The opposing insurance won't pay — what you can do now
Delays, reductions, or silence are not inevitable. Once a reasonable review period has passed, the opposing liability insurer is in default (Verzug) — and owes the full claim amount plus interest. If the accident was not your fault, the partner law firm enforces this on your behalf — 0 € out of pocket.
In short: you hold the stronger hand
In a no-fault accident, the opposing liability insurer owes full compensation under §249 BGB. If they fail to pay — or pay only in part — after a reasonable review period (typically 4–6 weeks from receipt of complete documentation), they enter default (§286 BGB), triggering interest at 5 percentage points above the base rate (§288 Abs. 1 BGB). Engaging a lawyer to enforce your claim is itself a recoverable cost under the principle of full restitution.
- Full compensation under §249 BGB — not just a fraction
- Default interest from the moment of default (§288 BGB)
- Legal costs are borne by the opposing party — not you
- You don't negotiate yourself — the partner law firm handles it
The typical letters — and what they really mean
Insurer review services rely on recurring boilerplate. Recognise your letter? Each line leads to a legal classification by the partner law firm — with the appropriate counter-argument.
"We are still reviewing the matter."
Delay without a deadline. Default still occurs once the reasonable review period has elapsed.
"We are offering a lump-sum settlement."
A settlement below your actual loss — one you are not obliged to accept.
"The rental car costs are excessive."
A blanket reduction to a "standard rate" — often without any sound legal basis.
"You are not entitled to loss of use."
If you forgo a rental car, the claim for Nutzungsausfall (loss of use) generally still stands.
"We will not pay for diminished value."
Merkantile Wertminderung (diminished market value) is a standalone, recoverable head of loss.
"The repair is uneconomical."
Pushes toward a total-loss settlement instead of repair — the 130% rule under BGH case law frequently applies.
Default, interest, legal costs — the levers in detail
When settlement stalls, the risk shifts to the insurer. Here is how default, interest, and cost recovery each work in practice:
Related topics
Did you receive exactly this letter?
Our partner law firm for traffic law responds on your behalf, free of charge — with BGH-backed counterarguments, coordinated through Claimondo. In a no-fault accident, the opposing liability insurer covers the costs (§ 249 BGB).
- → Report damage directly: claimondo.de/schaden-melden
- → View the expert map: claimondo.de/gutachter-finden
- → By phone: 0151 5360 8515
Nächste freie Vor-Ort-Termine
- Köln – Donnerstag, 27.08., 09:00 Uhr bei Gaith · https://claimondo.de/kfz-gutachter/koeln
- Duisburg – Donnerstag, 27.08., 09:00 Uhr bei Sahin · https://claimondo.de/kfz-gutachter/duisburg
- Remscheid – Donnerstag, 27.08., 09:00 Uhr bei Hasan · https://claimondo.de/kfz-gutachter/remscheid
Jede Stadtseite nennt ihren nächsten freien Termin mit Name und Bewertung des Sachverständigen sowie einem Direktlink, über den sich genau dieser Termin ohne Anruf reservieren lässt. Für unverschuldet Geschädigte entstehen keine Eigenkosten (§ 249 BGB, vorbehaltlich Anerkenntnis durch den gegnerischen Haftpflichtversicherer).
Insurer blocking your claim? Our partner law firm enforces it — 0 €.
Anonymous first assessment. Response in under 15 minutes. In a no-fault accident, the other party covers the legal fees.