Car Wash collapse

[Shosholoza]

Yesterday the top cover on a touchless car wash fell onto the hood of my car during the wash!
The hood will have to be replaced, and the fenders blended - bodyshop quote is $2,100. I have reported it to my insurance company, but nothing else has happened.
The owners of the carwash want to pay the bodyshop direct, as their deductible is $2,500.

Should I accept their offer, or should I have them deal with my insurers?

[Diecast]

I am in shock, that you would take your car through a gas station car wash

[Shosholoza]

I've been using this one for years - its touchless, and their rinse water is "spot free"

[VMcV3y]

Originally Posted by Shosholoza

I've been using this one for years - its touchless, and their rinse water is "spot free"

Doesn't seem "touchless" anymore....



(Sorry, you opened yourself up with that.)


Anyhow, to answer your question: can't see anything wrong with getting the car wash owner to pay vs. insurance. You go get a quote at the place you want the repairs done, give a copy of the quote to the car wash, and tell them to make payment to the repair shop within 48 hours; or you'll get back to the insurance route as a matter of being sure this isn't forgotten.

- V

.

[urBan_dK]

I would go through the subrogation process with your own insurer. Less loose ends and less chance of shady car wash owner "leaving you out to dry"

[TexasSpartan]

Go the insurance route. If you find something later caused by this, you'll be SOL.

[S65V8]

Insurance. You still get to use the shop of your choice anyways. Talk about bad luck, sorry that had to happen to you. It's the biggest random "WTF" I've seen in a while.

[8_is_enough]

+1 for insurance. you don't owe them any favors

[info@trinityautosport]

+1 for insurance. OP sorry to hear and see that happened.

[Edjay]

From what I can see, Take the guys money. Have the body shop fix the hood. Looks like its fixable. This way. It will not show a $2500 claim on carfax. Your panels will still have matching vin. Better for re-sale later.

[konaforever]

That's some bad luck!

[j2m]

Dayuuuuuuum! That sucks!
Sorry OP... I'd be pissssssssssED!!!

[happos2]

Oh wow...

+1 for the insurance route.

[Chriskm3]

I'm sorry but I hope they BleNd the panels correctly. White pearl is hard to match.
If they do a good job keep their info on file.

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Please deal with your insurance direct that is what you pay them for. If you don't then you will end up paying some undisclosed amount later.

For example, last year on my other car some old fellow (82) rear ended me. I felt sorry for him since if he went to his insurance he may have lost his insurance and or license due to his age. So I dealt with him direct ... The repair was higher then the estimate and I ended up paying the difference. Never will I do this again.

[sycd]

WTF!

Hard to see from the pictures, but I'm wondering if some of this could be fixed by a good paintless dent repair place + some buffing. I would suggest getting their opinion before starting repainting anything.

Good luck!

[Kwando]

That must've had you rattled. a foot further it could've came through your window. Glad you're ok.

[mdosu]

I disagree, you should have car wash owner pay the body shop of your choice. if you report to your car insurance, your coverage cost goes up over time. (and also affects other policy holders).

The party at fault should pay, and the corresponding cost of doing that business should go up over time. Make sense?

The party at fault (and associated policy holders) should be hit on this. Not you and the car insurance policy holders.

[urBan_dK]

Originally Posted by mdosu

I disagree, you should have car wash owner pay the body shop of your choice. if you report to your insurance, your coverage cost goes up over time. (and also affects other policy holders).

The party at fault should pay, and the corresponding cost of doing that business should go up over time. Make sense?

Do you understand subrogation? You go through your own insurance who will sue the car wash insurance for the cost. The premiums do not go up because the car wash insurance pays in the end.

[iamcpap]

If the owner is willing to pay, I would take him up on it. The body shop still guarantees the work for the life of you owning the car, just like your insurance company does.

You would be doing the guy a favor and good karma always comes back around.

I understand the "safeness" of going the insurance route, but I grew up in the body shop business and saw plenty of incidents settled man to man...

Good luck with the repairs...

[donovan]

First of all, that is alot of money for damages, second no hand wash? lol

[urBan_dK]

Originally Posted by Edjay

From what I can see, Take the guys money. Have the body shop fix the hood. Looks like its fixable. This way. It will not show a $2500 claim on carfax. Your panels will still have matching vin. Better for re-sale later.

This is a very good point. However, in some states you can claim "diminished value" and get compensation on top of the repair cost. I'd look into this as the OP....