my son had his car damaged 3 weeks ago

[lilypoppyfre]

3 weeks ago my son was awaken around 2 AM by the police who told him that his car, parked on the road, had been crashed into by a drunk-driver. The insurance decided that it was a write-off and gave him the GLASS value of the car. Needless to say he had to dip in his savings ( goodbye holidays for this year ) to buy another car. I find it most unfair that one should be penalised for a moronic drunk.
Is there any insurance that can be taken that would pay a couple of thousands in such a case ?The police says that the driver was insured. Would it have been possible for my son to sue him ?OK so he now has a newer car than before, but he had to choose quite quickly... definitively not the way he was hoping to change for a new car... any hints ? My son has a garage, where tyhe car is parked at night. BUT on that occasion he found the entrance to his garage ( across the road ) partly blocked by some driver ( Not local ) and it being rather late ( when one is a chef one tends to work rather late hours.....
I am angry on his behalf...his attitude being that insurance are not helping the careful drivers but you have to have them...

[AlBags]

I don't think there is an alternative, apart from free car replacement on the policy, whilst yours is being sorted.
You do not have to accept insurance offer, they will often come up a bit in price if you argue.

[boxtops]

If the other driver is insured as you say, then the third party insurers would pick up whatever cost is agreed. When my car was written off after vandal damage my insurance company made me an offer and I could accept it or not, However Glass's guide tends to be the standard reference work when making the offer, but if there were additional costs (eg a hire car) then this - unless things have changed - could be used as additional claims against the driver at fault. Your son's insurance company will certainly be seeking to recover their costs from the other driver.

[redcrx]

the price that the insurers offer against a write off should be sufficiant (before the excess is taken) to purchase a like for like car.
Many people dont realise that they can refuse the offer from the insurers and can try and get it increased. The best way to do that is to look online and see what cars are up for sale of the same make/model/ spec/mileage/colour etc as the one that youve lost.

some dealers also sell something called GAP insurance whereby a policy would cover you for the difference in the write off and a new car (if you purchased new or on finance) within the first year.

[lilypoppyfre]

thank you for your comments, AlBags, redcrx, boxtops,

as you mention, not many people know that they can argue with the insurance company. We did not then.. we do now.....many thanks

[lilypoppyfre]

I have just read the additional comments.... Thank you mdoo98, eddie51 and Bol1ox.

as I wrote before, we are wiser now . Some good ideas for which I am grateful.