The Independent Damage Assessment Centre (Idac) will assess the damage to your car.
If you have comprehensive coverage, you send your car to a workshop authorised by your insurance company, after the company has approved the repairs to be done.
If both parties are insured with the same company, and it is clear who was the party at fault, the other party will not be penalised with a reduction in the no-claim bonus.
But if there is a disagreement, you lodge your claim.
Policy-holders who are clearly not at fault can lodge a claim against the third party if they do not have the same insurer.
Step 2: Lodging the claim
If you receive a claim from a third party or a writ from a lawyer, you should refer the matter to your insurers immediately.
But if you choose to make a third-party liability claim against the other motorist's insurers, you will usually have to do so on your own.
The workshop which did your repairs may be able to claim on your behalf.
If the workshop is unable to settle the matter with other party's insurers, they usually have contacts with lawyers who can handle your case.
Step 3: Going to court
If your lawyer and the other side's insurers cannot settle the matter after negotiations, a writ is filed in court.
All non-injury motor accident cases are first dealt with at the dispute resolution centre.
After a few sessions of settlement talks, most cases are settled.
The settlement talks typically take two to three months. Payment will then take another four to six weeks.
Only if the case cannot be settled, will it go before the court.
