Accident loss mitigation engineers & specialists
+64 21 866 376
Recent Cases
We believe we are as good as our last job. There is a story behind every unique case event we get involved with. Some are similar, while others are quite unusual. We learn of narrow escapes and dramatic circumstances.
The following summaries are from actual cases we have been involved with...
Pretoria, South Africa
Urgent attention was requested
It was our first claim in this territory and the near new Renault Duster situated in a tow yard had taken a hard hit on the right front corner. With only three photos to be able to establish a repair cost we determined the airbags hadn't deployed - so it was likely the chassis would have had only minor deformation.
Even though it was after-hours in Pretoria; we were soon able to cobble together a repair estimate and submit it to our client with a recommendation it was likely to be a repair.
Sometime later we learned it was a dual appointment and a staff assessor had inspected the vehicle then used Audatex to construct a 26 page repair estimate with photos; using manufacturer's labour times and current parts pricing. His recommendation based on an estimate US$389 less than ours was to treat the vehicle as a total loss.
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Fortunately our client accepted our view point; so we had the vehicle shifted to a quality workshop of our choosing where it was dismantled for quoting. We have since authorised the repairs at around 55% of it's value.
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Was the staff assessor misled by the sophisticated program he was using? Quite likely - collision repairs are not always "paint-by-numbers"!
A holiday to remember...
...followed by a story of success
We were advised our client's camper van was at a fire station in the central North Island of New Zealand, and it needed to be recovered. A handful of photos were obtained and a strategy was quickly developed to have a local workshop tape lightweight plastic panels in place to make it weather tight for the 400km journey in rough conditions on the back of a transporter to rebuild the roof.
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The workshop we selected was able to take our suggestion to manufacture a mould for the LH side of the fibreglass luton roof and do a sectional repair. The interior was a mess, however it was all able to be replaced or repaired.
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Our efforts resulted in a reduction in repair costs of NZ$3,023.35 and a happy client
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The classics still work on the unwary
Repairers of prestige vehicles have a few tricks up their sleeves...
Our client appointed us to represent them in a claim for repair costs of NZ$6,622.82 to repair a well used 2010 Porsche Cayman, after one of the vehicles they insured backed into it.
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The staff insurance assessor for the other insurance company had allowed for a replacement tail light and a new rear bumper cover among some other allowances. Our opinion was the rear bumper cover was an easy 2-3 hour repair that would have been a permanent solution. We sent a selection of photos to a reputable bumper repair specialist and got a written opinon that supported our view; then challenged the claim.
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The emailed response indicated the staff assessor had fallen into a classic trap set by the repairer. So in the spirit of fairness we called the assessor and explained not only how it worked, but also how to spot and evade it in future.
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A few days later our client was totally delighted that our assessment had been accepted and the well known Australasian insurance company had agreed to absorb the overcharge of $2,034.57.
