News - All of it bad

[AlfaScozzesi]

Thanks for all the good wishes and your thoughts on the insurance offer.

I am afraid this happened over a week ago and where I live there are not many cameras for the police to look at to get plate numbers so I have to accept that they wont be found. The police as you can imagine want to find the driver pretty badly as leaving the scene of an accident is the charge they want to prosecute but they haven't managed it yet.

The accident happened at approx. 17:30 which here in the Highlands is pitch black in the countryside so I don't even know the type of car which hit me. I have the mark of third car (the one I passed first) as I followed it for a bit and you can see the tail lights etc but the car which hit me is was a large SUV shape only.

So unfortunately I wont be offered to buy back the "scrap" or be able to get access for any bits. I had actually just booked her in to get the bearing shells, vanos and her yearly inspection done and the owner of the garage who is an enthusiast wanted to see if I could get him the engine when I cancelled the appointment as it would be probably have been good as the front impact wasn't very much.

I have been back onto the insurance guy who I have to say got a little upset that I didn't accept his (14k) offer and was a little animated on the phone. He has now said that the maximum he can do is get the average of the three prices from the guides including Glasses and two others which he didn't specify. If I don't accept this price then it would go to arbitration.

As far as I can see the longer I wait the more the cars worth will go up so that doesn't bother me too much.

Anyone with better knowledge though please let me know. I think it was Mr Tidy who has worked in the industry.

 

[Ducklakeview]

The insurance guy will have his own limit for settling claims, probably £15k by the looks of it. His job is to get it settled FAST, so as to minimise the amount of time (money) the insurers spend dealing with it. He probably hasn't seen the car in the flesh, just photos. His thinly veiled threat of "arbitration" is a load of bollox, and is designed to pressurise you into settling. If you don't accept the offer he will either speak to his manger or refer it to someone with a higher claims payout authority.

As mentioned, I would be scouring the AT and the like and putting together a list of comparable cars for sale on the market at the moment. The insurers liability is to indemnify you so that you are in the position you were before the incident, so any settlement should enable you to purchase a like for like model, less your excess.

In situations like this, they rely on people just wanting to settle, and trust me, they save a lot of money in doing so.

Mike

 

[RedUn]

Really sorry to hear the news, glad to hear your OK though!

How many body shops are in the area? If I were you I'd ring them all and offer them a reasonable cash reward if any SUV comes in with a z4 shaped dent in the side of it...

I'm assuming it will have some paint on there, nothing a bit of science can't prove to be the exact same paint as your car?

Got to be worth a go?

 

[tjlazer]

Wow. You are very lucky, that looks nasty. Glad to hear you're ok, the car can be replaced. Push for more based on current prices online, but you probably aren't going to see much more from the insurers. A nice 4x4 might be better suited to Highland adventures!

 

[Beedub]

incredible strength in the car , jesus man, so sorry to see this, God bless and wish you all the best!!

 

[Vanne]

Geepers, just really glad your ok. :|

 

[Mr Tidy]

I have been back onto the insurance guy who I have to say got a little upset that I didn't accept his (14k) offer and was a little animated on the phone. He has now said that the maximum he can do is get the average of the three prices from the guides including Glasses and two others which he didn't specify. If I don't accept this price then it would go to arbitration.

As far as I can see the longer I wait the more the cars worth will go up so that doesn't bother me too much.

Anyone with better knowledge though please let me know. I think it was Mr Tidy who has worked in the industry.

Yes, don't accept their first valuation - that is a "starting point" in negotiations for them.

Find some adverts for similar cars and send them to your insurer and maybe hint at what you might be willing to accept - there aren't any Z4M Coupes for sale at £14K after all!

You can always ask for a referral to the Ombudsman - the insurer pays the referral fee, the conclusion is binding on the insurer but not on you!

But thankfully you are in a position to have that debate - great news OP.

 

[markalp]

Quick check on AT shows Cheapest 2007 going for £17950 and the most expensive £23490... So they know where they can stick that £14k offer

 

[BMWZ4MC]

...You can always ask for a referral to the Ombudsman - the insurer pays the referral fee, the conclusion is binding on the insurer but not on you...

Very useful to be aware of this.

 

[paulgs1000]

Only just seen this Gary! Crikey that looks very nasty. . . feeling very sad for you mate and your M. Must have been a shocking experience in the dark. :thumbsdown: Had a similar situation on my Daytona m/bike and thought me and my son had had it! Surprisingly similar injuries to yours (though the other party at least stayed with us at the accident and accepted fault).
Don't underestimate your injuries: I suggest you keep a record or diary of your injuries (including photos of the bruising). Also such body trauma can last a long while so a record of medical appointments and your pain and discomfort as well as time off work etc may be relevant in the future. Do ask your insurance company if you are eligible for accident and injury payments - after all the accident and all resulting injury, discomfort and trauma is caused by another's actions - you didn't choose to be in this condition. It's not just a question of money but of entitlement and reasonable return for the immediate and longer term hassle you face. Wonder if anyone can give further advice on this?
Such a serious incident - not surprised the police wish to follow up with the side-swiper. Finally, I hope you allow for any psychological impact on you - I know I had a few weeks of delayed shock which brought back replays of my incident at odd times (once when I was taking my first solo microflight which was a bit un-nerving!) and I'm not too proud to say a few tears as well (of relief at surviving to be honest) which hit me days later and totally unexpectedly.
In any event it'll be good to see you, probably at the Commando monument again, in the future when this is behind you and you're sorted. Once again really sorry to see your post and take care over the next few weeks

 

[Ducklakeview]

Only just seen this Gary! Crikey that looks very nasty. . . feeling very sad for you mate and your M. Must have been a shocking experience in the dark. :thumbsdown: Had a similar situation on my Daytona m/bike and thought me and my son had had it! Surprisingly similar injuries to yours (though the other party at least stayed with us at the accident and accepted fault).
Don't underestimate your injuries: I suggest you keep a record or diary of your injuries (including photos of the bruising). Also such body trauma can last a long while so a record of medical appointments and your pain and discomfort as well as time off work etc may be relevant in the future. Do ask your insurance company if you are eligible for accident and injury payments - after all the accident and all resulting injury, discomfort and trauma is caused by another's actions - you didn't choose to be in this condition. It's not just a question of money but of entitlement and reasonable return for the immediate and longer term hassle you face. Wonder if anyone can give further advice on this?
Such a serious incident - not surprised the police wish to follow up with the side-swiper. Finally, I hope you allow for any psychological impact on you - I know I had a few weeks of delayed shock which brought back replays of my incident at odd times (once when I was taking my first solo microflight which was a bit un-nerving!) and I'm not too proud to say a few tears as well (of relief at surviving to be honest) which hit me days later and totally unexpectedly.
In any event it'll be good to see you, probably at the Commando monument again, in the future when this is behind you and you're sorted. Once again really sorry to see your post and take care over the next few weeks

Unfortunately, if the driver of the other car can't be traced, any claim for personal injury needs to be brought to the MIB, who is what a percentage of all of our insurance premiums are paid to!


Mike

 

[Sae]

Whoollyymhoollyy, really glad youre on the road to recovery, could have been much worse.

Good luck with the insurance claim but at the end of the day its just money and a car, your health is worth so much more

 

[Z4M-2006]

Terrible....


Glad you walked away fella.

Get that offer as close to £20k as you can and get another coupe

 

[dannytheduck1985]

Sorry to hear about the car.
Excuse my French but f**k me!!!!! Your a lucky man!!!!
If that was a roadster your chances of survival would of been slim.

 

[abar121]

Sorry to hear this. Glad you are ok though.

You can get another car, even an M.

Best of luck.

 

[TomK]

If that was a roadster your chances of survival would of been slim.

I don't see any major amount of damage above the scuttle, and clearly the car didn't roll. What makes you think that? :?

 

[Ducklakeview]

If that was a roadster your chances of survival would of been slim.

I don't see any major amount of damage above the scuttle, and clearly the car didn't roll. What makes you think that? :?

I also thought that tbh, as in it being a roadster wouldn't have made much difference to the outcome.

Mike

 

[bladeowner]

Just seen this. Glad you're OK. That's the main thing.

 

[buzyg]

If that was a roadster your chances of survival would of been slim.

I don't see any major amount of damage above the scuttle, and clearly the car didn't roll. What makes you think that? :?

I also thought that tbh, as in it being a roadster wouldn't have made much difference to the outcome.

Mike

Completely agree with you Mike. No roof damage and Garry didn't mention the car rolling, so what Danny has said here I would completely disagree with. Unless he knows more about the incident that we do.

 

[dannytheduck1985]

I don't see any major amount of damage above the scuttle, and clearly the car didn't roll. What makes you think that? :?

I also thought that tbh, as in it being a roadster wouldn't have made much difference to the outcome.

Mike

Completely agree with you Mike. No roof damage and Garry didn't mention the car rolling, so what Danny has said here I would completely disagree with. Unless he knows more about the incident that we do.

I know just as much as you lot about the accident.

Rolling doesn’t even need to come into it lol. It’s basic physics that a car with a solid roof is infact a lot structurally stronger than a convertible.