Accident repairs...how do I know they're good?

sleepymans

I wonder if anyone could advise me please.
Under the terms of my motor insurance, their nominated garage is carrying out repairs to my recent head-on collision. The car was only a year old so although there was lots of damage, they decided to repairs rather than write-off.
Its been worked on for 4 weeks now and I discover that when I collect it, I will have to sign something to say I am happy with it all.

Well, how can I know that? I can obviously do a visual check to see no ripples and paintwork is good but there were mechanical bits etc that I would have no knowledge or skills to check.

I dont know if I will get a list of all they have done (as I'm not the customer, the ins co. is the customer)

I do know they had to "put it on a jig for days to straighten out the chassis" for example...how do I know they have done a good job? What if in a week or two's time I discover a mechanical problem that could have been as a result of the accident??

No doubt they wont hand the car over unless I sign for the work first...so this is completely unfair to the consumer (Well a mechanically ignorant one like me!).

Should I engage some sort of engineer to check it over on my behalf? If so, how do I find an independent one and how much is it likely to cost?

The insurance has told me they will deal with my accident claim on a 50/50 basis as I dont have any witnesses to the other driver's appalling driving that caused the accident and so I am feeling ripped off already and dont want my lovely car back in a worse state than it was in before the accident. I have read the policy document and of course there is nothing about this. Have I any consumer rights or anything?

Also in the accident my airbags didnt deploy. Obviously this has worried me because I hit the steering wheel and got a badly bruised chest and whiplash. I queried it with the garage and they tell me because I was stationery or almost stationery at the point of impact, they wouldnt deploy. I feel I am being conned about this too. Surely if you are parked and an HGV runs into you at speed, you would expect the airbags to deploy? Anyone able to advise me on that please?

Thanks for taking the time to read (and respond!)

dacouch

You could get the RAC or AA to do an inspection or better still use an independant engineer, simply add your area into this google search http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&cr=countryUK|countryGB&ei=oTaMSvXSIqWQjAfFkfTkCw&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=independent+vehicle+engineer&spell=1&fp=fd3db90d7517997f

hartcjhart

AFAIK,airbags deploy if they sense that one or more of the wheels are being pushed backward/sidewards by an impact,so if just body damage they would not usually go of,

Reapirs-
normally insurance companies only use reputable repairers,but if you are unsure ask someone from another crash repairers(not too local)if they will come and take a look cost probably £50,

there is no legal obligation for you to sign the paperwork it is your vehicle and once repaired MUST be returned to you

mchale

Just for future reference you can choose your own garage to do the repairs on the car, the Ins companies like/want you to use their "nominated" garage because they get a very low labour rate, but you can insist it gets done at your own garage

when you go to collect it if they make you sign the satisfaction note endorse it as vehicle not checked and then take it to your own garage and ask them to look over it for you

sleepymans

Just a quick update.....

Following the useful advice on here I arranged an independant engineer to inspect and report. I used Auto Assessors National. They were very helpful and efficient and the £80 spent to put my mind at rest was money well spent.
The engineer visited the very next day, gave me a verbal OK so I could have the car back without further delay and a written report was emailed to me a day later. He basically reports the repairs have been carried out to a high standard by a reputable garage. The garage will be sending me full records of what work has been done. They even included advice about the airbag issue which I will be taking up with Renault UK.

Thanks for your help, peeps.

dacouch

Thats good news sleepymans, knowing how thorough motor engineers are and also if they are not certain they will always raise an issue to cover their own backs it should be a good sign the work is spot on. If there is a problem in the future you may also have some come back on them.

datostar

Insurance companies will ensure that their authorised repairers work to 'Thatcham Standards' and the Thatcham manuals they work from, and equipment they use ensure that the vehicle is put back to original standard, including the vital deformeable areas and crumple zones - not always the case with back street repairers and 'MOT Welding Work'.

dacouch

datostar wrote: »

Insurance companies will ensure that their authorised repairers work to 'Thatcham Standards' and the Thatcham manuals they work from, and equipment they use ensure that the vehicle is put back to original standard, including the vital deformeable areas and crumple zones - not always the case with back street repairers and 'MOT Welding Work'.

In theory, yes, in reality not always.

Sleepymans was very sensible in having the work checked just in case

Ionkontrol

I used Esure's recommended garage to repair my car, and it was awful. There was paint runs everywhere and flatting compounds everywhere. Had to take it back 3 times till I was satisfied with the job. I always use my own garage now, never the insurer's recommended.

When I complained to Esure's head office in Glasgow, I was told that I was a fussy customer and most people just take the cars back and dont really look at them (more fool them).

I totally blew my lid at him.....properly let him have it and told him what I thought of his approved repairer scheme (bodge jobbers) and his companies attitude.

Definately get an independent inspection.

hartcjhart

Thanks Sleepyman for reporting back:T,so many people come on ask for advice and never update:mad: