Insurance Screwaround

[Sheks]

I was unfortunately in an accident where my car hydroplaned.

Had to call the insurance company, who arranged a tow truck.

The car has an automatic shutoff after an accident which means it can't be started, it's AWD (a 2020 RS3).

The insurance company now don't want to pay the claim because they are saying the rear tyres are below 1.6mm.

They conveniently remove the part where they towed the car in contravention to the owner's manual (i.e. on a flatbed)... Any ideas here? because I followed the tow truck and watched them drag the car, the insurer has admitted that the car was towed front wheels up.

The front tyres were changed at 67500 kms (front and rears were a set and fitted at 40,000), at that point the fronts had 6.5mm remaining, the insurer approved my claim as I have tyre insurance with them. They make no attempts to explain where the rear tread disappeared too, given the car is FWD biased

Anyone dealt with something similar and have any advice?

 

[SHL]

I followed the tow truck and watched them drag the car, the insurer has admitted that the car was towed front wheels up.

 

[SauRoNZA]

All I can say is this whole can’t be towed with a flatbed Quattro/4WD story has never made any sense to me.

If the car is in neutral the car is in neutral and there can’t be any meaningful strain on anything.

Now if you told me it was towed in gear entirely different story, but that applies to anything with a gearbox.

As always pictures pictures pictures when involved in any accident makes all the difference when needing to prove anything after the fact.

But also the legal requirement is 1.0mm isn’t it? So unless your insurance contract specifically says 1.6mm that sound like bullshit already regardless of where it disappeared to.

*****

Oh I see it is 1.6mm now. Either I remembered wrong or that has changed at some point?

 

[Sheks]

Only the last 200m into Renew-It, not from the accident scene, met them there to collect stuff from the car.

 

[epah]

Firstly stop driving fast in rainy conditions.
Secondly why would you allow them to two an AWD car?
1.6mm seems plausible for after 27 000km with a soft compound tyre. Maybe why you aquaplaned in the first place.

 

[Supervan II]

I was unfortunately in an accident where my car hydroplaned.

Had to call the insurance company, who arranged a tow truck.

The car has an automatic shutoff after an accident which means it can't be started, it's AWD (a 2020 RS3).

The insurance company now don't want to pay the claim because they are saying the rear tyres are below 1.6mm.

They conveniently remove the part where they towed the car in contravention to the owner's manual (i.e. on a flatbed)... Any ideas here? because I followed the tow truck and watched them drag the car, the insurer has admitted that the car was towed front wheels up.

The front tyres were changed at 67500 kms (front and rears were a set and fitted at 40,000), at that point the fronts had 6.5mm remaining, the insurer approved my claim as I have tyre insurance with them. They make no attempts to explain where the rear tread disappeared too, given the car is FWD biased

Anyone dealt with something similar and have any advice?

Where was the vehicle stored prior to the assessor's inspection?

I had trim items, amongst others, removed from my GTi whilst it was at the towing company storage facility back in the day - refused to pay the excess/accept the repairs until it was sorted out between the insurance/panel beater/towing company.

 

[xrapidx]

Surely if it was dragged the thread would only be down on one side?

 

[SauRoNZA]

Surely if it was dragged the thread would only be down on one side?

Well it would have a flat spot across the surface somewhere. But again that could only happen if it was left in gear.

 

[Sheks]

All I can say is this whole can’t be towed with a flatbed Quattro/4WD story has never made any sense to me.

If the car is in neutral the car is in neutral and there can’t be any meaningful strain on anything.

Now if you told me it was towed in gear entirely different story, but that applies to anything with a gearbox.

As always pictures pictures pictures when involved in any accident makes all the difference when needing to prove anything after the fact.

But also the legal requirement is 1.0mm isn’t it? So unless your insurance contract specifically says 1.6mm that sound like bullshit already regardless of where it disappeared to.

*****

Oh I see it is 1.6mm now. Either I remembered wrong or that has changed at some point?

Where was the vehicle stored prior to the assessor's inspection?

I had trim items, amongst others, removed from my GTi whilst it was at the towing company storage facility back in the day - refused to pay the excess/accept the repairs until it was sorted out between the insurance/panel beater/towing company.

Vehicle was at Renew-It then towed to Auction Nation (a salvage yard).

Inspected by the assessor at Renew-It and the accident reconstruction specialist at Auction Nation. The insurance company refuse to tell me (formal request was made), how the car was transported from Rivonia to Kempton Park.

 

[ToxicBunny]

I was unfortunately in an accident where my car hydroplaned.

Had to call the insurance company, who arranged a tow truck.

The car has an automatic shutoff after an accident which means it can't be started, it's AWD (a 2020 RS3).

The insurance company now don't want to pay the claim because they are saying the rear tyres are below 1.6mm.

They conveniently remove the part where they towed the car in contravention to the owner's manual (i.e. on a flatbed)... Any ideas here? because I followed the tow truck and watched them drag the car, the insurer has admitted that the car was towed front wheels up.

The front tyres were changed at 67500 kms (front and rears were a set and fitted at 40,000), at that point the fronts had 6.5mm remaining, the insurer approved my claim as I have tyre insurance with them. They make no attempts to explain where the rear tread disappeared too, given the car is FWD biased

Anyone dealt with something similar and have any advice?

So wait, the tyres were changed at 40000kms, and the car is now at some indeterminate mileage, but you changed the fronts at 67500 and not the rears?

The onus is not up to them to explain where the tread went to, that is your problem, they are 100% in the right rejecting your claim if your tyres are below the legal minimum.

 

[Sheks]

Firstly stop driving fast in rainy conditions.
Secondly why would you allow them to two an AWD car?
1.6mm seems plausible for after 27 000km with a soft compound tyre. Maybe why you aquaplaned in the first place.

I hear you and I was taking due care.

Data pulled from the car shows I was not speeding - and insurance co has said speed is not a factor here.

I left site to go to get checked out and then to get items from the car, when I left they said it would be on a flatbed, when we met the guy at Renew-It, he said he made a plan and towed it this way.

Insurer's first report (i.e. assessed closest to the time of the accident shows adequate tread, later report says below the limit). I've attached the first report here.

 

[ToxicBunny]

I hear you and I was taking due care.

Data pulled from the car shows I was not speeding - and insurance co has said speed is not a factor here.

I left site to go to get checked out and then to get items from the car, when I left they said it would be on a flatbed, when we met the guy at Renew-It, he said he made a plan and towed it this way.

Insurer's first report (i.e. assessed closest to the time of the accident shows adequate tread, later report says below the limit). I've attached the first report here.

That changes everything, if you have an initial report showing sufficient depth from the insurer themselves.

Go to the Ombudsman.

 

[R13...]

If the tread wear was due to a short distance tow it should surely be very obvious, no? And I've never seen insurance allow car to be towed on anything but flatbed and I've had a car towed where I told the consultant it's got to be flatbed and they made sure it's so.

 

[Sheks]

If the tread wear was due to a short distance tow it should surely be very obvious, no? And I've never seen insurance allow car to be towed on anything but flatbed and I've had a car towed where I told the consultant it's got to be flatbed and they made sure it's so.

Thanks - it is obvious, some areas of the tyre have well over the legal limit, and other areas are below. The right rear tyre is also flat - when i saw the car at the salvage yard (insurer's report shows as inflated).

 

[warrenpridgeon]

Renew-It,

These oaks (specifically the randburg branch) are KAK.

They stuffed around with our car for months. Telling me "it's shap, come fetch" only for me to DRIVE 65km and find bare metal still. They eventually gave us a loan car that had half eaten KFC in and BALD tyres.
If your insurance says they are taking your car there... run.

I see your first report has "Condition" as good but a blank next to the depth though which could mean "we didn't check the depth".

 

[Sheks]

These oaks (specifically the randburg branch) are KAK.

They stuffed around with our car for months. Telling me "it's shap, come fetch" only for me to DRIVE 65km and find bare metal still. They eventually gave us a loan car that had half eaten KFC in and BALD tyres.
If your insurance says they are taking your car there... run.

I see your first report has "Condition" as good but a blank next to the depth though which could mean "we didn't check the depth".

Hi there - depth is shown as 4.0 all around

 

[ToxicBunny]

Hi there - depth is shown as 4.0 all around

Granted it is questionable the depth shows as 4.0 all around, given your explanation of changing tyres at different times, but that isn't your problem, you have a report from the insurer that is dated and timed AFTER the accident with tread depth being fine, therefore any report subsequent to that showing a different value becomes the insurers problem not yours.

 

[xrapidx]

I hear you and I was taking due care.

Data pulled from the car shows I was not speeding - and insurance co has said speed is not a factor here.

I left site to go to get checked out and then to get items from the car, when I left they said it would be on a flatbed, when we met the guy at Renew-It, he said he made a plan and towed it this way.

Insurer's first report (i.e. assessed closest to the time of the accident shows adequate tread, later report says below the limit). I've attached the first report here.

That changes things - I wouldn't put it past some dodgy scrap yards to change tyres. In-fact about 30 years ago - I was in a situation where I watched them do it to get a claim approved.

 

[PaulNOTsaul]

Before opening this thread I thought there is a new insurance company called "Screwaround" .... You never know these days with names like Naked

 

[Sheks]

That changes things - I wouldn't put it past some dodgy scrap yards to change tyres. In-fact about 30 years ago - I was in a situation where I watched them do it to get a claim approved.

Your conclusion is the same as the expert I am currently consulting with - issue is no way to prove this, doubt they will give us their own footage.