Car has been written off...

[Yelena]

I wonder, if anyone on the forum could help me to understand about a car write-off...? Basically, I've had an accident that was MY fault. My car has been written off as a result. The insurance company offered me to repay a certain sum, which is, to be frank, quite close to what I paid for the car in the first place. On one hand, it feels like I should take the money and be grateful...! On the other, I'm going to loose a lot - relevant excesses + the cost of the insurance itself as it'll be terminated + I bought that car at an astonishingly good price - paid cash on the spot and by this negotiated several hundred off the asking price + the previous owner was an elderly gent who made a very low mileage and took a very good care of the car! I'll hardly be able to buy anything similar for this money again. Another point that I find annoying is that the insurance company didn't tell me anything about the damages, how much the repairs would have cost and what the cost of the salvage would be...

Could anyone advise, whether it's at all reasonable to ask the insurance company to reconsider the car market value ( to pay me more...)? Could it actually ever wiork ( this asking for more)? Could they actualy offer less for whatever reason? How could I find out about the actuall damage and the cost of the repairs?

Thanks a lot in advance to anyone who might reply...

[TrevorP]

Hi Yelena
Your insurance company will have decided that the car would cost more to repair than is economical and so have written it off. You could ask them if you can buy the car back off them. However, before you do, it would be very sensoble to obtain a repair quotation for yourself. My som recently had his car written off. To look at the car, it looked like as new wing, drivers door and wing mirror, would have sorted it. However, with parts and labour, the cost to repair was almost £3,000, not allowing for any structural damage. What the insurance company have to consider is the real value of the car after repair. I think you might have misunderstood the termination though. If you buy a replacement car, I think your insurance will cover you until the expiry date. It's only if you don't replace the car that the insurance just runs out and you do lose out. I know it's upsetting but you are still here and you've only lost a piece of metal. I don't know you but I've never found anyone who's worth less than a stupid car!!!
Take the offer and buy a cheaper car. Believe me, if you did get it back, it never feels the same after its been badly damaged!! Good luck

[samwilson1]

Never accept an Insurance first offer. If you have a valid point contact your insurance company and explain your worries about buying a similar car. Check motoring magazines and see what it will cost to replace your car. Print off a few examples, incase they ask for examples.

[jay2505]

well... i wrk for an accident managemnt cmpany. if u wanted mre money 4 ur car then wat u hav 2 du is go on the autotrader find a car similar to yours. eg same car, mileage, engine size, reg. print of the expensive ones and send them to your insurance company. they will look at that price and offer you about the same.

If your car is damage ALOT and comes under category B then the car is not legal on the road therfore can not give u back. if it is repairable salvage CAT C/D then they will give you a salvage value. fone your insurance company and ask them.

And as it was your fault you cannot claim Personal Injury but the passenegers in your vehicle can. And i am sure you can get £1000 each minimum.

[vachelmathews]

The amount of personal injury compensation awarded varies depending on the seriousness of the injury and the financial losses involved.

Compensation is awarded for pain, suffering and your inability to do things after your accident that you could do before. The award is made based upon medical evidence, normally specialist reports, of the injuries suffered. The amount of compensation takes account of how your injuries or disease affect you now and how they might affect you in the future.