Share my pain
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Share my pain
Last weekend i let my girlfriend drive my clk430 and she totalled the car. Basically the traction was turned off whic was my fault and when she stepped on the gas the roads were wet so the car spun and by the time it regained control she panicked and veered it to the right going around 30 mph right into a parked suv. The impact was so strong the car spun around and hit two other parked cars. I wasnt wearing a seatbelt and got cuts and gashes all over my face but the real pain is my car is now gone. The insurance is claiming it a total loss but they wont pay my aftermarket parts which included the Carlsson rims, exhaust, tinting, grills, etc.. Thought id share this with everyone. Im never letting a biatch drive my car again. Heres a pic
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You got cuts & gashes from the interior, at 30mph? The windshield is not even damaged it appears. Makes you think twice now about buckling up, especially for those of us who don't always buckle up, especially at high speeds.
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2001 CLK 55 AMG
Sorry to hear about your car and we're all glad that you and your, er, um, current girlfriend are ok. I sometimes let my gf drive mine and she's not a very good driver. I think I won't let her do that anymore after seeing your car. 
I'm curious about all the legendary MB safety equipment that's supposed to protect you. Did your airbags deploy? What did you get cut on? What was it like in slow motion?
I'm curious about all the legendary MB safety equipment that's supposed to protect you. Did your airbags deploy? What did you get cut on? What was it like in slow motion?
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: San Diego
99' SLK 230 & 01' CLK 430
Just glad to see you both are alright. Those who put aftermarket parts in their's car must report and ask for an addition coverage from the insurance. If not, they won't replace it. Well, all you can do now is to remove all the aftermarket and sell what you can. The wheel still look o.k and the exhaust is un-touch.
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From: Florida
2002 CLK 55 AMG Coupe ;)
...I wasnt wearing a seatbelt and got cuts and gashes all over my face but the real pain is my car is now gone.
The insurance is claiming it a total loss but they wont pay my aftermarket parts which included the Carlsson rims, exhaust, tinting, grills, etc...
The insurance is claiming it a total loss but they wont pay my aftermarket parts which included the Carlsson rims, exhaust, tinting, grills, etc...
Sorry for your wake-up call. Count your blessings that you and girlfrind are alive and hopefully kicking well. There is always a siver lining:
1.You are well, most important!
2.The loss of your mods, - aftermarket parts,- could have been much more...
Welcome back.
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Thread Starter
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Airbag question
Ive been pondering over this for the whole week. I asked a mercedes guy why the airbags didnt depoly and he told me certain angles dont activate it. Supposedly there are sensors in certain areas and depending on where i hit the airbags will or will not deploy. In this case, i find it ridiculous that it didnt deploy. I meant what the hell does it take? The car is completely crushed from the front. I was told by the auto body repair guy that sueing will not get you jack cause there are alot of cases like this and none of them have been successful. What is everyones take on it? I suppose i cant sue unless i was permanently disabled because of the failure of the airbag to deploy. And since i am not there is no grounds for a sue. Heres another pic.
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From: Ca
96 P993T, 00 E55, 09 SL63
Seat belt importance
Cliff:
Just be grateful that you and your girlfriend are OK (most important)
I believe there has been documented case that air bag deployment in frontal impacts can be dangerous when the front seat belts are not used.
Hopefully there won't be another next time but please wear your seatbelt
Just be grateful that you and your girlfriend are OK (most important)
I believe there has been documented case that air bag deployment in frontal impacts can be dangerous when the front seat belts are not used.
Hopefully there won't be another next time but please wear your seatbelt
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Scottsdale (aka The Surface of the Sun)
Cliff,
Very sorry for your loss, I also lost a car this year so I know how you feel! As everyone else has said - just count your stars that you and your lady are ok!
As for the mods - FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT! The insurance company will of course try to get out of paying - that is what insurance companies try to do. Stick to your guns and get them to step up to the plate - they will eventually do the right thing.
Please let me know if you need any help!
Thanks
Brad
Very sorry for your loss, I also lost a car this year so I know how you feel! As everyone else has said - just count your stars that you and your lady are ok!
As for the mods - FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT! The insurance company will of course try to get out of paying - that is what insurance companies try to do. Stick to your guns and get them to step up to the plate - they will eventually do the right thing.
Please let me know if you need any help!
Thanks
Brad
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From: Boston, MA
2001 CLK
Insurance Valuation
Cliffe, sorry for your loss. I had the same airbag problem with my acura legend a few years ago. They didnt deploy becuase the sensors were behind the bumper.
Since we're on this subject, what would the valuation on the car be from the insurance company? Just curious if they jip you or not. ANd what year and mileage on the car?
Thanks
Jose
Since we're on this subject, what would the valuation on the car be from the insurance company? Just curious if they jip you or not. ANd what year and mileage on the car?
Thanks
Jose
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From: Florida
2002 CLK 55 AMG Coupe ;)
Re: Airbag question
Originally posted by Clifflee
Ive been pondering over this for the whole week. I asked a mercedes guy why the airbags didnt depoly and he told me certain angles dont activate it. Supposedly there are sensors in certain areas and depending on where i hit the airbags will or will not deploy. In this case, i find it ridiculous that it didnt deploy. I meant what the hell does it take? The car is completely crushed from the front. I was told by the auto body repair guy that sueing will not get you jack cause there are alot of cases like this and none of them have been successful. What is everyones take on it? I suppose i cant sue unless i was permanently disabled because of the failure of the airbag to deploy. And since i am not there is no grounds for a sue. Heres another pic.
Ive been pondering over this for the whole week. I asked a mercedes guy why the airbags didnt depoly and he told me certain angles dont activate it. Supposedly there are sensors in certain areas and depending on where i hit the airbags will or will not deploy. In this case, i find it ridiculous that it didnt deploy. I meant what the hell does it take? The car is completely crushed from the front. I was told by the auto body repair guy that sueing will not get you jack cause there are alot of cases like this and none of them have been successful. What is everyones take on it? I suppose i cant sue unless i was permanently disabled because of the failure of the airbag to deploy. And since i am not there is no grounds for a sue. Heres another pic.
Judging the impact from the pix, they should have popped at a 30 mph impact, - unless the deployment is contingent upon a fastened seatbelt, which I doubt. Did the driver's side airbags deploy?
Perhaps the childseat/airbag defeat feature, - if your car has it, - was turned on?
Clifflee -
I would check with MBUSA: 1-800-FOR-MERC.
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From: Bloomington, IN
1997 Toyota Tacoma 4x4
You weren't wearing your seatbelt, thats why the airbag didn't deploy. The car didn't do anything wrong. The car used several sensors in this crash. The seat-occupied sensor pad built into the seat cushion saw that the seat was occupied, however the switch built into the seatbelt buckle saw that you didn't have your seatbelt on, so the car couldn't help you. Deploying the airbag may have killed you in this accident, which is much worse than cuts and gashes.
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From: Boston, MA and Hong Kong
E350, S320, Mini Cooper S
Clifflee,
I am sorry to hear this. Luckily it was a 30mph crash, otherwise.... Please remember to wear seat belt next time. My girlfriends and her two other friends got into a BIG accident but they were all fine (only little cuts from broken glasses) because of seatbelt.
I am sorry to hear this. Luckily it was a 30mph crash, otherwise.... Please remember to wear seat belt next time. My girlfriends and her two other friends got into a BIG accident but they were all fine (only little cuts from broken glasses) because of seatbelt.
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Airbag
MB tech. That makes sense. According to you the airbag did not deploy because i was not wearing a seatbelt. I can see why its dangerous for airbags to deploy when a seatbelt is nor worn. But why is it that the drivers side airbag did not deploy either? My gf was wearing a seatbelt. Granted the damage was alot more severe on the left side it was still a front impact and according to you the airbags should have deployed for the drivers side because a seatbelt was being worn. Seems to me there was something wrong either with this cars airbags or the sensors. Because if that is the case then mercedes has done a poor job on collision safety measures.
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From: Boston, MA and Hong Kong
E350, S320, Mini Cooper S
Here's another one
What happen was they were driving on highway and then the car hit the rail, then the car skid down the railings 25 feet or so and went up 25 feet in the air and rolled down like 100 feet down the hill...540 degrees. The car was upside down when it landed, the two pictures are taken on the next day when it was flipped by one of those trucking guy with those machine.
I know it sounded like one of those movie scene, I also couldn't believe it when I recieve the phone my girlfriend when it happened, but it's a true story (glad that I wasn't there, look at the rear, one side was crushed!!!), so remember seatbelts do save lives.
What happen was they were driving on highway and then the car hit the rail, then the car skid down the railings 25 feet or so and went up 25 feet in the air and rolled down like 100 feet down the hill...540 degrees. The car was upside down when it landed, the two pictures are taken on the next day when it was flipped by one of those trucking guy with those machine.
I know it sounded like one of those movie scene, I also couldn't believe it when I recieve the phone my girlfriend when it happened, but it's a true story (glad that I wasn't there, look at the rear, one side was crushed!!!), so remember seatbelts do save lives.
Last edited by sorlo; Apr 23, 2002 at 12:04 AM.
Member
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2001 CLK 55 AMG
Clifflee, cheer up and think of it this way. That car wreck could have saved your life. My first wreck, rolling a pickup without a seatbelt and getting 20 stitches in my face, taught me the hard way about seatbelts. I've been in a few wrecks since, including a 1,800 degree (5x) roll over and luckily I was strapped in and walked away w/o a scratch. Sometimes I wonder if I would have been belted up in that bad accident if I hadn't had the first accident without the belt. Kinda makes you go hmmmm.
With the crappy CLK 55 market, you might just get an upgrade once you get the insurance payout.
And, hey, that accident didn't go on *your* driving record, right???
With the crappy CLK 55 market, you might just get an upgrade once you get the insurance payout.
And, hey, that accident didn't go on *your* driving record, right???
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From: Bloomington, IN
1997 Toyota Tacoma 4x4
Re: Airbag
Originally posted by Clifflee
MB tech. That makes sense. According to you the airbag did not deploy because i was not wearing a seatbelt. I can see why its dangerous for airbags to deploy when a seatbelt is nor worn. But why is it that the drivers side airbag did not deploy either? My gf was wearing a seatbelt. Granted the damage was alot more severe on the left side it was still a front impact and according to you the airbags should have deployed for the drivers side because a seatbelt was being worn. Seems to me there was something wrong either with this cars airbags or the sensors. Because if that is the case then mercedes has done a poor job on collision safety measures.
MB tech. That makes sense. According to you the airbag did not deploy because i was not wearing a seatbelt. I can see why its dangerous for airbags to deploy when a seatbelt is nor worn. But why is it that the drivers side airbag did not deploy either? My gf was wearing a seatbelt. Granted the damage was alot more severe on the left side it was still a front impact and according to you the airbags should have deployed for the drivers side because a seatbelt was being worn. Seems to me there was something wrong either with this cars airbags or the sensors. Because if that is the case then mercedes has done a poor job on collision safety measures.
