I hit a ladder in the middle of the 405 North going 65-70mph!
08-12-2010, 01:41 PM
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MB C-300 Sport 2009 Manual Black XPIPE+Exhaust
I hit a ladder in the middle of the 405 North going 65-70mph!
Fellow Benz owner I need your help and advice.
Long story short. I was driving on the 405 at 8pm this past Monday in the middle of the freeway on the ground a double decker ladder folded in half i hit it pretty hard bounced off my car destroyed my left drivers side bumper went in took out my fog light my horn so now it sounds all wierd when i "honk" and i think from what i can tell it bent the subframe that holds the bumper! I went over to a body shop made an insurance claim becuase they had to replace the bumper, fog light, horn and other damages there might be when they take the bumper off. None of the parts couldn't been fixed, they already ordered the parts the car drives fine (it might be pulling a little to the right becuase of the alignment from the accident but not too bad)they told me no point to keep the car there until they receive all the part so told me to come back when they get the parts (i have Allstate the body shop I went to they are recommended shop by Allstate so the adjuster took the pics and ordered the parts already).
My questions to you guys is I am pretty sure the insurence will blame me for the ladder insident witch was clearly NOT my fault I will get a lawyer if they try to blame me for it (even though they agreed to fix it already ordered all the parts and will give me a rental while its at the shop)
the cop said that theres no point to make a police report becuase I didnt get the licence plate of the truck or have any info regarding the car or what make and model (i just saw that it was a pick up) so did the insurance people when i made the claim,they said no need for a police report since i already explained everything to them and made the claim. So any suggestions?
-I am sorry its this long but I tried to shorten the story as much as I can lol.
I got a couple of pics below from the ladder damage!
BTW: I taped the hole so nothing goes in while i drive and the cracked bumper the, mesh in the middle is cracked as well.
Long story short. I was driving on the 405 at 8pm this past Monday in the middle of the freeway on the ground a double decker ladder folded in half i hit it pretty hard bounced off my car destroyed my left drivers side bumper went in took out my fog light my horn so now it sounds all wierd when i "honk" and i think from what i can tell it bent the subframe that holds the bumper! I went over to a body shop made an insurance claim becuase they had to replace the bumper, fog light, horn and other damages there might be when they take the bumper off. None of the parts couldn't been fixed, they already ordered the parts the car drives fine (it might be pulling a little to the right becuase of the alignment from the accident but not too bad)they told me no point to keep the car there until they receive all the part so told me to come back when they get the parts (i have Allstate the body shop I went to they are recommended shop by Allstate so the adjuster took the pics and ordered the parts already).
My questions to you guys is I am pretty sure the insurence will blame me for the ladder insident witch was clearly NOT my fault I will get a lawyer if they try to blame me for it (even though they agreed to fix it already ordered all the parts and will give me a rental while its at the shop)
the cop said that theres no point to make a police report becuase I didnt get the licence plate of the truck or have any info regarding the car or what make and model (i just saw that it was a pick up) so did the insurance people when i made the claim,they said no need for a police report since i already explained everything to them and made the claim. So any suggestions?
-I am sorry its this long but I tried to shorten the story as much as I can lol.
I got a couple of pics below from the ladder damage!
BTW: I taped the hole so nothing goes in while i drive and the cracked bumper the, mesh in the middle is cracked as well.
Last edited by kirillbenz22; 08-12-2010 at 01:52 PM.
08-12-2010, 02:58 PM
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08-12-2010, 03:36 PM
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well thats the thing becuase I asked them should I make a police report becuase within the month you can still make a police report about the incident but they said its not necessary, plus if I make a police report they notify the DMV witch i dont want
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08-12-2010, 03:58 PM
#9
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An accident thats not your fault shouldn't make your insurance go up.
Not sure how this is any different than a hit and run. If a ladder fell off someone elses car and you hit it, it's not your fault. You're lucky that no one rear ended you after you hit it.
Not sure how this is any different than a hit and run. If a ladder fell off someone elses car and you hit it, it's not your fault. You're lucky that no one rear ended you after you hit it.
08-12-2010, 05:46 PM
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Exactly witch is what i wanted to know becuase if I tried to get out of the way to dodge it i could have endangered other drivers including myself!
08-12-2010, 05:54 PM
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i work for an insurance company as a claims rep...if you havent reported it yet tell them the ladder was still bouncing around or in air when it hit you...that still counts as a comprehensive claim. if you tell them you ran over it even though you couldnt avoid it, even if there were cars around you or if you had no where to go they WILL count it as a single car collision and they will count it against you and place you at fault raisng your rates...i have to tell people this at least 5 times a day...
as for the police report...unless you know who dropped the ladder and its on the police report the insurance company doesnt give a crap if you have one or not.
tell them the ladder was still moving around bouncing and it came into your lane...whatever you do do not tell them it was on thr 405 and you had no where to move other than to run it over...
if you have any insurance questions let me know.
as for the police report...unless you know who dropped the ladder and its on the police report the insurance company doesnt give a crap if you have one or not.
tell them the ladder was still moving around bouncing and it came into your lane...whatever you do do not tell them it was on thr 405 and you had no where to move other than to run it over...
if you have any insurance questions let me know.
08-12-2010, 05:58 PM
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01' w203 C320 and 08' w204 C350
if the object was on the road and you run it over its considered an at fault single car collision and even if it wasnt your fault that the ladder was there EVEN if you were trying to keep other drivers out of danger...the insurance company still places you at fault...trust me tell them it was still moving on the freeway and it came into your lane as it was still moving.
08-12-2010, 06:00 PM
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08-12-2010, 06:50 PM
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i work for an insurance company as a claims rep...if you havent reported it yet tell them the ladder was still bouncing around or in air when it hit you...that still counts as a comprehensive claim. if you tell them you ran over it even though you couldnt avoid it, even if there were cars around you or if you had no where to go they WILL count it as a single car collision and they will count it against you and place you at fault raisng your rates...i have to tell people this at least 5 times a day...
as for the police report...unless you know who dropped the ladder and its on the police report the insurance company doesnt give a crap if you have one or not.
tell them the ladder was still moving around bouncing and it came into your lane...whatever you do do not tell them it was on thr 405 and you had no where to move other than to run it over...
if you have any insurance questions let me know.
as for the police report...unless you know who dropped the ladder and its on the police report the insurance company doesnt give a crap if you have one or not.
tell them the ladder was still moving around bouncing and it came into your lane...whatever you do do not tell them it was on thr 405 and you had no where to move other than to run it over...
if you have any insurance questions let me know.
thank you very good advise i will let them know can i still call them to add to the story or is it too late if i already made the claim 2 days ago
08-13-2010, 01:02 AM
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I WAS THERE TOO! haha i changed to the middle lane like 1/2mile before the ladder was! i was so relieved that i have done that. traffic was heavy that time!
08-13-2010, 10:25 AM
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08-14-2010, 05:08 PM
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2010 C300 Sport, 2007 335i Sedan
Unless you have a license plate of the truck that dropped the ladder or the ladder itself has some identifying mark, there is no reason to file a police report.
Even if you did identify where the ladder came from, you'd likely still hold some fault in the accident. You are supposed to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you so that you can slow down and stop before hitting the vehicle if it stops fast or if it drops cargo, in no case should you have to swerve into other lanes. Neither your insurance company nor the CHP will accept any other excuse. The fact is that you were going too fast to see something sitting in the middle of the road to slow down or stop safely.
The best advice given was by the MROD81 who said that if you make a claim, make sure you mention that the ladder had just fallen or was struck by another car and was still moving when it bounced in your lane. Never say that it was just sitting there and you hit it. In that case, it's your fault whether you could swerve or not.
Maybe a good time to get a 2011 bumper instead if you like the new LED DRLs?
Even if you did identify where the ladder came from, you'd likely still hold some fault in the accident. You are supposed to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you so that you can slow down and stop before hitting the vehicle if it stops fast or if it drops cargo, in no case should you have to swerve into other lanes. Neither your insurance company nor the CHP will accept any other excuse. The fact is that you were going too fast to see something sitting in the middle of the road to slow down or stop safely.
The best advice given was by the MROD81 who said that if you make a claim, make sure you mention that the ladder had just fallen or was struck by another car and was still moving when it bounced in your lane. Never say that it was just sitting there and you hit it. In that case, it's your fault whether you could swerve or not.
Maybe a good time to get a 2011 bumper instead if you like the new LED DRLs?
