Car Insurance Claims in the UK

An Introduction to Car Insurance claims and the claiming process

The World's most costliest Car Insurance Claim

The most experienced and discerning car insurance underwriter can know what he may be letting himself in for when he accepts a particular car insurance proposal form.

Early in 1976, a French school teacher who was a competent and experienced driver managed to stall his car on a level-crossing.
He left the car to telephone a warning and in his absence a goods train traveling at 102km per hour hit his car.
The train pushed the car some 150 metres, tearing up 100 metres of track in the process and wrecking a bridge.
The engine and 21 wagons from the train then overturned and fell into a canal. Unfortunately the story did not end there because the wagons contained various types of beer and a whole range of cartons of powdered soap.

By the time the railway rolling stock had been retrieved from the canal, the bridge and track repaired, the canal drained and millions of inebriated and well-fed, but quite dead, fish removed from the canal bed - the schoolteacher had brought upon his car insurers a claim for the equivalent, of some £40,000,000.

This claim was, without doubt, one of the costliest in the history of European car insurance and proves that that car insurers can never know the real extent of the potential liability to which they are committing themselves when they accept even the most straightforward of car insurance proposals from you the public.

Car Insurance Claims Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I have an accident
Where can I find an Accident Claims Solicitor
What is the role of the Motor Insurers Bureau
What are Car Insurance Claims?
How is the Claim Process controlled?
Fire Theft & Acident claims explained
What is on a Claim Form?
How do I know I'm if I'm covered
Why would a car insurance company deny liability?
What is an Insurable Interest
How do I go about getting the damage repaired?
What are approved repairers?
Who pays for towing charges?
What happens if my car is a write off?
Who decides my cars market value?
What was the World's worst car ionsurance claim?

If you are looking for information on how to make a car insurance claim or what to do in the event of an car accident, please visit your particular car insurers website by following any of the links on this site.
For helpful information on what to do in the event of an accident we suggest you read our accident claims page

CAR INSURANCE BROKERS
CLAIMING ON YOUR CAR INSURANCE - World's worst car insurance claim
All the leading online Car Insurance Brokers in the UK