Bengaluru: SUV crash ignites debate on valet liability

Rashmi Rajagopal

Valet parking services at restaurants have come under scrutiny after it came to light that three valet drivers at a Marathahalli restaurant allegedly crashed a luxury SUV while attempting to film reels.

While some establishments state that valet parking is at the car owner’s risk, in cases of serious damage like this, the owner can hold the restaurant accountable, lawyers say.

In situations where a valet agency is involved, liability depends on the agreement between the restaurant and the agency, says advocate Suhaas Shenoy. “Usually the consumer wins in such cases, unless there is a serious breach of policy or agreement,” he shares. Restaurants typically prefer to settle rather than enter litigation,
he adds.

Valet parking is a service provided to enhance customer experience, so the restaurant should bear responsibility for the car, says advocate Indra Dhanush. This is called ‘vicarious liability’, where the employer is responsible for damage caused during the course of employment.

“Even if the policy says it’s at the vehicle owner’s risk, the extent of damage matters. This policy usually applies to theft of valuables inside the car or minor scratches while parking,” Dhanush says.

Take precautions

There is always some risk and one has to trust the system, says Priya H, who drives a luxury sedan. “I avoid valet services when I can. If I am visiting a restaurant in the CBD area, I park at a club I am a member of and walk, or arrive early to find parking,” shares the media professional.

Shruthi Rao, a marketing executive, is comfortable using valet only at five-star hotels, as she believes they “probably have the financial backing to cover any damage”. She is wary of standalone restaurants.

“Once the valet changed my sedan’s setting from automatic to manual, and I had to go to the dealer to fix it,” she recalls. After visiting a five-star hotel in Malleswaram, she noticed her headlights were off even after 15 minutes of driving. The valet had turned off the switch for auto headlamps, she tells Metrolife.

Regular checks done

Restaurants generally follow protocols to safeguard customers’ cars, but risks remain. Anirudh Kheny, managing partner at Daysie (M G Road) and Serious Slice (Cunningham Road), claims they “ensure all drivers have valid licenses, proven driving skills, and have undergone background checks”.

Long Boat Brewing Co in Marathahalli outsources valet services to an agency. Before onboarding, they audited the agency’s SOPs, verified insurance coverage, training certifications, and past records, says Vinay Chandrashekar, founder. They claim only their senior staff handle luxury vehicles, and keys are tagged with guest verification.

Sridhar Reddy, managing director of Thirumala Services, a valet agency serving several city restaurants, says they issue training sheets for all drivers. Restaurant managers give regular feedback, and drivers are retained or replaced accordingly.

Valet EZ, another popular agency, conducts thorough background checks — including residential and criminal records — and KYC verification. Their drivers also undergo regular training in both driving and soft skills, claims Arpita Kachari from its business development team. According to Madhusudan, valet manager at Kaavu, Brookefield, they record a video of the car before taking it from the customer. “We are not allowed to even take pictures with the cars,” he adds.

What happened

Three valet attendants allegedly crashed a new Mercedes-Benz SUV worth Rs 1.4 crore into a basement wall while filming a reel. Though the incident occurred in February, it came to light this week after customer Divya Chhabra shared her experience on social media. Investigations revealed that the person who allegedly crashed the car — Abdulla Laskar — had landed the job with a fake license. Out of the three only one had a valid licence, while the third one did not have a licence.