wrote off my car

[xdam]

I wrote my car off last wednesday, took a corner @ 60mph (was a national speed limit zone) in the wet and lost control of my car.

It's a BMW 316i Compact (well, it was) so it's rear wheel drive, the back end just kicked out on me a little too much and I went flying into on coming traffic (not what you need after being awake for 20 mins). I managed to steer the car back into my lane but I turned it too far, went onto the pavement, into a post and flew down into a ditch with the car landing on it's side. The amazing thing was I wasnt hurt at all although my car is definetley a write off with all around damage.

I've got pictures on my T630, i'll try and get them online at some point.

Anyone got any idea how much the insurance company are going to offer me, roughly?

[flipper321]

In my experience a lot less than the cars worth - I'd get your own independent valuation if the insurance company comes low - these things are sometimes open for negotiation if there's a disagreement - often depends on the contract wording.

Your crash sounds very similar to mine back in 2000. Mine was a front wheel drive though. Went round the corner but road was icy and muddy (back road), got complete understeer, no worries I think, i'll just straighten it out in the other lane (bearing in mind this must be one of the quietest roads in Britain I'm on), however Jeep coming the other way, hard turn to avoid - straight into ditch, car hit a tree sideways, spun 360, rolled up onto it's side and then dropped back. Mate and I walked out with nothing but whiplash and I had a cut to the back of my head - f*cking lucky I say.

[xdam]

Whatever they offer i'm going to ask for more, you have to try.

There was ice on the road I came off (the A50 from Knutsford). The police man told me it was notourious corner for cars to come off so they weren't going to follow it up, where I'd crashed there was 2 other posts that had been smashed down by other cars and lots little bits of other cars. Another car came off the other side the road later in the day too.

[flipper321]

I found the copper to be quite rude straight after the accident. There I am in the ambulance with blodd gashing out the back of my head, never had a breathaliser test before so when he says blow, I do, for about a second. F*ck me he almost bit my head off spewing some sh*t about failing to give a test, needless to say once he'd told me what I needed to do I passed the test.

He didn't seem to believe me when I told him it was icy (it obviously was, you just had to walk on the road to be able to tell), but they let it drop as when the pick up truck tried to pull my car out of the ditch it started to slip back and they had to release the car as it was dragging the truck acroos the ice back towards the ditch!!

[Tammer]

Sorry to hear about the car, it was a nice model.

I was actually lucky not to do the exact same thing last night. Same wet icy conditions and i think the only reason i didnt smash it was because of a hole in the road which slowed me down a little.

Anyway, yeah best bet is probably the independent valuation if the insurance company wont pay a reasonable amount.

Any ideas what you'll buy next? Thats the fun part.

[flipper321]

I've just looked at the date, it must be the right time of year, my crash was 20/1/2000!!

[xdam]

I haven't got a clue what I'm going to buy. I like the Audi A3 but it all depends on what they give me back.

To be fair the police man who came to me was cool with everything.

[PaulE36coupe]

Glad to hear you are OK.

With regard to insurance companies, dont accept thier first offer and give them evidence of the pre-accident condition, service history, pictures etc.

I had a total a few years back, I even sent them cuttings from the autotrader asking them how I was supposed to buy the same model of car with their settlement figure, it took time but a mutually agreeable figure was reached.

[Porthos]

Good luck on getting a new car mate, end of the day you might have lost your car but u've still got your health and you can't buy that.

[WTD]

glad your OK thats the main thing mate!

Send autotrader clipping (ones in your favour) to your solicitor or the loss adjuster if you disagree with the price!

[pangr]

Definitely photcopy any service receipts of work done to your car and send them in when you claim. Say it was in A1 condition.
Also as mentioned before by PaulE36Coupe - Reject the first and second offer. find out how much you car is really worth from books such as buyers guide in Garages, WHSmiths or http://www.whatcar.com/newautotrader...ons_search.asp etc.

It worked for me a number of years ago with a tarted up MK3 Escort and a MK2 Fiesta eventhough underneath the shiny paint work was a rusty heap. I got back very close to how much I paid for both of the cars.

[azz]

when you do get a new car i'd recommend getting GAP insurance if you can. i got it thrown in when i bought my car (April '03) and means that im covered untill April '06 whereby if i write off my car i'll still get my full 9k back, so if say the insurance co only offer me £3k, renault will write me out a cheque for the rest of the amount that i paid them for the car allowing me to get a similar replacement should it happen.

[cosmicma]

@ azz_uk

are you sure thats how gap insurance works ???
i thought it was to cover against any outstanding debt owed on the car ie if you buy a car for 9 grand over 5 years and a couple of years or so later the car is written off and the value of the car is say 3 grand but there's still 5 grand outstanding finance gap will pay the outstanding finance i don't think they give you any money back they just clear the debt

maybe i'm wrong but i'm pretty sure that's how it workis

[azz]

@ azz_uk

are you sure thats how gap insurance works ???
i thought it was to cover against any outstanding debt owed on the car ie if you buy a car for 9 grand over 5 years and a couple of years or so later the car is written off and the value of the car is say 3 grand but there's still 5 grand outstanding finance gap will pay the outstanding finance i don't think they give you any money back they just clear the debt

maybe i'm wrong but i'm pretty sure that's how it workis

i f*cking hope not because the guy at renault explained it to me the way i mentioned and the price was paid cash not through finance so its useless to me if that is the case. i'll check it out.

[cosmicma]

i think you should check it out it sounds like he's trying to pull a fast one

[azz]

GAP Insurance covers the difference between the amount paid by your motor insurer and either the outstanding balance of your finance agreement or the cash purchase price paid if your vehicle is stolen or written off.

looks like we're sort of both right. put it this way, im very glad the car was paid for in cash. :whistle

[cosmicma]

@ AZZ_UK

had a quick chat to a car dealer and what he told me was if you buy a car on finance you would take out GAP insurance but if you pay cash it is another no loss insurance policy ( costs about 100 quid a year ) for the first 3 years of the car being new this ensures you get a brand new car if it gets wrote off / stolen within the 3 years

just making sure you have the right cover thats all i hate the idea of some sales rep taking advantage just to boost his commission

[Nikki]

I haven't got a clue what I'm going to buy. I like the Audi A3 but it all depends on what they give me back.

To be fair the police man who came to me was cool with everything.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...category=10372

Found this Audi A3, lucks in a pretty bad way :nowords:

You got ya self another car yet Xdam?

[xdam]

thanks niky, im getting a new shape bmw coupe now though (as long as the insurance isnt too high)

[xdam]

insurance company won't insure me on a coupe till im 21 in july