How Do I claim if the accident involves a third party?

A third party to an accident claim is when there is anyone else involved apart from yourself. This could be anyone, and at the very least you need to have third party cover. Compensation is an entitlement for anyone who is injured or has their property damaged in an accident. This compensation should come from the person who is found to be at fault, and if injuries are involved we could be talking about thousands of pounds. So, if you are at fault for an accident, you really need cover.

Don't just think of a third party as being another motor vehicle driver. A third party could be a pedestrian, or a cyclist, a passenger in another car or even your own vehicle. Should you hit a house, then the third party is the house's owner.

The most important task for you at the scene of an accident in which you were involved is to gather information. Get as much information as possible, use a camera if you have it with you and concentrate on the facts. Get names and addresses of all parties to the accident and also any witnesses. Don't worry about fault, that is not your job.

When you have sent in your claim form, your insurers may decide that they want to investigate, in which case they will ask you some questions so they can be clear on the facts of the accident and the particulars of the claim. They may send an investigator to look at the scene of the accident, who will want to produce a sketch and take photos. The witnesses may get questionnaires sent to them, and may also get spoken to by the investigator. The third parties and you may need to provide written statements. You should help anyone connected to the claim as much as possible, because the evidence they are collecting could help you.

Eventually, a view will be formed as to where the blame lies for the accident. Once negligence is ascertained, the claim will proceed. If the other party does not agree with the investigator's decision, then a judge may be required to hear the case in the civil courts.

Should this happen, you should remember that the UK has an adversarial legal system, and your insurer and you will take your side against your opponent in what becomes a civil battle.

Remember also that your insurer is the ultimate decision maker on action to be taken. The insurer's staff will generally be more experienced than you where insurance is concerned. So you may not be happy with the way your insurer is handling your third party claim, but they are going to protect their interests as a priority. Hopefully, your insurer's interests will coincide with yours.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© AskFinancially.com 2008

Motor Insurance

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