
If I'm feeling brave I may even take some pics.

[russ]

Excellent, good news. See we arn`t all that bad :)

Re the screen should be one excess as it all relates to the same acccident.

Piccies would be cool :) :)

[tuono]

How do I post pics?
Does it have to be a link to photobucket or similar?

[russ]

Yeah most people use photobucket i think. They sort the links for you and are pretty easy to post.

[tuono]

'Before'
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y5/tuono/IMG0021.jpg
http://i2.phttp://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y5/tuono/IMG0030.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y5/tuono/IMG0029.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y5/tuono/IMG0018.jpg
'After' to follow..............

[wazza]

When you copy a link from Photo bucket you may find that copy and pasting the bottom of the three choices is the best one. Then we dont have to click on the link to get the pics, they will have already appeared on this page.

Nice Motor BTW.

[tuono]

Thought it would save on 'your' bandwidth :rolleyes:

Will do in future

[IanW]

Thought it would save on 'your' bandwidth :rolleyes:

Will do in future

The bandwidth comes from photobucket, and not us. we just call the image from photobucket.

[tuono]

Just when I thought it was all going smoothly.............................
Repairers have just told me that some parts have been quoted at 6 wks delivery (:eek: ) and, since, under the terms of my insurance (AXA) they only need supply me with a replacement whilst car is actually being repaired (ie: not while waiting to be repaired) so they want their vehicle back :shrug:
Could you please tell me if it is 'acceptable' to contact the other persons insurance co (Zurich) and ask them supply a vehicle. Afterall I'm sure they could get a much better deal than what it would cost me (if I have to hire a car I'll be claiming it back as an uninsured loss so it would actually save them money)
Or would it be better to ask by broker to 'sort it out' (isn't that part of their job?). I would ask them mysel but everyone seems closed until Monday:rolling:

[Kris]

yes you are entitled to hire a replacement car while yours is in for repair. You need to hire a car that is the same size or smaller than your Skyline . Somthing like a Focus or Astra would be good

If you contact Zurich I'm sure you'll fiond them helpfull with this as they would prefer to deal with you directly rather than you go to a "Credit hire" company that will charge them an absolute fortune.

Dont be tempted to keep the hire car for longer than you need it or to hire "something to impress the family at aunt betsy wedding" as both of these would give the other guys insurers reason to dispute some of the hire charges. if you do get offered something racy or executive then my advice would be even though its tempting as for something "normal" instead as this will prevent proiblems come payment time.

So long as you are hiring something sensible then there shouldnt be a problem.

[IanW]

I had a similar issue a couple of years ago with my Impreza. I spoke to the third parties insurance company explained the situation and they arranged for a car for me.

As you said it is cheaper for them to provide you a car than for you to hire a (probably Vectra sized car) for 6 weeks. Get a few quotes online you might be shocked at how much a hire car is! :eek:

[Kris]

other thing to be aware of with online hire car quotes is to take into account the Collision damage waiver, theft insurance etc etc that often are not included in the "hire cost" you are quoted..