1985 300 DTD wrecked - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

PhantomCadillac · #1 11-11-2013, 01:39 PM

Well about an hour ago my mercedes wagon front end moved over a inch or 2. 250,000 miles just did the rear suspension new battery new rear tires and I'm thinking it is totaled. Guy in a truck ran a red light. Something in his truck fell to the floor and he couldn't press brake pedal. By the time I saw him I was looking at his driver door.
It moved the front end took the door handle off the passenger door. I can't open drivers door but did drive it home.
I'm not looking forward to the insurance battle to come. I paid Tyler 6 grand for it wondering how much the insurance will give me now? anybody have any ideas?

Thanks

toomany MBZ · #2 11-11-2013, 01:51 PM

Sorry to hear it.

Simpler=Better · #3 11-11-2013, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhantomCadillac

Well about an hour ago my mercedes wagon front end moved over a inch or 2. 250,000 miles just did the rear suspension new battery new rear tires and I'm thinking it is totaled. Guy in a truck ran a red light. Something in his truck fell to the floor and he couldn't press brake pedal. By the time I saw him I was looking at his driver door.
It moved the front end took the door handle off the passenger door. I can't open drivers door but did drive it home.
I'm not looking forward to the insurance battle to come. I paid Tyler 6 grand for it wondering how much the insurance will give me now? anybody have any ideas?

Thanks

Show a receipt for the 6k purchase. Go back and get receipts, credit card line items, etc. for parts you put into restoring it. Fight for the value.

Zacharias · #4 11-11-2013, 02:35 PM

First, the main thing is that you seem to be okay.

However, you are likely still in shock and/or your adrenaline is high so you probably aren't feeling stuff as normal.

I have been there: visit your MD, within 48 hours if possible, and document ANY ache, pain or unusual feeling, no matter how small. Sometimes stuff shows up weeks or months later and trying to pursue a claim without notes post-incident is much harder.

Okay now to the car. The insurance company most likely won't want to repair due to car's age. As previously mentioned, get your documentation together. Find comparable cars for sale (even better, sold listings on eBay, for example) and print off the ads.

The insurance will most likely move to write off the car, but that doesn't necessarily mean it IS a write-off in the sense that it cannot be properly fixed. That will be up to you. I don't want to shoot off my mouth off any further without seeing pics.

Watch for dizziness or sleepiness in the next 48 hours.

cooljjay · #5 11-11-2013, 03:09 PM

Very crazy always sad to see another gone.....have any photos of the damage yet? What ever the insurance company gives you try to buy back or keep the car....you can get more parting it out or switch the stuff over to a new body...

PhantomCadillac · #6 11-11-2013, 03:14 PM

Well my body says no to switching things over.

What really sucks is this is a rust free body.

And it was running so good.

NoSparkNeeded · #7 11-11-2013, 04:10 PM

Sorry to hear about your accident, glad you are OK.
I hope the car can be saved, it's a shame that a nice rust free car had
to take a hit like that.
It's always a worry in the back of my mind that once we get our cars all
sorted out to a level that we desire, that in an instant it could be wiped
out with little chance of getting a truly fair amount of insurance money.
Unless we buy a car from one of the folks here in this group it's unlikely we could truly replace an older Benz with insurance money only.
I got rear ended a few weeks ago, and that was my first thought that
my car would be "totaled" by a minor accident. I intended to look into
a "stated value" policy like I had on my 61 Corvette years ago, but I don't
know if you can even get one on a non-collectable vehicle.

PhantomCadillac · #8 11-11-2013, 05:06 PM

So I can just here the insurance adjuster when I tell him 16 400 LOL

Low
Retail Average
Retail High
Retail Base Price $35,310 $5,975 $10,950 $16,400 TOTAL PRICE: $35,310 $5,975 $10,950 $16,400

TnBob · #9 11-11-2013, 08:19 PM

Love the way you think !

Be good, actually very, very good for you to get to a chiropractor ASAP or as in tomorrow

unkl300d · #10 11-11-2013, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zacharias

First, the main thing is that you seem to be okay.

However, you are likely still in shock and/or your adrenaline is high so you probably aren't feeling stuff as normal.

I have been there: visit your MD, within 48 hours if possible, and document ANY ache, pain or unusual feeling, no matter how small. Sometimes stuff shows up weeks or months later and trying to pursue a claim without notes post-incident is much harder.

Okay now to the car. The insurance company most likely won't want to repair due to car's age. As previously mentioned, get your documentation together. Find comparable cars for sale (even better, sold listings on eBay, for example) and print off the ads.

The insurance will most likely move to write off the car, but that doesn't necessarily mean it IS a write-off in the sense that it cannot be properly fixed. That will be up to you. I don't want to shoot off my mouth off any further without seeing pics.

Watch for dizziness or sleepiness in the next 48 hours.

All of the above !!!! you might want to get a lawyer as well or at least let the ins. co, know you are motivated to litigate. They can intimidate the ins. co. bean counters into settling for a better appraised value in line with your research and documentation.

Take care. Do go see medical services. Often, neural problems arise later.
No bluff !!

PhantomCadillac · #11 11-18-2013, 07:18 PM

Update 1 week later I finally get a rental car. 21st insurance sucks. They came today and looked at the car. Their adjuster was trying to tell me there were scraches in the paint I ask him where he pointed I wet my finger wipe and said try again.
The adjusted I had call call me back and approved the rental for 3 days but said they were going to total my wagon. It should be interesting what they try to offer. Guess I'll find out tomorrow.
I also have a doctors appiontment tomorrow as well the back is getting worst not better. I have to go through 10,000 of my insurance medical before I get to there's. My attorney said that would be no problem. Can't believe a guy hits me running a red light and I have to do all the work.
Well another day in paradise.

upshift · #12 11-18-2013, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unkl300d

All of the above !!!! you might want to get a lawyer as well or at least let the ins. co, know you are motivated to litigate. They can intimidate the ins. co. bean counters into settling for a better appraised value in line with your research and documentation.

Take care. Do go see medical services. Often, neural problems arise later.
No bluff !!

Just to comment - I am an insurance adjuster - (a friendly, well intentioned one!) - and lawyers don't intimidate me at all. They have absolutely no effect on the settlement value. I am not saying a lawyer isn't necessary - I retained one last year when I was in an an accident involving a city bus - but I would definitely not assume a lawyer will boost your settlement at all.

Lately, the values that CCC has been throwing out for older MBs have been very, very high - I don't work in the auto field but I have many friends that do, and I often see files with the reports in them. I don't know if 21st Century uses CCC so your mileage may vary.

What is more negotiable is buyback price.... try to buy your car back for a few hundred $, then part it out. Maybe keeping others on the road will make you feel just a little less bad about the sad fate this one met.

vstech · #13 11-18-2013, 08:09 PM

Your Insurance should NOT factor into the claim ... THEY get all the injury bills. PEROID

PhantomCadillac · #14 11-18-2013, 08:15 PM

Well as I told him 85's with no rust and ever thing works are not easy to find. The only time I brought up my attorney was pointing to a 84 300D in great shape and telling him I was driving my attorneys mercedes because they had not offered me a rental. After he left I got a call with approval for rental.
I talked to them last week and there adjuster said they had not talked to their client. I said I don't think so she asked if I was calling her a lier and I said I guess so because I'm looking at your web site and there is a statement from your client.
I called my insurance and got permission for a doctors appointment from them. I will make them jump through all the hoops because I know what I have and if they don't like it they can replace it. That is what I told him and said he would enjoy the trip to California . He laughed he was OK just don't like people trying to under cut me.