Hi everybody,
My wife has a 2006 2.0 fsi SE 3dr automatic A3.
The car has done approx. 87K miles and we have owned it since 2013.
The car has been fully maintained during this time and we had no plans to sell it.
Our neighbours are getting an extension and on Tuesday just gone, a scaffolding flat-bed truck reversed into the side of the A3. He immediately drove off and we were informed by another neighbour who witnessed everything. She claimed that he knew exactly what he had done, but chose to drive off. She had made a full written statement.
Attached is a photo showing the damage.
The extension builder made contact with the driver and he returned on Wednesday morning.
He claimed (surprise, surprise) that he did not even realise he had hit our car.
I raised an online police report and obtained a reference number, as I believe it is a criminal offence to damage somebody's car and drive off like this.
I've spoken to the head of the scaffolding company who was aware of what had happened.
I suggested that I would get some quotes, return to him and we should go from there.
He did suggest contacting their insurance company, which I have not done to-date.
Similarly, I have not contacted our insurance company either.
The car is probably only worth £1,500 and I have been advised by various small garages that this could be a very expensive repair to put right, given it's location on the car. I am currently waiting for a few quotes to come in.
I believe the repair options are either:
1. Cut out the entire rear offside 1/4 wing and replace or
2. Panel beat the dent out and make good
I have not made contact with either insurance company as I am concerned they will simply write the car off, on the basis of the repair exceeding the car's value.
Ideally, we want to keep the car, have it properly repaired and not be out of pocket.
My plan is that once I have the quotes, I will present these to the head of the scaffolding company and firmly insist that one of their employees badly damaged our car, in one of their company vehicles and that we want them to foot the bill for returning the car to the state it was in on Monday.
Is this the best way to proceed? I would appreciate any of your thoughts on this.
Many thanks in advance,
bern
My wife has a 2006 2.0 fsi SE 3dr automatic A3.
The car has done approx. 87K miles and we have owned it since 2013.
The car has been fully maintained during this time and we had no plans to sell it.
Our neighbours are getting an extension and on Tuesday just gone, a scaffolding flat-bed truck reversed into the side of the A3. He immediately drove off and we were informed by another neighbour who witnessed everything. She claimed that he knew exactly what he had done, but chose to drive off. She had made a full written statement.
Attached is a photo showing the damage.
The extension builder made contact with the driver and he returned on Wednesday morning.
He claimed (surprise, surprise) that he did not even realise he had hit our car.
I raised an online police report and obtained a reference number, as I believe it is a criminal offence to damage somebody's car and drive off like this.
I've spoken to the head of the scaffolding company who was aware of what had happened.
I suggested that I would get some quotes, return to him and we should go from there.
He did suggest contacting their insurance company, which I have not done to-date.
Similarly, I have not contacted our insurance company either.
The car is probably only worth £1,500 and I have been advised by various small garages that this could be a very expensive repair to put right, given it's location on the car. I am currently waiting for a few quotes to come in.
I believe the repair options are either:
1. Cut out the entire rear offside 1/4 wing and replace or
2. Panel beat the dent out and make good
I have not made contact with either insurance company as I am concerned they will simply write the car off, on the basis of the repair exceeding the car's value.
Ideally, we want to keep the car, have it properly repaired and not be out of pocket.
My plan is that once I have the quotes, I will present these to the head of the scaffolding company and firmly insist that one of their employees badly damaged our car, in one of their company vehicles and that we want them to foot the bill for returning the car to the state it was in on Monday.
Is this the best way to proceed? I would appreciate any of your thoughts on this.
Many thanks in advance,
bern