PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post

davidmash · #2 10-20-2007, 05:24 PM

Been there, done that and got the T-shirt.

I got rear ended by an Explorer whos bumper was higher than mine. Trashed the whole rear end (both quarters, trunk w/spolier lights … etc). I had to go through 3 or 4 adjusters before I got to one who would listen.

First thing, do your research. Go through Ebay, want ads… etc to see what they are going for. Similar mileage, maint .. etc. State Farm wanted to offer me $5k and I told them to stuff it. Show them your main records and everything else.

I had to eat a little of the repair cost (about $700 IIRC). I went out and found a clean salvage trunk/spoiler and my body shop took care of the rest. State Farm forked out about $4,500 to $5,000 (not sure as it was several years ago) and I still have my car.

I got the right person and had the evidence to back my claim. I got lucky. You have nothing to loose if you fight them on it. As hard as it was, don’t antagonize them. The urge to b!tch slap the adjuster will be over whelming. Just breath deep and think of the car. Kill them with kindness and if that does not work …. Just leave the kindness part home.

Good luck.

edit: If you end up eating part of the loss, make sure that the insurance company does not give you a salvage title and does not list the car as salvage anywhere. That was a big part of my fight with State Farm. They wanted to sell me the car back as salvage and I told them no, this was just a value issue and that if they were going to give me $x.xx to fix the car I would get it fixed (they did not know about me getttiing the trunk my self) so State Farm said fine and gave me a clear title.