Vehicle Accident Claim

[Martiens]

Need urgent help and advice! I've been in an accident. Partly due to my status as a visitor to the UK the Insurance Company found a loop and now refuse to cover the damage to my car. I now need to get the insurance details of the other vehicle to lodge claims against that driver. Police report and witness statements clearly indicate other party as negligent in causing the accident. I'm in the process of emigrating from South Africa and money is very tight!
What do I need to do to lodge a private claim against the suspected guilty party for the replacement of the vehicle I was in?
Anyone with advice of the how, who and costs involved?
Any websites or search engine through which one can get insurance details of a car?
Thanks
Martiens

[bednobs]

sorry, but i think you hae bigger things to worry about - if you werent insured at the time of the accident (which is what you seem to be saying) then you will be prosecuted for having no insurance.
Why dont you hav the insurance details of the other party? Surely you must have swapped at the scene of the accident?

[Martiens]

In South Africa - where I used to be a member of our Police Force years ago - when the accident is serious and the police attend to the scene then all parties has access to any information compiled by the police. I had my son with me and bleeding people were lying all over the road (passengers from the other car).
My first reaction was to smack the little boy racer when I got hold of him. Ambulance personnel sensed I was very angry and kept him well away from me. He almost killed my son and me! No chance after that to speak to him, although I apologised to him and his parents after I cooled down a bit.
I assumed that I�d get all the necessary info from the police. That has been a battle for weeks to get anything. We finally got an address and reg. number. Without any
The insurance will be a separate battle. Car is insured - there seemed to have been a problem with me being a named driver...

[factor-fiction]

Based on what you say, I still agree with bednobs. Will your insurance company not help- perhaps not in teh circumstances. I suggest you get a solicitor/accident claims specialist on a no win no fee basis. Have you asked police for info? Did you get the registration number- you may be able to get help from DVLA if you know that

[Ethel]

The car was not insured for you to drive, so the insurance company won't help you.

As you are not yet resident in the UK you may find it difficult to find a claims solicitor who will work on a 'no win, no fee' basis.

You can get the details of the registered keeper of the other car from the DVLA - it will cost �3.

If the police are not charging the other driver with any motoring offences it is because there is not enough evidence. You will find it very difficult to win a private prosecution.

If the police do charge him, you will be in a better position to claim, although I suspect any pay out will be reduced because of the fact you shouldn't have been driving in the first place.

See a solicitor.

[Martiens]

Investigating officer happened to be a friend of a friends. Police are not allowed to give anything other than the reg. and the owners address. Got that. Have no transport to pay them a visit though - live on a farm in Cornwall.
We've asked someone, but we still need to get info from other party! Our insurrance 'Yes' refuses even to say more than just 'no'!
I'm waiting for reply from Helpline(?) if they would be willing to take on the case. Who can recommend someone or company thats good at this?
I'll try DVLA...
Thanks

[Martiens]

Boy-racer is going to court - no question about that. He's got two personal injuries cases against from passengers in his car.
Car is registered in the name of a British citizen. I was put on as a named driver, but insurance now got a lame excuse to get out of their obligation. We are waiting for the official printout of my drivers license from SA - another battle!
Officer gave us the case number, name, address and reg number. Case is however still not on system of Collisions Unit!
Thanks