Coming across town today… a Punto driver decided that red lights didn’t apply to him. I saw him coming but couldn’t get out of the way, i took a pretty solid hit in the side, and my car we spun into the pedestrian barrier.
No one was hurt bar a few scrapes, and i’ve got half a dozen witnesses supporting me, my light was green, he just didn’t stop.
We’ll I’m afriad to say that i’m dubious about whether my car is repairable, and as i’ve only just had a Honda conversion i’m concerned about agreeing a value with his insurance.
I’m pretty confident about assigning blame, but agree the value will be hard work. I’ve got all the receipt for the car, but i guess using the a settlement figure to by another S1 and get i converted is going leave me short.
Any advice?
Here are few photos. I’m just very glad i didn’t take the bike to work this morning.
I’m insured with Keith Micheal, although there’s no one on the phone at the moment. I’ve spoken to the other guys insurers (Sainsburys) and i’ll be hearing from an assessor in the morning. I’m just hoping we can agree a value that lets me replace it with a similar car. I had it as i wanted. If i could get a new S1, buy the old car and swap the bits i’d be very happy.
Echo whats already been said.
Terrible luck - hope the negotiations go well
Maybe use Eds red honda on pistonheads as a guide or strating point ref the value.
Danger is that if they write it off, which we all hope they don’t that they may use Glass Guide trade for the value which is just nonsense.
What value is your insurance policy for ?
Accordingly to glass guide a 2000 x plate car with 33K is only worth �10,325 trade or �13225 retail which we all know to be nonesense.
The problem is proving it.
The best of luck with this and keep us all posted.
I’ve actually just renewed my insurance, i think said about �25,000, which seemed about right, although i looking at it now i’d struggle to replace it for that.
Hopefully my insurance won’t be involved beyond a notification. I’ll just have to do all i can with the settlement.
FWIW & from my own recent experience I can certainly second that My (no fault) claim was settled very quickly, including return of my excess.Highly recommended.
The other driver is still denying fault, but his insurer (Sainbury) have followed on my witnesses and they’ve accepted liability. So i’m over the first hurdle (driving a sports car always makes me feel like i’m somehow to blame).
So it’s down to the assessing and replacement now.
Thanks for your help folks, it’s been very helpful to have someone who understands Lotus’ to deal with.
It’s getting sorted out now. I’ve been given a loan car (a nice yellow S2, they’re very civilised aren’t they) and my car is on the way down to Sinclairs.
The initial opinion from the Wayne is that there is potentially quite a bit of damage to the floor, and there may have been some compression at the nearside roll bar. Which may well mean that repairing the car will difficult.
So i’m on the look out for a new S1, ideally black, no a/c, with a plain black interior. Engine condition doesn’t matter, but i’d prefer a low mileage on the suspension. There are couple of aluminium and a titanium cars i’ve seen so far, but any leads would be welcomed. Although it’s early days and i’m expecting some wrangling with Sainburys, it’s looking like i’m going to be asking for a new car, mine back and the sinclairs bill to move my parts over.
Although it’s early days and i’m expecting some wrangling with Sainburys, it’s looking like i’m going to be asking for a new car, mine back and the sinclairs bill to move my parts over.
Are you negotiating this yourself or using an agent?
Considering the damage to the front of the other car the Exige seems to have come off very well - from the safety perspective of sitting inside.
I’m going to leave all that up to Steve at Europa, He’s being very helpful and i’m sure he’ll know better than me how to approach them and resolve it.
I’m just talking to Wayne at Sinclairs, it’s early day’s yet and until he get the car down there i won’t really know the options. I’m just trying to be ready whichever way it goes.
It’d be great and much simpler to have my car restored, but i’ll take Wayne’s advice, he’s seen a lot more squashed cars than i have.
The car did protect me well, i had to stop by A&E last night, breathing was getting a bit difficult yesterday. But it’s all ok, just a brusied chest, i’m told it’ll only take a couple of weeks to fully recover. I’m certainly glad i decided to not to take my usual CBR trip to work on monday.
