Owner of Jeep left at dealer for oil change is sued after tragic accident

[IamPro2A]

... my time is worth enough that I don't change my oil for practical reasons. Laugh all you want but laziness isn't the problem here.

I'm not laughing, but the first thing I thought to myself was "my time is worth enough that I DO change my own oil for practical reasons."

The 3.6L in a Jeep is one of the easiest oil changes possible. I'm no bean pole but I can slide under a stock JK/JL/JT without breaking out a jack. Why waste hours of my valuable free time having the dealer do it when I can do it in a few minutes myself? I don't even have to go pick up the oil and filter. The big brown truck drops them right at my door for the same price as brick and mortar store.

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[ShadowsPapa]

Those third party "Warranties" are 100% scams, you'd never get a serious payout.

Seriously? Wow. I've had the opposite experience. Dodge Stratus, outside of warranty - 3rd party extended warranty took care of the whole thing, rental, head, all parts, all work.
My son just had a $1,000 Jeep "radio" replaced by one of those warranties. His factory warranty was over.

So you are an expert on warranties, based on - you are an attorney? A service manager? Or had one or two bad experiences?

 

[ShadowsPapa]

My forever powertrain warranty states that it has to be changed by a dealership to be valid. Even if that wasn't the case, my time is worth enough that I don't change my oil for practical reasons. Laugh all you want but laziness isn't the problem here.

There are a lot of reasons - some excellent reasons, some practical, some personal, some based on where you live (a lot of restrictions these days!), some based on talent.
My own brother is very capable of doing that sort of thing, but with his multiple businesses, and other factors (one of them WHERE he lives), it's easier for him to drop his Jeep off, get a short ride to one of his businesses, they pick him up later, he takes the Jeep home, all ready to go. He's then got time for family, etc. and isn't pissing off the HOA or other vultures.

Some apartment complexes don't allow working on your own vehicles on their property..... that's another reason.

 

[GOT FLOYD]

The young man was a Porter...and I'm sure he feels terrible with what took place! Terrible accident period! The dealership will pay in the end! Cherish every moment we're here

 

[Snake Eyes]

I worked in workers compensation, accidents and settlements etc. The minute the workers comp company accepts the claim, the family loses the right to sue. Period. Not allowed by law. And believe the amount of the death payout is usually low and governed by state law. That only leaves a third party for a suit. The 19 year old has not $$ so a suit against him personally is not worth it. That then leave indemnity. The families attorney has not intent or desire to to get any $$ from the owner. They are using indemnity to be able to recover from the dealership. It is all legalize. The owner should not worry. What the attorney is doing it logical in order to recover from the dealer. The workers comp companys will place a lien against the settlement to recover. Then the rest will go to the family. Again, the owner has nothing to worry about. They will end up paying nothing. They are just a cog to recover from the dealer.

 

[Wageslave]

I'm not laughing, but the first thing I thought to myself was "my time is worth enough that I DO change my own oil for practical reasons."

The 3.6L in a Jeep is one of the easiest oil changes possible. I'm no bean pole but I can slide under a stock JK/JL/JT without breaking out a jack. Why waste hours of my valuable free time having the dealer do it when I can do it in a few minutes myself? I don't even have to go pick up the oil and filter. The big brown truck drops them right at my door for the same price as brick and mortar store.

Assuming the warranty wasn't an issue, just changing the gladiator's oil wouldn't be so bad. However, I have several vehicles in the stable that all have different oil and filter requirements and I have MAYBE one day off every week that usually gets split between mowing the lawn and making sure a little time is spent with the wife. If I can get my oil changed on the way in to work at the quick change place (older stuff) or at the dealer (in warranty stuff), then I save time at the expense of a little money.

I am in a place where I can spend a little more money and be ok, but I can't make there be more than 24 hours in a day.

 

[ecidiego]

I worked in workers compensation, accidents and settlements etc. The minute the workers comp company accepts the claim, the family loses the right to sue. Period. Not allowed by law. And believe the amount of the death payout is usually low and governed by state law. That only leaves a third party for a suit. The 19 year old has not $$ so a suit against him personally is not worth it. That then leave indemnity. The families attorney has not intent or desire to to get any $$ from the owner. They are using indemnity to be able to recover from the dealership. It is all legalize. The owner should not worry. What the attorney is doing it logical in order to recover from the dealer. The workers comp companys will place a lien against the settlement to recover. Then the rest will go to the family. Again, the owner has nothing to worry about. They will end up paying nothing. They are just a cog to recover from the dealer.

Sure, but the owner probably lost 2 years of life from stress.

 

[Snake Eyes]

Sure, but the owner probably lost 2 years of life from stress.

Usually the attorneys explain it to him. I work with a legal department now and they do walk them through it. News stories don't usually give the background. They just like the scare tactics. The most the owner will have to do is do a deposition that states he was at the dealer for the oil change which was under the Jeep Program. That will be it. The rest will be between the family and dealer.

 

[IamPro2A]

Assuming the warranty wasn't an issue, just changing the gladiator's oil wouldn't be so bad. However, I have several vehicles in the stable that all have different oil and filter requirements and I have MAYBE one day off every week that usually gets split between mowing the lawn and making sure a little time is spent with the wife. If I can get my oil changed on the way in to work at the quick change place (older stuff) or at the dealer (in warranty stuff), then I save time at the expense of a little money.

I am in a place where I can spend a little more money and be ok, but I can't make there be more than 24 hours in a day.

That's why I wasn't laughing at ya. Everyone's situation is different. For mine, the 2 daily drivers are both Jeeps. (I use "daily" loosely, because my wife works from home, so it really only gets driven once a week or so when she runs her errands.)
The nearest Jeep dealer is about a 1:15 round trip, but I'm not a fan, which is why both Jeeps were purchased at the second closest Jeep dealer, which is about a 3:15 round trip and about $30 worth of gas at today's prices. The nearest 10 minute oil change place (which I wouldn't use if they were free; once upon a time I sold oil and filters to those places. I use the term "filter" very lightly) is about as far as the closest dealer. Anyway I slice it, paying someone else to change my oil is going to take at least a few hours away from my weekend. Whereas I can change my own oil with only a few minutes of actual labor.
Like you; it's not about the money. It's about the time.

 

[Elff]

Wow, looks like Commifornia and New Germany have competition.

 

[ZoMojave]

My three free Jeep Wave oil changes are up for grabs! I service my own vehicles and won't be using them.

(Just kidding as these are not transferrable). Not responsible for misinformation here!

 

[NachoRuby]

My only comment, beyond how stupid it is that the owner is responsible for someone else's mistakes, is that even if you don't know how to drive stick, the brakes work the exact same way as on an automatic. Why didn't he stop? Did he get out and leave it in neutral with no parking brake, or did he just go forward/backward and not hit the brake pedal?

 

[Caraholic]

What a BS law, name one business or car dealership/company dealing with automotive that will allow non employees to enter into a work area and drive or work on a vehicle? I can't even go into the tire shop past the waiting area when getting tires done due to liability.

That’s likely to play a role here I’m sure

 

[Caraholic]

So on the other hand if a thief steals your ride, goes on a chase, cops and peds get hurt- you’d also by this laws logic be responsible?
that’s beyond crazy. That the kinda stuff that makes people think about acting outside of the law….
im merely just saying. People in an unfair corner might do unpredictable things…… enough of that crazy right??? Next;
however when I go to the dealer I have an expectation of product knowledge and expertise as solicited by the agency. It’s both implied and expressed. How would he not expect a competent operator to be driving his car? That law needs to be trashed.
im also thinking Jeep may want this to stay smaller. If the judged tosses that indemnity on appeal and the driver then loses I could see a enormous lawsuit against the corporation itself. That might be where this is headed

 

[AZCooWhip]

No comment.

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