They dropped my car!!

[mike os]

i would go with the insurers repairer, that then have liability if it is wrong.

I would explain what happened to the firm when the car is collected/delivered so they know what they are dealing with and also on the claim form state clearly what happened and your concerns for "hidden" or not immediately evident damage

end of the day kit breaks, and as long as the garage can show proper inspection. testing info & proper maintenance it is hard to apportion blame to anything more than "stuff" happens. ( My local garage had one go a while back & I know the owners well... their lift servicing is always bang on...) didnt drop anyhting though

 

[pedrobedro]

I would be of the same opinion as someone previous and would ask for a replacement of similar age and condition and let them keep the damaged one for disposal.

 

[GrahamGKD]

I would be of the same opinion as someone previous and would ask for a replacement of similar age and condition and let them keep the damaged one for disposal.

Interesting suggestion, noted when put forward earlier, but the thing is I have had this car from new and have looked after it well - if I took on another seemingly similar car I could be jumping from the frying pan to the fire? After all, with next to no visible damage, my own car could be passed off as replacement of similar age and condition for someone else’s (i.e. someone else could take on my car and never be aware that this has happened).

I have tried to find out how high it as when it dropped but they are unable to tell me - they say it all happened so quickly they aren't really sure.

Re. body panel alignment - there is nothing obvious - all the doors still fit nicely etc.. I'll have a look in the engine bay but it's fairly well filled up with engine and associated bits and pieces so not so much of the structure around there is visible!

From the chat I had with them earlier, I think the insurers would get involved but only if I pursue it formally as a claim through them.

 

[rtbcomp]

..........

I have tried to find out how high it as when it dropped but they are unable to tell me - they say it all happened so quickly they aren't really sure.

...........

Don't they know what part of the test they were carrying out? That should give a clue as to how high it was.

 

[Alex.]

This must be a question for the garage's insurers, not yours?

 

[400-ascona]

You should be able to get measurement data that you can use to ensure that your car is still alligned OK without putting it on a jig?

Rob

 

[mike os]

this is an insurance claim .... what will you do if they repair it now and it fails the next mot or something falls off in 6 months?

 

[bluebobtail]

I have to agree with everybody else really.
The only true way is via a jig.
You can get data to check the dimensions without a jig a s i have some but it only goes up to 2003 or i would gladly pass it on to you.
Surely the garage in question will have insurance to cover in a situation like this?