jak Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 Travelled dow n to the Costa Brava last week having a really good trip making an enjoyable 3 days through France into Spain then when within 40km of our destination we met a kamikaze Laguna driver who for reasons best known to him decided to ignore the solid white line and veer at 45 degrees direect at us. I managed to veer and avoid a headon crash but his wing impacted just at the rear of the cab horrifying my other half. The car proceeed to scrape along the near side (UK wise) ripping the lower trim off, wheel arch trim and smashing a quarter of the plastic rear corner light cluster before careering into a following Renault Twingo with 4 young women in it and then head on into a BMW X3 which was totally obliterated. Apart from shock neither we nor the Twingo's passengers were impacted in any way as regards the others unsure but think the kamikaze was on his last flight. C'est la vie. The following experience with very well known UK and European insurance firms will be the subject of a seperate thread which I will start once we are back in the UK but suffice to say the accident happened at 1.30pm and we spent 9.5 hours on the side of the road while the insurance firms sorted themselves out to the point that there was some kind of agreement on who was liable for the rescue! Got to a hotel at 11.45pm. These insurance/rescue support companies are ones regularly discussed and used by many on this and other forums and held in apparent high esteem by most particularly for their claimed European cover which I am now appreciating is total fiction. Anyway the reason I raised this thread is to gain advice on future repairs. The Laguna has gouged a signficant but not major impression along the lower half of the van but not sufficient to puncture the aluminium sheeting and if it were n't for the rear corner light cluster, which I have bodily forced back into position under the adjacent shroudings the motorhome would be legally driveable. From the rear there is absolutely no evidence of any impact. The motorhome is to be shipped back to the UK over the next two weeks and the intervening time I need to find a suitably capable and regarded motorhome repair company. Can anyone please advise as todate we have never required any work of this nature to be undertaken and it is something I am quite unfamiliar with be it a motorhome or a more humble car. This is the first accident I have had in 50 years save when three old ladies drove into the back of me in the early 1970's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceM Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 It’s a long time since I’ve had a bump and never in a motorhome but in the first instance I’d suggest that you check your insurance policy in case the underwriter requires repairs to be carried out only at their own approved repairers. If this is the case then they’d advise you where to take the vehicle for repair. Some policies will allow the option of using a repairer of your own choice as long as the underwriter approves the quotation first in which case I’ll leave it for others to make repairer recommendations. If the vehicle is still under guarantee it’s reasonable to request that the repair be carried out via an approved dealership regardless of the policy terms in order to preserve the warranty. I’ve used that argument before and it was readily accepted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robinhood Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 There are a number of specialist repairers around, and some have received good reviews on the forum. In the first instance, it might be worthwhile highlighting the general area in which you live, as, if you can get a decent recommendation, it is generally more convenient to use a repairer close to home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney123 Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 Hi Jak, I know you may well be a bit shaken up after the event. To help you with your request could you please advise whereabouts you are based in UK and this will help to get advice on suitable repair garages in your area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jak Posted June 21, 2019 Author Share Posted June 21, 2019 I am based in South Wales but the insurer will transport to a rpairer of my choice so destination is not really a major concern to me more the quality and reputation of the repairer. My first instinct was to go to a Dethleffs dealer as I suspect the major problem will be sourcing, if feasible, the rear corner light housing which I suspect is a plastic moulding. Given that its an 11 year old motorhome I suspect I being somewhat optomistic and I am developing strong doubts as to whether such a part will be available. It will be a total bummer if this is the critical aspect as the rest of the damage appears to me to be readily easily repaired and the three lights within the fitting still function. Indeeed I approached the insurer to see if they would be willing to undertake temporary repairs to secure the lighting housing such that I could drive home saving them a fortune but they are not interested - haul it back to the UK using their tried and tested haulier and don't rock the boat. For all the accident happened at speed - both vehicles well in excess of 50 km/hr in opposite directions neither I or my wife suffered any obvius physical injury, the air bags were n't activated and I simply felt bloody annoyed but heyho when the other guy is an apparent basket case you just have to get on with it. Lets face seconds difference and we would have been like the BMW X3 - a mangled mess! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keithl Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 Jak, Sorry to hear your tale of woe but Cannock Resprays are specialists in MH repairs and have been recommended on here many times previously. http://www.motorhomerepairs.co.uk/services.php Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverback Posted June 21, 2019 Share Posted June 21, 2019 thankfully you are both well, as for the motorhome, my own opinion is leave it to the insurerers, on a 11 year old van they might just write it off, tough for you i know, but that is how it is, not your fault claim hotels enjoy your hols let them sort it, they are transporting it back so leave them to it, they will have repairers, i know its hard and in the long term you will lose out but you are OK. just my opinion, or tell them to transport it to the dethleffs factory, again just a suggestion keep calm and carry on, you are alive, plus points Jonathan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted June 22, 2019 Share Posted June 22, 2019 Jak we live in South Wales and have a Dethleff too. Our Dethleff body work had a big dent on aliminium panel ad that was repaired really well by 3As caravans in Carnarthen. Abut 8 years back they did an insurance repair after a lorry pushed us into the barrers. Invisible job done then to. 3As are Dethleff dealers too. We also had another insurance job done by Caravan Hospital in Wenvoe to a Chauson. . Your biggest problem will be getting it booked in I would think as they are booked up well in advance. Safeguard were the insurers we had and couldn't fault them. 3As Leisure Carmarthen and Caravan Hospital Wenvoe. I speak from personal experience and it all depends how much work needs doing. As I bought our vans from 3As they would be where I would go myself but others might not agree or recommend elsewhere. Trouble is the parts and servicing section isn't open until Monday Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jak Posted June 22, 2019 Author Share Posted June 22, 2019 Hi Chris, It is a long time since we spoke, probably getting on for 7 or 8 years which is a bit ironic given we have the same van and I live in Ponty just up the road I suspect from you. 3A's were my first port of call and I sent them a somewhat garbled initial message from the beach over my phone yesterday. But I have had no response which dissapoints but does not surprise me as the last time I spoke to them they had a long waiting list for habitation checks approaching 3 or 4 months so I suspect they are snowed under as they have very limited resources. Its nice to know their work is good - geopraphically they are the obvious choice but as I said earlier the insurance company - who will remain anonymous - state they will take it to the dealer of my choice! Unfortunately they state a lot of other things too but in reality its verging on the fictional. I must say I am very impressed by both DRM and TravelWorlds websites and the comments made by members on this forum. I am currently moving around hired houses on the Costa Brava before hopefully flying home (another variation on an insurance clause this time a positive impact) and struggling with variable wifi but hope to send a summary crash report to a number repairers hoping for some kind of response before I and the motorhome reach the UK in about 10 to 15 days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonMac46 Posted June 22, 2019 Share Posted June 22, 2019 Three years ago I was able to get a rear light cluster for my 1999 Dethleffs. The dealer ordered it from the factory, prompt delivery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jak Posted June 22, 2019 Author Share Posted June 22, 2019 Just made my day Jon. I was seriously intending to return to the crash site and endeavour to find the missing broken parts which I suspect were simply swept into the verge beyond the narrow hard shoulder but it was n't a task I was looking forward to as the location is on a busy junction with a slip road and playing around with Spanish drivers is bad enough in a motor let alone on foot. I only hope I have the luck you had as it would be a difficult task to re-model the unit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mickt Posted June 22, 2019 Share Posted June 22, 2019 A W Marine at Canvey Island repairs all makes and will make up body parts. They made a rear bumper for me and I think it is better and stronger than the original Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jak Posted June 22, 2019 Author Share Posted June 22, 2019 I think we have very similar attiudes to life Silverback. I literally died on one trip in one of the freakiest situations going so I am only too pleased to have got thru this yet again. It would have been nice to have been able to lie back and let the insurers get on and sort it out but unfortunately they and their European agents each had a different opinion on who was liable and what was to be provided. When I said I said I spent 9.5 hours on the side of the road that is not an exageration and for much of that time I was on the phone to the UK and France trying to sort out who was going to provide the assistance. I can assure you I was amazed and horrified how 3/4 major players could end up cocking it up so badly. One thing it certainly was not - was Comfortable!! The catalogue of cockups continued well beyond the initial day and the main insurer/underwriter has admitted the policy wording is a total ****up but thats of absolutely no use to me. I have quite seriously raised the spector of involving the insurance ombudsman if they don't pull their finger out but it has taken a long time for them to get their act together. In the end I have simply sorted out my own accomodation while they bumble on. As regards transport home back through Europe what is suggested in the policy totally conflicts with international car hire practice and is simply unfeasible. I had wondered myself about having the motorhome taken to Dethleffs but I am unsure if they undertake such work. Furthermore I am pretty sure what the main insurer would say if I suggested their trustworthy contract haulier were to deviate from the norm - ie not taking everything back across the channel in the manner they have done for decades. It is very much this is the manner we do things and don't dream about varying it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kennyd Posted June 23, 2019 Share Posted June 23, 2019 Bear in mind it will be the laguna’s drivers insurance that will ultimately pay for you repairs etc , with that in mind your insurers are unlikely trying to cut corners and save themselves money Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jak Posted June 27, 2019 Author Share Posted June 27, 2019 Yes Kennyd your right that the main insurer will be liable for the actual repairs once the motorhome is back in the UK however a lot of the problems I have encountered, and still am, relate to the European side of policy and even with major insurers this is sub-contracted out. The role is typically tasked to organisations such as the AA and RAC and their European counterparts/holiding companies. Unfortunately in my case there is a degree of disagreement for what these third parties are liable and I can assure you each party is endeavouring to maintain very limited finnancial exposure and the logic of some of their actions defies belief. I must add one of these well known agencies has been quite helpful, even though they are not directly liable. The other is an absolute disaster and the word assistance is a joke. Fortunately I only have my wife and myself to worry about now and I am reasonably streetwise but I would be most concerned if I had a young family, was not as experienced and had to deal with this lot and that includes the UK insurer and their well known intermediary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billggski Posted June 27, 2019 Share Posted June 27, 2019 Don't be so coy! Name names if blame is due. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jak Posted July 1, 2019 Author Share Posted July 1, 2019 Billggski, I will give them a chance to rectify their position before mentioning any names. They are starting to pull in the right direction but it is still early days and I am not sure where my van is. Certainly would n't rattle any cages before I and the motorhome are at least back in the UK - not to mention repaired or claim settled. While on the subject of repairs does anyone know if Premiere Motorhomes in Sussex do accident repairs - of a more significant nature - and if so what their work is like. I know they were held in high regard when Chris was there but have n't spoken to them since he left circa 2016. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted July 1, 2019 Share Posted July 1, 2019 Insurers resort to relatively crude formulas to decide whether to write vehicles off after accident damage. In essence they establish what it will cost to repair (often by using a loss adjuster to estimate this) and they then also look at the salvage value. Estimated repair costs are only ever an estimate and so If the salvage value is anywhere near half the estimated repair cost they will probably decide to write the vehicle off. They have a contract with salvage companies to pay an agreed standard proportion of every vehicle's book value prior to the accident (usually around 33%) so the most the insurer will ever actually pay out overall is a nett two thirds book value - except that the uncertainty of repair costs actuall working out more expensive than estimated (because underlying extra damage is found or more parts turn out to be needed or they are more expensive) so if in any doubt the insurer will go for the more certain costs of writing the vehicle off. These standard percentage salvage deals work well for the insurer and presumably, based on swings and roundabouts, will also work out adequately for the salvage companies. They can usually make a profit by either breaking for spares or repairing, as the case merits and if the off case yields a loss, they make a profit overall. But this way of calculating things makes it much more likely for a vehicle to be written off than it ought to be from the owners point of view. If the owner doesn't want his pride and joy written off, the insurer will allow him to keep the vehicle and arrange repairs himself in return for accepting book price less salvage value, i.e. about two thirds of what he would otherwise receive. "Book value" will not pay the full cost of replacing accessories on a replacement vehicle for example. You are not supposed to be able to profit from an insurance claim and nor are you likely to be able to do so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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