Lorry hit my car

Tinkerbell4484

Car was parked up today,outside my workplace,and a lorry hit it while reversing.
Took a good chunk out of the top of the boot, dented the wing and scraped the bumper.
He seemed to be a delivery company,so gave me the number to contact his boss. I drive a newish A6,and he wanted me to bring it to someone he knows a good distance away from me to get it repaired,and give me an old van he has while waiting.
I have kids so tried to explain to him that the van wouldn't work for me, but so, he had also told me he contacted his insurance company and this is what they told him to do.
I wasn't happy about this being honest, only for one of my colleagues seen him hit the car,it seemed like the driver wasn't going to mention it to me.
I havnt been able to get through to my insurance company all day, but I contacted theirs.
Their insurance said it hadn't been reported to them at all, and asked me to bring it to their approved garage, to be assessed, as, they contacted the company and he said he was it fault.
I brought it to the garage, it was looked at, around €5,000 damage, the insurance said now that the garage will send them an invoice,which I will get also to go over, and then if I'm happy that it'll be repaired.
I'm just wondering how long that will all take? Like I said there's a good bit of the boot missing, and I don't want to make electrics or water in the boot.
Also, will the garage give me a replacement while waiting?
Still trying my own insurance I've emailed them also.

mickdw

Tinkerbell4484 wrote: »

Car was parked up today,outside my workplace,and a lorry hit it while reversing.
Took a good chunk out of the top of the boot, dented the wing and scraped the bumper.
He seemed to be a delivery company,so gave me the number to contact his boss. I drive a newish A6,and he wanted me to bring it to someone he knows a good distance away from me to get it repaired,and give me an old van he has while waiting.
I have kids so tried to explain to him that the van wouldn't work for me, but so, he had also told me he contacted his insurance company and this is what they told him to do.
I wasn't happy about this being honest, only for one of my colleagues seen him hit the car,it seemed like the driver wasn't going to mention it to me.
I havnt been able to get through to my insurance company all day, but I contacted theirs.
Their insurance said it hadn't been reported to them at all, and asked me to bring it to their approved garage, to be assessed, as, they contacted the company and he said he was it fault.
I brought it to the garage, it was looked at, around €5,000 damage, the insurance said now that the garage will send them an invoice,which I will get also to go over, and then if I'm happy that it'll be repaired.
I'm just wondering how long that will all take? Like I said there's a good bit of the boot missing, and I don't want to make electrics or water in the boot.
Also, will the garage give me a replacement while waiting?
Still trying my own insurance I've emailed them also.

The first rule of car accidents is never ever consider bringing your car to a garage as suggested by the at fault party.
Id love a photo - it sounds like very significant damage.
As it wasnt your fault, all your costs will be claimable - so that will cover car hire for the duration and depreciation of your car due to accident.
I would be getting the car to the repairer immediately if there is danger of water entering etc. Take no chances.

Tinkerbell4484

mickdw wrote: »

The first rule of car accidents is never ever consider bringing your car to a garage as suggested by the at fault party.
Id love a photo - it sounds like very significant damage.
As it wasnt your fault, all your costs will be claimable - so that will cover car hire for the duration and depreciation of your car due to accident.
I would be getting the car to the repairer immediately if there is danger of water entering etc. Take no chances.

No, that's why I wasn't happy with what he was asking, to bring it to the garage he knew, and that is why I phoned his insurance. And so their approved garage assessed it. To be honest I can't afford to repair myself and get reimbursed. But it's the water damage that's worrying me.

bazz26

You bring it to where you want it fixed, the guilty party nor his insurance company get to decide that. Bring it to a garage that you trust and get them to assess the damage and quote you a cost to repair it. Remember that's in the interest of his insurance company to get the car repaired at the lowest price possible to them so that doesn't necessarily mean that the job will be done correctly or to the highest quality. If it's a newish car then bring it to a main dealer for repair as they will fit new parts and stand over any repair work properly, with a newish car the quality of repair work is really important as it effects the resale value of your car.

Did you open a claim with his insurance company? If not then that's what you should focus on. You are obliged to inform your own insurance company but ultimately it will be the guilty party's insurance company you will be dealing with. As regards a replacement car while yours is off the road? You need to submit a claim for car rental with his insurance company also for the duration of time that you are without your car through the fault of their client. You may have to take a tough line with the insurance company if they start messing you around as again they may only want to give you the smallest and cheapest rented car possible and may try to only offer it for x number of days as that suits their pocket rather than your inconvenience.

bazz26

Tinkerbell4484 wrote: »

No, that's why I wasn't happy with what he was asking, to bring it to the garage he knew, and that is why I phoned his insurance. And so their approved garage assessed it. To be honest I can't afford to repair myself and get reimbursed. But it's the water damage that's worrying me.

Get the car towed to where you want it repaired if driving it isn't an option and make sure to get an invoice for the towing cost. You will want to add that to the cost of the claim.

ec_pc

In a very similar situation back in 2016, we were stationary in the car and were hit from the front by a moving truck. Extremely frightening at the time, he claims he never saw us and swerved at the last minute thus avoiding a head on collision. I saw my life flash before my eyes that day.

Anyhow the transport co wanted to take our car and get it repaired in a franchise dealer of the correct marque, the dealer was a friend of the transport co. The car was only 4 weeks old at the time so I dug my heels in and said no, and car was sent to my dealer where we bought. Our dealer initially thought it was a write off, but strangely chassis was not bent but whole steering rack had to be replaced. In the end the repairs cost over 16k plus hire car for 6 weeks plus depreciation payment to us.

Things got messy with their insurance company and I had to threaten legal action with respect to the claim. In the end we traded it in after 14 months as my wife didn't feel safe driving it.

My advice is do not let that car out of your sight until it is at at your own repair centre where you have control over what happens.

Eggs For Dinner

You are entitled to bring your car to any reputable garage of your choice, but there are advantages to using their approved repairers. They are usually very reputable and will provide you with a replacement car while repairs are being made. You won't have to pay anything in the meantime
You do need to notify your insurer for record purposes

Tinkerbell4484

Thank you for all the replies. Yes I opened a claim with his insurance company.
It is their approved garage that have assessed the car.

_Kaiser_

Tinkerbell4484 wrote: »

Thank you for all the replies. Yes I opened a claim with his insurance company.
It is their approved garage that have assessed the car.

Make sure you keep trying your insurer as well until you get through and bring them up to speed.

How old is the car? Any pics of the damage?

Tinkerbell4484

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

Make sure you keep trying your insurer as well until you get through and bring them up to speed.

How old is the car? Any pics of the damage?

It's 2015, I'm proberbly making a big deal out of nothing. I'll try attach some photos now.

bazz26

Jesus Christ, it certainly is a big deal. Was it Godzilla who hit it?

mfceiling

Tinkerbell4484 wrote: »

It's 2015, I'm proberbly making a big deal out of nothing. I'll try attach some photos now.

You're not making a big deal. That's a fair bit of damage. As others have said I'd bring it to Audi themselves and get it done 100%.
His fault, he's to blame and that's his insurance companies problem and not yours. You shouldn't be inconvenienced in the slightest by this.

cml387

Ouch. That's nasty, and I can see why you're concerned about water ingress.

Insurer approved garages specialised in car repair are the way to go. A main dealer will just outsource to them anyway.

GreeBo

100% go to Audi Main dealer of your choice to get it fixed.
I have the same car and was hit from behind and the guy wanted me to go to a nearby "car fixer guy" who was going to fill it and paint the bumper at best for a couple of hundred quid.

I went to Audi and they put on a new bumper, sprayed it to match and also had to replace some fixings, was over 2K.

kirving

The advice to go to the main dealer is correct. Relatively new premium car. You might be told that the dealer will just send it out to a third party (which they might) and charge a premium to do so (which they will).

But the difference is, you can be assured that the repair is carried out to the manufacturer specs, and parts will be replaced as opposed to repaired if there is any doubt whatsoever. In the meantime, cover up the hole as best you can with duct tape to keep it as dry as possible.

listermint

GreeBo wrote: »

100% go to Audi Main dealer of your choice to get it fixed.
I have the same car and was hit from behind and the guy wanted me to go to a nearby "car fixer guy" who was going to fill it and paint the bumper at best for a couple of hundred quid.

I went to Audi and they put on a new bumper, sprayed it to match and also had to replace some fixings, was over 2K.

They definitely didn't. They brought it to their approved body shop which would also be the approved body shops of the insurers.

Tinkerbell4484

So quick question. I've received the invoice of the repairs, outlining the work and there does not appear to be 1 new part. Its all bonding and filling. Would this be right? This is from the insurance companies garage.
It's all for under 3k also.

SweetCaliber

Tinkerbell4484 wrote: »

So quick question. I've received the invoice of the repairs, outlining the work and there does not appear to be 1 new part. Its all bonding and filling. Would this be right? This is from the insurance companies garage.
It's all for under 3k also.

Haha you'd want some fillers for that. Op bring it to your own dealer or reputable repairer of choice and get a quote.

statto25

I'm no panel beater but jaysus no amount of filler would sort that. A new quarter panel must be needed? As everyone else has said, bring it into the dealer OP

L1011

You'd need a new quarter panel there, and there would be quite a lot of bonding and filler (and paint) involved in tying that in. The actual panel could be surprisingly cheap but it'd need to be on the quote.

Under 3k is possible although sounds cheap.

GreeBo

listermint wrote: »

They definitely didn't. They brought it to their approved body shop which would also be the approved body shops of the insurers.

Lol, what are you talking about chief?
I brought it to my Audi main dealer which is also a service centre and they repaired my car.

My car gets repaired where I want it repaired, insurance don't get a say in the manner.

GreeBo

Tinkerbell4484 wrote: »

So quick question. I've received the invoice of the repairs, outlining the work and there does not appear to be 1 new part. Its all bonding and filling. Would this be right? This is from the insurance companies garage.
It's all for under 3k also.

Bonding and filling isn't returning your car to the condition it was in before the crash.

I would agree that those panels need replacing and not filling.

L1011

GreeBo wrote: »

Lol, what are you talking about chief?
I brought it to my Audi main dealer which is also a service centre and they repaired my car.

My car gets repaired where I want it repaired, insurance don't get a say in the manner.

The vast, vast majority of main dealer / service centres just punt the work out to a chosen body shop and take a margin on the work. They have neither the skills nor the kit on-site to do the work themselves.

Unless you can actually see a paint booth and a chassis jig, they don't do bodywork there.

Gooser14

In addition to the repair you should be looking for monetary compensation as the resale value of your car will be depreciated as a result of the damage repair.

sunnyt1234

Yes this happened to me a few years ago. Three year old car and got hit from the side. As the other party assumed blame their insurance company asked could they take it for repairs and give me a replacement. I was a little hesitant but when I rang the main dealer to say where my car was going to be repaired they told me they'd be sending it to the same place. They outsourced all of that kind of work and they said only a few places in Dublin capable of that level of repair. It cost the guy who crashed into me and his insurance a little less as they avoided the main dealer step and my car got fixed to a very high standard.

OP I hope you get sorted. I'm glad no one was hurt.

Tinkerbell4484

Gooser14 wrote: »

In addition to the repair you should be looking for monetary compensation as the resale value of your car will be depreciated as a result of the damage repair.

I knew nothing about this.
I have contacted the insurance company again, and asked them to revise the invoice as there is no panel ect on it, they have said they need to speak to their asser and they will phone me back.

GreeBo

L1011 wrote: »

The vast, vast majority of main dealer / service centres just punt the work out to a chosen body shop and take a margin on the work. They have neither the skills nor the kit on-site to do the work themselves.

Unless you can actually see a paint booth and a chassis jig, they don't do bodywork there.

Sure, but I don't see how that's in any way relevant?
You bring your car to the main dealer and they give it back to you repaired. Whether they do it on the forecourt, in an underground bunker or with a third party is completely irrelevant to you, your contract is with them.

L1011

GreeBo wrote: »

Sure, but I don't see how that's in any way relevant?
You bring your car to the main dealer and they give it back to you repaired. Whether they do it on the forecourt, in an underground bunker or with a third party is completely irrelevant to you, your contract is with them.

You were specifically disputing a post saying the dealer passed the work on elsewhere. When they are almost certainly did do.

GreeBo

L1011 wrote: »

You were specifically disputing a post saying the dealer passed the work on elsewhere. When they are almost certainly did do.

No, I was saying that I brought it to a main dealer and a main dealer gave it back to me, whatever happens after that is irrelevant. Does it change anything if the mechanic is an associate or a contractor?

If you have the cash or its an insurance job, you bring your car to the main dealer for the various reasons that were already outlined. They may being it to the same body shop that you could have gone to yourself, but you aren't coming away with the same thing if you do it that way. (It will *likely* be the same repair, but not the same service, experience or warranty)

listermint

GreeBo wrote: »

No, I was saying that I brought it to a main dealer and a main dealer gave it back to me, whatever happens after that is irrelevant. Does it change anything if the mechanic is an associate or a contractor?

If you have the cash or its an insurance job, you bring your car to the main dealer for the various reasons that were already outlined. They may being it to the same body shop that you could have gone to yourself, but you aren't coming away with the same thing if you do it that way. (It will *likely* be the same repair, but not the same service, experience or warranty)

That's not what you said ,for clarity.

The dealer no dealer has tools or skills onsite to repair crashed vehicles. They use exactly the same places as the leading insurers. I can send you a list.

Your contact via the main dealer is irrelevant. They offer no better or worse service. You'd get the same service from the reputable repair centre.

That's the reality.

Oh and just to add. Main dealers despise dealing with this type of stuff too. It's overhead they don't need.

GreeBo

listermint wrote: »

That's not what you said ,for clarity.

The dealer no dealer has tools or skills onsite to repair crashed vehicles. They use exactly the same places as the leading insurers. I can send you a list.

Your contact via the main dealer is irrelevant. They offer no better or worse service. You'd get the same service from the reputable repair centre.

That's the reality.

Ok chief, whatever worthless point you are valiantly still trying to make, go ahead. Perhaps at some stage you can share how its relevant to the thread?

The fact remains, you bring it to the main dealer, they give it back to you repaired. That's the reality.
Why you think what happens between those two points is in *any* way relevant is beyond me, but you just keep on digging!

By the way, you didn't actually post your last post, you sent it to your ISP and they posted it on your behalf, unless you can show the the internet backbone in your garage then your post was sent elsewhere...see how worthless that point is?:rolleyes:

Eggs For Dinner

OP. Go back to the TP insurers and explain to them you are not accepting the fillers their garage has quoted for. Ask for a revised situation where replacement parts are used or you will go to your own garage. Give them 24 hours to revert with their agreement to this. Reasonable approach to problems usually gets results

biko

GreeBo threadbanned until 14 April

endacl

Eggs For Dinner wrote: »

OP. Go back to the TP insurers and explain to them you are not accepting the fillers their garage has quoted for. Ask for a revised situation where replacement parts are used or you will go to your own garage. Give them 24 hours to revert with their agreement to this. Reasonable approach to problems usually gets results

But there’s no need to waste time accommodating them. They’ve accepted liability. This isn’t a negotiation. If you introduce the potential for faffing about, about will be faffed.

You’re the one who’s suffered damage and inconvenience, Op. Inform your insurance company. Then get your car to a repairer or dealer of your choice, and get the work done to your satisfaction.

Eggs For Dinner

endacl wrote: »

But there’s no need to waste time accommodating them. They’ve accepted liability. This isn’t a negotiation. If you introduce the potential for faffing about, about will be faffed.

You’re the one who’s suffered damage and inconvenience, Op. Inform your insurance company. Then get your car to a repairer or dealer of your choice, and get the work done to your satisfaction.

Because it's easier if they respond to your concerns and agree to what you want. You can go to your own garage, but their engineer will have to go over the estimate and agree the works. Trust me, the claim handler will want to box this off without hassle and move on to the next one. This is everyday stuff, not a battle

mickdw

Jesus that needs a new rear quarter panel. Anything else is a botch. Thing is, a new rear quarter is a pretty big repair and the op would cry if they saw what was involved in that.
Take it to audi main dealer only. Our local audi dealer in mayo has a full bodyshop on site so some cerysi ly do this work in house. Still it doesnt matter whether they outsource or not - you have comeback with audi. If there are any issues, you are dealing with audi and not some repair shop that will mess you about.
3k wont cover a new quarter panel and all that goes with it.

Tinkerbell4484

After many many calls yesterday, the car is now getting a new quater panel, Insurance company are also arranging car hire from enterprise.
Thank you for all the advice.

TheW1zard

Hows the suspension etc? Big knock on the side of a stationary car, I'd be looking at it.

L1011

I'm actually scared that there's a repairer out there that would quote to 'repair' that not replace the quarter.

You probably don't want to see what's involved in replacing a rear quarter panel btw.

mickdw

L1011 wrote: »

I'm actually scared that there's a repairer out there that would quote to 'repair' that not replace the quarter.

You probably don't want to see what's involved in replacing a rear quarter panel btw.

Yep, alot of people would just trade in a car that was going to need a quarter panel job.
For the op, quarterpanel is not a bolt on repair.
It has to be cut off the car, new panel joined in, welded, visible joint refinished etc.
Id love to know what the quote looks like now?

seagull

I'm not sure how happy I'd be using their recommended repairer given what they're suggesting. You don't have to go with the insurer's preferred repair shop. You can pick where you want and send them the bill.

Eggs For Dinner

seagull wrote: »

I'm not sure how happy I'd be using their recommended repairer given what they're suggesting. You don't have to go with the insurer's preferred repair shop. You can pick where you want and send them the bill.

Not exactly. The estimate needs to be assessed by the insurer. If it represents a reasonable cost of repair, it will be paid