Thread: It had to happen insurance question????

Baz, I've had a lot of experience with the insurance company in question, over the last 6mths. To say the least they have been nothing short of outstanding. To outline;

I was away in rural Vic. working, my wife, whom was 7.5 mths pregnant at the time and loaded up with her placenta brain ran up the bum of a late model Merc. Seriously wounding both vehichles. Being so late in her pregnancy there were fears for the baby. I was called by the police from the MVA site and told of the situation. I then notified my boss telling him to get me home asap. Waiting...waiting for my company to respond to my request, i got a call from NR** stating as part of our policies, they would fly me home straight away, which they did it was quicker for them, than my own employer.
Upshot of it all was we now have a very healthy 8 week old son. The saga of getting the vehichle repaired has only just ended. The body work was done in double quick time, but there was a ? over the ABS system, the car had to go to the dealers for this to be looked at. It sat there for 2 weeks, with the windows open, in the rain, and nothing done, NR** picked up the ball again and belted the dealer over the head again, removed the vehichle to a repairer of theirs. The car was found to have faulty ABS harness, causing it to fail, giving it no brakes. All the time our car was off the road, they made sure my wife had courtesy car. Even having an assessor pick her up to collect the courtesy car.
Baz, i reckon they'll look after you but in the end they are an insurance company.


Cheers,

only problems Ive had with NRMA and landrovers is with the ally bodied ones, trying to find a place that works ally bodywork is a nightmare.

If the other drive has fessed up and the police agree you are fine.
Even if they write it off you can keep the car as it is their fault. If they want the wreck have them buy it off you.

Originally Posted by Boxhead63

I've had a lot of experience with the insurance company in question, over the last 6mths. To say the least they have been nothing short of outstanding
... i got a call from NR** stating as part of our policies

It's different when you've got comprehensive insurance as your insurer will cover the damages and then try to squeeze as much as possible out of the other insurer.

My experience of being third-party property insured in a not-at-fault accident wasn't very pleasant.

Bike was written off when other driver performed first part of a three-point turn across double lines on a blind sweeping hairpin. Quite impressive how far a bike embeds itself into the side of a car at 40km/h.

We were both insured with said insurer - mine third-party property, her's comprehensive.

When I phoned the insurance company and explained the situation, the operator was very sympathetic and told me not to worry, even though I only had third-party property, "we look after our members!" (This was thirteen years ago, before demutualisation.)

Having not heard anything after a couple of weeks, I phoned again. This time I was transferred several times around different departments before finally being told that due to only having third-party property policy, they couldn't help me. I'd have to "speak with the other driver's insurance company."

"But you're her insurance company!" The reply was, "You should send them a letter," and they hung up.

Things went downhill from there. I engaged a solicitor. It took over four years to settle, though most of it focussed on the hospital and rehabilition costs. The vehicle damage component was paltry in comparison.

There was no dispute over fault - there was a 'fessed up driver and supporting police reports. It was all down to seeing how far I'd take it.

I really hope it's hassle free for you Bazzle218.

I'm not being a *****, just curious why you'd have only third party cover on what must be a pretty good relatively new Land Rover if its got airbags?

Originally Posted by George130

If the other drive has fessed up and the police agree you are fine.
Even if they write it off you can keep the car as it is their fault. If they want the wreck have them buy it off you.

A lot of people think that if your car is written off you have to give the wreck to the insurer but as Edd says you get to keep it.

I once successfully summonsed an insurance company as they would not pay up until I handed over the wreck. And the accident was my fault. That was in 1986 so things may have changed.

Originally Posted by George130

If the other drive has fessed up and the police agree you are fine.
Even if they write it off you can keep the car as it is their fault. If they want the wreck have them buy it off you.

I'm not sure that the other owner's company can write off your car!

The basic situation is that you have to claim against the owner of the other vehicle, who will then refer the matter to their insurer. Since you do not have comprehensive insurance, your insurance is irrelevant (unless they try to claim damages from you, which seems unlikely in this case).

Your problem is that the other owner is the insurer's customer, not you, and it is possible you may have to initiate legal action against the other owner before there is any action to help you by their insurer.

The only time I have been in a similar situation was when a woman drove through a stop sign into the side of my Citroen. It was comprehensively insured, but my insurer would not let me use a specialist repairer - in that case, the other owner's insurer was very good and paid the lot, without my having to take the owner to court, or even threaten to. But there was no obligation on them to do so.

John