Crash information

[Grm]

On friday night, my gf was involved in a car crash, a guy in a peugeot boxter van pulled straight out of a road into her path and she crashed into the side of him. The guy then drove away from the accident and parked his van up a few streets away.

The guy was a builder and had his number on the side of the van, so i phoned him up and he said it must of been stolen. He came down to speak to me at his van and went through it saying his still saws out the back have been stolen, there was damage to the drivers door lock but not to the ignition.

Anyway, she gets a phone call the next morning from his insurance claiming it was all his fault, yet no one from his company has admitted to driving the van. Her cars been written off and she has a hire car for 2 weeks all paid for by this guy. When the car goes in 2 weeks she wont have any form of transport which she needs for work. So where does she stand on this, can she hire a car and claim off his insurance? I've tried looking on the net, but cant seem to find any answers.

Any help appreciated.

[Howard]

She can. www.helphire.com.

[Barakka]

My understanding was that if the vehicle has been written off and it's been agreed who will pay for the cost, i.e. the other guy's insurance, then that's it done with and they wouldn't be obligated to pay for a hire car beyond the 2 weeks they've pre-paid or at the most until the payment for the write-off has been made.

If they were repairing it then they would have to provide a hire car until the car is returned, but if it's written off then as soon as they've paid you the cash to replace it you have the means to obtain new transport to the standard you had before.

[Grm]

My understanding was that if the vehicle has been written off and it's been agreed who will pay for the cost, i.e. the other guy's insurance, then that's it done with and they wouldn't be obligated to pay for a hire car beyond the 2 weeks they've pre-paid or at the most until the payment for the write-off has been made.

If they were repairing it then they would have to provide a hire car until the car is returned, but if it's written off then as soon as they've paid you the cash to replace it you have the means to obtain new transport to the standard you had before.

The thing is though, it will most likely turn into a lengthy battle. He's admitted it was his fault, yet he says he wasnt driving the van. The police have obtained cctv from where he parked the van up but havent bothered checking it. She still hasnt given a statement as to what happened yet. If its not settled in 2 weeks, she's going to be left without any form of transport, which means she will have to stop working until she can get a new car.

[Barakka]

The thing is though, it will most likely turn into a lengthy battle. He's admitted it was his fault, yet he says he wasnt driving the van. The police have obtained cctv from where he parked the van up but havent bothered checking it. She still hasnt given a statement as to what happened yet. If its not settled in 2 weeks, she's going to be left without any form of transport, which means she will have to stop working until she can get a new car.

But if he's reported it as stolen to the police then surely the insurance company wouldn't have a problem with this, if the van was stolen then it's covered under his insurance. If it's obvious that it was the fault of the van, regardless of who was driving, the insurance company shouldn't have a problem paying for a hire car until the claim is sorted out and payment agreed/made.

If not there are companies that will provide a hire car in these circumstances. My wife had one after an accident a few years back... they ask a few questions about the accident and circumstances, and if they feel that you were not at fault they will provide a car and THEY claim the money back from the insurers. Not sure if Helphire that Howard listed above do the same, but i'll ask my wife tonight as well and see if she can remember who the company was she used.

[SHare]

Who's her insurance company? Alot of the better ones will supply it all for you and claim the costs back from the other insurance company saving you loads of hassle. Either way, I would expect the other party to supply a hire car until the claim is settled.

[dangel]

So the van wasn't left at the builder's work/home address (when you said parked up a few streets away)? No theif would return it - and remember, driving away from the scene of accident is a criminal offence. Just a thought, sorry if I got the wrong end of t'stick.

[Grm]

So the van wasn't left at the builder's work/home address (when you said parked up a few streets away)? No theif would return it - and remember, driving away from the scene of accident is a criminal offence. Just a thought, sorry if I got the wrong end of t'stick.

No, it was parked up a few streets away from the accident. About a mile away from his home, but apparently his builders yard is round the corner from where it was parked up. I think the guy was driving it, the way he was and what he was saying. He claimed he didnt know where the street was that it was parked up, but his builders yard is off that street. He also said his saws had been stolen yet his back doors were locked, i cant see people pulling still saws over drivers seats.The ignition barrel wasnt damaged but the drivers lock was a bit, but no forced damage. He's paying for the hire car at the moment out of his own pocket at a cost of £50 a day. Why would he go to that much trouble for a stolen van, its not like it was his fault. And thanks for all your replys

[finlay666]

Get him to claim on his insurance for the theft then, he might end up getting doen for fraud with the insurance then as it sounds like he is taking the piddle

[piggeh]

IF you have it in writing that he has admitted liability, then you will be able to hire a car and then claim back these costs through the courts. There are hire companies that specialise in this and provide you with a car then their solicitors chase the funds for you. Helphire above are probably your best bet as I only dealt with one for a premium company car so dont know of others. You will need to foot the bill in the meanwhile though until it is claimed back, unless the other insurance company are willing to provide you with a car instead (it would save them money rather than pay standard hire charges + solicitor costs).

As you only got a phonecall, my first plan of action would be to get something in writing admitting his liability - the phonecall could be from anyone really, and the fact he's paying it out of his own pocket, when he doesnt need to, suggests maybe his insurance isnt up to scratch?

[Grm]

IF you have it in writing that he has admitted liability, then you will be able to hire a car and then claim back these costs through the courts. There are hire companies that specialise in this and provide you with a car then their solicitors chase the funds for you. Helphire above are probably your best bet as I only dealt with one for a premium company car so dont know of others. You will need to foot the bill in the meanwhile though until it is claimed back, unless the other insurance company are willing to provide you with a car instead (it would save them money rather than pay standard hire charges + solicitor costs).

As you only got a phonecall, my first plan of action would be to get something in writing admitting his liability - the phonecall could be from anyone really, and the fact he's paying it out of his own pocket, when he doesnt need to, suggests maybe his insurance isnt up to scratch?

Im assuming he would be insured as he has a few vans for his buisness. And the insurance company was the one who said it was his fault, he told them and they phoned her.