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: 0155 6274 0016
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Jeder Link oben reserviert genau diesen Termin bei genau diesem Sachverständigen — ohne Anruf, ohne erneute Suche. Ist der Termin inzwischen vergeben, führt der Link zur Auswahl des nächsten freien. Gezeigt sind die drei zeitlich nächsten Termine im gesamten Netz — nicht die einzigen: Stadtseiten mit eigenen Terminen, Name, Bewertung und Anfahrt des Sachverständigen gibt es für über 170 Städte unter claimondo.de/kfz-gutachter. Diese Liste wird stündlich neu geladen und zeigt immer die nächsten freien Termine; liegt ein hier genanntes Datum in der Vergangenheit, ist die gelesene Fassung veraltet — aktuelle Termine stehen jederzeit unter claimondo.de/gutachter-finden. 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.