Run Off the Road

ncamg · 11-10-2008, 08:24 AM

Got run off the road Friday evening and hit the curb. Lady in Jeep tried to change lanes (turn from left lane into right lane) and I was there! Hit my driver’s side mirror and I went left to avoid more damage and hit the curb with both right side wheels and tires. Bad curb rash on both wheels and tires. Worse part is some significant right front suspension damage. Right front wheel is toed out about 15 degrees and is moved back in the wheel well about 1 inch. When I drove home after the police investigated, the steering wheel was 45 degrees off center and the ESP warning came on. First thing Saturday morning I dropped the car off at the MB dealer and the lady’s insurance company called to say they would pay for it (good news). I will see the adjuster this afternoon. Quick question. I know that they will try to steer me (no pun intended) to a “preferred” shop and that they will try to pay for just the right front tire. I would like some advice on how to deal with the insurance folks to get them to replace the fronts as a pair (they are about 50% worn) and to make sure the MB dealer fixes the suspension. The only body damage is to the right under side of the front spoiler. Also, I have seen people talk about diminished value as a result of an accident and the ensuing Car Fax report. Any ideas on how to address this with the insurance company? Thanks for listening.

TuneTime · 11-10-2008, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ncamg

Got run off the road Friday evening and hit the curb. Lady in Jeep tried to change lanes (turn from left lane into right lane) and I was there! Hit my driver’s side mirror and I went left to avoid more damage and hit the curb with both right side wheels and tires. Bad curb rash on both wheels and tires. Worse part is some significant right front suspension damage. Right front wheel is toed out about 15 degrees and is moved back in the wheel well about 1 inch. When I drove home after the police investigated, the steering wheel was 45 degrees off center and the ESP warning came on. First thing Saturday morning I dropped the car off at the MB dealer and the lady’s insurance company called to say they would pay for it (good news). I will see the adjuster this afternoon. Quick question. I know that they will try to steer me (no pun intended) to a “preferred” shop and that they will try to pay for just the right front tire. I would like some advice on how to deal with the insurance folks to get them to replace the fronts as a pair (they are about 50% worn) and to make sure the MB dealer fixes the suspension. The only body damage is to the right under side of the front spoiler. Also, I have seen people talk about diminished value as a result of an accident and the ensuing Car Fax report. Any ideas on how to address this with the insurance company? Thanks for listening.

Where did this happen? I saw a Silver SLK in a simular accident.... in Long Island..

ncamg · 11-11-2008, 08:43 AM

In Charlotte. Adjuster still hasn't shown up. Hopefully today.

adrew835 · 12-02-2008, 10:09 PM

You do not have to go anywhere the adjuster tells you to go. Take your car to the MB dealer (or where ever you trust) and get a quote. Your dealer will know that both front tires must be replaced as a set. This fact will be more convincing coming from them. If the adjuster will not pay the full bill, offer to take his company to court. Adjusters are paid to pay the least amount for a claim that they can, but have the authority to negotiate. In the end you may have to make up a small amount of cash to use the dealer, but it is worth it. As far as the loss of value if you sold your car, you can try to use that in negotiating with the adjuster if you can't settle (unlikely), but I would be surprised if this point is a factor. I know it sucks that through no fault of your own you will sustain loss, but life is not fair.

One who owns little, is little owned. But a full life is worth the hassle if it is built on a firm foundation. Good luck.

ExtremeSpeed5 · 12-26-2008, 05:00 AM

make sure you go to a Mercedes authorized body shop. the adjuster will try to get you to go to one of the shops that work with him and these shops sometime replace parts with used or refurbished parts if they can. Get the maximum estimate you can from the Mercedes authorized shop, and save the paperwork so you can show it to future buyer if you decide to sell.

ncamg · 12-27-2008, 06:18 PM

Sorry for the delay on the update of my off road adventure. Thanksgiving/Christmas slowed me down. Took the car to the local MB dealer and they fixed all the mechanical problems. This included:

1 front wheel 866.25
1 rear wheel 929.25
2 front tires (Michelin 225/40-18) 640.00
1 rear tire (Michelin 255/35-18) 396.00
1 front strut (204-330-44-11) 147.00
1 cross strut (204-330-20-11) 218.40
1 bearing AMG (203-333-02-14-27) 57.38

There were other miscellaneous parts and labor and alignment that added up to a total of $4500.00. There was also a $1021.00 bill to have the front bumper repaired and repainted, including a new front grill assembly (not damaged but difficult to R & R without damage). I used the body shop recommended by the MB dealer. The insurance company paid for everything except for $160.00 (1/2 of the left front tire which was not involved in the accident). I wanted both front tires replaced as a pair to eliminate any chance of pulling after the repair.

It took about a week to shuttle between the MB dealer and the body shop. Everything seems alright. The front aligned within specs and there is no pulling or wheel vibration. In fact, I was surprised that everything was aligned and in balance on the first try. Even the steering wheel is dead-on centered!! The body shop had to reshoot the grill as the first paint was a little darker. He said that there are three different color codes for the same paint because of the different rates of fading. Anyway they got it right on the second time and the MB dealer let me use a loaner for the two days the car was at the auto body shop. Right now the one problem I have had is the SRS light has come on since the repair and they replaced something under warranty and it seems to have solved the problem, we will see.

I filed for a diminished value claim with the insurance company and they seemed receptive to the concept. So far they have not come back with a counter offer. The MB dealer was helpful in the process by providing me with the KBB private sale value and most importantly the local Manheim auction value as they said they would most likely wholesale an AMG vehicle with a carfax history. I asked for the difference between the two values (about $7,000).

All in all both the MB dealer and the body shop were easy to work with and got thing right or made them right with no hassles.

bigben320e · 12-28-2008, 12:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ncamg

Sorry for the delay on the update of my off road adventure. Thanksgiving/Christmas slowed me down. Took the car to the local MB dealer and they fixed all the mechanical problems. This included:

1 front wheel 866.25
1 rear wheel 929.25
2 front tires (Michelin 225/40-18) 640.00
1 rear tire (Michelin 255/35-18) 396.00
1 front strut (204-330-44-11) 147.00
1 cross strut (204-330-20-11) 218.40
1 bearing AMG (203-333-02-14-27) 57.38

There were other miscellaneous parts and labor and alignment that added up to a total of $4500.00. There was also a $1021.00 bill to have the front bumper repaired and repainted, including a new front grill assembly (not damaged but difficult to R & R without damage). I used the body shop recommended by the MB dealer. The insurance company paid for everything except for $160.00 (1/2 of the left front tire which was not involved in the accident). I wanted both front tires replaced as a pair to eliminate any chance of pulling after the repair.

It took about a week to shuttle between the MB dealer and the body shop. Everything seems alright. The front aligned within specs and there is no pulling or wheel vibration. In fact, I was surprised that everything was aligned and in balance on the first try. Even the steering wheel is dead-on centered!! The body shop had to reshoot the grill as the first paint was a little darker. He said that there are three different color codes for the same paint because of the different rates of fading. Anyway they got it right on the second time and the MB dealer let me use a loaner for the two days the car was at the auto body shop. Right now the one problem I have had is the SRS light has come on since the repair and they replaced something under warranty and it seems to have solved the problem, we will see.

I filed for a diminished value claim with the insurance company and they seemed receptive to the concept. So far they have not come back with a counter offer. The MB dealer was helpful in the process by providing me with the KBB private sale value and most importantly the local Manheim auction value as they said they would most likely wholesale an AMG vehicle with a carfax history. I asked for the difference between the two values (about $7,000).

All in all both the MB dealer and the body shop were easy to work with and got thing right or made them right with no hassles.

Glad to see this worked out.

ExtremeSpeed5 · 12-29-2008, 03:01 AM

thanks for the update and glad things have went smooth.... keep pushing for diminished value

11-10-2008, 08:24 AM	#1
ncamg Newbie Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 24	Run Off the Road Got run off the road Friday evening and hit the curb. Lady in Jeep tried to change lanes (turn from left lane into right lane) and I was there! Hit my driver’s side mirror and I went left to avoid more damage and hit the curb with both right side wheels and tires. Bad curb rash on both wheels and tires. Worse part is some significant right front suspension damage. Right front wheel is toed out about 15 degrees and is moved back in the wheel well about 1 inch. When I drove home after the police investigated, the steering wheel was 45 degrees off center and the ESP warning came on. First thing Saturday morning I dropped the car off at the MB dealer and the lady’s insurance company called to say they would pay for it (good news). I will see the adjuster this afternoon. Quick question. I know that they will try to steer me (no pun intended) to a “preferred” shop and that they will try to pay for just the right front tire. I would like some advice on how to deal with the insurance folks to get them to replace the fronts as a pair (they are about 50% worn) and to make sure the MB dealer fixes the suspension. The only body damage is to the right under side of the front spoiler. Also, I have seen people talk about diminished value as a result of an accident and the ensuing Car Fax report. Any ideas on how to address this with the insurance company? Thanks for listening.

12-02-2008, 10:09 PM	#4
adrew835 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 2	insurance adjusters You do not have to go anywhere the adjuster tells you to go. Take your car to the MB dealer (or where ever you trust) and get a quote. Your dealer will know that both front tires must be replaced as a set. This fact will be more convincing coming from them. If the adjuster will not pay the full bill, offer to take his company to court. Adjusters are paid to pay the least amount for a claim that they can, but have the authority to negotiate. In the end you may have to make up a small amount of cash to use the dealer, but it is worth it. As far as the loss of value if you sold your car, you can try to use that in negotiating with the adjuster if you can't settle (unlikely), but I would be surprised if this point is a factor. I know it sucks that through no fault of your own you will sustain loss, but life is not fair. One who owns little, is little owned. But a full life is worth the hassle if it is built on a firm foundation. Good luck.

12-26-2008, 05:00 AM	#5
ExtremeSpeed5 Almost a Member! Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: USA Posts: 56	make sure you go to a Mercedes authorized body shop. the adjuster will try to get you to go to one of the shops that work with him and these shops sometime replace parts with used or refurbished parts if they can. Get the maximum estimate you can from the Mercedes authorized shop, and save the paperwork so you can show it to future buyer if you decide to sell. __________________ SLK55 ///AMG Trying to get into an SLK55 Black Series:

12-29-2008, 03:01 AM	#8
ExtremeSpeed5 Almost a Member! Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: USA Posts: 56	thanks for the update and glad things have went smooth.... keep pushing for diminished value __________________ SLK55 ///AMG Trying to get into an SLK55 Black Series:

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11-11-2008, 08:43 AM	#3
ncamg Newbie Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 24	In Charlotte. Adjuster still hasn't shown up. Hopefully today.

12-27-2008, 06:18 PM	#6
ncamg Newbie Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 24	Sorry for the delay on the update of my off road adventure. Thanksgiving/Christmas slowed me down. Took the car to the local MB dealer and they fixed all the mechanical problems. This included: 1 front wheel 866.25 1 rear wheel 929.25 2 front tires (Michelin 225/40-18) 640.00 1 rear tire (Michelin 255/35-18) 396.00 1 front strut (204-330-44-11) 147.00 1 cross strut (204-330-20-11) 218.40 1 bearing AMG (203-333-02-14-27) 57.38 There were other miscellaneous parts and labor and alignment that added up to a total of $4500.00. There was also a $1021.00 bill to have the front bumper repaired and repainted, including a new front grill assembly (not damaged but difficult to R & R without damage). I used the body shop recommended by the MB dealer. The insurance company paid for everything except for $160.00 (1/2 of the left front tire which was not involved in the accident). I wanted both front tires replaced as a pair to eliminate any chance of pulling after the repair. It took about a week to shuttle between the MB dealer and the body shop. Everything seems alright. The front aligned within specs and there is no pulling or wheel vibration. In fact, I was surprised that everything was aligned and in balance on the first try. Even the steering wheel is dead-on centered!! The body shop had to reshoot the grill as the first paint was a little darker. He said that there are three different color codes for the same paint because of the different rates of fading. Anyway they got it right on the second time and the MB dealer let me use a loaner for the two days the car was at the auto body shop. Right now the one problem I have had is the SRS light has come on since the repair and they replaced something under warranty and it seems to have solved the problem, we will see. I filed for a diminished value claim with the insurance company and they seemed receptive to the concept. So far they have not come back with a counter offer. The MB dealer was helpful in the process by providing me with the KBB private sale value and most importantly the local Manheim auction value as they said they would most likely wholesale an AMG vehicle with a carfax history. I asked for the difference between the two values (about $7,000). All in all both the MB dealer and the body shop were easy to work with and got thing right or made them right with no hassles.