by rear.ended » Thu May 10, 2012 11:07 pm
A couple weeks ago I was rear ended while stopped in traffic. The other driver was probably traveling at 10 to 12 mph because the impact gave quite a wallop. It didn't look as bad as it felt at the scene, but that turns out to be because of the trailer hitch, most of the damage wasn't visible. We could see that the bumper was askew and a couple reverse sensors were broken or had fallen off.
Once the adjuster got a look at it he thought there would be around $3000 in damage, but said there would be more once they took it apart. The total cost ended up at around $4000. It drove a little rough when I picked it up, then it seemed fine. Also the low gas warning light was on although it had a quarter tank, but when I filled it up that light went off. I haven't been to a quarter tank since, so time will tell if it's an ongoing issue.
Today, almost a week since I picked up the car, the reverse sensor failed. So I visited the dealer's collision center about the problem. They took the car around back and returned with the reverse sensor "repaired". When I asked what they did the rep said they unplugged it and plugged it in again and then it worked.
The rep said the problem could be unrelated to the accident, and if it needed further repair he would have to prove it was related to get approval from the insurance company. I argued this problem shouldn't concern the insurer, it was the dealer who did the shoddy work. The service rep pretended not to understand my point on that one.
On my way home I stopped at the Honest Mechanic who works on our other cars. He put the car on the lift and said that the backup sensor harness was broken and rather than replace it the dealer used a plastic tie to secure it. Honest Mechanic said it will never hold like that and it will fail again. He said the gas warning light very well could be related to the accident, and that a rear shock was leaking, he said that may or may not be related.
I left a message with the dealership general manager, shortly thereafter he must have had someone from the collision shop call me, but I missed the call. The collision center looked me in the eye and outright lied, and I'm not sure I'd trust them to find religion now.
Please advise.
Once the adjuster got a look at it he thought there would be around $3000 in damage, but said there would be more once they took it apart. The total cost ended up at around $4000. It drove a little rough when I picked it up, then it seemed fine. Also the low gas warning light was on although it had a quarter tank, but when I filled it up that light went off. I haven't been to a quarter tank since, so time will tell if it's an ongoing issue.
Today, almost a week since I picked up the car, the reverse sensor failed. So I visited the dealer's collision center about the problem. They took the car around back and returned with the reverse sensor "repaired". When I asked what they did the rep said they unplugged it and plugged it in again and then it worked.
The rep said the problem could be unrelated to the accident, and if it needed further repair he would have to prove it was related to get approval from the insurance company. I argued this problem shouldn't concern the insurer, it was the dealer who did the shoddy work. The service rep pretended not to understand my point on that one.
On my way home I stopped at the Honest Mechanic who works on our other cars. He put the car on the lift and said that the backup sensor harness was broken and rather than replace it the dealer used a plastic tie to secure it. Honest Mechanic said it will never hold like that and it will fail again. He said the gas warning light very well could be related to the accident, and that a rear shock was leaking, he said that may or may not be related.
I left a message with the dealership general manager, shortly thereafter he must have had someone from the collision shop call me, but I missed the call. The collision center looked me in the eye and outright lied, and I'm not sure I'd trust them to find religion now.
Please advise.
Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 11:49 pm Post Subject:
Please advise
On what? This has nothing to do with insurance and you don't seem to have a question about anything.
Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 12:27 am Post Subject: Sorry to offend you.
It is a problem that is likely common in the insurance industry, but the question obviously bothers you, so just ignore it. There isn't much more I can do.
Posted: Fri May 11, 2012 04:39 am Post Subject:
The problem is with the repair company. I fail to see how the insurance company would be involved.
Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 12:34 am Post Subject:
It is a problem that is likely common in the insurance industry
While there certainly are some problems in the insurance industry, this is not one of them, as tcope has said.
If you thought it was a problem for the insurance industry to solve, why did you drive to your "Honest Mechanic" and not to your "Trusted Insurance Agent"? Obviously, you believed it was a mechanical problem, not an insurance problem.
If your HMO surgeon goofs and takes out the wrong organ, do you sue the doctor or the insurance company? The insurance company did not perform the surgery.
If the repair facility made a faulty repair, consumer protection laws have something to say about that. Your insurance company is not at fault for this. If your Honest Mechanic is willing to testify in court that the damage was the result of the collision and that the repair was faulty, then you can have your Honest Mecxhanic fix it and sue the repair facility for the cost.
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