Problems following accident

**JDNSW** · 19th November 2014, 10:39 AM

As I mentioned in another thread, last week I had an accident, where a red 'P' plater ran into the back of my trailer, resulting in minor damage to the trailer and major damage to the 110.

The good news is that the other driver has admitted liability, and his insurer has accepted this. The bad news is it is the same company I am insured with.

I took the 110 into town yesterday, and saw the Insurer's preferred repairer. He looked at the job and said he would have problems finding room to do it as it would be a body off job. He said he would have to get an assessor to look at it (didn't say, but presumably to see if he could get it written off).

I phoned the insurer to find out what was happening. They phoned the repairer, and he told them that he was not going to quote, as he could not touch it for two months. So I asked the Insurer, where to from here? They gave me the phone numbers of their other two repairers in town. After getting off the phone I rang them. One said he could not even look at it until "mid-January". The other said he could only look at new work after 12th January. I have not tried other panelbeaters in town, but I would expect the answer to be similar from all of them. (lots of roos round here)

Other phone calls I made on Monday failed to find anyone with a new crossmember in Australia. They are, of course, readily available ex UK. While a second hand one may be found, it would probably want to be from an inland vehicle because of rust.

So it seems I have a problem - I can't tow with it; it is driveable, but the rear door is not shutting properly, and it will probably be two months before I can even find out what is going to happen.

Anyone got any bright ideas? One thought occurs to me is to get it trucked to a bigger centre with more repairers, but I would not be surprised if the same or a similar situation pertained elsewhere. And I would need to have a commitment to repair it and a definite time frame, and an equivalent hire car at the insurer's expense (which they have committed to). And I am reluctant to let it too far out of my sight.

So far I have spent several hours on the phone (mostly on hold) talking to the insurer, not to mention a 120km round trip to get it assessed which did not happen.

John

**jonesfam** · 19th November 2014, 10:46 AM

I would get the insurer to truck it to a major centre, do a hire car & see how it goes.
Insurance work is supposed to be guaranteed, isn't it?
Jonesfam

**Lotz-A-Landies** · 19th November 2014, 11:04 AM

Bad luck John

The other driver's insurance is responsible for the repair, they can't write the vehicle off if you don't go through your insurer.

I have a complete V8 110 county rolling chassis and body (early one with series type door handles) its going to be dismantled. We could donor the rear cross member off that if you'd like. I know its a big trip but you're welcome to come and check it out. Its near Prestons in SW Sydney

Diana

**JDNSW** · 19th November 2014, 11:05 AM

Originally Posted by jonesfam

I would get the insurer to truck it to a major centre, do a hire car & see how it goes.
Insurance work is supposed to be guaranteed, isn't it?
Jonesfam

Yes, that is what I would like to see happen, but I would need to have a guarantee that the Insurer was not going to write it off before agreeing to this. They would have an incentive to do this, and there is no way that any likely sum they value it at would allow me to replace it.

I should point out that the damage is confined to the cross member and tow bar except for minor buckling of the door sill where it is bolted to the crossmember and a barely perceptible dent in the fuel tank guard.

I am awaiting either a call or email from the insurer to discuss this, but I am reluctant to call them because of the length of time I am likely to be on hold. Even the direct number they gave me was on hold yesterday for thirteen minutes.

John

**jonesfam** · 19th November 2014, 11:15 AM

I have insured for agreed value, not market value.
So if the worst should happen I can, hopefully, replace the D3 with something similar.
Does cost a bit more though.
Jonesfam

**Tote** · 19th November 2014, 11:16 AM

If the crossmembers are available ex UK I would still view that as a viable option. A repairer here got a transfer case for my D3 from the UK in 4 days and including freight it was half the price LR aust could supply it for.
I once had a car shipped to Sydney for repair after a big hailstorm in Orange due to the time taken for repairs locally and it was a most unsatisfactory experience. The repairer in Sydney was only interested in pushing the jobs through and had little regard for the quality of work done as he figured that I wouldnt be likely to take it back for warranty repairs.
If the vehicle is drivable I'd book it in and wait for repairs locally after assisting the repairer to source parts if necessary. Its amazing how it's easier for a business to pass up work by writing a vehicle off rather than doing more than just ringing their parts supplier and saying, sorry can't source the parts.

Regards,

Tote

**CraigE** · 19th November 2014, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by jonesfam

I have insured for agreed value, not market value.
So if the worst should happen I can, hopefully, replace the D3 with something similar.
Does cost a bit more though.
Jonesfam

Yes but watch your value decrease even with agreed value. It still goes down every year.

**Bigbjorn** · 19th November 2014, 11:23 AM

Incisor got a cross member folded up to replace the rusted one on his 110. Any competent press shop can do this. They will need a proper drawing or a horrible example.

**p38arover** · 19th November 2014, 11:51 AM

John, Dervish has a complete 110 rolling chassis for sale. It was at Windsor when I saw it last week.

**V8Ian** · 19th November 2014, 02:33 PM

You can choose your repairer, the insurance company has no right to dictate where it is repaired or asses the vehicle. Technically, if you got quoted $20,000 the reinstate your car to the condition it was before the accident, they have to pay it; but you could have a fight on your hands if the costs were excessive.
You could also contract your choice of repairer, with a liquidator damages clause.
You are entitled to expenses incurred, such as tow trucks, taxis, hire cars et al, but again, excess amounts will invite retaliation.

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