4 car accident, who is liable?

[martman]

Recently my car was parked on the road outside my house with a neighbours car parked in front, and a 4 x 4 parked behind.

In the night a lad in a stolen car lost control of the vehicel while being pursued by police and crashed into the 4 x 4.

The 4 x 4 was pushed forward into my car and my car in turn hit the neighbours car in front.

I have fully comp insurance.

Where do each of the claims lie please ?

I think that the neighbour in front claims from me, I claim from the 4 x 4 and the 4 x 4 effectively has no claim as the stolen vehicle was uninsured. (unless a civil case is brought against the lad in the stolen car)

Am i right, or am I way off the mark please?

thank you

Martin

martman Fri 12/06/09 08:30

[ajpattison]

I think you're wrong. There has to be some fault to claim on someone else's insurance, so you can't claim from your neighbours.
All of you however can claim against the lad who caused the crash, or rather make claims under the Motor Insurer's Bureau scheme for victims of uninsured drivers (I think this allows recovery of property damage only claims, as opposed to injury, but you would need to check).

[Cleveroldun]

I had a situation like this a few years ago where I was hit by a stolen uninsured car which wrote mine off , pushed me into the car in front which was written off. I had to claim on my own insurance.

[R1Geezer]

You all claim from the guy who caused the crash, end of.

[paraffin]

Hi martman:

Firstly, all three of you should put the matter in the hands of your respective insurance companies who can jointly pursue whatever enquiries need to be made etc.
Notwithstanding the fact that a stolen vehicle was involved/responsible, your insurance companies can seek recompense via an organisation called the Motorists' Insurance Bureau (MIB).
Sorry to sound negative now but regarding the culprit, in my experience these idiots have no money, hence the reason why I've suggested the MIB.
It doesn't mean, however, that you can't try to sue the culprit but might be a bit like trying to get blood out of a stone.
Good luck.

[Skyline D]

Surely you simply register the claim with your own insurance and they take it from there.

[gouldc]

You have two routes - claim via your own insurance, or attmept to claim from the insurers of the stolen vehicle.

Be warned that the insurers of the stolen vehicle will only be liable if the driver of their vehicle was identified (he does not have to be charged with the theft by the way).

If the driver remains unidentified by the police, then the stolen vehicle's insurers have no liability under the Road Traffic Act. herwise you'll have to either claim off your own insurance, or they could possibly make some sort of recovery from he insurer of the stationary vehicle that hit yours.

As you mention that a lad was driving the stolen vehicle, the first scenario is the most likely.

[gouldc]

I should add that it is likely that the third party insurers will likely want to investigate their claim before paying out - you'd be best claiming via your own insurance initially and letting them recover the money back

[kchacksfield]

Hi Martin - you are way off the mark I'm afraid. If the thief was caught thereby his identity known, then all of you make a claim against the insurers of the stolen vehicle. If the thief is unidentified, all claims should go via the MIB. If you make a claim under your insurance and the thief is unidentified, then you will lose your no claims bonus unless its with Direct Line!

[adjuster]

you all claim off your own insurance policy. there is no right of recovery against your neighbour or vice versa. If the lad is charged and convicted, your insurer can recover from the stolen vehicles owners insurer. This is a market agreement. nothing in law.