Bit of a shunt

I'm pretty ****ed off. At the end of last week, I was driving homewards in my 90 when a French driver rounded a blind bend in a small hatchback on the wrong side of the road right into me. I swerved to avoid a full head on crash but was unable to completely avoid the shunt. Everyone walked away, and my insurers have told me that the other person's insurer has accepted full blame, so at least my no claims should be intact.

The result was a contact that almost certainly wrote the other car off and was taken pretty much in full by my left front wheel. The 90 looked pretty straight other than a slightly flattened wing and a buckled front wheel - it steered on to the recovery truck perfectly. However, the (insurer approved) garage is saying that as well buggered suspension on that side, the chassis has taken damage which may well necessitate a new chassis.

The insurers are sending an engineer to assess my 90. There is talk of 'beyond economic repair' being banded around, but I don't buy a word of it...it's coming back to me and getting sorted whatever happens. The garage quoted a figure of 4 grand for the chassis alone - without the other stuff - the insurers apparently use genuine LR parts only. I would be more than happy with a galvo Richards chassis for a quarter of that price but they are apparently unlikely to go for it.

Can anyone explain to me how there can be talk of a write off when the other side have accepted full blame for causing the accident and buggering up my property? This seems just plain wrong to me. The other driver/their insurer damaged my 90 and I want it repaired, end of.

I would really prefer to have it done at my local LR independent place whom seem like top blokes. I will chat to them tomorrow.

I only had new front tyres fitted the day before and brimmed the tank the same day. I guess you could say I was almost tempting fate.

I am massively ****ed off. Any advice on this would be welcome. It's starting to get me down.

they could still write it off because it is 'un-economical' to repair. It will cost them too much to repair s they will just claim for a new car off the oppositions insurance company.

If you buy it back you can do what you want with it.

There is a grey area about wether you will have to have a new chassis, because it will probably have a marker against it having been involved in a shunt and potentially written off. There for you might not be able to use it on the road until vosa or awhoever are happy its road worthy.

Bluehaze had a very similar thing happen to Him and managed to get it rebuilt onto another chassis. He had a thread on it, may be worth a read if you can find it.

Thanks for the responses I shall defo look up that thread.

This is my first crash, so it's a bit of a learning curve.

One way or the other though, that 90 will be back on the road.

It's a bit ironic that they seem to be hell bent on a rot box Land Rover chassis when a galvo replacement would be 1/4 of the price. Common sense is dead.

Stand your ground, they cant write it off on your behalf.

Their customer broke it, you want your landrover back as it was! Make them rebuild it on a new chassis with new front axle and new front wing plus anything else that needs doing


Its your property and your decision so IMO make them get it back to how it should be!

Who is your insurer? If it is 1 of the 30+ plus company's that flux writes for send a pm to ED and see if he can help.

Bummer I think is the technical phrase

Bluey's thread is useful

Stand your ground. You weren't in the wrong, their client was, you want your Landy repaired and back

It will be a fight, many letters and you'll end up going to the CEO

Start a log now of all letters, calls etc. If you fancy it you'll be able to claim for your time, loss of vehicle etc.

There's a number of guys on here that will support you through this, but it will be a pain and on several occasions they may almost beat you into submission - stay focussed on what you want and you will win!


PS - have you tried the Laphroig Tripple Wood

Thankyou chaps Like you say, I have a feeling this is just the beginning.

Any photos?

TD5power said:

Any photos?

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I have a couple on my phone, but it's ancient and I've lost the USB cable

To be honest, there isn't much to see - a 90 with a deflated front left tyre, buckled steel hub and slightly scuffed/flattened front wing/door. Other than that, it appears outwardly mint.

RAGNAR BENSON said:

I have a couple on my phone, but it's ancient and I've lost the USB cable

To be honest, there isn't much to see - a 90 with a deflated front left tyre, buckled steel hub and slightly scuffed/flattened front wing/door. Other than that, it appears outwardly mint.

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But I likes pictures :cry:

Remember that your insurance company is contracted to work for you - the paying customer. Sometimes they seem to forget this and try to take the path of least resistance, to suit themselves. You may find that you have to remind them of their obligations to you, sometimes even via the insurance regulators.

PM Bluehaze and ask him whats what. I'm sure he will give you the heads up.
Just because they say its uneconomical to repair does not mean you have to accept their position. You did not agree to their insurance terms. They have admitted 100% liability and you are entitled to have your property repaired no matter how much it costs. It just takes time and you need to stand your ground. If it was your house that was damaged there would be no argument. Hang tough. Do you have legal cover on your policy? If so direct them to recover the full costs of repairs and if they can not get it from the other party's insurers direct them to sue the other driver. It tends to focus the mind.

shifty1962 said:

pm bluehaze and ask him whats what. I'm sure he will give you the heads up.
Just because they say its uneconomical to repair does not mean you have to accept their position. You did not agree to their insurance terms. They have admitted 100% liability and you are entitled to have your property repaired no matter how much it costs. It just takes time and you need to stand your ground. If it was your house that was damaged there would be no argument. Hang tough. Do you have legal cover on your policy? If so direct them to recover the full costs of repairs and if they can not get it from the other party's insurers direct them to sue the other driver. It tends to focus the mind.

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+1

How old is it? Generally any thing over ten years old just gets written off for even minor damage these days!

Can you not get them to write it off, pay out and then buy it back for a nominal fee and use the pay out to repair it?

whats the point ? get it repaired to like new by them or pay for it, get a **** payout from them and have to repair yourself ?

Dr_evil said:

whats the point ? get it repaired to like new by them or pay for it, get a **** payout from them and have to repair yourself ?

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True enough!

Look back at the claim last year, chap had just had an MOT, and was hit by a transit, took him around six months I think, insurance company said a new gear box etc etc, really good thread too. Stick at it , as it wasn't your fault and you shouldn't beat a loss.....

You dont want a write off marker recorded against your motor as it affects resale values somewhat. When they repair it was not written off so no marker. Also if they wont play the game report the other driver to the police for criminal damage. This also tends to spur insurance companies into action especially when the other driver complains to their insurance company that they are not getting the insurance cover they paid for.

Yeah don't let the bastids take it from you.