All drivers out there.

My recent incident with a Polish lorry and driver has opened my eyes to the current practices of insurers.

Car towed, repaired (very well), hire car (small but OK), car returned (minus £400 excess) and I thought all going well.

Advised last week I am in for a long haul legal battle as foreign insurers whilst acknowledging the claim are stalling stating that they are not liable as there is some problem with the driver. All this and they have a great video from me from the Blackvue that shows their driver culpable but - he may not have been eligible to drive in the UK ?

Spent last 2-3 hours filling in copious forms and questions in preparation for a right royal legal battle.

Insurer given up - it now up to the lawyers.

Just a piece of advice for all you Superb drivers out there.

If you get entangled with a foreign vehicle (especially Lorry) make sure you photograph absolutely everything. My lorry had different plates on the lorry and trailer. Also needed to provide description of driver today - nearly 50 days after the accident.

At least I bought the legal protection insurance.

Got to fight it as insurance carries a no claim discount, not a no blame discount and at present I am carrying the costs for the whole claim.

Just one note: all trucks and trailers have different plates here in Czech so assume it's the same in Poland. So nothing untoward with that, good luck.

Here in Germany it is the same as the trailer has its own insurance unlike the UK where the trailer comes under the car/truck insurance

Why are you expected to cover the costs? You were insured right?

 

You paid your £400 excess, the car is repaired.

 

The rest is down to your insurance company to deal with?

They'll be underwritten eventually by one of the big European insurers so it will get sorted. Just not quickly.

It's why scrimping the £20 legal cover is a false economy.

In my experience, this is one of the few occasions when 'Legal Expenses' can be helpful. I know of too many cases where the Legal Expenses' team simply do not try hard enough, and settle 'knock for knock' - It saves them a lot of hassle. On the few occasions in my 35+ years of driving where I have had to make a claim, I have always made my own application to the other driver's insurers for the recovery of my uninsured loss (excess). I have never failed to get a result, and when necessary, also my hire car costs reimbursed.

 

However, in the case of an overseas driver, it may help.  (never had this my scenario, but my father did once (settled very smoothly) - biggest hassle was getting their DM cheque paid into a GBP account.)

 

KSR

I am carrying the costs for the whole claim.

By this I meant that my insurance company are currently placing the costs of recovery against my policy and are thereby acting as if the accident was my fault which will affect my buying insurance in the future.

Sorry for your problems and this might be a bit late.

 

Also I'm not sure whether or not this would have helped, https://www.insurewithskoda.co.uk/Products/Ensurance/ , but I would hope so.

 

I had the offer a day or two and decided to give it a go. You can be insured with anyone - in my case Halifax.

 

Good luck.

sorry accidental repost