Can I get some opinions on my total loss insurance claim battle?

[stellwagen]

I sadly find myself in the middle of my first car insurance claim battle and could use some help on what a reasonable figure to settle on would be.

What was a beautiful '84 300D now looks like this

Determined a total loss by the insurance company. Initially offered me $1900, but I mentioned involving a 3rd party appraiser and they bumped it up to $2900 which is where I'm at now. Should I go through with an appraiser? And how much do you think I should fight for in this situation?

Car had 275,000 miles. Engine runs perfect. Rebuilt auto trans. Tires new. Zero rust. Only two owners prior to me. Every feature in the car worked, sunroof, windows, antenna, etc... Hardly a crack in the dash. Here's some pics:

Body
Front
Interior
Dash

Any opinions you have on this process would be helpful! Just sad to see another one leave the road.

[jay_bob]

Wow. Hope you are ok.

Definitely get yourself/passengers checked out, those cars did not have the whiplash protection of modern cars.

Assuming it was a rear end collision and you are not in one of those idiotic states where they assign blame proportionally and the simple act of being on the road makes you partially at fault.

In that case I'm not advocating going full lawsuit crazy but definitely make sure you do not have latent damage to your neck/spine that does not show up until later. Definitely retain counsel, but not an ambulance chaser that advertises on the local UHF station or the back of the phone book. I pray it was not a hit/run or undocumented "visitor" with no insurance that hit you.

As for the car, a professional appraiser by a classic car expert, and records go a long way.

I would recommend buying back the wreck and parting it out or getting it fixed. Unless you got sandwiched badly that front end, drive train, and interior can live on another day either for you or someone else. If you can at all help it, don't send it to the yard, it will get hacked up by people removing parts carelessly and then get crushed in 2 weeks.

I went through this on my 98, in my case, the damage was deeper than they first thought, the other party's insurance agreed to fix it due to the pre-accident condition and the fact that it is was 0% my fault (other party cut across a parking lot and literally blindsided me). So by the time they got it all apart and saw it was worse than originally thought they went ahead and paid the full amount to fix it.

[Graham]

Hagerty quote high values, but perhaps you could use their site in discussions with insurance company (or appraiser)

https://www.hagerty.ca/apps/valuationtools/1984-Mercedes~Benz-300D

or NADA:

1984 Mercedes-Benz 300D-T Value | 4 Door Sedan Prices and Book Value

I have my 85 300d with similar mileage insured for $5000 through Hagerty Classic agreed value insurance and they would pay that in case of a total loss. If I were to sell it, I think I would be lucky to get $3500, but would ask $4000.

[jt20]

Without knowing the details:

get involved with the adjusters

gather all the pictures you have of the vehicle and send them

begin searching in your area for excellent condition examples - call the seller. you must get some 'dealers' incorporated into this data.

Make a list of all vehicles for sale with phone numbers of the seller

Gather as many as possible. It is a few days of work to get enough. ten at least, and make sure they are willing to talk to the insurance co.

I got 6500 for my w123 w 224k miles in a situation that could have been a lawsuit. This amount will likely depend on the adjuster and the company.

that is the best start. good luck

[jt20]

the vehicle list must include examples that are comparable to yours in mileage

[stellwagen]

Originally Posted by jay_bob

Wow. Hope you are ok.

Definitely get yourself/passengers checked out, those cars did not have the whiplash protection of modern cars.

Assuming it was a rear end collision and you are not in one of those idiotic states where they assign blame proportionally and the simple act of being on the road makes you partially at fault.

In that case I'm not advocating going full lawsuit crazy but definitely make sure you do not have latent damage to your neck/spine that does not show up until later. Definitely retain counsel, but not an ambulance chaser that advertises on the local UHF station or the back of the phone book. I pray it was not a hit/run or undocumented "visitor" with no insurance that hit you.

As for the car, a professional appraiser by a classic car expert, and records go a long way.

I would recommend buying back the wreck and parting it out or getting it fixed. Unless you got sandwiched badly that front end, drive train, and interior can live on another day either for you or someone else. If you can at all help it, don't send it to the yard, it will get hacked up by people removing parts carelessly and then get crushed in 2 weeks.

I went through this on my 98, in my case, the damage was deeper than they first thought, the other party's insurance agreed to fix it due to the pre-accident condition and the fact that it is was 0% my fault (other party cut across a parking lot and literally blindsided me). So by the time they got it all apart and saw it was worse than originally thought they went ahead and paid the full amount to fix it.

Thanks so much for the reply.

My passenger and I felt some neck stiffness for a couple days, but neither of us have gone for professional help. Maybe I will look into seeing someone just for precautionary reasons.

The driver admitted complete fault. We were at a stop on a highway and were hit by him, so I feel I have control of the negotiating process. I've made contact with one appraiser who would only cost $150. So I think it'll be worthwhile to hire them on.

And I kind of assumed I'd get to keep the car in addition to the payment, but I have to 'buy' it from them? Any advice if I don't have property to store a totaled car? I wouldn't mind taking the wheels/tires and selling separately. If anyone in the Atlanta area is interested in this wreck let me know.

[stellwagen]

Originally Posted by jt20

Without knowing the details:

get involved with the adjusters

gather all the pictures you have of the vehicle and send them

begin searching in your area for excellent condition examples - call the seller. you must get some 'dealers' incorporated into this data.

Make a list of all vehicles for sale with phone numbers of the seller

Gather as many as possible. It is a few days of work to get enough. ten at least, and make sure they are willing to talk to the insurance co.

I got 6500 for my w123 w 224k miles in a situation that could have been a lawsuit. This amount will likely depend on the adjuster and the company.

that is the best start. good luck

This was the route I was planning on, but they (State Farm) are saying that's not suitable info for them. They said they only will consider data from an appraiser. Perhaps they're balking?

[Junkman]

I received $3,000 for my 85SD that needed paint. The interior looks good. Mechanicals were OK but the AC didn't work. Brakes, suspension & most things were refurbished over the last 30,000 mi. Engine was smooth. 200,000 mi showing on the clock. All I did was say that it had been bought by my son's grandfather new and I was getting it ready for when my son starts driving.

Yours should be worth more if the paint is good and the AC works. Be nice but firm and give reasons why you think it is worth more. The carrier has a range and they can justify going a little higher if given the right information. An extra $1,000 isn't much in the claim paying business.

And buy it back even if you personally don't want the parts. Someone here will take it whole if you don't want to mess with it. I gave $500 for a parts car a while back when scrap was higher.

[ROLLGUY]

Originally Posted by jay_bob

Wow. Hope you are ok.

Definitely get yourself/passengers checked out, those cars did not have the whiplash protection of modern cars.

Assuming it was a rear end collision and you are not in one of those idiotic states where they assign blame proportionally and the simple act of being on the road makes you partially at fault.

In that case I'm not advocating going full lawsuit crazy but definitely make sure you do not have latent damage to your neck/spine that does not show up until later. Definitely retain counsel, but not an ambulance chaser that advertises on the local UHF station or the back of the phone book. I pray it was not a hit/run or undocumented "visitor" with no insurance that hit you.

As for the car, a professional appraiser by a classic car expert, and records go a long way.

I would recommend buying back the wreck and parting it out or getting it fixed. Unless you got sandwiched badly that front end, drive train, and interior can live on another day either for you or someone else. If you can at all help it, don't send it to the yard, it will get hacked up by people removing parts carelessly and then get crushed in 2 weeks.

I went through this on my 98, in my case, the damage was deeper than they first thought, the other party's insurance agreed to fix it due to the pre-accident condition and the fact that it is was 0% my fault (other party cut across a parking lot and literally blindsided me). So by the time they got it all apart and saw it was worse than originally thought they went ahead and paid the full amount to fix it.

I totally agree with all the above. Especially buying the car back. Whenever an insurance company pays a claim for total loss, they essentially Own the car. In order to keep th car, you must pay the salvage value. I have done this several times with cars in the past that have been totaled. The value for your car is probably around $500 in the currant market, and that would be a bargain just for the engine! Do yourself a favor, and at least get a medical checkup. Insurance companies expect this, and even encourage it. This will benefit you and protect you from out of pocket expenses, should you have any issues that arise later.

[Diesel911]

What ever Money you end up taking for the Car you can still keep the Car but they will deduct whatever the care is worth scrap.

You eventually end up with a salvaged title or can get a suspence reciept and part it out and give up the rest for scrap.

[jay_bob]

There are several members in Atlanta that I'm sure would be interested in the car. W123fanman comes to mind.

[Bigdaddybenz]

THAT LOOKS LIKE I-285 in Atlanta..... Just a word of advice.... I was rear ended, totaled my ML-320, literally ripped the upper seat belt mount out of the pillar bulkhead. Had I not been wearing I seat belt I would have gone through the windshield.... Experienced neck stiffness, red swelling on my back and thought nothing of it, felt better a few days later.... Fast forward: 7 years later, my toes, finger-tips arms get numb, sometimes parts of my face..... Long story short - the injuries were from the accident and simple x-rays reveal disc damage.... GO SEE A DOCTOR!!..... On another note: State farm simply looks at vehicle sold ads and makes their determination.... Never been in accidents until I moved to Atlanta... Had my 2000 ML320 totaled, my 1986 300SDL and my 1997 E320 crushed by a falling tree (Look at my profile pics).,,, People in Atlanta have very poor driving skills and have the audacity to text while doing 65 -75 mph on the major highways.... I even saw a guy eating a bowl of cereal while driving with his knees and a woman with her make-up mirror down rear end a car on I-20..... IT'S THE WATERMELON 500, BRING YOUR OWN NECK BRACE!

[Clemson88]

Originally Posted by stellwagen

I sadly find myself in the middle of my first car insurance claim battle and could use some help on what a reasonable figure to settle on would be.

What was a beautiful '84 300D now looks like this

Determined a total loss by the insurance company. Initially offered me $1900, but I mentioned involving a 3rd party appraiser and they bumped it up to $2900 which is where I'm at now. Should I go through with an appraiser? And how much do you think I should fight for in this situation?

Car had 275,000 miles. Engine runs perfect. Rebuilt auto trans. Tires new. Zero rust. Only two owners prior to me. Every feature in the car worked, sunroof, windows, antenna, etc... Hardly a crack in the dash. Here's some pics:

Body
Front
Interior
Dash

Any opinions you have on this process would be helpful! Just sad to see another one leave the road.

This is not a matter of what you think your car is worth. It's a matter of exactly how much it will take to replace your loss. I insist that I am not advising you or anyone else to do what I have done and will do in such cases.

I never sign a medical release until the insurance company agrees to give me enough to replace my property loss. I never take more than is fair but I never settle for less than it takes to fully replace my property.

Find a true equal to your car and do the math, my friend.

[barry12345]

Originally Posted by Clemson88

This is not a matter of what you think your car is worth. It's a matter of exactly how much it will take to replace your loss. I insist that I am not advising you or anyone else to do what I have done and will do in such cases.

I never sign a medical release until the insurance company agrees to give me enough to replace my property loss. I never take more than is fair but I never settle for less than it takes to fully replace my property.

Find a true equal to your car and do the math, my friend.

I have posted this before. You are entitled to a replacement car as good or better than what you had. Leave the medical release either till last as suggested or keep it open.

The insurance company may think that treating you right on the car might expedite that portion of the claim. As mentioned go to a doctor as well. They have to pay for that.

The medical portion is the only real lever you have. Unless you find a fair company and that is a toss up at best. Remember that in reality the car is peanuts to them.

I would never cheat anyone but you have to fight fire with fire on occasion. Or be prepared to take a bath. Too many have including myself over the years.

[Junkman]

Medical exam and not agreeing to medical waiver are good suggestions. Go to your own doctor. Medical is where the big bucks are if needed. You are only talking a few extra dollars for the car - not something to walk away from but health is much more important.