OF COURSE we care....YOU'RE BENZMAC!!!!!!

Get better soon, Donnie.

------------------
Best regards, Michael
'92 500E
'88 300TE

Benzmac, we can all sleep better at night knowing that you saw the doc and he gave you the OK. Hope you're feelin' better!

------------------
FrankieZ
84 500SEL EURO 87K
85 300D 267K (and still goin' strong)

sorry to hear of your rear ender, do hope you are O.K. I thought the selfish, idiot drivers only lived here !

Sorry to here about the Bad experience Donnie,

I hope you are not in to much pain! Please take it easy for the next couple of weeks on the old back.

I was in a accident a couple of years ago, and even though I was in the Army running severals miles every day, Man was my back beat up and surprisingly weak! Took 4-5 months for the full strength to be regained (without fear of any pains).

Hope you heal up fast! And don't worry about the Guy to much, Karma has a way of sorting things out for the best, for all involved.

Best wishes for You and Family!

------------------
Ross
96 C280, Greenish Black

Benzmac, An associate had the same sort of thing happen in a mid sized city and took the time to wait around the intersection where the accident took place over the following days.
Sure enough the drunken hillbilly that had earlier plowed into him appeared a few days later at around the same time of day. .no doubt following the same beaten path to and from his favorite watering hole he had traveled the day of his transgression. Your guy has probably sustained a serious amount of damage and is not likely to be able to drive his ram rod until he has it fixed. . Keep up the good work and take it easy.

Donnie;
It's great to hear that you're OK. Unfortunately, I know how you feel, as my Benz got nailed a few months ago. Fortunately my sons weren't hurt, and I suffered a little bruise on my hip.
I hope they find the SOB and he gets what he deserves.

------------------
Darko Vusir
1994 C220

Benzmac, glad to hear that your doctor gave you the ok. I can relate to what you are going through. I've been both rear-ended and the victim of a hit and run, although not the same accident.

Since my late father was a physician, I know that the quality of medical care varies (almost?) as much as the quality of automotive techs... Did your doc test your urine for blood (injured kidneys)? They have test strips to check for that.

An amusing aside, if it wasn't so serious... at our work (many many years ago) one of our employees fell off a ladder about 15-20 feet onto a sidewalk. He went to an emergency room and they told him that he'd be ok, just bumps and bruises. He went back to work and fairly soon passed out. Turns out he had a ruptured spleen. The ER missed it (OOPS)...

------------------
Robert W. Roe
1984 300SD 171K mi

Dear Donnie

Happy to hear you seem okay but please keep an eye open for symptoms. Thanks for the advice on taking the plates first. Sorry it had to be at your expense.

There is a feeling of community for MB owners and your site is kind of a meeting place. Even though I have not met you, your posts have been helpful and I feel that you are an integral part of this community. You have personal value to many people you have never met.

I live in Chicago and on a main street, at night, a young woman sideswiped 3 cars and totaled a fourth. A neighbor saw her try to drive away and when her car wouldn't go, she ran. He caught her and the police arrested her, when they arrived. This kind of thing happens all the time. A driver's license should be a little harder to get and keep in this country. People like your hit and run jerk should lose their license, go to jail or both.

Best luck.

Steve

Like all of your friends I would like to wish you all the best for a speedy and comfortable recovery but like all experiences we have two options ..either repeat them or learn by them.
First I learned a long time ago to carry a portable throw away camerawith flash which is the first thing in my hand when I am involved in an accident or see something strange...you would be surprised how many people out there aren't licemsed insured, legal or even supposed to be driving the vehicle that just caused the problem. A few quick photos of driver, car locations and even eye witnesses has a very secure feel about it.
Throw one in every car you have got and the best thing that can happen is you will never have to use them.

The second lesson is that pick-up trucks that go fast in drive don't have the technology that we all believe saves lives...special seat backs, anti dive knee bolsters, seat belt tensioners, fuel tanks above the axle, crumple zones, breakaway mirrors, pull type door handles with weighted locks etc. etc . etc. which are the subject of so much of our frustration when we have to fix them or replace them and the reason we have so much respect for the your knowledge and experience.

Get better, thanks for your efforts and stay out of those go fast cheap imitations.

Greg Gardner
Geneva Switzerland
93 300TE 4 matic
99 Smart (shopping trolley)

To Donnie with my best wishes and have a speedy recovery.

Sincerely,

David
Los Angeles, Calif.

Benz.

A negative C-spine x ray is nowhere near enough reason to not get yourself treated. I treat motor vehicle accident patients every day and see the common errors both patients and other doctors make. The first week usually patients feel little to no pain, just discomfort and soreness. The pain gradually comes on, and with it serious disfunction. Prompt treatment of your injuries will 1) Help manage this inevitable pain and disfunction, and 2) help to minimize future residuals, ie: do you want that back and neck pain the rest of your life?

Bottom line, you injured lots of stuff in the accident, ligaments, tendons, muscle, nerves, etc. Whiplash injuries of 5mph have been shown to have long term effects such as pain and arthritis in the future. Get yourself regular physical treatment and dont settle for less.

I have clinics in Massachusetts and California, let me know if you are close by.

------------------
1987 300E

let me add my voice to those offering sympathy. My wife had the same "drive-off" experience last year, hit at an intersection, and while offering to clear the area for other traffic, the other woman took off.

and the advice about "get to a doctor" is good. take it.

but first, let the friendship here heal your soul.



------------------
Tom

'87 560 SL
'74 MGB

Glad to hear you're OK. Take it easy and let your body heal.

------------------
Al Spalmacin
1989 560SEL
1989 190E 2.6

Benzmac:

You almost bought it. Take some time off to be with you family and give this web site a rest for awhile.

I've never figured out how you find time to help us DIYERS, run a shop and tend to a family.

Forget about us for awhile. Glad you made it.

Mike Murrell

Everything i want to say had said before...just get well soon later =)

Assoc.,AIA
John