so much for it not being wrecked. What's your estimate?
 

I was merging (trying to) onto the interstate....lady with poodle in lap stops halfway in road and halfway on shoulder instead of accelerating (note: not a good idea to drive with a f*ing poodle in your lap). As I was halfway in the process of accelerating and merging behind her, and had room, I got around her in time to avoid creaming her.......but the car that had slowed to let us in sped up, so THEN I was forced to make a fast glance in my side mirror and get out of the way. Unfortunately, the spot was clear until the Hyundai jumped into it at 75-80mph and we tried to share lanes. I think he hit my front wheel, because I went pirhouetting and doing figure 8s all teh way off the shoulder. Could not steer out of it. He, however, didn't spin, and stopped 1/4 down the road. Long of the short.....she's not a damage-virgin anymore (oh well, was a nice 10 years)

Car's only worth about $7k retail with 153k miles. Surely they wouldn't total it, but I don't know. I'm thinking this is in the $2-3k range anyway......which should keep me from having to deal with a total-loss situation. The wheel was scraped up, and these wheels are $600 each, but I think I can get it fixed for $80ish.

POINT OF MY POST - what are your visual estimates? I'm thinking $3k is th high end, but I Don't know. Car drives fine; doesn't even seem to need an alignment.

Rear door lightly dented, scraped. Front door has 3-4 waves in it, including around doorhandle where the handle got hit and pushed the doorskin in. Doorhandle - infrared - broken. Fender damaged. Wheel scraped. Bumper cover just need a spot-paint. Doesn't look THAT bad in the pics, but we're talking pulling dents out, bondo, 3 panels of paint, and depending on how the adjuster sees it, a new AMG wheel and an IF doorhandle.

http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/1862/img0171rr6.jpg
http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/2489/img0173mv2.jpg
http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/2552/img0174fu2.jpg
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/87/img0175zv2.jpg
http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/8835/img0177xg7.jpg

I was quoted once at a body shop for $700 a panel, and it was not even a Merc but a Honda, and not at dealership. I think you are looking at $3K at the low end. I feel your pain.

three to five thousand

imho

tom w

ouch. So, probably a total loss. I really would hate to have to give it up to an auctioneer. Time to call the ins. guy

That sucks. Look on the bright side, though. She just became your cash-generating beater. Negotiate a large cash settlement insurance claim. Pocket the cash and then fix it yourself and drive her into the ground. Pull out the dents as best you can. Polish off the scrapes. Touch up paint the few spots where the paint is gone and then polish as best you can to match. Use the profit to start saving for an SL.

$4700 including alignment

Sue her for the $3K
 

NC MV Law is you may NOT stop in the roadway for any reason, you must EXIT the road to the shoulder.
Also it is in the code that drivers must be in control at all times, IE: No kids, aminals, food, etc in the drivers hands, lap , etc...

I had a local Bee Hive Wearing GOMER (Get Out Of My Emergency Room you HEIFER!) do the same on the Cherry St. on ramp to I 40 in Winston, causing a 3 car chairn collision...I sued her ass in local court and won and slapped a lien on her house until her Insurance company and her rich lawyer son (who's ass I flayed in court) paid up.

Just get her to admit she had her mutt in her lap when you get her wide ride butt on the stand, when the judge stops laughing you will have won hands down!

When I first saw this post I thought I could only offer a guess. Then I remembered that the previous owner of my car had almost the same exact accident. Except it didn't affect the rear door. But otherwise almost identical. Although I don't think he spun out. He provided all his receipts to me when I bought the car, including the one for this body work. Keep in mind this is 5 years ago, and was done at one of the best shops in Seattle that do a lot of dealer work. It broke down as 500 for parts, 125 for alignment, 160 for refinishing the wheel, 2550 for labor, = 3325 plus tax = about 3600. So I think the below estimates are pretty close!! Good luck!

Mike

Well, it's right at $3000. That includes a new door and fender. Body shop appraiser said because it was hit at the reinforced points on door and fender that they could not repair that. Price breakdown looks very close to yours Mike.

As for the lady with the dog, she is not the one I hit. She, and the car who cut me off and caused me to move into the other lane to avoid hitting/being hit by both of them, never stopped. How convenient.