Yes I'm pretty sure it will just be a repair as the car drives just as well as it did before so presumably is just a few thousand worth of paint, plastic and metal bodywork to fix.  My question was more along the lines of "if it was a write off ...".

 

As for Skoda ensurance - yes I've gone through them although Direct Line aren't too happy about it, although I've yet to see how good they are. 

 

Legal wise, I think the Skoda stuff covers for that I certainly don't have it from Direct Line although I can always get advise through my Union as to whether to proceed with a legal case.

I have found DirectLine to be very quick and efficient in getting me back on the road when I was involved in a similar incident.  

 

However, like you, they were not at all interested in chasing other parties for what they regard as a run of the mill repair.  (Why would they?  More administrative hassle = more cost).

 

Get your car fixed and put down to experience (no-one was hurt).  Hope you have protected NCB.

 

All the best.

I have had 2 accidents this year. Both not my fault. What has worked best for me having the car took to a very good garage I know and letting them sort it. They contacted the third party insurance and they organised a courtesy car for me. I told my insurance "for information only" just in case they were needed. But the garage on both occasions have sorted the claims out, and done a top notch repair. A repair better than most insurance approved garages because of the prices the insurers demand for the repair. In my case my garage decided the cost, and the third party insurers had no choice but to pay.

Yes I'm pretty sure it will just be a repair as the car drives just as well as it did before so presumably is just a few thousand worth of paint, plastic and metal bodywork to fix.  My question was more along the lines of "if it was a write off ...".

 

As for Skoda ensurance - yes I've gone through them although Direct Line aren't too happy about it, although I've yet to see how good they are. 

 

Legal wise, I think the Skoda stuff covers for that I certainly don't have it from Direct Line although I can always get advise through my Union as to whether to proceed with a legal case.

 

Sorry about your news. I'm not surprised your insurers frowned at ensurance. They'd have had their own 'claims handlers' lined up, they all do. I'd be interested to know how you find ensurance, not read any posts from those who've used them. Good luck.

There was one of those watchdog type programs on the box last year looking at how insurance companies operate. it was quite an eye opener how much pressure some insurers (think it was the ones owned by RBS) put on their 'approved repairers' to reduce costs because of the amount of business they provide them with and how much power the insurers assessors have. Using second hand parts was one thing they were doing, so its no wonder direct line were none too pleased as they now don't have the same amount of control over the final cost. My jaded view is some of them are more interested in profit than they are looking after their policy holders and will do what ever is the cheapest rather than whats in the best interest of you and me.

Like for like is something of equivalent size not spec.

When we had an accident we got a KIA Sendona MPV thing as they didn't have anything Mondeo sized.

Your damage is minor and an experienced body shop will fix it without replacing any panels or using any putty - knotting. Plus your car is brand new so there will be absolutely no colour differentiation with the rest of your car, unless of course the one who will respray your car will be blind or suffering from achromatopsy.

 

The most difficult is to get ahead with the insurance's bureaucracy. I had two incidents last year. The first one was a blond lady on a Focus who rear ended me at a traffic light causing a broken bumper. She admitted her fault but I got the money three and a half months later after a huge amount of phone calls from my insurance agent.

 

Then a few months later a motor bike hit my rear door and rear panel while I was parked. I preferred to rectify my door (which had much more damage that yours) and rear panel, no putty used and the colour matched perfect, even if there were two years difference to the rest of the car. In that case I got my money back after five days from the incident.

 

The smartest move you did was to call the police. Both times police's report helped me alot. Please accept all my sympathy, make your stomach as strong as a rock and go through the unpleasant proceedings. Do not worry about the car, is just an overestimated piece of metal, I am glad you are fine, keep in mind that having contact with a lorry is a big deal.

 

All the best.

Edited 9 January, 201412 yr by stratosg

No...

http://www.skoda.co.uk/finance/skoda-insurance/skoda-ensurance

 

Somebody in a marketing department needs their head impaled on a pike; preferably after being hung, drawn and quartered for that misuse.

 

Cunning way to direct the insurance work back to your main dealer/repair network, I have to say.

Would be interesting however if you found your insurance policy didn't allow you a choice of repairer. (I've heard some really cheap policies, specify an extra discount for you agreeing to waive that right).

Edited 10 January, 201412 yr by cheezemonkhai

Thanks for all the kind words and support.

 

Currently I'm home now and waiting for Skoda's assessor to come out and look at the car on tuesday, so there's not much more I can do for now.

 

I'm fighting Direct Line etc but at the moment the wheels of beurocracy move slowly...  Doesn't help that the Lorry drivers insurance didn't even know about the accident until Skoda contacted them.

Please keep us posted on how you get on and what Skoda Ensurance were like to deal with and if they sorted it out for you. All the best

<snip> Had a call yesterday from the police after reviewing CCTV that the lorry was in the wrong but not enough evidence to prosecute the driver. <snip>

 

WHAT???

 

CCTV footage shows that the lorry driver was in the wrong but the Police simply don't care.

 

Sorry about the car, fortunately the damage doesn't look too awful, could have been so very much worse.

Edited 10 January, 201412 yr by Tramell

WHAT???

 

CCTV footage shows that the lorry driver was in the wrong but the Police simply don't care.

 

Sorry about the car, fortunately the damage doesn't look too awful, could have been so very much worse.

 

Unfortunately the CCTV doesn't show the actual incident just the direct run up to it.  As for the Police - I suspect the value in prosecuting isn't enough to offset the cost and hassle.

As long as the police are willing to tell Direct Line and the lorry drivers insurance that it is definitely the lorry drivers fault, then surely they have done their job? Attempting to prosecute for a road accident like that seems more hassle than it is worth.

Sorry to see your nice new car damaged mate!

Know the feeling as my local dealer has trashed my front bumper whilst the car was in for warranty work!!

Edited 10 January, 201412 yr by DanEds

Dealer trashed the bumper? Bloody hell. If that wasnt fixed correctly, id be telling them to order me a brand new car. Should be easy enough to fix correctly though.

Thanks for all the kind words and support.

 

Currently I'm home now and waiting for Skoda's assessor to come out and look at the car on tuesday, so there's not much more I can do for now.

 

I'm fighting Direct Line etc but at the moment the wheels of beurocracy move slowly...  Doesn't help that the Lorry drivers insurance didn't even know about the accident until Skoda contacted them.

 

Hey gullyg, keep your chin up, ?I'm sure it'll get sorted soon.

 

I'd be pretty peeved if I had taken ensurance and was expected to wait almost a week for them to even look at my car though. Ironically, the delay is probably the wrangle between ensurance and Direct Line fighting to work out who'll get to fleece the lorry driver's insurance the most.

 

Now you've made the decision to go with insurance though,  surely they should protect you from having to fight Direct Line? All of their marketing say they'll let you avoid those very issues. I'm sorry to say it but it seems like they're already failing you big time on two of their biggest promises, to save you time and hassle. Believe me, they'll make money hand over fist at your misfortune and so my advice is to make them work for it. I understand you get a 24 hour personal claims handler? I'd be on the phone very regularly until you get the service these grubby individuals promise....

 

I really pity you having your car scraped and now having to deal with these parasites but at least you're ok and your car will be restored to its former glory.

Thanks for all the kind words and support.

 

Currently I'm home now and waiting for Skoda's assessor to come out and look at the car on tuesday, so there's not much more I can do for now.

 

I'm fighting Direct Line etc but at the moment the wheels of beurocracy move slowly...  Doesn't help that the Lorry drivers insurance didn't even know about the accident until Skoda contacted them.

 

I should've said, when someone ran into me, my insurers wanted me to use one of their claims handlers. I said yes, so long as  they would get the damage assessed the following day. They did this and on day three my car was in for repair and the courtesy car had been delivered. I made just one phone call. The other guys insurance then rang me a few times to say that the charges made by my company for hire car were excessive (they really were scandalous prices, well over £100 a day). They said they could get one much cheaper and that they would only pay their rate leaving me liable for the difference. I directed them to the claims handlers. I'm just letting you know that you should be prepared for similar calls. I wish I was prepared,  but as I said earlier, don't be intimidated and make ensurance work for you. The call you've made to Skoda really should be the last one you make.

 

All the best.

Hi guys

 

I'll keep you up to date

 

Just for info, the reason it's taken over a week is I was away all this week for work with the car.

Hi guys

 

I'll keep you up to date

 

Just for info, the reason it's taken over a week is I was away all this week for work with the car.

 

Ah, that's makes it better if it was your choice to wait. I think lots of people will be really interested in how this develops. I certainly am as I'd love to think Skoda are much better than the others in the game. It's nice to see so many people all wishing you luck too. The season of goodwill seems to have bypassed some users of other posts but it's great to see a friendly supportive thread.

Unfortunately the CCTV doesn't show the actual incident just the direct run up to it. As for the Police - I suspect the value in prosecuting isn't enough to offset the cost and hassle.

Agreed.

Plus accidents happen, an at fault party in an accident is not automatically prosecuted.

Sorry to hear about you new VRS getting walloped.

Agreed.

Plus accidents happen, an at fault party in an accident is not automatically prosecuted.

Sorry to hear about you new VRS getting walloped.

 

 Thirded. Establishing on the balance of probabilities that a driver is liable for causing an accident in a civil court is an entirely different thing to establishing beyond reasonable doubt they are guilty of committing an offence of dangerous driving or driving without due care and attention etc.

Hope every thing works out for you. Regarding the attitude of the driver, perhaps a phone call/ email to head office might be more effective as well. A lot of companies do not like their employees getting into any arguments with the public,as the other party could potentially be one of their customers or related to a customer and therefore jeopardize their contract.

Not updated this as frankly I've not wanted to think about it. But following has happened.

Tuesday: Skoda assessor came out to look at the car, the impact was far worse than I thought as the lorry has hit the wheel as well meaning the car will need a full alignment check, new allows etc etc.

On the plus side the guy who came out from the repair centre (which is also a vw dealer) seemed to know his stuff.

Today: Skoda phoned - lorry insurance has admitted fault so they were away to submit a claim for repair and a replacement hire car.

So good news so far, hopefully. One thing I'm very impressed as to how well the car has stood up to what appears to have been much more serious accident than I thought.

Really pleased that the lorry insurance has admitted fault. Still a naff thing to have happened but hopefully your car can be repaired now and good as new

You so far seem to show Ensurance in a fairly good light. Good to see the lorries insurance has admitted liability. Took a hell of a long time though.