Parking Lot Accident

[GASonntag]

Michigan:

I work at a car repair shop. My car was parked. The manager of the shop was backing a customer's truck out of the bay and hit my parked car. There was a lot of damage to my car; the customer's truck that hit my car was not damaged. The manager said he did not want to have it handled by the insurance company. He said he would pay for the repairs himself.

In addition to whole front end of my car being severely damaged, I just had a custom paint job done on the car about a month ago. I had the car appraised; the damage is estimated at $2700.

The manager wants to fix the car with after-market parts and standard paint job on the damaged area. I said I wanted GM parts and the paint job redone. He came back with the statement that technically he doesn't have to pay anything.

What can I do? Is this considered property damage where the repair shop insurance would cover it or do I need to go after the guy's insurance company to get resolution?

 

[moburkes]

Michigan:

I work at a car repair shop. My car was parked. The manager of the shop was backing a customer's truck out of the bay and hit my parked car. There was a lot of damage to my car; the customer's truck that hit my car was not damaged. The manager said he did not want to have it handled by the insurance company. He said he would pay for the repairs himself.

In addition to whole front end of my car being severely damaged, I just had a custom paint job done on the car about a month ago. I had the car appraised; the damage is estimated at $2700.

The manager wants to fix the car with after-market parts and standard paint job on the damaged area. I said I wanted GM parts and the paint job redone. He came back with the statement that technically he doesn't have to pay anything.

What can I do? Is this considered property damage where the repair shop insurance would cover it or do I need to go after the guy's insurance company to get resolution?

The place where you work SHOULD have insurance for this. However, you can contact your insurance company for help getting the ball rolling. Unless you have insured your vehicle for the custom paint job, I'm not sure that you're going to recover that $.

You said that you had the car appraised. What is the car worth?
You said that you had the car appraised, then listed the damages. Do you mean that you got an estimate of the damages, and that the estimate was $2700? Get another estimate.

They are not required to use GM parts.
Read YOUR insurance policy and you will see that even they are not required to use GM parts.

 

[JETX]

The manager wants to fix the car with after-market parts and standard paint job on the damaged area. I said I wanted GM parts and the paint job redone.

First, since there is no insurance involved (yet), you have the right to 'demand' anything you want. As to whether you get it or not, is another story.

However, lets assume you don't and you have to get insurance involved. In that case, you have no right to demand only GM parts. Insurance policies were revised years ago to allow 3rd party sources for body parts.

As to the paint job... your 'custom paint' might be recoverable... or might not. Depends entirely on the insuarance company and your ability to argue 'Fair Market Value' (that the custom paint actually INCREASED its AVERAGE value to an AVERAGE buyer).

He came back with the statement that technically he doesn't have to pay anything.

He is right. He doesn't have to do anything.... but can be forced into doing 'something' by your filing a lawsuit and getting a judgment.

What can I do?

There are lots of things you CAN do... but since this is also your employer, that kind of muddies things a bit. How far are YOU willing to go in pursuing this??
Some options:
1) Ignore it and keep your job, or
2) File a claim with YOUR insurance company and let them pay and pursue him (and lose your job), or
3) File a claim with his SHOPS insurance company.... and lose your job, or
4) File a lawsuit and, presumably, get a judgment against him.... and lose your job.

 

[GASonntag]

The place where you work SHOULD have insurance for this. However, you can contact your insurance company for help getting the ball rolling. Unless you have insured your vehicle for the custom paint job, I'm not sure that you're going to recover that $.

You said that you had the car appraised. What is the car worth?
You said that you had the car appraised, then listed the damages. Do you mean that you got an estimate of the damages, and that the estimate was $2700? Get another estimate.

They are not required to use GM parts.
Read YOUR insurance policy and you will see that even they are not required to use GM parts.

The car was $3,500 before the custom paint job. I'll check on another estimate. I have just basic insurance coverage . . . will this make a difference in getting my insurance company involved?

 

[moburkes]

The car was $3,500 before the custom paint job. I'll check on another estimate. I have just basic insurance coverage . . . will this make a difference in getting my insurance company involved?

Yes, they probably aren't interested in helping, however, call and ask.

 

[GASonntag]

Thanks.

Thanks for your input.