some tw@ hit my C43 AMG!!!

[ROBB]

Just because people happen to differ in opinion and defend their position as strongly as those of other beliefs, doesn't mean that they offer their opinions out of any feeling of superiority or self-righteousness.

maybe not - but that does not prevent it coming across as such......
just my 2p...

 

[andy_k]

nothing about being superior but if we think something doesn't quite add up then why shouldn't we be allowed to comment?

This may come as a surprise to some people but not everything you read on the internet is true

Not everybody tells the truth on forums either and so far the original poster's story has changed several times which means at least some of the so called "facts" were actually untrue. So, do we assume that he made a few innocent mistakes (such as a stationery car parked in the middle of the road to a car that was actually moving) and that all the other "facts" were true or do we wait until more so called "facts" are altered as the story evolves.

Do I have to believe everything I read on a forum? Nope

Am I allowed to express an opinion if I think something is untrue - Yep as far as I know I am. I don't see it contravening the forum rules as long as I'm being polite

Do I believe the original post - not for a second

Andy

 

[robert.saunders]

... some days you are the pigeon

 

[gina2201]

I feel for you, and hope things get sorted quickly whatever the outcome. Yes it's easy for everyone to say it's your fault, but no-one else apart for from you knows the true details, and we have all made simple albeit silly mistakes (well, I have, and I'm not afraid to admit it), sometimes you get away with it, others not. But I'm sure you will learn from it!

Good Luck

 

[crockers]

I feel for you, and hope things get sorted quickly whatever the outcome. Yes it's easy for everyone to say it's your fault, but no-one else apart for from you knows the true details, and we have all made simple albeit silly mistakes (well, I have, and I'm not afraid to admit it), sometimes you get away with it, others not. But I'm sure you will learn from it!

Good Luck

Good point - but one can only learn from ones mistakes if one at first accepts that they are mistakes....

 

[prprandall51]

It's good to see that Blackbeast is still frequenting the forum (his "thanks" to Gina, above) and has even offered his bonnet star to another unlucky forum member (though clearly that forum member - in only losing his star to vantdals - was not as unlucky as Blackbeast was).

Philip

 

[blackbeast]

nothing about being superior but if we think something doesn't quite add up then why shouldn't we be allowed to comment?

This may come as a surprise to some people but not everything you read on the internet is true

Not everybody tells the truth on forums either and so far the original poster's story has changed several times which means at least some of the so called "facts" were actually untrue. So, do we assume that he made a few innocent mistakes (such as a stationery car parked in the middle of the road to a car that was actually moving) and that all the other "facts" were true or do we wait until more so called "facts" are altered as the story evolves.

Do I have to believe everything I read on a forum? Nope

Am I allowed to express an opinion if I think something is untrue - Yep as far as I know I am. I don't see it contravening the forum rules as long as I'm being polite

Do I believe the original post - not for a second

Andy

Nothing untrue, just a muddled up way round of explaining something,
Miswrote, yes,

I am in two minds still at the moment wether to break it or sell it as it is. i am really destressed at most of the posts, and yes i do realise that i havent explaind myself totaly to the 'T' i surpose im not to good at explaining espeacially when typing on a forum a LONG write up. i guess the time it took me to type it all out i missed a few points out or got them muddled up in the wrong way of explaining.
I thought this type of forum would not of jumped down my throte so quick!!!

but hey.. ive had a few PM's now to tell me not to get to upset on peoples veiws and to just get on with explaining that...

I have a C43 AMG for maybe breaking or selling as it is.
Now i need to raise 3 grand in order to be able to replace my car. I valued my car at £10.000 on my insurrance, but the company did'nt pay out that. There is another C43 AMG i have found for sale. @ £9000 tho. I have £6000 from my insurrance payout, and my car back. So with what i can get back off my car will help replace my loved C43 amg model.

""Don't forget that unless the car goes to the insurance companies designated body-shop, they will insist on the vehicle being examined by their nominated insurance assessor. This person has a busy schedule and will just add the car to the list of jobs they have in hand.

Could you please let us know the name of this insurance company that conducts all its claims by telephone calls as four weeks ago my nephew wrote off his beautiful Jaguar coupe and he has still not been reimbursed.

I spoke to him last night about your claim

and it made him smile!!

John""

The assesor in my case obviously hadnt had a busy schedule or they have a number of assesor's.

They worked on my claim very well and quickly. Im very pleased with the service they've provided me so far and i cant complain about anything.

My insurrance company is Norwich Union, and i went through a broker online called Quote line. Im Fully Comp too. 28 yrs old @£778 i think £200 exsess.

Thanks Gina

Joby.

 

[crockers]

Fingers crossed for you at renewal.....BUT....if a similar car costs £9,000 why did you accept £6,000. Is the 9k car the same year and spec as yours or better?

 

[glojo]

Perhpas I could comment. The airbags only operate if an impact measuring more than 4gs has been achieved. To achieve such an impact, the closing speed would be a lot more than 10mph for starters. Given that. if the car truly had been involved in an accident that triggered the airbags, it is conceivable that it would have sustained enough damage to be declared a write-off. As a rider, I'd state that a car can be written off without the airbags being triggered.

But an insurance assessor will want to look at the car at a repairer nominated either by the insurance company or (if the owner is sensible) at an approved Mercedes repair outfit.

The repairer provides their own estimate which is generally available on-line for the insurance assessor to review too. But in ALL CASES, the assessor will have to inspect the vehicle. His inspection might only be enough to confirm that the repairer's estimate is correct, but he HAS to inspect it in order to write his report and then, and only then, will the insurance company take his recommendation to formally write-off the vehicle.

The insurance company then contacts the owner, informs them the car is written-off and then starts the game of them offering the owner the book price (CAP of course) for the car. As I understand it, the owner might expect a maximum of 3 offers, but don't quote me on that.

This whole process from repairer estimate through to assesor report can take some time. The repairer needs to allocate "ramp time" and then to prepare his estimate and the assessor then needs to be booked in and to complete his report.

I'd anticipate a minimum elapsed time of 2 weeks at the very best, but I have heard of situations where the insurance companies involved discuss blame and sort out the practicalities of "knock for knock".

Hi Rubystone,
I think those that make the objectionable 'moral high ground' allegations should read your excellent and very informative post, then read it again before passing judgement. My nephew is into the fourth week and still waiting. I agree about us not witnessing the incident and my only comment about that is to say about being able to:

Stop within the distance that you can see to be safe.

I make no apologies for continually repeating this and for everyone that thinks I am taking the moral high ground.... Then I suggest they think very long and very hard about their own driving abilities and I respectfully say this because of the following:

Where I live once we walk away from our avenue we are then onto a narrowish country lane with very high banks and NO footpaths. There are numerous walkers, sight see-ers etc that use this lane and there will always be the odd IDIOT that comes around a blind bend, only to be confronted by an oncoming car AND a pedestrian. So far there have not been any fatalities, but there are numerous incidents like we are reading about on this thread. That is drifting off topic though and I will simply ask rubystone if he knows of a circumstance where a car is involved in an accident, gets taken back to the owners home address, not seen by any assessor and wrote off straight away and a cheque issued all within two working days. If the answer is yes, then I am guilty as accused. If however the answer is no, then perhaps I am guilty of giving an honest answer to a question posted on this forum?

If the author had said,

Hi gang,
I had an accident last Thursday, the car is a write-off and now I'm thinking of selling the vehicle for scrap, or I might sell the parts individually?

I for one, hand on heart would offer this person my sympathies and note the type of vehicle involved which is an ecellent specimen and pass on my commiserations. I certainly would not poke my nose onto the why's and wherefore's of the incident, nor would I take the moral high ground. I'm sure just like others, I would mourn the loss of another irreplacable C43 and wish the owner better luck in the future and I'm sure I would not have been alone in expressing tghose sympathies. I have never met this person and have not formed an opinion about them, I am merely responding to a slightly contraversial posting.

If I were a betting man I would suspect the owner might only be insured third party and is doing thier very best to recoup some of their money? That is a guess and only an opinion but who really cares? What I find distasteful though is to be critiicised for voicing a few legimate points about the original post. We are after all a very friendly bunch of car enthusiats and can be extremely supportive in times of woe? In a way it is sad that there has been such a reaction, but I believe it was to be expected when you read and digest what was said in the first post.

John

 

[blackbeast]

thanks mate, it is the same year but with 52K miles and a few extras like sunroof, an ex demo car too and best of course...one owner.

Joby.

 

[crockers]

John

Its not so much the post but also the heading.....but he has said he gets confused writing long posts and from the grammar etc it may be that he isnt expressing himself as well as one should.

My confusion is accepting £6k when a replacement car would cost £9k....unless the £9k is younger, lower mileage and better condition.

All I know is NEVER accept an insurance company's first offer. If you can PROVE that to replace like with like will cost £xk then stick to your guns and you will get close to £xk.

:bannana:


Now answered .........

 

[blackbeast]

John

Its not so much the post but also the heading.....but he has said he gets confused writing long posts and from the grammar etc it may be that he isnt expressing himself as well as one should.

My confusion is accepting £6k when a replacement car would cost £9k....unless the £9k is younger, lower mileage and better condition.

All I know is NEVER accept an insurance company's first offer. If you can PROVE that to replace like with like will cost £xk then stick to your guns and you will get close to £xk.

:bannana:


Now answered .........

i must admit my speech/grammer , upbringing, etc was'nt the best but as an adult i try the best i can.
I've Never had to make a claim before on insurrance, and i didnt realise that i could of asked for a better price, or i would of!!! that i have learned from now on.

Thank you.

The C43 AMG i will be making a deal with is a 52K T-reg'99. with one owner and sunroof, and is an ex demo car.

Joby.

 

[Mosselmann]

opps- I'd be ****** of to if I crashed into a van

 

[blackbeast]

i was very upset! 1 of 300 wasnt it? for the UK spec models.

Joby

 

[blackbeast]

OK, if I've offended you or criticised you without knowing the facts then i'm sorry

Your repairer/insurance company are pretty effeicient to say the least but as you said the garage had the car at the weekend I suppose they had time to do the assessment and all the other paperwork then deliver the car back to you today

I wish my local garages were half as good as that






Just one last thing though (in true Columbo fashion)





If the garage had the car at the weekend how come you managed to take a picture of it on Sunday evening using your sony phone at just before 6pm?






Andy

Hi Andy,

It would of been Thursday 25th around the 6pm, and my phone is a Nokia 6500, the sony erricson is my 14 yr old brothers phone and i doubt he has even set it up right yet, except for the time.

Perhpas I could comment. The airbags only operate if an impact measuring more than 4gs has been achieved. To achieve such an impact, the closing speed would be a lot more than 10mph for starters. Given that. if the car truly had been involved in an accident that triggered the airbags, it is conceivable that it would have sustained enough damage to be declared a write-off. As a rider, I'd state that a car can be written off without the airbags being triggered.

But an insurance assessor will want to look at the car at a repairer nominated either by the insurance company or (if the owner is sensible) at an approved Mercedes repair outfit.

The repairer provides their own estimate which is generally available on-line for the insurance assessor to review too. But in ALL CASES, the assessor will have to inspect the vehicle. His inspection might only be enough to confirm that the repairer's estimate is correct, but he HAS to inspect it in order to write his report and then, and only then, will the insurance company take his recommendation to formally write-off the vehicle.

The insurance company then contacts the owner, informs them the car is written-off and then starts the game of them offering the owner the book price (CAP of course) for the car. As I understand it, the owner might expect a maximum of 3 offers, but don't quote me on that.

This whole process from repairer estimate through to assesor report can take some time. The repairer needs to allocate "ramp time" and then to prepare his estimate and the assessor then needs to be booked in and to complete his report.

I'd anticipate a minimum elapsed time of 2 weeks at the very best, but I have heard of situations where the insurance companies involved discuss blame and sort out the practicalities of "knock for knock".

Yes this was dealt with the inssurrance company, they decided who picked the car up and where it went for examing, the repairer and for the assesors to do what they had to do.

Absolutly correct

Yes this is right but i was unaware of three offers.

this is not the case here, i must of had a bit of luck there then.

 

[cjab98]

My insurrance company is Norwich Union, and i went through a broker online called Quote line. Im Fully Comp too. 28 yrs old @£778 i think £200 exsess.

Wow your insurance is pretty good! I'm also 28 and have a C43 AMG, but the best insurance I could find was £1150 fully comp and an excess of £650, also via a broker.
I'll have to give Quote line a try, see if they're any better. I know there's other things they take into account, but I've never made a claim and live in a reasonably safe part of the country. The car is garaged too, so should be able to get it for a bit less...

 

[gangsta se]

if your looking for a sympathy vote come to the mbclub theres absolutely "NONE" LOLLOL

 

[Moose]

As a rider, I'd state that a car can be written off without the airbags being triggered.

Absolutely correct

But in ALL CASES, the assessor will have to inspect the vehicle. His inspection might only be enough to confirm that the repairer's estimate is correct, but he HAS to inspect it in order to write his report and then, and only then, will the insurance company take his recommendation to formally write-off the vehicle.

Also correct

... and then starts the game of them offering the owner the book price (CAP of course) for the car. As I understand it, the owner might expect a maximum of 3 offers, but don't quote me on that.

Hmmm...

This whole process from repairer estimate through to assesor report can take some time. The repairer needs to allocate "ramp time" and then to prepare his estimate and the assessor then needs to be booked in and to complete his report.

I'd anticipate a minimum elapsed time of 2 weeks at the very best, but I have heard of situations where the insurance companies involved discuss blame and sort out the practicalities of "knock for knock".

After working in the body repair industry for 20 odd years at all levels I ended up working as an insurance engineer for a while.
Different insurance companies have different workflow to process but where I worked, I never needed to leave my desk to do my job.

Take a typical scenario:
1) 10:00 am - Car recovered to bodyshop
2) 10:30 am - Damage has been estimated and uploaded (estimate plus images, video etc) to system
3) 11:30 am - Engineer (me) has inspected the estimate and associated images. There may be a phone call to the repairer to clarify some points / ask for more pics of certain areas etc. Go ahead given verbally.
4) 11:45 am - The whole thing is rubber stamped

Conceivably within 2 hours of the vehicle arriving at an approved repairer, work can commence.

Note also that to qualify for being an approved repairer, certain estimating systems were required so that the estimated figures should work out the same as the insurance companys. Also, a working relationship was encouraged between approved bodyshop managers and the engineer. This minimised 'ambitious' estimates.

If a car was deemed uneconomical to repair; it is not a case of dishing out CAP or Glass' trade price at all. It's also a phallacy that you can reject the offer x number of times to 'haggle' the price up.
We spent anything up to an hour checking the value according to (at a minimum):

Glass' guide
CAP
Parkers
Autotrader

Naturally the CAP and Glass guide are the most accurate. The reason behind checking Parkers is because that is what 99% of customers are going to check when informed that their car is a write-off. Autotrader and similar was also checked for similar examples to get a feel for the current market for that vehicle.
When the inevitable phone call disputed the value (usually quoting Parkers 'top' price) we had photo copies on file of all the relevant 'evidence' supporting our evaluation and the offer will NOT budge one penny.... Unless you can prove the car is worth more, i.e. providing evidence previously unknown to the engineer, service history, recent receipts etc etc

This is the way 'we' worked. I'm sure other insurance companies are different but I would be surprised if they are that different. No company is going to give you more money just because you asked for it.

Also, for what it's worth. Studying the original images of this thread; in my opinion, I would suggest that to cause damage to this extent would imply a speed quite a bit greater than first mentioned, especially as the other vehicle was stationary... or was it.

Just my 2p worth. Take it or leave it

 

[SG CL500]

I can add some comments on the insurance claim as I used to work in the industry. Insurance companies have always had a bad reputation for handling claims - some deserved this more than others. There are some very good companies out there and there has been a recognition recently that the added administration costs spent faffing about with disputed claims regularly exceed the disputed amounts - hence with an incident where there is no query over fault, no personal injury and no significant third party claim several companies are simply avoiding the administration and sorting claims very quickly.

The OP's timeline does seem quick - but I can beat it with my own claim (as I said, I worked in the industry and didnt' have to quibble the settlement ). Some insurance co.'s have disseminated authority to garages to write off cars in clear cut cases - if you think about it this is partially self regulating as it is not in the interest of the garage to write off the vehicle! This way they avoid nasty add on costs such as storage and courtesy cars etc.

I will add in a warning here (that isn't relevant in this case as the OP has been deemed to be at fault). If you have a non-fault accident and battle with the insurance company for greater value for your car, you may well get more money. However, if the insurance company does not manage to recover all that value from the other insurance company (i.e. you moan so much you get > market value and the third party insurance refuses to cover all that) then your no claims bonues will be affected.

Blackbeast - I won't comment on the driving as it is an emotive subject and we're only getting one side anyway. I am glad you are OK and I hope you get everything sorted out ASAP.

That said - I agree with Andy - the OP invites comments from starting the post - so long as those comments are polite, and preferably constructive, then I don't see a problem.

(And I've now seen that the post took me so long to write that Moose has covered off some of my points )

 

[C43AMG]

i was very upset! 1 of 300 wasnt it? for the UK spec models.

Joby

406.