Advice Needed

oberon · Postby **oberon** » July 18th, 2011, 5:27 pm

So guys I need some help! A guy ran into the back of my poor Hilux today-to think I wash and polish yesterday. Anyway on the McBean stretch a Cedia hit the H100 (actually end up under the axle) and the H100 hit me. My bumper damaged, tailgate cant open fully to horizontal position.

So we all went to the station and made a report etc. I have all the other parties information. This is my first accident, so my question is; What to do next?

Do I wait on their insurance to call me? Do I call them? Call the police for updates? I have no idea what to do!

roti102 · Postby **roti102** » July 18th, 2011, 6:36 pm

Go to your Insurance and fill our the forms. Take along all the information including yours, the other party's and witnesses. Also have the name of the police office that took your report.

Here comes the hard part - Bend over............cause your about to get F***'d by the insurance system.

Cooper · Postby **Cooper** » July 18th, 2011, 7:50 pm

^^^ That's pretty much your next step, your insurance carrier should be able to take it from there (you pay a shitload of money to them every year, make them work for it)....but...

It sounds like your weren't wrong in the accident and therefore you may not have to claim on your policy. If you have a good insurance carrier, you shouldn't have to worry about any major expense. The only problem will be the third parties involved... although they may be wrong in the accident, they may fight it down and try not to pay (through their own insurance carrier)... so expect long delays in getting your van fixed.

Go directly to your insurance carrier and speak to someone in the Claims Department for better advice.

I worked in this industry (handling IT operations) for almost ten years and all I can say is that insurance is always a rip off.

Say your prayers before you bounce the starter every morning and try your best to mind your speed and your space while on the road. Hope it all works out 8-)

ronsin1 · Postby **ronsin1** » July 18th, 2011, 8:22 pm

oberon wrote:So guys I need some help! A guy ran into the back of my poor Hilux today-to think I wash and polish yesterday. Anyway on the McBean stretch a Cedia hit the H100 (actually end up under the axle) and the H100 hit me. My bumper damaged, tailgate cant open fully to horizontal position.

So we all went to the station and made a report etc. I have all the other parties information. This is my first accident, so my question is; What to do next?

Do I wait on their insurance to call me? Do I call them? Call the police for updates? I have no idea what to do!
IMG_0378.jpg

Should have stick with Mitsubishi :shock:

Anyway after that piece of old talk

What the others have said above are correct

lighthammer · Postby **lighthammer** » July 19th, 2011, 3:07 am

^cooper makes sense there.

and just as FYI on the side...
Probably your bumper brackets got bent or pushed in, and now the bumper riding onto the tray door, hence you can't open it fully.

Might be able to unbolt everything (don't forget to disconnect the wires to the license plate lights!) and maybe try straightening the bolts by bashing them with a hammer (use a lighthamer... hehehe.. get it??). Save yourself a $2500 garage fee....

That's just in case the other two parties won't compensate you (which is what usually happens in trinidad - esp with service vehicles, the driver says the van is not his and owner has to pay, owner says he with motor one or some sheit like that and won't pay).

Note: if you do have to make a claim, you'll lose your No Claim Discount, so if your NCD is worth something to you (esp if the yearly premium is large) then consider just DIY, esp. since the damage looks minimal.

My recommended insurance companies (i.e. the ones who are least-likely to steal from you, or at least steal the least amount from you in the yearly premium):

- Sagicor
- Maritime
- Guardian Life

They all will settle claims very quickly (sometimes in the same day!!) and will do all the legwork for you. However... the premium will shoot back up as you lose the NCD - but at least you avoid headache and having to deal with the mongrels of the insurance system.

oberon · Postby **oberon** » July 19th, 2011, 5:37 pm

If it turns out that my insurance company doesn't have to pay anything and ideally the other parties' insurance covers my damage. Do I still lose my no claim disc?

biggy82 · Postby **biggy82** » July 19th, 2011, 5:56 pm

nope, cos you haven't made a claim from your insurance.

lighthammer · Postby **lighthammer** » July 19th, 2011, 6:49 pm

^ what he said.

*Phoenix* · Postby ***Phoenix*** » July 19th, 2011, 7:16 pm

You are in the safe zone with the insurance...

Repair to this bumper is just a matter of removing the bumper and straitening out the brackets that bolt to the frame. (An easy do it your-self fix or if you are jumpy about it any straighter can do it..)

The bumper was pushed up during the accident and prevent the tailgate from coming all the way down!!!