VIC Had accident during the process of previous claim: what should I do?

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Yogendra

Member
12 May 2017
4
0
1
Hi,

I had two accident during the last couple of weeks, however, I already lodged the claim for both of the accident from AAMI comprehensive insurance. I am just wondering whether I can get the claim for both of the accident or not. For the first accident, somebody hit and run so I could not find out the guy and lodged a claim. After one week, I had another accident while I hit somebody's house with my car even when the previous claim was in the ongoing process. Therefore, I would like to know whether my car and the house both will be repaired by my insurance as well as the cost such as hotel expenses for the tenant of the damaged house or any other extra costs. I also would like to know about the previous claim, will it be postponed or I will also get the claim amount for that one too but I haven't paid any of the excess fees for the processing of both the claim. What should I do, should I immediately pay the excess fee for both the claim or only for the second one.

Please provide me with the answer because I could not get the clear answer from the insurance company.

Thanks in advance.
Yogendra
 

Lance

Well-Known Member
31 October 2015
852
123
2,394
Hi Yogendra,
You don't stop being insured after an accident so if AAMI is doing the right thing they should process each claim independently. This is unless the damage caused by the first claim impacted your ability to drive in the second incident. They may try to establish if you were ok to drive or if the damage from the first accident lead to the second. That aside they probably get this fairly often.
 
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Yogendra

Member
12 May 2017
4
0
1
Hi Lance,

Thank you for your response. But after the first accident, I got a call from the assessor of AAMI who told me that "My car will be written off after he submitted the report to AAMI and AAMI will call me back and he also said that I could still drive the car if I bought it back for 200$". I waited for a call from AAMI for 2 days but didn't get a call so I continued driving the car and on the second day had the 2nd accident.

When I called today to inquire about my 2nd claim he told me that because my car was declared written off my policy was cancelled and he was not sure if my 2nd claim was valid or not even though I have already paid the excess and they already towed out my car.

My question is that they didn't inform me in any way that my policy was cancelled and still lodged my second claim and towed away my car. Is this mistake on my part or theirs, What do I do next if they don't agree to process the second claim ??
 

Lance

Well-Known Member
31 October 2015
852
123
2,394
Hi Yogendra,
Yes that information changes things. You really needed to buy the vehicle back to still be driving it. I don't know that you have any grounds to argue that you didn't know you weren't insured. Even if you had of bought the vehicle back for $200 I'm pretty sure they wouldn't have insured it.
 

Yogendra

Member
12 May 2017
4
0
1
Hi Lance,

Thanks for your prompt reply. I only got information from the assessor, not from the AAMI, he told me verbally that I could drive my car but not clearly stated about the cancellation of insurance. I think the conversation (between me and assessor) should be recorded in their system. On top of that, I haven't been informed yet with an authentic letter from the AAMI that my insurance is no more active or cancelled. The insurance was still active before the 2nd accident, I could able to lodge the claim for the 2nd accident too, they asked me to pay the excess fee in order to progress the claim and also accepted the payment, they have arranged to tow my car and already taken the damaged car after the second accident. I can also view and track my both of the claim from the AAMI portal ( the screenshot can be viewed from the image link below). On all these grounds, I can say that my insurance is still active now and also just before the 2nd accident, I mean the first claim had not settled before the second accident and it was in the progress while I did the second accident.

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Please use this link just by copy and paste into your browser if the above IMG files don't work.

MyClaimList_10_17_17052017.JPG
Detai_policy_Claim_10_18_17052017.JPG
1stClaimTrack_10_16_17052017.JPG
2ndClaimTrack_10_14_17052017.JPG

Thanks and Regards,
Yogendra
 

Yogendra

Member
12 May 2017
4
0
1
A recent development, AAMI also cancelled my policy online today but both of my claims still appear online. The website displays that my policy was cancelled on 11th May one day after the assessor told me that my car would be written off. But the website displayed the policy to be active until today.
 

Lance

Well-Known Member
31 October 2015
852
123
2,394
Hi Yogendra,
You should speak with a lawyer that specialises in insurance law. My main concern is that you were informed that the vehicle was to be written off. Basically that tells you that the vehicle is no longer fit to be considered a road worthy vehicle. Buying it back basically covers wrecking fees, but their intent wouldn't be for you to keep driving it. That in itself would imply that you shouldn't drive it. The slightest bingle can damage airbag activation and also vehicle crumple zones. I just don't like your chances.