The Mechanic Crashed My Car

Llemons4lime on 11/05/2017 - 15:22
Last edited 29/05/2017 - 17:12

Hi Guys, well it's technically not my car but my girlfriends car. I wrote the title like that in case this happens to someone else, and they decide to type that into google (as it was the first thing I did when I found out).

Long story short, she took it to our local Toyota dealership for the capped price servicing (as it’s only an 18 month old car) and got a call later that day informing her that the mechanic was in an accident.

We were told the mechanic was taking it for a quick drive once the service was complete, and apparently they cashed due to another speeding driver. We were provided photos of the car, and has since been deemed a write off.

She has been given a courtesy car in the meantime while the Toyota insurance works out a solution.

Car model: 2016 Toyota Yaris ZR (top of the range), insured for $20,700 with GIO.

Has anybody been in a similar situation?

Any ideas what kind of compensation you think she will receive?

Thank you all for your answers, I will attempt to update this as the story progresses.

Update 1: So we have informed the insurance company and have decided not to lodge a claim as Toyota are currently working it out with their insurance. A claim will only be lodged if Toyota are unreasonable with their offer. Toyota have yet to give any indication of what reimbursement she will receive, as they are still waiting for more information on their side.
She was given another more spec'd up loan car free of charge in the mean time, so Toyota are doing the right thing so far.

Update 2:
So after many many phone calls with both Toyota and her insurance company, Toyota's insurance company decided to give her a new car. We had a meeting with a really nice salesman who initially offered her a top of the range Yaris, however as there was only Pink or Yellow available till September, they then offered a Corolla Sport model (mid-range). Which was a very nice surprise! She was able to get it in the colour she wanted and it be available the following day. She also got some sensors and GPS at cost price.

Thank you all for your comments!

TLDR: Toyota mechanic crashed my girlfriends car during a routine service, they supplied a loan car for the down time and then after 2 weeks gave her a brand new mid-range Corolla.

Automotive

Comments

  • Windows7forever on 13/05/2017 - 03:53

    Oh well, it's only a crappy Yaris

  • shiningstars on 13/05/2017 - 07:02

    It seems like the dealership is doing the right thing by offering a courtesy car and following up with their insurance. GIO insurance have two year new car replacement so i would let them know that this is what you are entitled to.
    When i had issues with my dealership after my timing belt broke during a test drive they denied any responsibility, didn't provide any courtesy car and if my new car warranty wasn't in expiring in a few months time, i would have been paying them $3k to repair the damage.

  • wtfnodeal on 13/05/2017 - 07:40

    If the car is written off does it mean her car insurance policy is terminated too? Find out if that's the case especially if she has prepaid it a year. Otherwise i guess her car insurer will just refund her the balance of unexpired period and ask her to insure her soon replacement car again.

  • captobvious on 13/05/2017 - 10:55
    +2

    Is the mechanic ok?

    • JetBombat on 13/05/2017 - 20:12
      +1

      Have another car to test?

  • Plug on 13/05/2017 - 11:57
    +1

    It would be simpler if Toyota just gave her a replacement car.

    • pegaxs on 14/05/2017 - 19:40

      It would be simpler if Toyota the dealer just gave her a replacement car.

      FTFY.

  • paulojr on 13/05/2017 - 15:30
    +1

    OP, GIO policies are one of the better ones and should have specific clauses covering mechanics and other service people as part of the policy so regardless of Toyota's own insurance, assuming its comprehensive just go through GIO directly and don't deal with anyone else. That's the whole point of comprehensive insurance. If you decide to deal with Toyota directly and potentially get screwed in the process your not understanding the point of your insurance.

    As its a write off you would just ask GIO for the sum insured on your policy (market or agreed. Agreed is always best as market is always based on redbook and is always lower) HOWEVER as your car was a 2016 edition you are almost certainly covered for a "replacement" which is going to be better for you (e.g. hassle with registration etc is dealt with) If it was not a write off its critical to go through GIO as you get choice of repairer.

    Again use your GIO insurance. Your not at fault there is little downside (one recorded NOT at fault excess free claim) and lots of risk if you Toyota's insurance decides to follow the text book script when dealing with direct insurance claims.

    Good luck

  • coolsteps on 13/05/2017 - 20:51

    be aware that some smaller mechanical shops have a sign with disclaimer saying that they are not responsible for any damage to your car while in getting serviced or parked in the shopping bays. it concerns me if my car ever got damaged in the parking lot or while they took it for a test drive. i wonder if could make a claim against them because of that disclaimer sign.?

    • Stevek1960 on 18/05/2017 - 10:23

      I got four negs for posting the same thing yet this post gets none, go fiqure

  • susmind on 13/05/2017 - 22:37

    One block to valet the car to the from the hotel to the under-hotel carpark & the young guys want to hoon in 2nd gear !
    Geeez …

  • edy4eva on 13/05/2017 - 23:39
    +2

    The dealers/workshop insurance will come through so no need to worry. Been there seen that happen about 13 years ago.

    The insurance company would have already sent an agent to collect information about the accident, the employee driving the car and the circumstances that led to taking the car for a test drive.

    The matter will take few weeks to resolve because the insurance company will want to put some onus on the workshop employee or the workshop processes and hence reduce the payout (e.g. insurance pays 80%, workshop/dealer covers their excess and remaining 20%). Since the car is less than 2 years old, they know and will be accounting for the balance of a new car, not a used one.

    Make sure you work out an insurance policy through the dealer on the temp car, just in case.

    Patience is king.

  • aman00024 on 14/05/2017 - 11:12

    Don't worry… toyota 'll look after ya…

    Usually u don't have to mess wid reputable companies …

    Hope for da best

  • [Deactivated] on 14/05/2017 - 13:44

    a while back hartland holden was involved in a big lawsuit by a bloke that took his back then top of the line HSV for a service, in the end 4 cars written off plus damage to a building.

    hartland holden tried to pass the buck and use the guys insurance to claim the car as a write off but he had other plans.

    took his case to court with a lawyer and won big time….. i think it was the demise of that plae as it didnt take too long for it to close down.

    i believe he got a fully replace new car plus compensation of just as much in cash.

  • MisterQ on 14/05/2017 - 18:20

    Friend of mine, a 30 year veteran police sargeant had similar - nicest cop you could ever meet. He has a top of the line Commodore HSV Senator, his pride and joy, looking forward to enjoying it in his imminent retirement. - Was in for routine service. It appeared that a druggie wandered into the dealership workshop, jumped into it and drove off. The dealership a) didn't tell him until he turned up, b) claimed that they tried to stop the guy - not according to their own video surveillance. It was found a few weeks later, every body panel damaged - syringes in the car. He has had to push it all through his own insurer, and Dealership has taken 4 months to get it repaired.

  • smoothymcmellow on 17/05/2017 - 16:49

    This happened to me about 4 years ago

    Put my VW GTI into get new tyres at one of the big chains, junior mechanic who was only on 1st year P plates in VIC (important because he legally can't drive that car) was asked to move my car, he decided instead of just reversing and putting it in the spot he would do a lap. Witnesses said he gunned it, 4WD came out of a street and they collided

    Long story short that chain was horrible to me, destroyed my car but wouldn't let me leave the shop till i paid for the 4 new tyres because my towed car had them on them. Drama after drama, argument after argument they finally replaced my tyres again free of charge as they admitted the tyres being in an accident might have damaged them or at least have flat spots on them. They reported it all to me after police had come, not got statements correctly but was too late because i wasn't at the scene. The company even made the guy who crashed my car drive me to a rental shop, that was a fun car ride.

    All I received was horrible threatening calls from their customer service manager, a worse rental car for 6 weeks and a lesser valued car as it was repaired after a major accident

    Best of luck OP, sounds like Toyota is being nice about it all, I looked at suing the tyre company for my incident but it was a lot of money for no guarantee so I just dropped it all

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