First off apologies if this gets a bit long winded, I'll try and keep it short and to the point. 
On the 17th of July I was traveling back towards home on a duel carrigeway in my 07 plate Astravan with side lights on (always switched on during the day, unless adverse weather dictates- dipped headlights). I was in the outside lane, just past the rear end of an 18 wheeler HGV.
The HGV pulls in to my lane, hitting the passenger door of my van with his drivers rear wheel arch. This bumps me on the the grassed carriageway divider for a short duration until I hit the brakes, slowing down returning the to tarmac. Certainly a different scenario/ consequence had there been a tree or roadway sign situated on the grassed area that I traveled down!
It took a series of flashing the main beam and sounding the horn to gain the drivers attention. On stopping and pulling over approximately a mile down the road the HGV driver admits he didn't feel anything. Not that he would as it was his trailer that stuck me. But advises he indicated. What use a signal to manoeuvre in to my lane would benefit; I was past the rear end of his trailer. So blind to his indicators/ signal.
I took his details, but he didn't want mine!. Zero damage to his trailer and my van badly bruised on the passenger side door, wing mirror, dented A and B pillar.
Reaching home I immediately phoned my insurance informing them of the incident. Advising my opinion; I was in the HGV drivers blind spot. Conversation included details of; time/ date of incident, name of the road, drivers name, vehicle registration, etc. And photographs of the damage to my van. The damage of which doesn't affect me using the van, only it's visual appearance.
So fastforward to last week with various phone calls made by me to hear updates. My insurance company whom of which have taken £795 for the last three years to insure three cars by the way. Have failed to receive any information from the HGV drivers insurance company/ underwriters. Alarm bells begin to ring?
They then inform me that without the HGV driver admitting liability we have little in the way of leverage to begin a claim against him, as liability has not been admitted.
Then to add to their $hite performance, during the last part of the conversation I was forced to make to make a decision. If I did not, then once the phone call ended, so was my case for a claim.
Decisions were,
A; have my van repaired- me paying the £250 excess- which then my insurance company TRIES to recoup from the HGV's drivers insurance company.
B; Close the case and forget.
Looking through my policy I have;
- Fully comprehensive cover on all vehicles under that policy.
- A £250 excess
- Legal expenses cover
- Protected NCB
- and blah blah blah for windscreen cover etc.
I feel that my insurance company have dome diddly squat with regards supporting me with this case and playing their part of a well known insurance provider. Of which a representative informed me that they had done over and above what they would do normally.
So to keep the case open, I opted to have my van repaired with an approved Vauxhall repairer. Scheduled for next week. approx. 8 weeks since incident.
Here's where I'd like a bit of advice.
Nowhere in my policy does it state that I pay the excess based on liability. Judging by the lack of information given to my insurance and zero information forwarded from HGV driver to his insurance. Then I feel limited with success towards me receiving a cheque reimbursing me of my my excess??
I've not made a claim for any injuries as I didn't receive any. All I'm after is my van repaired to prior condition. That is all.
The insurance company by the way is AVIVA- who as advertised on the TV offer 5 star insurance. Hmmmm I beg to differ!
On the 17th of July I was traveling back towards home on a duel carrigeway in my 07 plate Astravan with side lights on (always switched on during the day, unless adverse weather dictates- dipped headlights). I was in the outside lane, just past the rear end of an 18 wheeler HGV.
The HGV pulls in to my lane, hitting the passenger door of my van with his drivers rear wheel arch. This bumps me on the the grassed carriageway divider for a short duration until I hit the brakes, slowing down returning the to tarmac. Certainly a different scenario/ consequence had there been a tree or roadway sign situated on the grassed area that I traveled down!
It took a series of flashing the main beam and sounding the horn to gain the drivers attention. On stopping and pulling over approximately a mile down the road the HGV driver admits he didn't feel anything. Not that he would as it was his trailer that stuck me. But advises he indicated. What use a signal to manoeuvre in to my lane would benefit; I was past the rear end of his trailer. So blind to his indicators/ signal.
I took his details, but he didn't want mine!. Zero damage to his trailer and my van badly bruised on the passenger side door, wing mirror, dented A and B pillar.
Reaching home I immediately phoned my insurance informing them of the incident. Advising my opinion; I was in the HGV drivers blind spot. Conversation included details of; time/ date of incident, name of the road, drivers name, vehicle registration, etc. And photographs of the damage to my van. The damage of which doesn't affect me using the van, only it's visual appearance.
So fastforward to last week with various phone calls made by me to hear updates. My insurance company whom of which have taken £795 for the last three years to insure three cars by the way. Have failed to receive any information from the HGV drivers insurance company/ underwriters. Alarm bells begin to ring?
They then inform me that without the HGV driver admitting liability we have little in the way of leverage to begin a claim against him, as liability has not been admitted.
Then to add to their $hite performance, during the last part of the conversation I was forced to make to make a decision. If I did not, then once the phone call ended, so was my case for a claim.
Decisions were,
A; have my van repaired- me paying the £250 excess- which then my insurance company TRIES to recoup from the HGV's drivers insurance company.
B; Close the case and forget.
Looking through my policy I have;
- Fully comprehensive cover on all vehicles under that policy.
- A £250 excess
- Legal expenses cover
- Protected NCB
- and blah blah blah for windscreen cover etc.
I feel that my insurance company have dome diddly squat with regards supporting me with this case and playing their part of a well known insurance provider. Of which a representative informed me that they had done over and above what they would do normally.
So to keep the case open, I opted to have my van repaired with an approved Vauxhall repairer. Scheduled for next week. approx. 8 weeks since incident.
Here's where I'd like a bit of advice.
Nowhere in my policy does it state that I pay the excess based on liability. Judging by the lack of information given to my insurance and zero information forwarded from HGV driver to his insurance. Then I feel limited with success towards me receiving a cheque reimbursing me of my my excess??
I've not made a claim for any injuries as I didn't receive any. All I'm after is my van repaired to prior condition. That is all.
The insurance company by the way is AVIVA- who as advertised on the TV offer 5 star insurance. Hmmmm I beg to differ!
and we are treated the same! 
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