Got backed into yesterday - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

BootieNH · #1 04-13-2006, 01:59 PM

So I'm in the drivethru lane at a coffee shop. Woman in front of me starts backing up (!). Wait. It gets better. She's still looking out her windshield. Crash. I mean, I had like 1.8 seconds to react. Nothing I could do, because obviously, I wasn't expecting that kind of stupidity. Wait. It gets better. She is a Progressive client. So my question to those far wiser in these matters than I - what can I do to be PROACTIVE about making sure my car gets fixed properly, and that I get reimbursed for NEW parts for the extensive damage she caused. I've heard nightmares about this POS company. Oh, the best part? She gets out and says "I'm sorry, you were in my blind spot". I said, "Yeah, it's amazing what you can't see behind you when you're looking straight ahead". The only blind spot was that 2nd 'X' chromosome she's carrying around.

vstech · #2 04-13-2006, 02:02 PM

make sure you get your insurance company involved. they can force the issue and get everything moving along!
I use Geico by the way. Love em... of course I have never had anything be My fault. so no idea what they do in that case.
John

Hogweed · #3 04-13-2006, 02:09 PM

i'm sure you asked the obvious question "why in the heck were you backing up in a drive thru?"
often the things people say at the scene can be used to prove culpability. i was backed into once; i was sitting still waiting for this guy to go by and was going to back out into the street. the other guy claimed it was my fault. i finally called his insurance company and i was told "the (other) driver told us that you were backing up at the time'! so i asked the lady "you mean to tell me that he actually saw me and backed into me anyway?" silence on the other end of the phone...i receive the check three days later!

MercedesRover · #4 04-13-2006, 02:28 PM

Hogweed has a point...Let's hope she's a stand-up girl and admits her fault. As it was on private propety the cops won't here word one about it. You're counting on the other person being honest.

And yes, Progressive is a scummy company. I deal with them every day! Unfourtunatly they are not the only scum-bag company out there. Who are you insured with? If it's a good company your best bet will be to go through your company and let them sebrigate against Progressive.

I'll check back or you can pm me if you need some further advice.

jim

p.s. I do claims work for a big body shop so I know a thing or two about insurance companies.

BootieNH · #5 04-13-2006, 02:47 PM

Thanks all.
Mercedes Rover - I was a longtime GEICO client (I have no prior accidents on my record). I switched to MET because they were a little more affordable. I did get a police accident report, the woman did admit fault, so I don't think there will be any question in that regard. I have contacted MET and so far they seem ok. My body shop told me that GEICO is "very good to deal with", and MET got a "they're ok". (Progressive got a "Terrible") I hope I don't regret switching.

MercedesRover · #6 04-13-2006, 03:14 PM

Geico is good, Met is good.

Still, depending on your policy and the year/mileage of your car either company may look for aftermarket or LKQ (used) parts to repair it. Unless you've got a policy stating otherwise you're probably going to be out of luck fighting them on that.

What year/model/mileage are we dealing with?

InSaNeBoY · #7 04-13-2006, 03:28 PM

I was stopped at a light and had a woman back out of a parking spot right into the back end of my ghia. she had progressive and at first they were being sluggish because they saw my car was a 1974, once told 'em how much it was worth and I made a phone call to my insurance agent they got off their butts, got me a rental and got my car repaired ASAP Used a body shop of my choosing too, it was $1,300 for the repair.

Body shop was awesome, they fixed a ding on the other side of the car while they were at it and rolled it into the estimate.

Should add, the owner of the body shop did the work, he really liked the car so I think that really helps when getting body work done. If the body man admires the car they tend to really want to do the best job possible.

(heck the owner of the shop I have all my cars worked on is the only one who touches the Ghia, he won't let any of his employees do any work on it

)

Oh and the woman that hit me, was on her PHONE when she hit me.

BootieNH · #8 04-13-2006, 05:05 PM

Both MET and Progressive (and probably GEICO too, if I had to guess) use that LKQ criteria for replacement parts. In this case it's a 99 E300 TurboDiesel with 109k on the clock. So I'm definitely in the category that won't be getting brand new parts. I have high expectations of my body shop - they seem excellent and got glowing reviews from my mechanic. I hope they put up a good fight on my behalf. Gotta say I'm a little bummed to know that, through no fault of my own, I have to take some form of a loss on this thing.

Maroon 300D · #9 04-13-2006, 06:17 PM

You're lucky the woman admitted fault. If the other person isn't honest there sometimes isn't a lot anyone can do. I was a passenger in a car once that got hit somewhere in Westchester County, NY. I'm pretty sure the light was green when we went through, but some woman plowed into us at about 35 mph, totalling the car i was in. It was decided that fault was 50/50, though I'm fairly certain it was totally the other driver's fault.

The car I was in was an 80's Volvo. I remember seeing the other car coming right at me and for a split second, I wondered what was going to happen to me, whether I was going to be seriously injured or what. The other car just bounced off and I was totally unscathed! It makes me happy to think my w123 seems to be even more solid than that Volvo was.

Diesel Giant · #10 04-13-2006, 07:50 PM

Did you even have time to blow the horn?

How fast do you think she was moving when the impact occured?

michakaveli · #11 04-13-2006, 08:10 PM

Bottom line is you are not getting new parts. Gotta be realistic about it. LKQ parts are fine, they are used OEM parts. Only gotta make sure that those parts are indeed in good shape, but the body shop handles that.

Yea great you go through your own company, but at that same token your rates will go up if you are using your collision coverage even though it's not your fault and your carrier will subrogate the other carrier. If it's minor and the vehicle is drivable, deal with the other carrier.

t walgamuth · #12 04-13-2006, 08:52 PM

yeah you are lucky she admitted backing up.

when i was young i had a 61 bugeye ah sprite. i pulled up to a stop sign and started to pull out then stopped as i saw how fast the car was coming. (sprites have like 3 squirell power). the guy behind didn't see me stop and plowed into me. then when the cop came he told him i backed into him.

fortunately there was a willing witness.

tom w

rchase · #13 04-14-2006, 02:07 AM

Insurance companies are required to make you whole by law. Your car left the factory in 1999 with new parts and there is no reason that you should not have new Mercedes parts on your car now. There is a growing trend for insurance companies to try and control the repair situation in order to cap costs. The honest truth is they don't have a say in where your car is repaired or what kind of parts that go into the repair job. Even with a high end body shop doing A #1 work with Mercedes Parts there's no way possible that a small backup collision will get even close to a total loss of your car.

I used to own a 2002 Honda Accord Coupe and it was backed into by some idiot in an Expedition. The body shop that I had been using for many many years got "invaded" by State Farm the insurance company. For years and years they had provided nothing but top quality repairs to many of my cars and now that the insurance company was involved I got a cheap substandard repair job. The paint did not match and the bumper kept popping off of its clips. I eventually sold the car. The insurance companies are unfairly using their business relationships with these body shops to control their costs and the cheap repairs are being passed on to the customer. Don't do business with a body shop that has a relationship with an insurance company at all ESPECIALLY if the relationship is with the insurance company that is paying the bill. Their loyalty is to their partner in crime that writes them checks every month NOT YOU!

BootieNH · #14 04-14-2006, 03:17 PM

<<>>
No. I was actually reaching for it in the split second that it took for this to happen.
<<>>
Just guessing, probably between 5 and 8 mph. The problem is that the vehicle was a GMC 1500 series pickup. Her bumper cleared mine completely, and she made directly contact with hood, headlight and right quarter panel. It was enough damage that I can't open my hood.

Progressive guy came out yesterday to appraise. They are taking care of the claim completely, including rental. I pleaded my case. He said he didn't have a choice - they have to write up repairs for LKQ. I'm gonna have to trust the shop (my choice) to work with them to get the best quality parts for my car, but the odds they are new parts is probably pretty low.

Matt L · #15 04-15-2006, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rchase

Insurance companies are required to make you whole by law. Your car left the factory in 1999 with new parts and there is no reason that you should not have new Mercedes parts on your car now.

It seems to me that making him whole would mean putting seven-year-old OEM panels on the car. That's what he had before the accident.