PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - Suggestions for dealing with insurance company?

jbhebert · #1 12-01-2004, 03:33 PM

Sorry for the long post, but I need some advise. A few weeks ago my '82 300CD was severely damaged in a high speed collision with, among other things, a couch and several guard rails. As I suspected, the car is being totalled. Unfortunately, the insurance adjuster and I do not seem to agree on the value of the vehicle. While far from concourse aesthetically, the car was nearly new mechanically. Every wearable suspension part front and rear, including new Bilstein HD shocks at all corners and new rear spring have been replaced in the last 20k miles (the rear springs and suspention was done *2 DAYS* before the accident). The transmission was rebuilt less than a year ago. The motor was (is) very strong, and the car only has 223,000 miles on it. The interior is very good except for one hole in the driver's seat and a few cracks in the wood. It is a unique color combo of silver on black interior. The paint is faded, but there is very little rust for a New England car. The insurance company wants to give me $1,600.00 for the car. I wasn't expecting much, but this seems low. I was hoping for something in the $2,500 to $3,000 range. Besides sending them all the receipts I have for work and parts on this car, is there anything else I can do? I really don't have the time for legal action, and for another $1,000 it's probably not worth it. But I do want to get fair market value for the vehicle. One important note is that this vehicle did not carry collision with my insurance company, so I am dealing directly with the other party's insurance. The other party was found fully at fault. Due to the nature of the accident, it falls under collision.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks in advance.