Smashed Saab Shambles

[pompei]

Last night when I was tucked up in bed, an old bloke driving a 66 plate Qashqai hit my Saab which was parked outside the house. He ended up bouncing off a tree. All emergency services including police were present and he was whipped off to hospital. 

 

He must have really walloped it as it was in gear with the handbrake on and it was shoved forward by about two metres. The rear quarter is smashed in and the rear wheel is now bent out of alignment. 

 

This morning I have spent more than two hours to-ing and fro-ing between the insurance company and Enterprise Car Hire to try and get a replacement car sorted.The insurers have instructed Copart to recover as they reckon it will be a total loss.  but the car hire people are coming back with all kinds of drivel about not being able to supply a car until mine is recovered  (which could be well into the middle of next week) and until they get confirmation from the old geezer's insurers that they will pay up. They have already confirmed he is insured ...  anyway, despite my protests, seems like I am just going to have to wait until Monday for a decision, GRRR

 

If possible, I would like to have it repaired although I don't know whether bending rear end is repairable. It's an 06 plate 9-3 Aero Convertible. It's a lovely old thing with heated leather, fab stereo and it's really fast.  I'm only the second owner, it's got tons of history and only 95,000 miles

 

The insurance guy really didn't seem to know what he was on about.  What would be the position if I did want to hold onto the car? I have no idea if the rear wheel suspension etc is repairable and I don't know whether shoving the car forward whilst in gear would have damaged the engine. I guess they will make an offer for the car as a total loss.  If so, does that mean it can't go back onto the road?  If they deem it an economic loss, could I then look at having it back and having it repaired? Has anyone had experience with Copart in such cases?

[Wack]

From a recent experience after being shunted from behind I'd try and get the hire car from his insurance , all mine did was pass it off to an accident management company , he admitted liability , I got a letter in a couple of days from them offering me a hire car

 

The AM company were quite pushy about me taking their car but I declined it because they were charging £230 A DAY for it , I could see the other insurance declining to pay that so did without

[Spottedlaurel]

Sorry to hear this.

 

If it gets taken somewhere I doubt you'll ever see it again. Can you keep it somewhere off-road and get the assessor to come to you?

 

Both times I got hit by another driver who admitted liability they got me into an Enterprise hire car which they paid for. Ageas in both cases.

 

The Camry was written-off without an assessor coming to visit, on the basis of an estimate from an approved repairer. We agreed a price over the phone then they knocked off the salvage value (about £60 from memory!). It's now back on the road again and my insurer (FJ) didn't need an engineer's report so long as it had been MoTed again. No VIC process to go through now.

 

Edit: When Mrs SL had a no-fault accident we ended up with a credit hire car sorted by her insurer, I wish it hadn't worked out that way but the other party didn't admit liability immediately.

[NorfolkNWeigh]

As SL says if you part with the car , you'll either never see it again or won't want to after they've carefully* recovered it and shunted it round a yard with a forklift or whatever.

I've only had positive experience of accident management companies and credit hire, the fact they make a percentage on everything means they've got a vested interest . Also they'll usually get you in a car within a few hours.

Of course, just mentioning the possibility of engaging such a company to the 3rd party's insurer will probably motivate them to get you a car today...

[Tamworthbay]

If the rear wheel is bent due to suspension and chassis damage (as opposed to a buckled wheel) then it will be written off for sure, on a car of that age it doesn’t take much to write it off anyway. It wouldn’t be an easy (or cheap) fix either.

 

Hope that’s not the case.

[DSdriver]

Start looking at comparable cars being sold as their first offer will be derisory

[artdjones]

What happened to the idea that you're supposed to mitigate your losses if you have to make a claim?I don't understand why insurance companies will pay for a car at £230 a day when you can hire a car from Hertz or Enterprise for £150 per week.

[pompei]

Thanks for the replies, fellas.  I've been out for another look and the chassis is bent by about six inches.  My tech expertise extends to being able to hold a screwdriver by the right end but even I can see it is probably going to be a hard if not impossible fix

[Stanky]

Sorry to hear of this, and even more sorry if I sound like a dick at this sensitive time but if its going to copart is there any chance of scavenging some bits from it beforehand?

 

specifically the washer bottle neck and cap, for which I will pay actual money. 

 

(sorry to sound like an opportunist wanker, but basically I am)

[Christine]

Vultures are circling..

[Felly Magic]

Let it go to Copart, it sounds beyond repair really. Its been punted 12 ft, which is a hell of a lot. Log all out of pocket expenses,  and push for these too. He must have been going a hell of a speed

[SiC]

Thanks for the replies, fellas. I've been out for another look and the chassis is bent by about six inches. My tech expertise extends to being able to hold a screwdriver by the right end but even I can see it is probably going to be a hard if not impossible fix

If the chassis is bent, it's buggered. Likely can be fixed if you put enough money into it but possibly won't drive the same again. Also iirc these have fancy passive rear wheel steering and complex on the backend.

 

I'm in the same boat after being told today that my 2007 Civic daily is now a write-off after being punted up the arse. As you were stationary and not even in the car, it should be a completely non-fault accident for you. In that case, as long as the insurance agrees, you should get a replacement car quickly as your car will be classed as non drivable.

 

Unless they write it off quickly and then you won't. You only get a hire car until the decision is made and agreed to your cars future.

 

Incidentally the car I had before my Civic that's been written off was a Saab 9-3SS. The Civic replaced the 9-3 as that was punted up the arse and wrote that off...

That had ripples down the doors but looking at the MOT history of it, it looks like it is now back on the road again.

[DSdriver]

As I understand it, not letting the car be taken away does I believe give you better bargaining power about its condition before the incident when the insurance company offers you fifty quid in compensation. Once its gone you can't prove anything unless you have paid for your own independent assessment.

[The Moog]

Sounds a write off.

 

You could repair it but risk the possibility of it never feeling right.

 

If the engine is good I know njgleeds has got 9-3 convertible that is in good nick but needs new engine. Perhaps combine two into one?

[FakeConcern]

Sorry to hear of this. My Citroen C4 VTS was smashed in a car park, still driveable. I dealt with the other parties insurance who offered me a hire car (I didn't need it so declined). I kept the car on my drive for them to inspect, it was written off and I was allowed to buy it back for a small amount. I got it fixed, but it was never the same and I ended up scrapping it when the gearbox packed in a year later. So my advice is deal with the other chap's insurance company and don't get the car fixed even if it's been really good and you love it, it will never be the same again.

[NorthernMonkey]

As the Moog testifies, I’m on the lookout for an engine for my ‘06 9-3 convertible...should the circumstances allow, I’d definitely be interested

[Squire_Dawson]

Take all your possessions from the car and grab the battery and anything else of use.

[Pillock]

If it's taken that much damage then as nice as it sounds, I'd get as much as possible out of the insurers (remember to claim for your time faffing around on the phone too) and just get a similarly nice one. It sounds buggered, it's not just panel damage so will need a jig and portapower etc.

 

Sure, it's your right to keep hold of the car and get a payout - but do you have space to store it whilst you find someone to do the work? The payout will only cover the value of the car and I can easily see paying someone to make this car straight costing more than a 12 year old Saab is worth in the eyes of the insurer.

 

Edit: Unless you agree a price for the remains with njgleeds and quickly do some maths when they make an offer for you to keep the remains. Insurance payout + price for remains = enough to buy a new car?

[Eddie Honda]

I dealt with the other parties insurance who offered me a hire car (I didn't need it so declined).

I didn't need either, so I bagged a slightly lesser daily amount for loss of use.

[vaughant]

Deffo scrap sadly without even looking at it, rear quarters from a non existent manufacturer would write that of immediately, the parts even if available would have been eye watering for what's essentially a £1500/2000 car at a guess?

Get the max you can from the insurers and look for another.

If your desperate to get it back wait for it to turn up on COPART and bid on it although it may simply get broken for spares.

I foolishly didn't do this with my old BMW cab when I should have and ended up having it about another year before it started giving me a load of grief which simply cashing it in and getting another would have been a much better idea.

[Isaac Hunt]

If you want to hang on to it, don't let the fekkers come with a low loader.

 

It is still your car and you don't have to succumb to their process. I had a parked car hit, third party admitted liability. Engaging with the insurance and the Fekkers were dispatching the low loader before the conversation had ended.

 

I told them to FRO and got my own quote and submitted it. They then offered a cash settlement. I fixed mine myself, then it failed the MOT on sill corrosion and I had to do that. In hindsight I should just have let the fekker go but we had had it for 12 years and it was mint (other than the hidden under plastic covers sill corrosion TADTS)

 

The whole process is geared up for most folk who just want to get a new car.

 

Get yourself lots of photo's and do your research in the market on specs. They will bid you low and assume yours is a poverty spec model.

 

If it is really that badly bladderEd, then chances are even a 'part DIY repair will run into a tidy sum'

[Felly Magic]

This will not be repairable, seriously some of you, it was pushed 12ft down the road, the floorpan will be gubbed, and body badly twisted with a hit like that, common sense says let the friggers take it away, delaying it will delay the whole system of a courtesy car, and any form of payout, when the Focus was written off, I couldn't have a courtesy car until mine was collected, that is how the system works, and I was in the hire car until the claim was settled. And all my insurer asked me was how much I'd paid for it, and that was sent via BACs to my account, don't piss about wanting salvage, as you will be left with sod all cash to replace your car, and a worthless, twisted hulk. 

 

Hopefully the bloke who hit your car will be up before the magistrates shortly

[pompei]

Once again, thanks for your input

[robinmasters]

From what you've said you're claiming in your own insurance, and it's them who are providing the hire car; this is why there's a holdup with the hire car-they won't agree to it until they've absolutely sure they'll get all their money back. This depends on two things- 1) your car is actually undriveable, and 2) the other drivers insurer's are indemnifying him and are admitting liability. Whilst this will never be anything other than the other driver's fault, what if he's fitted a bodykit and nitrous without telling his insurers? Insurance invalidated, your insurers will not be reimbursed for the costs of the hire car.

 

Accept it's not repairable. At the very least it's going to require a new rear quarter and a session on a jig, most of the suspension on one side, and quite a bit of paint. That's well in excess of it's value. The other bloke's insurers are only obliged to put you back in the same financial position you were in before the accident; you might want the same car back (I would), but all they have to do is give you enough money to either repair or replace an '06 9-3.

 

Don't listen to all this 'don't take the first offer' cobblers. The insurance company get an independent engineer to value the car, then rely on their valuation. Yes, they use the same engineers again and again-they could save a few quid knocking punters down, but it'd cost them far more in terms of damage to their reputation if they're regularly ignoring an independent expert's advice and undervaluing cars. If they haven't seen the service history, send them copies. If you can find adverts for similar cars for sale for more than they've offered(privately, not dealers), send them copies.

 

It doesn't make a great deal of difference whether they take the car or not if it's definitely written off. The engineer will inspect the car at the scrappers, take pictures etc. If you really disagreed with their value, you could get your own valuation based on the pictures, service history etc. If on the other hand you might want to keep the car, don't let it out of your sight. They'll transport it with windows open, whatever the weather, it'll get driven into at the yard, and they'll move it around with a fork lift.

 

If you want to go to the trouble of making a claim yourself from the other driver's insurance company, you can also claim for the days you didn't have a hire car (any travel costs AND loss of use). You can ask them for compensation for inconvenience-questionable whether you're legally entitled to this, but most insurers won't argue and will give you £50-£100.

 

As it's a relatively low value claim, you'll not be able to claim much for legal costs so solicitors won't be interested, but claiming by yourself isle a difficult process-no more difficult than claiming off your own insurers anyway.

 

I'm not a lawyer, but for many years I was the poor bugger at the insurance company paying off people their customers had driven into. Happy to answer any specific questions either here or by PM.

[Stebob]

Also to wade in on this from personal experience..

 

Our 1st Mondeo got took out by a brand new punto at the time that decided it wanted to fly and land on our car, we were in the house at the point we saw this unfold.

 

Long story short got a reasonable payout after arguing the toss a couple of times (never take the 1st valuation they give you!) but did get a hire car as didn’t want to put miles on the bm.

 

But be prepared to get shafted on you’re next renewal even if it is a no fault claim.

 

Mine went up by around 30%, I was unfortunate to get the old and new renewals within days of each other.

 

When i asked why i was getting bummed they said that insurance companies statistically say that you are at a higher risk of going on to have an accident of your own when being involved in a no fault claim, absolute load of bollards if you ask me.

 

So take the fuckers for everything you can get before they subsequently have you’re pants down!

 

Steve

[SiC]

On my last rear end non fault claim and my wife's separate rear end non fault claim, it did not increase our insurance at all. So I imagine it can vary per case. Knowing insurance it probably depends on which way the wind is currently blowing...

[ruffgeezer]

Sad times indeed when it's one you didn't want to get rid of.

 

I STILL have my Volvo from the accident back in November which hasn't had the claim settled yet, so best of luck dealing with those insurance bastards.

 

In the meantime, if you get stuck for a set of wheels, I'm local and would happily shiter's discount anything I have for sale & deliver it to get you mobile again.

[Pillock]

what if he's fitted a bodykit and nitrous without telling his insurers? Insurance invalidated, your insurers will not be reimbursed for the costs of the hire car.

 

They will, as his insurers have an obligation to pay out third party claims even in the event his insurance has been invalidated. The third party's hire car comes under the remit of the claim.

They will then recoup this through the courts from him.

 

Only in the event he's not insured at all does it become difficult, as you have to go through MIB.

[SiC]

Don't listen to all this 'don't take the first offer' cobblers. The insurance company get an independent engineer to value the car, then rely on their valuation. Yes, they use the same engineers again and again-they could save a few quid knocking punters down, but it'd cost them far more in terms of damage to their reputation if they're regularly ignoring an independent expert's advice and undervaluing cars. If they haven't seen the service history, send them copies. If you can find adverts for similar cars for sale for more than they've offered(privately, not dealers), send them copies.

 

From my experience of a previous non fault claim, they offered a bit above what it was worth. Speaking to my next door neighbour of the time (who was a lawyer specialising in car insurance claims), he said that was to be expected. As they're claiming it back from the other party, as long as it's realistic, it's in all the insurance companies interest to get the claim done and dusted quickly as possible. Time is money.

 

If you want to go to the trouble of making a claim yourself from the other driver's insurance company, you can also claim for the days you didn't have a hire car (any travel costs AND loss of use). You can ask them for compensation for inconvenience-questionable whether you're legally entitled to this, but most insurers won't argue and will give you £50-£100.

 

That'll explain why the hire car company was incredibly apologetic when they phoned back after I phoned my insurer up to ask why I couldn't have a car when mine was marked as undrivable! Apparently a mix up their end on if it was marked as undrivable or not. The hire car company originally wanted to wait until my car was picked up first. However that's rather inconvient when you're not allowed to drive it.

[Rave]

I've had a couple of old bangers hit from behind and in both cases I thought the offer from the other party's insurers was perfectly reasonable. My cars were both probably worth less than an average example of one that age due to their poor condition already though, so that might be why. I kept hold of both of them and carried on driving them without even fixing the damage, just pocketed the cash.

 

However on the second occasion, despite the fact that the car had been parked up in a safe and reasonable position when it was hit by the third party and I was elsewhere, my own insurance company bumped my premium at renewal time. I had not foreseen that and so had not asked the third party's insurance for any compensation for it, so in the end the cash payout I got was eaten up by that and all I got out of it was a damaged car. So whatever you decide to do about the rest of the claim, I would ring your insurer and ask them if they intend to load your premium, and if they do, claim it as a consequential loss from the other insurer.

 

In general I am rather against government regulating things, but I make an exception for car insurance as it's a legal requirement. Insurance companies are no longer allowed to charge men more for insurance despite them being statistically a higher risk than women, and rightly so. I'm damned if I can see why they should be allowed to charge people who have been unlucky enough to have someone drive into their parked car more, either.