“Time for an attorney.”
You’d expect that if your mechanic is going to take your car for a joy ride (which they already shouldn’t be doing), they’d at least drive responsibly. At minimum, so they don’t get caught in any way by getting pulled over or getting in an accident.
Well, when this woman got her car back from the mechanic, the front end was an unrecognizable, mangled mess. Here’s what happened.
In a trending video with more than 46,000 views, content creator and casting producer Alicia Good (@alicia.good) explains what supposedly happened after she left her Audi Q5, which retails for more than $52,000, at the mechanic.
Good explains that she brought her car in about two and a half weeks earlier for two minor leaks. When the shop asked to keep the Audi for one extra night, she says she agreed.
“Apparently, after the shop closed on Friday, the manager took my car without my authorization,” Good says.
According to Good, the manager crashed her car into a 20-foot concrete barrier at 8:15 pm, two hours and 15 minutes after the shop closed. The collision happened at least nine miles away from the repair shop, she says.
The front of the car is unrecognizable in pictures. The hood is crumpled, the front bumper is missing, and the normally concealed inner mechanical parts are completely exposed.
“A crash expert who saw the damage said that he was probably driving 90 to 100 miles an hour,” Good says. “The impact split the engine in half and totaled my car.”
The video does not identify the crash expert or include the expert’s report. Good also does not share a police report or other documentation confirming the estimated speed in this clip.
Good goes on to say that the shop’s owner knew what happened by 9:15 pm that evening but did not contact her. She says she repeatedly called the following day and did not learn about the wreck until nearly 18 hours after it happened.
“Since then, they’ve taken little accountability, and I have heard four different stories. My car had low mileage and was otherwise in excellent condition. Why was it nine miles away after hours and traveling that fast? And why did they wait nearly 18 hours to tell me?” she asked.
“Does this seem suspicious to you? Because it does to me. And what would you do?” she questions.
The repair shop is not identified in the video.
Yes, but it depends on the circumstances. A mechanic or repair shop can potentially be held liable when its carelessness or recklessness causes a crash, Morris Bart states. For example, if their work was done incorrectly, they didn’t complete promised repairs, or they took shortcuts that created another problem with the vehicle, they could potentially be held liable.
A negligence claim generally requires evidence that the shop owed the customer a duty of care, breached that duty, caused the crash, and left the customer with damages. If the collision came from something the shop or its employee could not reasonably control, or from a defect unrelated to its work, they’re likely not liable.
If you’re in this situation, the evidence matters. Keep the repair order and any paperwork showing what work and test-driving were authorized, along with texts, emails, call logs, and receipts. You should also keep any other records you may have, like a police report, photos and video, surveillance footage, witness statements, repair estimates, and the shop’s insurance information.
The exact rules and filing deadlines vary by state, so consult a local attorney or your insurer.
“Totaled” does not necessarily mean a car is physically impossible to repair. It generally means the insurer has determined that repairing it would cost more than the vehicle was worth immediately before the damage, or that it would remain unsafe even after repairs, Kelley Blue Book explains.
If the vehicle is declared a total loss, the typical settlement is based on its pre-crash actual cash value—not what the owner originally paid or what a brand-new replacement costs. A deductible and other applicable fees may reduce the payment. If the owner owes more on a loan or lease than the insurer pays, gap coverage may cover the difference.
If you believe the valuation is too low, you can challenge it with records showing the car’s mileage, condition, maintenance history, options, and upgrades, along with listings for comparable vehicles in the area.
People in the comment section were furious on Good’s behalf, insisting that she get a lawyer involved.
“So what is the shop doing for you? I’d demand a brand new Audi Q5 and then some. This is insane!” a top comment read.
“Shady – time for an attorney,” a person said.
“Congrats you now own a mechanics shop,” another wrote.
Motor1 reached out to Good via Instagram and TikTok direct message. We’ll be sure to update this if she responds.
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