Fender Bender repair advice needed

[Richard van der Hoff]

DeWitt Harrison wrote:
> Nobody can 'total' your car if you are the injured party. It is the
> responsibility of your neighbors 'to make you whole,' that is to put
> things right as though the accident never happened to the limit of
> their property damage liability which certainly must run into the
> tens of thousands of dollars. If you make it clear to their insurance
> company that that's what you want, you may be surprised by
> how much they are willing to pay for your car. Worst case, it could
> take a phone call from your lawyer to make them see the light but
> see the light they will.

This is totally *not* my experience here in the UK. As I understand it,
the limit of the neighbours' (and hence insurers') liability is the
private sale value of the damaged car; and if you take that, the car
will be declared a write-off and you'll have to get it inspected, as
Brendan says.

It's all very bad and very unfair. I'm sure it's different in the
States, and that it varies by state: just saying that it is a minefield.
In my book, SJ is doing the right thing by attempting to repair his
vehicle as cheaply as possible, and claiming as much possible of this
from the neighbours' insurers.