Car Damaged Due To Garage Incompetence

Abraxaz1 · 22 Mar 2012 at 17:45

Ok to cut a reasonably long story short...
My stepfather booked the car for a MOT this morning and I went to collect it this afternoon, During the 2 mile drive home i speed up to the sixty speed limit.
The bonnet came flying up, smashed the window to bits covering me in glass and launching my phone through the car.(which now has a smashed screen and camera...)
After pulling over and changing my pants, my stepfather phone the garage and they tried to fog us off, claiming that I must have opened the bonnet in the 10 min drive.

Is there anything or anyone to talk to or do because there refusing to pay for the damage :mad:

Oh and heres the damage.

Cheers for the help in advance

Matt82 · 22 Mar 2012 at 17:50

Sadly, blood out of a stone is coming to mind.

Janesy B · 22 Mar 2012 at 17:51

Hate to say it but you can't prove it. Didn't you notice that it was off the safety catch? It pops up a fair bit if it hasn't been dropped down properly.

Scuzi · 22 Mar 2012 at 17:54

There are people who spend money on trying to get their roof like that. One Corsa owner comes to mind.

Good luck getting the garage to pay out. Keep us up to date with what happens.

MofoKilla · 22 Mar 2012 at 17:54

seriously unlucky there,id be looking at causing the garage some trouble if they aint prepared to sort it out.

Matt82 · 22 Mar 2012 at 17:57

Speaking of how far the bonnet pops up when its just on the catch, it varies. Some are far less obvious than others but seeing as honest and garages don't go hand in hand, I'd say you've got a task on your hands

Yas786 · 22 Mar 2012 at 17:58

MofoKilla said:
seriously unlucky there,id be looking at causing the garage some trouble if they aint prepared to sort it out.

Yeh sure tough guy and get yourself into more trouble...great advice

Sadly OP its your word against theirs and because you cant really prove it, its goinbg to be a job to get them to accept liability.

Moral of the story is, make sure your bonnet is fully down and locked

...i know i will be doing this when ever i go to get my car fixed or for an MOT.

Janesy B · 22 Mar 2012 at 18:01

MofoKilla said:
seriously unlucky there,id be looking at causing the garage some trouble if they aint prepared to sort it out.

Like what? Keyboard through the window?

Matt82 said:
Speaking of how far the bonnet pops up when its just on the catch, it varies. Some are far less obvious than others but seeing as honest and garages don't go hand in hand, I'd say you've got a task on your hands

It's noticeable enough and if it was on the safety catch it wouldn't have popped up like that as you have to turn the key in the lock to release it. The mechanic probably just rested it down and forgot to shut it properly. Unfortunately you have to assume that everyone in the motor trade is stupid.

Gaijin · 22 Mar 2012 at 18:01

Unfortunately this is why I do a walk round when I pick cars up after work has been done.

I've had arch liners and sump guards fall out which are albeit minor and probably as a result of someone putting the car back together quickly.

Rroff · 22 Mar 2012 at 18:02

Unfortunatly unless you have some proof of negligence by the garage your as someone said above trying to get "blood out of a stone".

Matt82 · 22 Mar 2012 at 18:02

Janesy, had you seen the bonnet on his car on the catch?

Abraxaz1 · 22 Mar 2012 at 18:02

The most annoying thing is the windscreen is only 3 months old after some jackass put a scaffolding pipe through it when I parked up outside a mates house on a night out in swansea.

Btw the focus isknown for this as you have to lock it but i thought that a ford independant garage would know this...

Kenai · 22 Mar 2012 at 18:08

Matt82 said:
Janesy, had you seen the bonnet on his car on the catch?

He has the same car, so one would assume he knows what the bonnet looks like when it's not shut

Janesy B · 22 Mar 2012 at 18:15

Matt82 said:
Janesy, had you seen the bonnet on his car on the catch?

I have a Focus.

Abraxaz1 said:
The most annoying thing is the windscreen is only 3 months old after some jackass put a scaffolding pipe through it when I parked up outside a mates house on a night out in swansea.

Btw the focus isknown for this as you have to lock it but i thought that a ford independant garage would know this...

No you don't! Turn the key 90 degrees to release it and another 90 degrees to release the safety catch so you can lift the bonnet. You just push the bonnet down and it'll go down on the catch and secure itself.

Matt82 · 22 Mar 2012 at 18:20

Thats not the question is asked. They can vary depending on a lot of things and so can be easier to miss on some cars

Disco Boy · 22 Mar 2012 at 18:26

So did the safety catch fail or was it not even on that?

Aero · 22 Mar 2012 at 18:32

Unlucky OP but I'd side with the fact the you should have done a once over of the car before you got it back. In which you probably should have spotted it.

dalin80 · 22 Mar 2012 at 18:58

If the bonnet was ajar then a warning light should have been displayed on the dash.

My opinion- phone your insurance company and tell them the details, let them sort it out.

CaptainRAVE · 22 Mar 2012 at 18:59

Yikes, that is some decent damage. Hope you get it sorted.

SilverTongue · 22 Mar 2012 at 19:17

I'm in the you should have checked before driving off camp here. Should check your car before driving it anyway, it's common sense, i know i check mine in the mornings to make sure there is no obvious problems. Only takes 2 mins and can save a lot of grief