Land Rover Defender 1 - Audi 0

Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 6:56 pm

I took the missus' A4 to our local tyre emporium today to have a slow puncture sorted out. Long story short, didn't get the chance to have the puncture sorted because some daft *censored* in a Defender reversed into the nearside rear wing -

To say I'm annoyed is an understatement. He didn't give a sh1t - local garage owner, not a mark on his LR, private land (car park) so likely knock-for-knock.

We've had this car for over nine years. It's only a boggo 1.8, but she loves it and I've looked after it as well as I do any car, so you'd be hard pushed to find a better '97 A4. However, it's still worth f*** all, so likely to be written off. It's going to the bodyshop tomorrow, so let's wait and see. It'll need a bloody big tin of Isopon to put that right....

Just so bloody annoyed!! Evil or Very Mad

Alan

Bandwidth Buster Joined: Jun 14, 2008 Posts: 742

Alan,

How sodding annoying, it makes me fume when someone does that and then says "it's only a bit of metal" makes me want to remove the offending piece and give them a metallurgic ass injection.

Good luck!

Gary

Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 7:59 pm

what a BUMMER! Gutted for you- hope it gets sorted. Let me know if you need assistance with "advising" the insurance company Wink

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:14 pm

Car has been classified as a Cat.C total loss. Insurance estimate to repair is £842.10.

The robbing twunts at the insurance co have offered us a measly £550, less £160 excess, less £38 (!) salvage if we keep the car...
I "politely declined" their valuation, which within minutes was increased to £715, which apparently is retail ('top book') for the age / mileage / condition of the car; salvage increases to £50 too, leaving us with a balance to be paid to us of £505 to repair it ourselves.

Note too that as a Cat C it will need a new MoT and a DVLA Vehicle ID check.

Missus wants to keep it - and I agree. I have asked the bodyshop for a non-insurance price to repair and will ask the estimator how he's costed it i.e. new panel or 'bash and fill'. I'll also get at least one more estimate too.

Any more thoughts / comments / advice please....?

Alan Evil or Very Mad

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 7:40 pm

Sorry to hear that Alan, not much I can say really Sad

How much is the DVLA ID check?

Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 9:53 am

HI James,

£41.00 for the VIC Rolling Eyes

Info here - http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/BuyingAndSellingAVehicle/AdviceOnBuyingAndSellingAVehicle/DG_4022107

Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 6:16 pm

So you've got about £400 to repair it?

I'm no expert, but I'd have thought that was acheivable?

Posted: Tue Sep 11, 2012 6:45 pm

Yes.
Hopefully find out more tomorrow. I have asked for an estimate from the insurer's bodyshop (where the car is now), then I'll take it to two more bodyshops - one that I have used previously and another recommended one.
It WILL live again!

Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2012 4:11 pm

Further update:

We now have three estimates....
1. From the insurer's bodyshop, where I collected the car from this morning - £842.10
2. From local respected bodyshop - £618.00
3. From another local respected one-man-band bodyshop that I've used before - £400.00.
So, it's off to #3 tomorrow and will be finished by the time we return from hols Cool

Then it's just a case of a new MoT and VIC and we're back on the road.

The bodyshop foreman at #2 used one of their jig tools to ease the dent back into shape by hand while I was there - it looks a lot better already and the door alignment with the wheel arch is almost there. Should make the job easier still.

Missus is happy, so I may have to take advantage of such a rare occurence... Laughing

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 11:39 pm

Hey V6, correct me if I'm wrong but it sounds as if you're claiming off your own insurance ( excess, salvage etc ) ...... " why " ??

If you were waiting to have a puncture repaired on their car park it may be private land but it is also a public place and as such the motor trader trader has committed a moving traffic offense. If you want to drive your car ' on the field ' at car shows you have to have valid insurance because the public have access to it in much the same way that the Asda car park is a public place, a shrug of the shoulders and a indifferent attitude would not do for me, I'd want some pecuniary recompense and if it wasn't forthcoming ( either out of his pocket or the ins company ) then I'd get satisfaction in other ways Ya winkles

Check this out ......

http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/p_to_r/road_traffic_offences/#P58_2420

Definitions of 'Road or Other Public Place'
The term 'road' is defined at section 142 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 as any length of highway or other road to which the public has access and includes bridges over which a road passes. The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines 'road' as a line of communication for use of foot passengers and vehicles; while in Oxford v Austin [1981] RTR 416 it was said to be a definable right of way between two points.

The expression 'on a road or other public place' is employed frequently in Road Traffic legislation, for example, in the drafting of moving traffic offences at sections 1-6 RTA. A public place is a place to which the public, or part thereof, have access.

Insurance cover is required for the use of a vehicle on a road or a public place.

See Wilkinson's A18.358.

The onus is on the prosecution to establish that a particular location was a 'road' or 'other public place'.