Hi
I work in an accident management company, dealing with non fault motor accidents, so I will try to help and give you a little general advice........
Firstly and most important, as the other driver hit you in the rear it's 100% his fault. So you are entitled to claim against his insurer for your losses. If your comprehensively insured, your insurer will inspect your vehicle (normally via a motor engineer) and confirm if it's a write off or repairable. Assuming it's a write off (you think it is, so it probably is) they will give you a valuation. When you get this, dont just accept it, check it out. Most major magazine sellers will have either the Glasses or Parkers guide to second hand cars which will let you see how they have valued your car (every car has several values listed ranging from immaculate condition down to very poor). If you think they have valued it incorrectly, sont be afraid to argue.
If your not comprehensive, then you can either ask the other persons insurer to do this for you or you can go through an accident management company. Most companies (mineincluded) make their money by hiring you a replacement car and claiming the cost back from the guilty party's insurer (known as credit hire) and/or referring you to a solicitor to claim personal injury for which the solicitor pays them a fee. If you choose this route and they try and charge you any kindof fee (such as "no win no fee") go somewhere else as they are just being greedy.
As well as vehicle damage, you can hire a car yourself as long as yours is unsafe to drive. Search credit hire on google, along with Association of British Insurers Tier One.........this means the company is approved by the insurance induestry's watchdog so you shouldnt have any problems.
You mentioned your head hurts.The most common injury in your type of accident is whiplash. To over simplify , it's muscle damage to neck back or shoulders or any combination of these three. The fact your already got a head problem sounds very much like neck whiplash. Even if you dont want to make a claim, go to your GP asap , believe me, if it is whiplash your not going to be happy bunnies for a while (it can in severe cases last upto 12months on and off) - the sooner you get meds the better. If you decide to claim and I strongly suggest you do, every case is individual but the compensation range is normally £1500 to £3000 each. Now, in case your suddenly smiling, like i said before your going to earn it, it really does hurt an takes a long time to recover.
Remember, your the innocent party so dont let anyone fobb you off with anything your not happy with.
Hope this helps.
