Property damage

Contributed by Jo Boots and Robert Guthrie and current to 1 September 2005

WHAT DOES A PERSON DO AFTER HIS/HER VEHICLE HAS BEEN DAMAGED?

After a person’s vehicle has been damaged in an accident, they must decide on a course of action to have the vehicle repaired and the damages paid for. There are generally three options open:

• claiming on own insurance policy;

• paying own costs of repair; or

• claiming the cost of repair from the other party.

In deciding which of these courses to adopt a number of factors must be considered, including whether or not the person is insured and, if so, what type of insurance policy covers the vehicle.

These alternatives will now be examined in some detail. Note that the person may choose to pay their own repair costs at first and then seek to recover them from the other party. A person may do this in order to get the vehicle back on the road quickly. However, it is important to check that the other person has sufficient income to reimburse the owner. Further, the owner should check that he repairs are reasonable (both as to what repair is required as a result of the accident and the cost), as this may be challenged by the other party.