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r/AskUK•
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Will my insurance company chase to get my excess back from the other party?

My car was written off by someone else. So I've sort of been given the short end of the stick.. I've made a claim to my insurance company and I'm waiting for an offer on the car, but as I understand my excess (£850 first time driver) will be subtracted from whatever I receive. How can I get the other party to pay for my losses for a) travel expenses incurred b) compensation to cover amount deducted from my insurance excess. I'm not greedy I just want my money back and my inconveniences sorted. Will I need a soliciter? Will the RTC cause me to have a higher premium in the future?

Posted Jun 12, 2017, 11:53 AM UTC

110
Reckoner525•

Hi, I work in motor insurance.

You will need to chase the insurance company hard on the excess. They will do it, but it won't be top priority for them. Expect it may take 6-12 months to get back.

Yes, the accident may cause your future premiums to increase. Depends how many other accidents you have had recently as to how much. On its own it won't be huge.

As for expenses, I am not sure precisely as I don't work in claims, but I think you would be out of luck without a solicitor. I wouldn't expect to get that back honestly.

3
Possiblyreef•

Mine was written off in Feb and I'm a few weeks away from settling which is fairly quick however it was 200% non fault so easy to resolve.

Assuming youre fully comp and have some kind of legal cover as part of your policy:

Initially you'll be paid out for the value of the car fairly quickly. Get on to autotrader and find the closest match to your own within a reasonable distance.

Youll need to get make/model/year/mileage/trim as close as possible. They stomach this cost upfront then claim it back from the at fault later. If you try to get too silly they won't honour it and it will drag on.

Your excess is subtracted from the value of your car, so hypothetically £2000 car, £850 excess. Youll get a cheque for £1150.

After this is settled youll be passed on to the legal dept where a lawyer works with you to recover any outstanding costs. Mine was non fault so i only know how that side of it works.

My lawyer is looking to recover excess, prescription charges, travel expenses, lost income and compensation for me

And is looking to recover the cars value, hire car, medical treatment and his time for the company.

Any more questions?

3
gruffi•

Look into accident management firms but check reviews first

1
Thalidomidas•

Did somebody drive into you ? Their insurance should cover it. If they don't have any insurance the motor insurers bureau should cover it.

If you lent your car to someone else who wrote it off it's all down to you.

0
Thalidomidas•

Is something I said wrong ? This happened to a friend a few years ago.

1
Reckoner525•

Your first sentence is spot on. I believe you are getting downvotes for the slightly random possibility you raise that OP lent his car to someone. (Although I didn't downvote you myself).

3
Thalidomidas•

Not quite random. My reasoning - since he said that his car was written off by someone else and that he was the one claiming on the insurance either the other driver didn't have insurance ( MIB claim within 28 days ) or someone else was driving his car ( civil matter, no legal aid, SOL )

2
Ben750•

If you lend your car to someone and they crash it's down to them to compensate you.

1
Thalidomidas•

What I meant was that you will have to jump through all the legal hoops to get them to compensate you. Not the insurance company.

1
9DAN2•

If the other driver was at fault, you should go through their insurance, no need for your own. That way, you won't have to pay an excess or affect your no NCB

0