How long for car insurance claim settlement..AIBU?

I've never had a claim settled in less than 6 months before. And that was a simple accident too. Other party admitted fault, and I was chasing insurers every day too.

Thanks for your reply! I have only had experience of other people's claims around me and they all took about 6 weeks!

I clearly expected too much ? it's hard to know how long these darn things take. It's not like he is even getting much his car was almost 20 years old.....

In insurance work I've done we pay out in 5-7 working days (to our policy holders or to third parties where it was our policy holders fault) but usually when a solicitor isn't involved as it all gets slowed down then.

In H's claim we had to claim off our comp insurance as the git who drove into him wasn't insured. Less than a week later our insurance co made an offer for our written off car, we negotiated a bit more and had a cheque in about 5 working days. However H is waiting over a year now for an offer for his injuries from MIB

Hmm, last year I had an accident where someone went into me. It happened in July and didn't get settled until December unfortuantely!

When my last car was written off, I refused the first offer I was given and by the time I received a cheque for the amount I finally agreed, I think about 6 weeks had gone by.

I'm with Direct Line and they were fabulous. I remember the whole process went quite smoothly because I was only given a hire car for two weeks and I needed to get a replacement quickly or I wouldn't be able to get to work.

When MrSC's car was stolen it took near enough 6 months and a LOT of chasing - I think chasing is the way forward, similar to estate agents really.

However my claim for damages to my car when it was broken into was much quicker - about 4 weeks. So I guess it depends on the company and how complicated the claim is.

If it makes you feel any better, I had an accident in December last year where someone drove into my car and it still isn't anywhere near settled! But slightly more complicated as they have used a false witness to say that it was my fault, and they are not answering any contact from their insurers or ours. I am sure it will get sorted one day!

Thank you everyone, it doesn't look like many people's claims are short then...

Also sorry to everyone that has suffered with the car thing, it's so horrid isn't it?

Your insurance company sound like they've handled this very badly to be honest. I would be chasing them, although I wouldn't worry about the solicitor having the smaller amount as, if I've understood it correctly, all they're paying you is the excess. This means the amount you've already received is covering the additional money.

I've had two PI claims and one car written off. The first PI took over 2 years to settle, but this was because of the third party insurer and the hospital. The third party accepted liability, but then their insurance company withdrew their insured's admission! Luckily I had a witness. But then, even when they'd accepted liability, the hospital advised me not to even negotiate as my injuries weren't resolved. I eventually got twice their first offer. The second PI claim was a hit in the rear and I had a cheque within 6 weeks. When my car was written off I again got the cheque within 6 weeks. I'm with Direct Line.

5 years I think for my mother, though that was a complicated case.

Blimey, I think we must have been lucky. My H had an accident in Feb 06 - someone pulled out of a junction into the side of him, so clearly not his fault. We were insured with Egg at the time, and the car was fixed within the week, the claim settled and monies paid in full within about a month! They were fab at keeping in touch and giving info every step of the way.

I was going to say your insurers sound a bit rubbish at communicating, and I'd be fed up if I was you too. But reading other responses to this thread perhaps our experience was quite unusual?!

My H turned into a right hand side street on a dark, wet November evening, after sitting indicating for a length of time. He turned and bumped into a lady, who was dressed in black complete with black hat. Lots of people cross this road without looking.

3 years later it's still not settled. But then it helps if the lady didn't invent witnesses who couldn't possibly have seen what happened in the dark and while facing the other way.

She stated to the medical report consultant that her lower teeth had been damaged due to the accident. She didn't have any facial injuries, the dental report states that she has had problems only with her top teeth which she has had for 8 years.

She wants compensation for loss of earnings for business that she was only thinking about setting up, which could have been a bridal shop, web designer or wedding co-ordinator, depending upon which report you read!

She's now remembered that she wants re-imbursement for a designer pair of £350 trousers. There is a dodgy photocopied letter, supposedly from Amanda Wakeley of Harvey Nichols and you can see the photocopied lines where she has pasted the address onto cheap paper to state the cost, addressed to her in very friendly terms. How, I would love a proper AW letter from HN for comparison!

She wants compensation for hip and back problems due to the accident, even though she was suffering with her hip and back for the last 20 years!

However, not once has she claimed for psychological issues even though they have been briefly mentionned in 2 medical reports. Perhaps she thinks that's a too obvious thing to claim for!

It's a real pain when the accident wasn't your fault, you might loose out, and you have to run around after everyone. Hope your case gets sorted out quickly.