I had my 96 Dodge Intrepid towed to Des Moines Chrysler for diagnostics. While rolling my car down a hill into the service garage, they managed to crash it into another vehicle. They have estimated the engine reapirs at $800 and the accident repairs at $1600. The $800 is more than I want to spend to have the car fixed. They said they won't fix the damage they caused unless I get the car repaired. They attempted to give me a great deal on another car but they declined my offer. They haven't given me a loaner and are wasting a lot of my time. What is a guy to do?
2006-10-12 14:33:47 · 11 answers · asked by Tommy T 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
i know this sucks right now, but youre sittin in the catbird seat. they owe you for damages regardless. law em if necessary
2006-10-12 16:53:00 · answer #1 · answered by lizardhead 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
It is their responsibility to give the car back to you in the same condition that they received it. If they damaged your car, whether it runs or not, it is their responsibility to fix the damages that they caused. That's why garages carry liability insurance.
First call the police and file a report. Next, if they refuse to fix your car without you making other repairs call Chrysler's main office, here's the contact info:
1-800-992-1997
M-F 8:00AM-5:00PM
All Time Zones
Contact Us by Mail:
DaimlerChrysler Customer Assistance Center
P.O. Box 21-8004
Auburn Hills, MI 48321-8004
If that still doesn't help call your insurance company, they can file a claim on your behalf against their insurance company. If none of this helps, take them to court.
2006-10-12 17:20:47 · answer #2 · answered by ladylucknc 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Let them know that you brought the car to them in order to get an idea of it's "road-worthiness" (and therefor it's blue-book value) because you wanted to ascertain what it's worth before you advertised it for sale!
Then ask them just what in the hell you're supposed to do with it now?!
It doesn't matter if you towed an old Reliant-K to them! If they crashed,it they have to fix it! Period! End of story! But that doesn't mean that the dealer is going to do the right thing,especially if it costs them money.
The sad thing is that it might not be worth your while to pursue this matter.Dealerships are notoriously crooked and stubborn!
You might have to write strongly worded letters to all the right people before you get a response.Even then you might not like what you hear.
One option is to find a lawyer that takes cases on a "contingency" basis...that is someone who'll take the case to court,and not collect a fee from you unless you win.But lawyers like that usually don't "waste" their time on cases that don't earn them big money.Your case wouldn't be big money.
Your best bet is to gather up all the evidence you can,and take the whole mess to small claims court.You don't need a lawyer for that,and the judges usually aren't as strict as the ones you'd find presiding over a murder trial.
Good luck with that.
Also....why would you consider a "great deal" on another car from that same dealer? They're already f@&king you over! Why give them another chance?! Take your business elsewhere! Not to another Dodge dealer either! Dodge is junk! I owned my Durango less than a year,and I spent over $2500 just to keep it on the road.Even with the extended warranty I bought!
Buy a Chevy HHR,or any Chevy....they have 100,000 mile powertrain warranty!
2006-10-12 15:10:21 · answer #3 · answered by Danny 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Call a lawyer, they are responsible for fixing your car weather you get a repair done or not, and they need to give you a car to drive while yours is being repaired.
2006-10-12 14:48:30 · answer #4 · answered by mister ss 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
They damaged your car. Call the police and file a report. Get their insurance company. Do it now. If anyone else did this, I'm sure you would call the cops, right?
Their insurance will pay for the full replacement cost of the car. Settle for nothing less.
2006-10-12 14:42:00 · answer #5 · answered by x 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋
I believe you can force them to pay for the accident repairs, but that doesn't help you if you don't intend to repair the engine. Negotiate with them giving you cash. You can probably get them to settle for half the accident cost.
2006-10-12 14:47:50 · answer #6 · answered by vinny_the_hack 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
lawyer, I hate them, but some times you gotta use them. They are responsible for the damages to your car even if you don't make the engine repairs.
2006-10-12 14:59:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
take them to court and have them pay for all repairs with another repair shop (of your choice) and see if the judge can stop it from going on you insurance!!!
2006-10-12 14:43:25 · answer #8 · answered by Big Mama 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
They are trying to blackmail you. Get a lawyer.
2006-10-12 14:42:03 · answer #9 · answered by nerdboy 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Get a lawyer, what they are attempting is illegal.
2006-10-12 14:38:13 · answer #10 · answered by Dane 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋