I am new to this site but require some help for my daughter. Her car has been hit and severely damaged whilst parked outside her house, she has two very young children and is totally lost without her car. The lorry driver that hit her car drove off and she had to call the police to get his insurance details.

Its looks as if her car will be written off from the damage caused, she isnt covered for a hire car on her policy and now because of where she lives she cant get the children to school or go to work with no car.

She doesnt have the money to just hire a car, she is distraught and as I dont live near I am very upset about it all as well, it was only lucky that she had just got herself and the baby out of the car 5 mins before the lorry hit it.

What can she do now for transport, it all seems so unfair? the car was old and although in perfect condition had high milage and I know the insurance will not give her anywhere near enough to buy the same car again, and what does she do in the mean time with no car.

If anyone can help with any suggestions I would be very grateful.

If it definitely wasn't her fault, and presuming the other guy is insured, then his his insurance would have to pick up the cost of your daughter hiring another car whilst hers is being replaced or until it is written off and she gets another. There are Claims Management companies who will act for you and hire you a car at no cost or risk to you (they'll just put in a claim for reimbursement to the other insurer). Don't panic.

Thank you very much for you reply broooooooooooce. My daughters car was parked when the lorry hit so not her fault, she was in her house. She is on a very low income and doesnt have the money to pay for a hire car in advance, and nor do we. How do we find a claim management company to deal with this and get her a hire car?

Many thanks

I've just Googled 'claims management car hire' and loads of hits came up. Sift through them and try find a local one or look on the Ministry of Justice website for authorised companies in your area.

Thank you very much for you help I will do as you suggest now. If the car is written off which I am sure it will be, as its old and done high milage although in perfect condition I cant see the insurers giving her enough money to buy the same car again. Do they have to give you enough to replace the car that you have lost with another one the same?

Also while we are trying to sort out a hire car, my daughter is stuck without being able to get out to the shops or anything, she had plans with the kids for tonight and the weekend, it just all seems so unfair. The lorry driver didnt even apologise he couldnt have cared less..

Sorry to go on I am just so cross and worried

Thanks again

You carry on - get it off your chest! It's a big part of what these forums are for - venting your anger!

With respect the value given as a write off, they will give you invariably Glasses guide market value. I would always view any initial offer they give as a starting point and hope to go higher. I would start collating evidence of the cars likely value, sites like Autotrader and Ebay will allow you to search for pretty well the exact car (including mileage). Glasses also has a website where you can obtain a valuation. If it comes to a bit of argy bargy with the insurer, it will help if you have something to back up what you think the car is worth.

Your daughter needs to keep a record (receipts / invoices) of all the expenses she has incurred - taxi charges, bus fares, loss of income and the like. If the other guys insurers accept liability then she'll be able to claim them back. Has the car been sent to a garage for a repair estimate? Do they have a car they would be willing to hire to you (on the basis they won't get paid till the claim is settled)?

With regard the callousness of the lorry driver - did he leave the scene of an accident without reporting it? Perhaps he'll get a shot in the *** from the boys in blue (if they can be bothered).

Keep ya chin up and don't let the b*!"£rds get you down!!

Thank you once again, you have been so helpful and I am starting to feel a bit better.

My daughter is still trying to get through to the claims department for first central her insurance company, she has been trying since the accident happend but no one answers the phone, in desparation she has phoned sales and spoken to some who has promised to get claims to ring her, but as yet she hasnt heard. Sales did say looking at her policy she should be entitled to a hire car 24hrs after reporting the accident, trouble is she cant report it because no one is answering the phone.

I have told her to keep all receipts and documents, she cant go to work because there is no transport where she lives. Hopefully someone will contact her today, she is going to keep hassling them and I have told her to tell them that she needs a hire car today. So we will see what happens.

Thank you so much for everything, will let you know how it goes.

Have you e-mailed them on newclaims AT 1stcentral.co.uk. There is also a guy posting on Moneysavingexpert.com who says he is the Head of Business Development at 1st Central - his name appears as 'Tom1stcentral'. Unfortunately one or two others are reporting issues with claims at this company.

I did email 1st Central yesterday, but have not received a reply. I have been out this afternoon so will contact my daughter and see if she has heard anything, If not I will look for the guy you have mentioned and try and email him.

Many thanks

Credit Hire from a claims management company etc is not always without risk, you will sign a credit agreement that makes you responsible for their costs which can be very expensive if they cannot recover the money from the other party. Some CH companies provide a cover so you are not responsible if they cannot recover their money.

Take the time to understand what you are entering into, ask questions and make a note of the persons you speak to name, date and time and read what you are signing! There are people who are being pursued for thousands of pounds when there were problems with a credit hire vehicle they were provided with

Thank you for your message. At last my daughter has been able to contact 1st Central claims dept, and I have to say now that my daughter has been able to speak to someone in their claims dept SO FAR they have been brilliant.

Apparently they are or use a Claims Management company automatically, not sure of the name but something like Kiddertons, they have contacted the lorry driver who admits full responsibility (but that is no surprise) they have arranged a hire car for my daughter that is coming tomorrow, they even asked her what colour car she wanted, she laughed and said she didnt care, they have said that they will take the damaged car away at the same time to one of their garages and that they will also deal with reclaiming all other expenses that my daughter has incurred including getting her policy excess back.

So if it all goes as they have promised we now only have to wait and see if they repair the car which is very doubtful, or what the write off amount is that they offer, because obviously my daughter will need to replace the car.

I will keep you all informed, it has been so helpful to know that there are people out there that care and take the time to message and help. I have never done this before and I am really pleased with the wonderful response.

Thanks

I am really glad things are moving forward positively. Thanks for your kind comments. I am also quite new to these forums and have had excellent advice from others, so I am happy to help where I am able.