bubble Posted September 16, 2015 Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 hi assembled collective I need some divine guidance Traveling home, we stopped and three cars piled in the back of us, damaging my caravan The back of the caravan is damaged, the caravan is not insured as its only worth circa £1500 The car that went in the back of me says he stopped and was then pushed into me, by the cars behind His insurance company use a claims handling company, they have refused to accept and even entertain my claim as they are 'not at fault' [ as their car was pushed ] and have told me to claim off the car at the back!!!, they won't let me input a claim!! what is my next step, go to the last car insurance? use a claims company? help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stonepark Posted September 16, 2015 Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 Your insurance company should pursue a claim against the car that hit you, it does not matter to you who hit him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex C Posted September 16, 2015 Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 Get onto your insurer, that's why you pay them. If you get no joy contact the Insurance Ombudsman and lodge a complaint Hope you get sorted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duckandswing Posted September 16, 2015 Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 The car behind you should have adopted enough braking distance, hence it is wholly their fault they hit you. They should claim off the car behind and so on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted September 16, 2015 Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 Each car will claim off the insurance that hit them from behind. Only the last car cannot claim off anyone else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubble Posted September 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 (edited) wow you guys are quick! the problem is my car is undamaged its the uninsured caravan that has the damage, are you all saying use my car insurance to get the caravan repaired? Edited September 16, 2015 by bubble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alex C Posted September 16, 2015 Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 How do you know your car isn't damaged ? The shunt could have bent your tow bar. The fact that your caravan isn't insured doesn't matter, it doesn't have to be. Get onto your insurer they will be able to deal with all of this. Do you have legal cover on your policy, may come in handy if you start to struggle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted September 16, 2015 Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 (edited) Comparison sites have caused most insurers to strip down the extras that were commonly included on comprehensive policies a few years ago. Some will remember the term "FULLY comprehensive" For example many will still think they are insured to drive another car (on 3rd party risk) provided it is insured by someone else: That is no longer the case unless specifically stated on your policy. I learned the hard way about that and exploited a crafty technicality to get me off the charge a few years ago that could have cost me dearly: A driving with no insurance conviction might have compromised my FAC. I would imagine the towing trailers and caravans cover has also been stripped unless specified too. Look at your policy before assuming anything is now covered. Hope it gets sorted but be glad that it is only the caravan that got damaged IMO. Edited September 16, 2015 by Dave-G Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon R Posted September 16, 2015 Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 All the above are correct. If you get shunted into the car in front - you are travelling too close. There will be the odd exception - e.g. someone driving a stolen car who ploughs into another vehicle at mega speed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodp Posted September 16, 2015 Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 Comparison sites have caused most insurers to strip down the extras that were commonly included on comprehensive policies a few years ago. Some will remember the term "FULLY comprehensive" For example many will still think they are insured to drive another car (on 3rd party risk) provided it is insured by someone else: That is no longer the case unless specifically stated on your policy. I learned the hard way about that and exploited a crafty technicality to get me off the charge a few years ago that could have cost me dearly: A driving with no insurance conviction might have compromised my FAC. I would imagine the towing trailers and caravans cover has also been stripped unless specified too. Look at your policy before assuming anything is now covered. Hope it gets sorted but be glad that it is only the caravan that got damaged IMO. Ah, but it's not the OP's insurance that's liable Dave, it's the one that shunted him and he is liable for any damage to car or trailer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave-G Posted September 16, 2015 Report Share Posted September 16, 2015 Ah, but it's not the OP's insurance that's liable Dave, it's the one that shunted him and he is liable for any damage to car or trailer. You are correct I think Rod - but for his insurer to claim from the others insurer I suspect he will have had to have the cover for towing the caravan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fruitloop Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 I am sure that as soon as you attach the trailer to the tow hitch it becomes a part of the car so is covered buy insurance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oowee Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 I once swerved to miss a cyclist and hit both him and three parked cars. I had third party so sued the cyclist for my damage. Each of the three car owners came after me and my solicitor refuted the claims passing it to the cyclist. The cyclist paid me from third party liability from house insurance policy. If the vehicle behind stopped and was shunted to you they will not be liable but will have to evidence that through the process as your claim starts with them. I believe caravan attached to car becomes a part of car insurance policy. You should start first with your car insurer. Let them decide who to go after. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sako751sg Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 The car behind you should have adopted enough braking distance, hence it is wholly their fault they hit you. They should claim off the car behind and so on. Please read the OP again and then comment? The car behind claims to have been STATIONARY and was then hit forcing him into the caravan.If thats the truth how can that be wholly their fault for not adopting enough braking distance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenboy Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 I can see that as your caravan is not insured you will have a problem claiming , pretty sure your insurance company will not be interested either but worth a call. How much is it to insure a £1500 caravan ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webber Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 Start a small claims court procedure against the person who hit your caravan. Get a quote from a proper caravan repairer. Let chummy chase his insurers once he gets the CC paperwork. webber Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drut Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 Start a small claims court procedure against the person who hit your caravan. Get a quote from a proper caravan repairer. Let chummy chase his insurers once he gets the CC paperwork. webber That is excellent advice,you have a claim in law against whoever/whatever hit you & so on down the chain of events/causes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saltings Posted September 17, 2015 Report Share Posted September 17, 2015 your caravan may not be insured but your car insurance can cover you to towing a caravan so your insurance company usually sorts this out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twistedsanity Posted September 18, 2015 Report Share Posted September 18, 2015 Mrs twisted used to work in the Industry, if the car behind was shunted into you then the fault lies with the car that did the shunting, the person behind wasn't at fault as they were shunted and not careless, but it's down to your ins company to prove that the car that did the shunting was at fault over the car behind hitting you first. If the last driver says he wasn't at fault and didn't shunt the car into your van ( it had already hit you) then it's up to the insurance to slug it out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snow white Posted September 18, 2015 Report Share Posted September 18, 2015 (edited) Does it state on your licence that you can tow.if getting on in age there are no restrictions but a lot of younger drives have to take a test to tow anything. If that is the case you're insurance want pay out. Edited September 18, 2015 by snow white Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carman06 Posted September 18, 2015 Report Share Posted September 18, 2015 If you have RAC or AA cover this may include legal assistance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubble Posted September 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2015 Ok thanks for all the input An update It seems the Towbar is damaged so this triggers a claim thro my insurers The caravan is only covered third party via the car insurance I have legal cover thro my car insurance Because I will claim thro my car ins. It wil establish blame in the sequence of cars I then use the legal cover to claim for 'out of pocket expenses ' ie the caravan, excess, travel etc from the liable party, which looks like been the last car of three This may take time as there will be solicitors involved, but at least I hope I have a pathway now! Complicated or what! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sportsbob Posted September 18, 2015 Report Share Posted September 18, 2015 Just a thought did you inform your insurance company you have a modification or accessory namely the towbar ? . If not the company you end up claiming off may refuse the claim as you could be driving an uninsured car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubble Posted September 18, 2015 Author Report Share Posted September 18, 2015 Mmmm I need good news :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carman06 Posted September 18, 2015 Report Share Posted September 18, 2015 Ok thanks for all the input An update It seems the Towbar is damaged so this triggers a claim thro my insurers The caravan is only covered third party via the car insurance I have legal cover thro my car insurance Because I will claim thro my car ins. It wil establish blame in the sequence of cars I then use the legal cover to claim for 'out of pocket expenses ' ie the caravan, excess, travel etc from the liable party, which looks like been the last car of three This may take time as there will be solicitors involved, but at least I hope I have a pathway now! Complicated or what! In that case you will be making the claim through your insurance. They will in turn be recovering costs from the other party. As long as your insurance company accept your car is insured with the towbar it will have no further bearing on the other insurers you claim against. The only time your likly to have issues is when your insurance company feels they may not be able to recover costs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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