Got hit by a truck :(

[RBH58]

Found a (local) repairer with previous experience handling Machine Grey paint. I'm confident that these guys will get it right. Going to take 4-6 weeks though

The insurance company's preferred repairer said that he didn't want to touch it!

With regard to insurance claims, always go with what you want and not what they suggest or prefer (RE the insurance company preferred repairer)- you have the right to repaired as original specs..... they always, always go with contractors who quote the cheapest cause it usually covers the majority or "common and standard repairs"-

Understand. Sheen Panels in Melbourne are a repairer group in Melbourne who happen to be a Mazda preferred repairer. If the accident is completely the other party's fault, they will bypass your own insurer and use their own lawyers to directly pursue the "at fault party's insurer". This way your own insurer, who may be pursuing the other party's insurer who may be part of the same insurance group and may, therefore, not be working in your best interests, is completely out of the loop.

I have registered my accident with my insurer so it is on their records, but told them not to progress the claim until further notice because another party is going to attempt to work on my behalf. If Sheen Panels' lawyers are successful in getting an admission of liability within a week (their normal turnaround time) I then cancel the claim with my insurer completely.

So that's how I'm playing it. And I get a repairer that I know can do the job.

[Daffy]

Great to see you done your homework with this- I hate seeing people getting screwed over buy insurers penny pinching

[smy0003]

Saw what happened on the Renault pages.
Feeling for you, but am glad it was just the car that got beaten up.

[davekmoore]

If it was the truck drivers fault, his insurers will have already put you in a suitable free of charge hire car until yours is repaired, right?

[RBH58]

If it was the truck drivers fault, his insurers will have already put you in a suitable free of charge hire car until yours is repaired, right?

Nope. But I will get a courtesy car from Sheen Panels

[RS2000]

Sheen Panels in Melbourne are a repairer group in Melbourne who happen to be a Mazda preferred repairer. If the accident is completely the other party's fault, they will bypass your own insurer and use their own lawyers to directly pursue the "at fault party's insurer". This way your own insurer, who may be pursuing the other party's insurer who may be part of the same insurance group and may, therefore, not be working in your best interests, is completely out of the loop.

I have registered my accident with my insurer so it is on their records, but told them not to progress the claim until further notice because another party is going to attempt to work on my behalf. If Sheen Panels' lawyers are successful in getting an admission of liability within a week (their normal turnaround time) I then cancel the claim with my insurer completely.

So that's how I'm playing it. And I get a repairer that I know can do the job.

So who pays for Sheen Panels lawyers?

[RBH58]

Sheen Panels in Melbourne are a repairer group in Melbourne who happen to be a Mazda preferred repairer. If the accident is completely the other party's fault, they will bypass your own insurer and use their own lawyers to directly pursue the "at fault party's insurer". This way your own insurer, who may be pursuing the other party's insurer who may be part of the same insurance group and may, therefore, not be working in your best interests, is completely out of the loop.

I have registered my accident with my insurer so it is on their records, but told them not to progress the claim until further notice because another party is going to attempt to work on my behalf. If Sheen Panels' lawyers are successful in getting an admission of liability within a week (their normal turnaround time) I then cancel the claim with my insurer completely.

So that's how I'm playing it. And I get a repairer that I know can do the job.

So who pays for Sheen Panels lawyers?

All included in the claim on the other party. Sheen take care of the lot.

[RBH58]

Well.....it's now with the panel beaters for the next month whilst I holiday in Italy. Fingers crossed!

[Ben]

A word of caution in relation to proceeding through a repairer and not through your insurer though to be clear not in relation to Sheens or your claim in particular.

You ought not presume a repairer has your interests at Heart in the completion of repairs.

In recoveries intiatiated and maintained by repairers (again not in relation to sheens but by repairers that complete repairs on that basis) I have seen dozens of examples where costs are inflated and where unnecessary works are quoted and completed. More worryingly I've seen hundreds of examples where works are quoted assessed, invoiced but not completed. The work looks fine on the outside but a whole heap of unseen damage remains unrepaired.

Hate to be negative but it's not all roses and good stories.

Sure you may not have to pay a lawyer but what lawyer is issuing proceedings in your name?

http://lsbc.vic.gov.au/?p=4928

[Ruffian147]

Chances of being hit increases greatly if your car is the same color as the road.

[RBH58]

A word of caution in relation to proceeding through a repairer and not through your insurer though to be clear not in relation to Sheens or your claim in particular.

You ought not presume a repairer has your interests at Heart in the completion of repairs.

In recoveries intiatiated and maintained by repairers (again not in relation to sheens but by repairers that complete repairs on that basis) I have seen dozens of examples where costs are inflated and where unnecessary works are quoted and completed. More worryingly I've seen hundreds of examples where works are quoted assessed, invoiced but not completed. The work looks fine on the outside but a whole heap of unseen damage remains unrepaired.

Hate to be negative but it's not all roses and good stories.

Sure you may not have to pay a lawyer but what lawyer is issuing proceedings in your name?

http://lsbc.vic.gov.au/?p=4928

Not naive enough to believe that anyone is operating in my "best interests". Sheen are a big group though and expect that they are likely to be operating above board. The car, BTW, is still not fixed. It is going to be another 2 weeks which means Sheen's will have had it for 6 weeks! Final bill is expected to be nearly $15k!!!

[MX5-SP]

Bailing out of a 5 month old car on 3 yrs 40% residual would mean I'd have to kick in at least $5-10k of my own cash to bail out early, it's not really an option. I'm stuck with it for at least another 12 months.

I was in a similar predicament a few years back, but fortunately my company took out "gap insurance" through Swann Insurance. It made up the difference between the car's value and what was left owing on the lease. I was left having to fork out the $300 excess though. Without the gap insurance I would have been left with a very considerable balance to pay to get the car back on the road.

I'm not sure this helps your case as you can't retro-install the extra insurance, but it might help others contemplating leasing a vehicle compared to outright purchase.

[Ruffian147]

5 months old before it got it's first scratch, but I don't think it will buff out! :mad:

The Mazda Machine Grey paint is a special 4 layer paint finish that is (apparently) an absolute pig to match. I know of one guy who had a complete respray to match one panel!

Not happy! Expect this is going to be a long protracted process.

Did you read the sign on the front of the truck?

It's just cosmetic damage. If you had a long scratch from vandalism they would need to paint the whole panel.

There's no chassis damage.

[RBH58]

Well...it’s back after 6 weeks, and it looks as good as new.

Props to the guys at Sheen’s Panel Service South Melbourne.

Very relieved!

[KevGoat]

Unusual process, but good that it all turned out well.