April 2014: Your Car Washed, Waxed and Stolen
You leave your precious car for a wax and polish at a car wash, and a thief steals it. Can you sue the car wash for the value of your car?
A case in point
In a matter recently before the Supreme Court of Appeal, a car owner had left his vehicle (keys inside) at a car wash, agreeing to collect it at lunchtime. However, alerted by a vehicle tracking company and police, the owner discovered that the car had been stolen. The car wash was clearly negligent - the car was parked in the street in a high-crime area, the gate was left open with no access control, and no measures were in place to safeguard customers’ vehicles.
A case in point
In a matter recently before the Supreme Court of Appeal, a car owner had left his vehicle (keys inside) at a car wash, agreeing to collect it at lunchtime. However, alerted by a vehicle tracking company and police, the owner discovered that the car had been stolen. The car wash was clearly negligent - the car was parked in the street in a high-crime area, the gate was left open with no access control, and no measures were in place to safeguard customers’ vehicles.