[CL9]Not a happy Friday... Tow truck totally f**cked up my front end

Hi all,

First and foremost, I am not posting here to get sympathy, but rather advice on what avenues I can take in sorting out what happened tonight.

Story goes: Parked my car on Princes Highway, St Peters and after 3pm it becomes a clear way for Southbound lanes. I totally forgot about my car (boardroom meeting) and I got out at 4:30pm only to know my car was missing. I called the Tow truck company and they advised it had been towed to the next street on the left. That's fine, I will pay the towing fee, if I have caused traffic jams etc I'm liable for it.

But I didn't expect my car to be like this:

http://img838.imageshack.us/img838/9...5529754240.jpg

http://img801.imageshack.us/img801/3...5529754240.jpg

http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/2...5529754240.jpg

http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/9...5529754240.jpg

I rang the RTA - they advised I submit all pictures and a quote for the repair bill to compensate 'some' damage. WTF?

I'm confused whether I should call my insurance company (AAMI - full comprehensive) or go through different options? Any advice would be appreciated.

Criticism is welcome... yes my car is lowered, but hell, where is the duty of care?

Have you tried clipping the front bar back on?
The driver side probably has the screw in the wheel-well part broken but it should still clip back into place.

My front bar clips off occassionally when i go into steep driveways.

If you go through insurance without any further details (drivers licence, address) of the other driver, you will have to pay excess for the claim, which isnt worth it imo.
Get the compensation through RTA. Write down information as to who you spoke to, which tow company etc otherwise they will try to back out from the payment/compensation.

My advice, get the compensation and just see if you can clip the front bar into place. Dont go through insurance unless you have the other driver/tow companys info.

BTW, if RTA is going to want photos or inspection, make sure you raise the car. They can say that its because your ride height is below the legal limit, thus the damage was brought on by your car being too low. Make sure you have 100mm+ clearance at lowest point of car to ground.

Thanks snYpz,

I've tried clipping the bumper back, but I'm certain the damage is beyond what I hoped for. In saying that, I'll drive to some smash repairs on the weekend and get a quote done.

With regards to the RTA, I'm certain the car is 100mm clearance, although I'll get this double checked.

Hopefully I can get this settled... much appreciated man.

They are not allowed to damage your car. Speak to your insurance company about what you can do. If you make a claim, they'll arrange repairs and then take-on the tow truck company themselves.

I am glad I live where this kind of thing does not happen. No towing here. Just a fine.

Speaking with my Insurance company is something I considered but I'm cautious about the drawbacks i.e. - car lowered without being advised etc etc

I've got the Towing slip the **** attached on my windscreen. It states a picture was taken (I'm assuming this would be prior to towing - to prove my offence for illegal parking) so I can use this as evidence that my car was NOT damaged prior to towing.

Anyways, any more advice would be appreciated.

Cheers

I wouldnt be too concerned regarding the insurance and the suspension. The worst case scenario is the insurance company wont pay for your damage (which wouldnt be that much in this case). However, if your insurance company can obtain the details of the towing company, your insurance company will deal with insurance of the tow company, thus the insurance of the tow company pays for damage.

Your front bar still looks in pretty good condition, too bad it doesnt clip back in. Would be an easy fix.

PS: Let me know if you have 100mm clearance, its similar to my ride height lol :D

Far out, that looks bad.

They must have done some bad damage to it for it not to clip back in. Had someone do a hit and run on my car in the carpark once, luckily i managed just to clip it back into place but am left with a scar =(

Hope it gets all fixed up for you, get as much compensation as you can for that. Shouldn't cost too much to fix

I have three words for you. A CURRENT AFFAIR!

Edit: so if they took a photo before your car was damaged with your current height and then you find out your car was below legal limit and you raise it, won't they get you on that?

did it cause a water leak also?

off topiic...i'm with aami and i've told them that i have lowered the car, it dosen't change your premiums... in the event i have to make a claim i want my eibachs.. you're acutally doing the insurance a favor if you don't tell them, so i recommend you tell them about all mods..

i would have filed a report with your insurance company as it is bordering on malicious damage.Thats what you pay full comp insurance for.

my experience with aami is that if you have mods and it's not listed on your insurance, they'll just add it on when you make the claim.

also would reporting this to the cops help in any way?

I'd just report to the insurance company and don't bother harassing the towing company, that's the insurance company's job. They have collections specialists and a legal team to deal with these things everyday of the week. Your case is pretty clear. Yes you were wrong the park there in clearway, but in no way does anyone have the right to damage your property without being liable to pay for it.

Let us know what happens.

how did you know what towing company to call?

^ I assume their number is on the towing slip he received

thats terrible mate - you seem to be approaching it in a pretty commonsense way though - your fault for leaving your car there, but you didn't deserve anything beyond a fine/towing fee.

see how your insurance company goes, but there are other options too - letter of demand from you personally etc. good luck

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Stig

^ I assume their number is on the towing slip he received

---

yeah but he said he saw his car gone and then called the towing company which advised him they towed it to the next street

If you go through your insurance company, they will make you pay the excess for the claim.
If you don't have the time to handle it yourself, then let them do it.
Personally I would do the leg work myself and save the $500+.
Get the quote and then forward it onto the RTA yourself with all the details.
If they ask if you are insured just tell them yes but you do not want to involve the company at this stage.

Thanks for the advice guys.

I'm going with the option of chasing my own private quotes from licenced repairers and send an nasty email to the RTA. They do have a 'Damage & Claim' department so hopefully I can get full compensation for the repairs. So far the quote I've got is about $1200, for new bar, water bottle, painting and labour, not cheap!

If that fails, then I'll go through AAMI and have it sorted.

More updates to come.

Ouch. So that puddle was your car having a wee from a broken washer bottle?

Hope it works out for you.

- HZ

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by neborama

Thanks for the advice guys.

I'm going with the option of chasing my own private quotes from licenced repairers and send an nasty email to the RTA. They do have a 'Damage & Claim' department so hopefully I can get full compensation for the repairs. So far the quote I've got is about $1200, for new bar, water bottle, painting and labour, not cheap!

If that fails, then I'll go through AAMI and have it sorted.

More updates to come.

---

I suggest you lodge a claim with your insurance co.You wont lose your NCB as it wasn't your fault.That's why you pay insurance.Let them do the chasing up for you

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tony1234

I suggest you lodge a claim with your insurance co.You wont lose your NCB as it wasn't your fault.That's why you pay insurance.Let them do the chasing up for you

---

+1. Sounds like good advice.

- HZ

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by HunterZero

+1. Sounds like good advice.

- HZ

---

Hey ,i said that a page ago...:p

Well it's not that good of advice.
If you use your insurance company you will still have to pay the excess. Could be anything from $500 to $1,000 for nothing.
Do the leg work yourself and save the money

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tony1234

I suggest you lodge a claim with your insurance co.You wont lose your NCB as it wasn't your fault.That's why you pay insurance.Let them do the chasing up for you

---

Not with most insurance. You will have to have obtained the details of the other person/driver/company details. Otherwise without that necessary information, you WILL need to pay an excess. Check the PDS, I am 100% certain with Justcar insurance thats how it works, and im sure AAMI would be the same since they are under the same company.

Maybe i shouldve recommended you to lodge an incident report with the police which makes it easier with the insurance.
$1200 seems like a really expensive quote. Try use cable ties to hold the front bar until you find a spare bar from the car yards imo

I think this will be a waste of time.

By chasing this up - you will be admitting you know your car is lowered and
Thus unroadworthy. That means any insurance is VOID.

Do NOT try and jip the system and raise the car first. Pictures of your cars location would of been taken and the height
It was.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by snYpz

Not with most insurance. You will have to have obtained the details of the other person/driver/company details. Otherwise without that necessary information, you WILL need to pay an excess. Check the PDS, I am 100% certain with Justcar insurance thats how it works, and im sure AAMI would be the same since they are under the same company.

Maybe i shouldve recommended you to lodge an incident report with the police which makes it easier with the insurance.
$1200 seems like a really expensive quote. Try use cable ties to hold the front bar until you find a spare bar from the car yards imo

---

AAMI representative just confirmed I'll be paying the excess, because I didn't witness the towing? I have evidence but until I have those details of the driver and towing company during the incident I can't lodge not-at-fault claim? Does this make sense? All she said was, you make a claim, $550 and we'll repair the car for you, whether we fault the other party or not. Anyways, I attempted a police report on Saturday morning but unfortunately the police cannot take it any further. Constable advised it may not have been purposeful damage, it may have been an accident and they can't charge the RTA. Great. Seems like I'm not going anywhere with this. Take it up the chin and cop it, fark that. I've written to the RTA today.

I got two quotes, 1.2k - 1.7k.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bennjamin

I think this will be a waste of time.

By chasing this up - you will be admitting you know your car is lowered and
Thus unroadworthy. That means any insurance is VOID.

Do NOT try and jip the system and raise the car first. Pictures of your cars location would of been taken and the height
It was.

---

Yeah I won't be cheesy and raise the car, it states a photo was taken during the offence. However, I can use this as evidence that my car was NOT damaged!

Damage is as follows:

Damaged water bottle
Damaged water bottle pump (this is for the window washer etc)
Bumper pins missing
Damaged engine splash tray/liner
Damaged front bar (it's not bent at all, however there is beyond economical repair scratches on the right)
Damaged Guard liners Left & Right

FYI the car is driveable at the moment.... if all else fails, I'll get it repaired and move on.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by neborama

Yeah I won't be cheesy and raise the car, it states a photo was taken during the offence. However, I can use this as evidence that my car was NOT damaged!

---

yeah for sure- people on here have tried worse tho and then come back on here and complain on and on.
You miss my point that attempting this claim - could possibly land you in more trouble to begin with ( financially as well ) - make sense ?

its absolute garbage, don't take shit from the towing company.. yes you were at fault and your car deserves to be towed, but they have a duty of care.. what would have happened if it was a ferrari or something i doubt the asshole tow truck guy would have done the same thing.. it dosen't matter that you have lowered your car or your car insurance don;t know.. if your car was lowered to a point where it is unroadworthy then thats a different story. if it is within legal limits, its the towing company's fault for not towing your car properly.. don't bother with your insurance they're bunch of stingy pricks , why would they fix this up for ya for no excess fee. take your claim directly with the towing company.. hope this is a lesson learnt mate.. to be honest i see too many cars tow away in the cbd area and sometimes the traffic jam these parked cars cause, i wouldn't give a rats if they blew up the car.. good luck with claim..