Do I laugh or cry?

[Lyserman]

Last Friday I was helping my son move into his new place in a hire van so the merc was parked on the road about 100m away from my house near the bus stop.
When we finished it was dark and on our way to the takeaway for a well deserved supper I glanced at my car and saw someone had placed a flyer on the windscreen.
When I pulled it off I found it was from the local bus company and one of their drivers had hit the o/s rear panel. A quick inspection just showed some scuffing along the bumper but when I looked in the daylight it has also creased the panel as well.
I contacted the number on the card and the upshot is they are getting it fixed and providing me with a replacement vehicle whilst mine is being repaired.
Initially they offered a Corsa which I politely refused as I drive an estate as that is what I need for the dogs and work plus it must be an automatic as my partner is only licensed for them. So they offered a Passat estate auto which I have accepted.
My merc is off to a local repairers today for an estimate and I have insisted that it must not be filled so it will need a new rear panel.
So, cry 'coz my car has been hurt but smile 'coz it is getting repaired with absolutely no argument or fuss (just as it should be really).

Tony

 

[developer]

Whilst it's bad your car has been bumped, it's good they fessed up.

I left a note on a car I'd caught and it turned out to be an uninsured driver, but my insurance was still obligated to fix his, as he was the 3rd party .

 

[grober]

Funnily enough I would not necessarily insist on panel renewal particularly on an estate. There's a lot of welding and seam sealing to go on with a new panel and that can be a source of corrosion a few years down the line. Best to stick with the factory seams and welds if possible if the original panel is not too distorted or seams already sprung-- IMHO. I would also have doubts that the bus company insurance would sign off on a repair in excess of what constitutes a reasonable repair proportionate to good body shop practice.

 

[martyz]

Agree,a lot of cutting and welding on a rear panel,plus filling over welded areas,much better to have small amount of filler on the panel.

 

[renault12ts]

+1...a new panel is excessive.

 

[jotter22]

I dont think the insurance company would agree to it without an agred cash input from the owner.

Tony.

 

[IanA2]

Bus companies often carry their own insurance, so it's their decision.

 

[Dieselman]

Bus companies often carry their own insurance, so it's their decision.

I'm surprised at how small the fund is to able to be self insured, £250k iirc.

 

[jotter22]

I'm surprised at how small the fund is to able to be self insured, £250k iirc.

I think i will stick with Admiral

Tony.

 

[IanA2]

I'm surprised at how small the fund is to able to be self insured, £250k iirc.

It's gone up

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/40/section/20/enacted

 

[Dieselman]

It's gone up

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/40/section/20/enacted

Not a vast sum, especially for a fleet. If you did put that on deposit, you could then drive any car with no further costs unless you damage something or someone.

 

[flango]

It's gone up

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1991/40/section/20/enacted

And even then companies take out separate insurance to cover the human casualty risks, with the average cost of a road fatality £1.79 million and the cost of a serious injury £200k then that £500k bond actually doesn't buy you that much and doesn't absolve you from liability.

In 2010 the average cost of a 17 year old having an accident resulting in serious injury or fatality in South Yorkshire was £3.4m now that's a sobering thought

 

[st13phil]

Not a vast sum, especially for a fleet. If you did put that on deposit, you could then drive any car with no further costs unless you damage something or someone.

It is a surprisingly small sum, especially when one considers the scale of some personal injury awards.

I wonder if those companies / organisations that self insure carry a huge provision on their balance sheet in recognition of the potentially large liability they would be carrying in addition to the sum deposited?

 

[IanA2]

It is a surprisingly small sum, especially when one considers the scale of some personal injury awards.

I wonder if those companies / organisations that self insure carry a huge provision on their balance sheet in recognition of the potentially large liability they would be carrying in addition to the sum deposited?

As the other Ian says above, as well as self insuring, companies often take out "excess policies". In effect this means that they will pay up to £X and the insurance company (for the appropriate premium) will indemnify them for sums in excess of £X. Moreover, some companies also use Ins Co's to handle their insurance, even though they are essentially "self insuring". Hope that makes sense.

 

[Lyserman]

Funnily enough I would not necessarily insist on panel renewal particularly on an estate. There's a lot of welding and seam sealing to go on with a new panel and that can be a source of corrosion a few years down the line. Best to stick with the factory seams and welds if possible if the original panel is not too distorted or seams already sprung-- IMHO. I would also have doubts that the bus company insurance would sign off on a repair in excess of what constitutes a reasonable repair proportionate to good body shop practice.

Funnily enough that is what the repairer recommended.
They have been in business for 30 odd years and are insurance approved as well as Mercedes, so not a fly by night company.
He did not have much good to say about the rust-proofing on mercs of my car's age, especially the E-class (ouch) but he said mine was in very good condition compared to some he has seen.
Just waiting for the bus company to approve their quote and whilst the bumper is removed they will also carry out some additional repair work on another part of the rear bumper that I was planning on getting done at some point. Only going to cost me £50 as the costly work (bumper removal) is being covered by the bus company.
Tony

 

[kinaero]

It's gone up

Road Traffic Act 1991

Sorry! If I am going off topic here, how would self insured covered against expensive building damage which might cost more than £500K to repair??

Or have I missed something??

 

[kinaero]

Sorry! If I am going off topic here, how would self insured covered against expensive building damage which might cost more than £500K to repair??

Or have I missed something??

Sorry, I think post 14 has answered my question!!