saamon,
Your friend can claim on his insurance, just send the bill to them, they have to cover it.
I was insured fully comp when a DD hit me, wrote my bike off, spent 19 months in hospital, 3 months in coma etc.
I did not get a penny from my insurers, it was NU that I was insured with, and yes I had two different solicitors on the case.
tabetha