[Closed] Is my daughter's car a write off?

which clearly shows her driving within the speed limit and according to the conditions…

Doesn't really matter - she was the innocent party.
Looks pretty terminal to me but IANACR. Similar happened to my daughter after 1 year - lad pulled out of a bad junction straight into her nearside wing.
I thought it may be OK but there was suspension damage (6 year old VW Up) and it was written off. As it happens the insurance company offered us £15 more than we paid for the car at a VW dealer 12 months before!!

Hope you're daughter's OK, get her back out driving. Plenty of cars to buy out there.

Hmmmm doesn’t look good but the cost to repair (and hence if it will be written off) will probably be determined by an inspection. But new doors, parts and cutting out/replacing that section (if possible on the shell) and paint would be multiple thousands so unless it’s worth (at a very wild guess) £8k before the crash I reckon it’s a write off.

Thats a goner.

Insurance will not be interested in fixing that unless you had a very persuasive reason to push them.

Just ignore the first two lowball offers and get some adverts for similar cars for sale gathered together to show why you should get more money.

I'd say it's terminal, structural part and all that.

You'd put your daughter back in a car that had major structural damage?

No - let the insurance sort it. If it's a write off, let it go, get another one.

Keep an eye on her injuries - looks like quite a shove sideways. Maybe book an appointment with a GP for a few days time as the bruising/whiplash might emerge (can always cancel it).

If you have any way of getting her swimming then that might be a good idea - helps with muscle shock.

Did you smell any alcohol on the other woman's breath? If you did, then I'd be asking why the police didn't take her down the station for a test.

Hope your daughter's OK. As said above, get her back driving asap.

Did you smell any alcohol on the other woman’s breath? If you did, then I’d be asking why the police didn’t take her down the station for a test.

The fact that the other driver tried to drive off and was showing signs of erratic behaivour should have lead to some form of testing, not just alcohol.

If it was just the sill it would be repairable but a bent B pillar means its almost certainly a write off.

Hope your daughter is okay though, can be traumatic being in a shunt particularly if you are a new driver.

Woman driver went to drive off after being verbally aggressive to my daughter, only stopped by crew of a passing ambulance who saw the aftermath

What an utterly shit thing to try and do. The really annoying thing is despite insurance and it being no-ones fault but the person who hit your daughter you will still end up with a financial hit.

SUV driver by any chance?

That's not really massive structural damage and could be fixed, it's only panels welded together after all.. Car would still be perfectly safe. I imagine Cat C.
An insurance company will just not be interested in doing it.

Worst bit imo is the ratbag insurance robber punishing her financially for something that was not her fault. For the next 5 years.

Amazed about the breathalyser. Hope it all gets sorted on insurance and that your daughter doesn’t suffer any ill effects and gets her confidence back quickly. My first biggish accident was rolling my car in my 20’s. I always make light of it now, but at the time it was flippin scary, and it can have longer term effects.

that'll be a cat-s structural write off. did it have side airbags? if they didn't go off it'll give a clue as to the amount of force involved. if the doors shut correctly I'd be tempted in buying it off the insurance company if they offer it for a pittance - somone will be happy enough to drive it unfixed even if your daughter isn't - write offs are a little slower to sell than a normal car but for a cheap runaround someone will probabvly snap it up.

if you want things to progress quickly, phone the 3rd party insurer and ask for a hire car - the costs of this will encourage them to settle faster than they may otherwise be inclined to do. try to avoid using an accident management company

SUV driver by any chance?

Really? Whats that got to do with anything?
(and the low location of the damage would indicate not)

Most insurance companies now use accident management companies themselves.
Unfortunately getting a hire care doesn't mean a faster settlement either. Huge apathy when dealing with claims just now.

If you go down the hire car route make sure that you won't be left with a bill under any circumstances.

Huge apathy when dealing with claims just now.

I know people in two big claims law firms and a lot off staff are not in due to CV - it must impact the claims process.

We had similar, not our fault, both drivers breathalised and had my rights read before. I was ok on the day but my shoulder on the impact side got stiff after 2 days and I had a massive headache the next day.

Car was written off and a hire car provided until offer accepted.

All named parties on insurance are paying a bit more.

Police wouldn't tell us if the other guy, who was on his phone, was prosecuted.

If I was cycling that route, which I often do, I d not be here now.

Police wouldn’t tell us if the other guy, who was on his phone, was prosecuted

This doesn't sound right. You have a legal right as a victim under the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act to be informed if anyone is charged.

How can a police car not be carrying a working breathalyser?

Thanks for all the responses. I agree the damage looks terminal 🤬 We're still waiting for daughter's insurance company to call her back to discuss, after reporting it yesterday evening (the phone number quoted on her policy went to a call centre without access to her "insurer's system", so they simply filled out an 'out of hours report' for them to call her back. Now coming up to 1pm the next day so not overly impressed so far...

Daughter is absolutely gutted now reality is setting in, and being taken off the road through no fault of her own. I'm increasingly annoyed that the police on scene couldn't breathalyse the other driver, seemingly a sad reflection on the current limitations of local police resources...

Worst bit imo is the ratbag insurance robber punishing her financially for something that was not her fault. For the next 5 years.

Would it not be a no-fault claim? That's what I got when mine was written off (it was parked).

Would it not be a no-fault claim?

No fault claims can still increase your premium as can no fault accidents. I had a no fault accident in my dad's car as a named driver. My premium on my own car increased due to no fault accident at renewal. His premium increased due to claim.

Thanks for above comment 're my right to know if the other driver was prosecuted.

The accident location is regularly speed trapped now, it's a 20 as near a school. I was doing 20 and the other driver flew out of a side street straight into us.

Sorry to the op and daughter, it's a real pain as someone else's fault and you end up paying.

Have to say though the fire, ambo and police were brilliant. We even got a lift home after.

Now coming up to 1pm the next day so not overly impressed so far…

Don't hold your breath - my wife's car was written off last October and the service from Aviva and Copart was terrible. So much so we raised an official complaint with Aviva - there was a bonus though, they sent us £100 for the inconvenience! 🙂

It's a bit late now to change anything for you guys but I would be asking some questions of the police failing to do a blood alcohol test in the circumstances you describe. My brother worked traffic for years and if for whatever reason they couldn't get a working test at the scene, a driver behaving how you described would be having a trip to the station, no ifs or buts. Basically someone who they have reason to suspect of being under the influence has been allowed to drive off, which is a massive risk if nothing else.

On the insurance front - some clown reversed an hgv over my works van while it was parked on a client site. No fault claim for total loss, £150 on my personal car insurance at renewal due to accident being recorded under my name ☹️

And fight like hell for the correct payout for your vehicle - they are using Covid as an excuse to compare prices over the whole of the UK 'as cars can be delivered anywhere now'. They tried to say one that was 300+ miles from where we live was proof of how much you could get one for, despite it not being the same spec, condition or similar mileage.

How can a police car not be carrying a working breathalyser?

I think its only the traffic police that carry them routinely in most forces.

Many years ago, I got pulled over for going through a No Entry sign by a Police Dog Unit. I got made to stand on the pavement for 30 minutes while a traffic unit turned up with a breathalyser, I hadn't been drinking but I figured that was my punishment for driving through a No Entry sign. I couldn't actually get ticketed for the offense because there was only a single officer in the Dog Unit.

Hmmm. My premium was not affected. Wonder how they determine this stuff

Did the dog not witness it?

Did the dog not witness it?

He didn't have a good enough view from the back of the van.

Update: just had a call from Direct Line (ladies insurance company) saying she's admitted liability and so "want to help resolve the repairs and sort a hire car asap". They've sent me an email, with a PDF on Direct Line headed, saying they'll offer £250 if we instruct them to proceed with assessment of damage/repairs, sort her with a free hire car and instant notification if non-repairable. Guy said its simply just more cost effective for DL to use their approved repair network than go insurance company to insurance company...

Scam or all part of the way insurance works these days?

This thread will help explain it

https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/no-fault-rta-whos-insurance-to-claim-on/#post-11734608

It'll be written off.

My (admittedly '09) car was written off as it needed a bumper and headlamp...

Oh, your daughter will need to declare this no fault claim for 5 to 6 years every time she goes with a new insurance company...

Some helpful advice, again! Thanks. So, it sounds as though going through Direct Line (the woman who admitted liabilty's insurers) may not be such a bad move. Daughters insurance co still haven't come back to us - we called them earlier and had to pass most of the same information to them that we did yesterday...
If we went with the 3rd party offer, I presume we need to advise the daughter's insurers? Of course they're closed now so a convo for the morning.

That is repairable, but probably borderline write-off given the cars likely value.
Insurance companies generally won't spend more than 50% of a vehicles value on repairs.

For an insurance approved repair, that B-pillar will likely need the outer skin replaced, which in turn will require a lot of interior stripped out. It will also depend on the damage to the sill, and any further damage to the floor pan.

Far worse damage gets repaired, and could be repaired using cheaper methods, but not to the standard insurance companies specify.
Structural write-offs are only applied when the vehicle is not worth repairing by the insurance company, and to ensure potential future owners are aware any repairs might not have been done to a suitable standard. I've seen vehicles with entire front ends re-shaped and bodies twisted that have been insurance repaired, but when something would cost over £60k to replace, repairing major structural damage is the cheaper option.

I'd imagine a write off. Iirc all costs, such as towing, storing and hire car are a factor before even starting the repair.

How can a police car not be carrying a working breathalyser?

Reminds me of:

Having left the hustle and bustle of London for the Cotswolds in 2011, I came across a motorbike rider on his way back from a festival who was involved in an accident. The police officer deemed a breathalyser test was required, so asked the motorcyclist to blow, whilst the police officer sniffed the guys breath and then declared him not under the influence. Oh how I chuckled. 🤣

Anything is repairable. Someone will repair that car.

But that will be written off by the insurance co.

Take the hire car and fight for a top end payout. Always refuse their first offer at least.

Actually I would probably refuse the hire car and just go buy another i10, that one ain't coming back. Minimising the cost means when declaring the non fault claim it is smaller.

You are lucky the other party admitted liability.

So we ended up going with the third party's insurers (Direct Line). Daughters insurers sounded almost grateful when I told them and they confirmed they wouldn't show any claim on her record, so excess and NCB remains intact.

DL sent a free hire car the same day as we agreed to go with the third party insurers, and recovered daughters i10 the following day to assess it. They called this morning to confirm uneconomical to repair, and assessor phoned this afternoon with an initial (and derisory) offer which increased quite a bit after challenging on basis we could get a replacement i10 for what they offered. DL also provided a £250 incentive payment to go with them for repairs, so all in not too far out of pocket - though we will still have an unplanned expense to make up the difference to put her in a similar age/make of car.

All in all a rotten experience though I have to say the service from DL really has seemed pretty slick up to now (certainly better than daughter's own insurers).

Weekend of car hunting now on the cards, which may be interesting with current restrictions.

Good to hear it may be sorted with minimum fuss. Maybe search out the thread on here where some one has an inherited Jazz to offload for a replacement.

ETA:

https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/selling-an-inherited-car/

You shouldn't have any extra to pay to get her in a similar car. If you do then you caved to cheap.

Go back and say you cannot find a replacement for that price and they need to offer more. Provide proof in the form of adverts.

3rd party means putting you back into the position you would be in if the crash had never happened.

She will still have to declare the accident, regardless of what DL have told you.

All in all a rotten experience though I have to say the service from DL really has seemed pretty slick up to now (certainly better than daughter’s own insurers).

Of course it is. They're trying to attract you as a customer.

though we will still have an unplanned expense to make up the difference to put her in a similar age/make of car.

Eh? Their payment should put her back in a similar age / make of car.

Has she claimed for injury?

She will still have to declare the accident, regardless of what DL have told you.

+1

You still have to declare the accident.

You might not have to declare the claim (and hence NCB still accrues for the year).

Makes using price comparison sites difficult for a few years as regardless of the wording they use, it's the wording on the insurer's site and documentation that matters and the Meerkats are just transferring the answer to their questions to the insurer's site/API.

I had a similar issue after being a naughty boy and going on a speed awareness course. The Meerkats didn't ask that at the time only if you had points, but you still had to check the insurer wasn't asking and getting the wrong answer from the comparisons site.

yup, no fault loading will increase her costs for 5 yrs.

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brads
Full Member

yup, no fault loading will increase her costs for 5 yrs

Kinda. One element of the premium will increase, however the overall picture can still balance this out or even make it cheaper

Given the comments above ive now raised a dispute to see if they will improve their offer, though likely to delay payout for a few days. We have loads of evidence that we're still a fair few hundred adrift of being able to put the daughte into another i10 of same cage/condition/mileage etc. I kept asking if she had whiplash or not, but she's been raised honest and its still a "no" on the personal injury front.

I'd seen the post the other day about a low mileage Jazz being sold by a STW forumite on here but our girl can't look past the i10! At least it narrows down the search criteria. She driving the hire car at the moment, so hopefully driving confidence will return quickly too.

You may have to send the hire car back the day or 2 after payment arrives, so worth trying to find a new car before then if finances allow, especially if you have to faff with fitting a black box.

The insurance comp is allowed to make allowance for a bit being knocked off prices as part of negotiation, but this should be limited to a couple of hundred at this end of the market.

They may allow you to keep the car for a relatively low cost, consider doing this then flogging it on (honestly). I recon lots of people would be fine driving a car in that condition, an easy way to make a few quid

Given the comments above ive now raised a dispute to see if they will improve their offer,

Read that other thread again. You have zero rights of appeal or complaint against Direct Line. You are not their customer. If you get what you want, then happy days and walk away. If you don't get what you want, or something goes wrong, then you have zero recourse, apart from suing. And that will get complex.

Oh, your daughter will need to declare this no fault claim for 5 to 6 years every time she goes with a new insurance company…

Yes and despite it being a no fault claim the premiums will go up.

Case in point - someone reversed into me in a car park exit queue. I was stationary and despite sounding the horn he just kept on coming. He then tried to claim I drove into him. As it was the damage was very superficial (will cost £250 using Chips Away or similar). Anyhow I rang my insurance company as I wanted him to pay for it obviously. They told me that I would have to claim on my own insurance and then they would try to claim it back. Given that he was obv going to deny it I decided to forget it and just pay for the repair myself.

Sooo I came to renew my insurance this year and I ticked the no claims box and went to buy the cheapest one. When I clicked "buy" a pop up appeared saying that an accident was recorded on the National Database (it gave the date that I had been driven in to) and here was my new quote!  I rang to try and get it removed but "no can do" and so my premiums have now gone up..... TBF it was only £35 but still.

That's because it's not a "No Claims" box; it's a "No accidents, losses, claims or circumstances that might give rise to..."

And clearly you did have one of those. So what you did was (attempt to) commit an act of fraud. For 35 quid. Other people on here have had policies cancelled for doing that!

Oh, and we've all done things that are similar. Just sometimes people get away with it sometimes not. ;o)

Yes, lesson learned. I wasn’t intending to commit fraud just didn’t realise it applied even if I didn’t claim. I know now.

We just spent 3 months of arguing with 'our' works insurance company after a 3rd party rammed our vehicle into the central reservation and wrote it off. They say the 3rd party hasn't accepted liability as yet,even though they had witnesses and the other driver was cuffed and taken away from the scene. They weren't going to give us the true value of the vehicle. So while you have the hire car ( although they may say you only have it for 2 weeks) argue the case, as it is costing them money to have you in the hire car. We got there in the end, but was a time wasting ballache. ake sure you find vehicles of the same make,spec and mileage as evidence of value.
As for policy increase, we had a women ram the back of our car in a carpark and drive off.The Mrs was waiting in our car and gave chase. We were insured with D.L then and they were really good. Hire car appeared, car went to my recommended bodyshop and we didnt get any loading on the insurance the next year.