[rakshith2929]

Hi Team Bhp, it’s my first thread here, and it's quite unfortunate to be of my Thar’s accident which was just 1 month old.
The accident took place on 28th March in the outskirts of Hyderabad in Vikarabad, where my friends and I had just completed an Easy-Moderate trail of off-roading. It was on our return home on the highway when the accident took place. It was a single lane highway and a truck carrying heavy stones had just dropped one right in front of me, I couldn’t swerve right as there was oncoming traffic and I couldn’t swerve left as there was a barren land with trees surrounding, so in that second, my instinct was to go over the rock and brake as hard as I can. The stone being a big one had shattered my underbody including my AT gearbox. There was gearbox fluid leaking all over along with power steering oil too. Right after the accident happened, I immediately switched off the engine, and my friends and I started assessing the damage and were planning on what to do next. The most sensible plan was to call the Flatbed which arrived after 3 hours of the accident and get the car towed to the service center in LB Nagar, Hyderabad of VVC Motors.


Boy, little did I know the problem starts now. There were 3 major concerns that bothered me.
• My Thar’s Temporary Registration had expired, so there would be an obvious problem claiming insurance
• While negotiating for insurance from 94,000 to 55,000, I did not know that the dealer had removed the add-on of “Engine cover”, and it was my lack of knowledge that led me to the negligence.
• My Thar had a modified grille and bumper and we know how insurance companies frown on them.





The day after the accident, I visited the VVC showroom to talk to the dealer and tell him about the accident and persuaded him to help me in the insurance process as I had zero knowledge about it but it was now my responsibility to make sure I get the insurance claim. We got a call from the service center saying the damage was very extensive and heavy and insurance claim would be difficult owing to my expired Temporary Registration and No engine cover.

The next stop was at the service center in LB Nagar, where they estimated damage of about 4 lakhs, which includes the replacement of AT gearbox and the transfer case, and the Exhaust.
Here are some pictures of the Underbody damage.










On the same day, an Insurance claim was filed and my surveyor was allotted after 2 days.
The dealership provided me insurance from Liberty Insurance Company and after talking to the surveyor after his inspection, I requested him to make sure the insurance claim goes through as the bill was very expensive. After about 10 days, the surveyor called me and said the insurance claim had gone through and my gearbox would be covered under the claim but as I had no Engine cover and an Expired TR, He said there would definitely be deductibles of around 15% of the entire bill. After several calls and Emails to Mahindra about the delay of service to my Thar, it was on 16th April 2021 that the parts of my Thar were finally ordered after a minor miscommunication between the service center and surveyor regarding the approval letter which was later resolved through a conference call. As Maharashtra was under lockdown, there was a delay in getting the parts from the Nashik plant but it eventually arrived on 30th April.

As the service center started the work, they had noticed that the Gearbox was not fitting properly due to a minor underbody frame damage, which was then fixed with denting and the Gearbox and other parts were at last fixed by 6th May. The service center then took the car for a test run for about 40 kilometers that day and told me the car had no problems whatsoever, I was called for the test drive the next day which went on for about 20 kilometers. I was most worried about the alignment issues of the car as there was minor frame damage to the underbody, but there seemed to be none. The car was then tested in 4H and 4L and everything was just as good as new.

The service center then lifted the car and explained to me how lucky I was to get in an accident that didn’t write off the car. The stone damaged the underbody Three times.
1. The first impact was on the Steel skid plate which I installed from Bimbra 4x4, which prevented the car’s frame and the radiator from being damaged.
2. The second impact was on the gearbox which completely shattered it.
3. The third impact was on the exhaust, from which it defected and exited from the right of the car. If the stone had not deflected to the right, it would’ve damaged the rear differential and the axles which would’ve resulted in my car being a total loss.

I took the delivery of my Thar on the 14th of May from the service center where the invoice and my coverage were finally handed to me. The total bill came up to 4.10 Lakhs and Insurance covered 3.32 lakhs, so I was left to pay 78,000 which is an 81% claim that I had received. The 78,000 may seem like a lot but considering the situation I was in with No Engine cover and an expired TR, it seemed like I was in luck to not pay 4.1 lakhs entirely.

The service center of VVC motors, LB Nagar has been really helpful and they always gave me timely updates about the car and took care of it as their own, I appreciate their work and they also told me that my Thar was probably the first one to have it's AT gearbox replaced in the country.




I have driven the car for 100 kilometers now, and there has been no issue whatsoever and the Thar is performing as well as new. It was unfortunate that my Thar had to spend more time at the service center than with me after delivery, but in the end, after a long wait of 45 days, My Thar was back to me to in all its glory.

To all the Thar owners out there, please install as much underbody protection as you can, as these damages can cause a big hole in the pocket and may even cause permanent, irreversible damage to the car.

On a lighter note, here are some pictures of my Red Rage diesel automatic convertible Thar, A Punk’n’Orange metallic Jeep wrangler Rubicon (1/2 in the country), and a Napoli Black diesel automatic hardtop Thar that went off-roading before the accident took place.

[indian21r]

That is one heck of damage. But glad that you got out safe. Glad to see your ride is back and feels as good as new.

I wanted to get the full underbody done before I take mine out for off road trails. I was quoted 19000 Plus shipping and labor for a 3 piece plate from Prad or Azad

[GTO]

Rakshith, glad all's okay now. Moving your post out to a new thread. Thanks for sharing your experience!

[VKumar]

Well, that's serious. Glad that the vehicle is back to normal and no safety hazard was experienced by the occupants too.

Every event follows a lesson, and here are a few things to consider:

• Self Registration: If one has to get it done, it shall be done asap
• Insurance isn't something where you are supposed to save every single penny. Better cover the larger ground. 15%, as paid by OP, is still a number big enough!

That said, I always make sure that the insurance has:

• Zero Dep: It saves you from a lot of hassle
• Cashless settlement: Paying from your pocket and then getting it properly compensated from Insurer is also a hassle in itself. Hence, I always buy from my dealer only, it costs hardly 1,000 bucks more, at times they even match the quote. But claim settlement is a cakewalk there. In fact, in one claim (August 2020) the surveyor of Reliance was trying to act smug, the service station's insurance manager clearly told him that if his acts affect their relationship with their customers, it will affect the relationship of service station with Reliance too - claim passed within minutes. In the matters of solicitation, it is always important to have the party with arm twisting capability on your side. In the above case, the OP was simply left on the mercy of insurer by the service station - that is also shocking to me.
• RSA: I say this, most most important, else the amount you pay for towing is way higher than the amount you pay for repair. If the car is from these manufacturers like Ford, VW, in budget category or any premium brands; just take the RSA from your manufacturer too, as a safety cover - insurance RSA won't ferry you for more than 50 kms for free. The manufacturer's RSA will tow your car free of cost irrespective of distance. Once we had to get a Skoda Yeti towed all the way from Kalpa to Chandigarh, the owner had no RSA, the bill was eye watering high!
• Engine Protect: I believe that the insurer has pulled a fast one here. The damage to oil sump etc is covered in every insurance, I mean 'every' insurance, in case of an underbody hit. Engine protect mainly helps in cases like the damage to the internal parts of engine.

[itwasntme]

Originally Posted by VKumar

Well, that's serious. Glad that the vehicle is back to normal and no safety hazard was experienced by the occupants too.
[*]Engine Protect: I believe that the insurer has pulled a fast one here. The damage to oil sump etc is covered in every insurance, I mean 'every' insurance, in case of an underbody hit. Engine protect mainly helps in cases like the damage to the internal parts of engine.[/list]

Agree, could have been far worse had you NOT driven over the stone and instinctively swerved into oncoming traffic. .

I also echo VKumar's comment on Engine Protection. My understanding is that this particular add-on is to cover consequential damages or damages not directly arising out on an accident. Since your gearbox was destroyed due to the direct result of the stone hitting your gearbox, this should have been covered by the main comprehensive portion.

Albeit, you are lucky to get any insurance coverage at all, so I'd be overjoyed with the end result!

[Tgo]

Originally Posted by VKumar

[*]Engine Protect: I believe that the insurer has pulled a fast one here. The damage to oil sump etc is covered in every insurance, I mean 'every' insurance, in case of an underbody hit. Engine protect mainly helps in cases like the damage to the internal parts of engine.[/list]

That is exactly what I was wondering. The bill also shows no work to the engine or the sump. A direct hit to the engine should be covered.

[TorqueIndia]

Glad that your car is repaired and covered by insurance. Recently we had a thread on an Innova Crysta 2.8 AT with gear box damage and insurance denial- https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/india...ies-claim.html (Toyota Innova Crysta: Transmission oil lost after underbody impact; insurer denies claim)

The HDFC ERGO surveyor went after the lost kinetic energy of the projectile while assessing the damages and eventually denying the claim , lucky that you got a sensible surveyor from LIBERTY INSURANCE.

Meanwhile I'm not surprised at Mahindra being sued by FCA for THAR design.

[VKumar]

Just had a word with the insurance guy at Mahindra itself, and these are his observations:

• Regarding the TR: In case of self registration, the owner has to drive the car to the RTO himself, and if the car meets with an accident before the TR expiry, it can't go for the registration, and it happens with many new cars. In either case, the insurer will honour the claim. He even went on to say that "First year insurance is done with chassis number for vehicle verification, and the insurer is liable to cover the loss. Registration is a matter of mutual consent among the buyer and the RTO, if the insurer has covered the car, they have to honor it".
  
• Regarding the Gearbox: If it's an under body damage, it will be 'completely' covered in a new car. Only if it is a hydro-lock or engine seizure due to consequential damage, then only the customer has to pay. In that case also, the insurance will pay for the damaged oil sump or housing!
  
• Regarding the Modifications: Accessories are not covered, but everything else is. He said "Sir we have insured what Mahindra has given, if that is damaged, we will cover it". But I guess in this case, they use the aftermarket bumper etc as a modification, hence could have denied I suppose! Looking for the suggestions from experts over this one.
  
• Accident During Off Roading or Trail Drives "Insurance doesn't cover that, but aapki gaadi hai toh karwa denge (if it's your car, then we will get it also done)"

The guy I have talked to is a seasoned guy with a Mahindra dealer who looks at the insurance sales only. And he is quite sure that the surveyor read the nervousness on the face of the car owner, and took advantage of it.

What can be done now?
One can wither now forget it and enjoy the car, or file a complaint over the same and seek an explanation from the insurer - it normally takes 2-3 months if everything is found okay, rest the insurer also wants to save their buck, so they normally give lame excuses like mods etc to deny paying up.

[Turbanator]

Originally Posted by VKumar

Regarding the Gearbox:[/b] If it's an under body damage, it will be 'completely' covered in a new car. Only if it is a hydro-lock or engine seizure due to consequential damage, then only the customer has to pay. In that case also, the insurance will pay for the damaged oil sump or housing!

Absolutely correct, Engine addon is only for hydro-lock or seizure beyond any accidental reasons.

OP should ask the reasons for deductions in writing and tell the insurance company/ dealer (if bought via them) that you will pursue this vigorously. If the insurance is zero dep, he has the full right but who knows the dealer has given a regular bumper to bumper. Some parts carry depreciation even in the first year if I am not mistaken.

[Raghu M]

Glad the damage was rectified and you are happy with the works. Please keep a very safe distance (at least 50 meters) while trailing tippers carrying big boulders. Saves lives too. I too have very good experience with VVC Motors Madeenaguda. They are very professional and have pretty good knowledge and hear you out. M&M has done a fantastic job on your car and I believe the time consumed is not high. Good luck and wish you many happy miles of driving.

[rakshith2929]

Originally Posted by VKumar

The guy I have talked to is a seasoned guy with a Mahindra dealer who looks at the insurance sales only. And he is quite sure that the surveyor read the nervousness on the face of the car owner, and took advantage of it.

What can be done now?
One can wither now forget it and enjoy the car, or file a complaint over the same and seek an explanation from the insurer - it normally takes 2-3 months if everything is found okay, rest the insurer also wants to save their buck, so they normally give lame excuses like mods etc to deny paying up.

In Retrospect, I now realise that my naivety had led me to pay more bucks than the required amount. Paying 78,000 at that time was more of an emotional decision than a practical one, as i really wanted to get my Thar back home from the service center where it had spent almost 45 days. Thank you for your valuable input in this topic, It has sure helped me alot in this insurance claim experience and will be very careful if it happens the next time. (Fingers crossed that it doesn't.)

Originally Posted by Raghu M

Glad the damage was rectified and you are happy with the works. Please keep a very safe distance (at least 50 meters) while trailing tippers carrying big boulders. Saves lives too. I too have very good experience with VVC Motors Madeenaguda. They are very professional and have pretty good knowledge and hear you out. M&M has done a fantastic job on your car and I believe the time consumed is not high. Good luck and wish you many happy miles of driving.

M&M have surely improved their service, The service center has indeed done a fantastic job considering it's their first Thar to have the entire gearbox assembly replaced. Will keep updating this thread if and any issue pops up.

[AirbusCapt]

Engine cover only protects against hydrostatic locking (due water wading/floods etc). Your comprehensive/bumper to bumper insurance should cover engine damages too

Never get emotional and allow these sleazy insurance companies to con you off your hard earned money. Had you threatened to complain to the insurance ombudsman and use social media, thet would have covered all the damages as per policy.

[AKSarkar1]

Glad to see that you walked out of this accident without any injuries, it could have been way worse. Apart from maybe a couple of roadsigns here and there, our Indian highways yet continue to be alarmingly unregulated. Trucks carrying stones, debris, and other commercial products are a massive safety hazard, especially at highway speeds.

It looks like Mahindra has changed a lot since my days of ownership 2 decades ago. From your description, I feel Mahindra worked in a really timely and professional manner to get the car back to you even after such a big accident. Back in 2009, I'm pretty sure I would have scrapped my Mahindra car if I were to face an incident like this because that is how bad my experiences were.

Must be a great feeling to get your car back! Wishing you many safe miles ahead!

[ph03n!x]

Rakshith, good to know that nothing untoward happened and everyone was safe. Our country's enforcers need to really pull up their socks - what if that stone landed on or in front of a biker?

One surprising takeaway - the AT assembly is 2.70 lakhs incl. tax. This Aisin sourced unit is similar/ same to the one used in Crysta/ Fortuner, no? Toyota seem to have charged 4.72 lakhs excl. GST -

Originally Posted by Mail.atyagi

... ... Transmission Assembly cost is Rs 4,72,834. Torque converter assembly cost is 81,014. Add 28% GST over this. The replacement was done around 10 days back. ... ...

Would be interesting to see the part number/ model number of both these...

[ruzbehxyz]

Dear Rakshith2929

This incident is very unfortunate. And the positive part is that there were no injuries and collision with another vehicle.

The first impact was on the Steel skid plate which I installed from Bimbra 4x4, which prevented the car’s frame and the radiator from being damaged.

I'm sure the underbody steel plate prevented the below engine bay area, radiator, oil sump etc. The original plate if there, could have created more damages.