- Joined
- Jun 24, 2008
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- 48,605
- Location
- London
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- 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5 RWD / 2016 Suzuki Vitara AWD
I know that the OP situation is resolved. But fyi this is wrong in the case of claims for damage caused by third parties. You may very well make a claim VIA your insurer but your claim is actually against the third party themselves (and then for the third party to involve their insurer); it is quite simple that you should be put back in the position that you were in prior to the damage - and in the case of a relatively new car it is reasonable to INSIST (not ask) that the repair is carried out by the manufacturer's approved repairer. It is absolutely nothing to do with the terms of your own insurance policy.
If you are having trouble with the insurers (either your own or the third party) then just launch a claim for the full amount of the damages against the third party themselves and threaten legal action against them - that usually motivates the insurer to settle the claim more quickly.
Correct, the third party's insurer must provide full financial restitution, including any losses (and including any reasonable costs incurred as result of having to deal with the accident and the claim).
The issue is that when you use your own insurer in these circumstances, you are effectively appointing them as you claim management agents, and as such you are (unwittingly) empowering them to accept on your behalf a settlement offer made by the other party's insurer. Some will fight your corner, while others will simply follow the path of least resistance. This could - in some circumstances - prevent you from negotiating a better deal, which you could have done if submitting the claim with the other party's insurer and dealing with them directly. But, again, this approach will only work where the other party have accepted full liability and their client"s fault is not being disputed.
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