In June 2002, my commercial wood chipper (2 years old) was involved in a rollover accident. Our insurance adjuster assessed and paid for $5500 worth of repairs. The dealer was not equipped to complete (after 2 months of back-and-forth) so the manufacturer stepped in August of 2002. Our insurance haggled for over a month but finally agreed to the additional $2500 needed to complete repairs. Machine returned to us in November 2002 with bolts missing, some sheared off and oil leaking from the engine block. Manufacturer now says oil leak not caused by accident (our photos show they painted over the leaking oil at the factory!). Machine now leaks/using over 1 quart of oil per day's use, pieces were welded back in the wrong place, and safety chains mounted wrong so they don't reach the truck anymore! Manufacturer now says they don't do engine repairs and we must return to the dealer! Their exit photos (we have not received them) show repairs complete. Cost of "down time", replacement equipment, lost work and additional man hours over the June to November time frame over $14K...cost to replace machine $22K...still paying on original loan. Our insurance folks refer us to their insurance folks...no one wants to take any further responsibility! Machine will fail, over short period of time, running at this capacity. My business will fail without this machine!
What steps should I take next? Machine should have been declared total loss if repairs could not "bring it back to life" yet no one will acknowledge any further responsibility! All parties have been paid by insurance $$$.
HELP!!
What steps should I take next? Machine should have been declared total loss if repairs could not "bring it back to life" yet no one will acknowledge any further responsibility! All parties have been paid by insurance $$$.
HELP!!