It is funny that you said that, because thats sorta what I said to myself when this happened. I wished he had hit my fender, or hood so I could have him pay for those to be cleaned up and painted. My bumpers are great (were great.)

My younger brother and I spent countless hours driving our gas powered go-carts as kids. I think those long hours helped with our driving skills as teens as they are literally mini cars.

Oh well, I am online now trying to make an appointment to have the work done. Many places are like a week, or two out for even having something available.

 

Now I know why you want to depart ways with the MM — you can’t bear the thought of something like this happening to your beloved car!

 

@ThatsMyDawg you need to remember to disable your cloaking device when parking! Why Mercedes ever offered that option, I’ll never know.

 

I need to get a less beautiful car/truck to drive around in. Clearly people are so mesmerized by black beauty that they cannot concentrate while parking in its vicinity.

Funny how my insurance company has not been able to reach the guy that backed into me yet. I work 7 days per week, but I easily return calls within the hour with ease. How exactly do you go all day without returning the insurance companies call?
Nobody is that busy.

 

Kinda late now, but did you get his actual insurance info, a picture of his license, a picture of his car, a police report, a picture of the rental car plates, or anything that your insurance can use?

I hate to say it, but if not, it’s doubtful they’ll ever find the guy. When it comes to these things, I trust no one, no matter how nice they appear.

Once, this elderly lady accidentally put her car in reverse and backed into my son’s car at a stop light. Super nice and sweet, but by the time he talked to me and called his insurance, she had already called it in claiming that he hit her. Not until we told her that he had a dash cam and had her hitting him on video did she change her story. Of course, we had no such recording.

 

That’s certainly a part of it. I ordered my 2004 SL500 new and kept it for 12 years. When I sold it, it only had 22,000 miles on it and was like brand new. It still had the original tires on it, which was dumb, but I never drove it hard and they seemed fine. Here are a couple of photos I took right before I sold it. It was as clean underneath as it was inside! My 2019 makes this car look filthy!

With my 2019 SL450, I am driving it even less, like 1,000 miles per year. That and my lack of garage space makes me feel that it needs a new owner. Oh well.

 

I got his insurance, his car info, a pic of his tag, his cell # ( I texted him at the time and saw it go through) . No pic of his license, but a pic of him from the back as he was in frame while I snapped a pic of his tag. I didn’t get a police report, but technically I still can get one.

My insurance told me he has not yet been as helpful as he could be and they are waiting on some info from him. We will see.

 

Good to hear that wasn’t your first rodeo. I always ask for blood type and place of birth, too. 🤪

So, your insurance was able to finally get ahold of him? He’ll probably claim you were illegally parked. I just don’t trust people who start acting shady.

 

Yes, my insurance spoke with him. He cannot claim I was parked illegally, because my car was on camera parked legally. Still waiting to see if the camera picked up the accident.

As it stands, he did not use his personal insurance for the rental car (we have confirmed that) so that means either he opted in for the insurance that the rental car offers you at rental time, or someone else rented the car and he was driving it, or he has some other insurance.

My insurance tried to file a claim against his insurance (we have his insurance info), but they denied that request, because he did not use his insurance for the rental car. (this is confirmed) My insurance is waiting for him to provide whatever the info is. He does not want to provide the rental contract to the rental car. (bad sign) I know to get a copy of the rental agreement, but I was working and was trying to get back to work and did not. I have not texted him yet, was trying to give him a little time to do the right thing...Plus I do not want to come off as a hot head.

He is clearly not trying to be honorable.
It may be a crime if he provided insurance that wasn't used on the car he has rented, or driving. It may not be, but if he hasnt given my insurance the information they are asking by morning I am going to take it to the next level with whatever I can.

12:30pm Update-
My insurance just called and said he did file with his insurance and he provided a claim # to my insurance. I will update when I hear the next steps...


5pm Update-
Was able to get a police report. My insurance guy said to get one if I could. I also went and got an estimate on the repairs. About 1K.
Probably wont hear anything back from the other drivers insurance for days.
Updates to follow.

 

Interesting. I would check the laws in the state where he lives. Seems to me his liability is tied to his driver’s license and whenever he’s driving regardless if the car was rented or not. The only time I could see his insurance not covering the damage is if he were committing a crime.

Of course, I’m sure your insurance will do what they need to get the money from him. But in that case, you are on the hook for your deductible.

 

Streamliner - don't know if you've seen this recently posted photo by MB - here it is for you - Enjoy.

 

Kinda my namesake—and yours! Thanks!

 

He is from VA. Car rental is from VA and his phone number is from VA. Gonna wait and see what the next thing to happen is.
Update: He likely lives in VA now, but the address on the insurance is in NC. Likely due to him being former military and moving around.

 

Yah, but does it have airmatic?

 

lol......

 

WOW. Drop dead gorgeous. What is the year & model?

 

I believe that is a 1938 540K Stormlinienwagen or “STREAMLINER!”
They only made one. I believe it is in the MB Museum.

 

Update-
Seems the guy actually does have honor after all. He admitted hitting my car to his insurance. His personal insurance left me a voice mail today basically saying he admitted to being at fault, so there is no issue there at all they said. They are just trying to figure out who is paying for my car and a rental. I called them back and they repeated the same.

The rental car was provided by his work, so they (the insurances companies) are trying to figure out should the work insurance policy cover my damages, or should his personal policy cover them. I don't care as long as one of them is paying. His personal insurance is who called me. The guy who hit me texted me trying to pay me directly, but that changed soon as I told him the cost and that I needed a rental. He continues to apologize and just wants this to be resolved.

Just a waiting game now, but glad it just comes down to who is paying and not he said she said.

 

Perhaps this was mentioned earlier in this thread and I don't know if it is too late, but some states, including Colorado where I live, allow a "diminished value claim" in addition to the cost of repairs. Suggest you contact Monica at AUTOLOSS.COM -- monica@autoloss.com or call at 877-655-1661. You may be able to collect another $10,000 or more due to the lower value of your car due to repairs and your state laws. It may be too late if you have signed any release paperwork.

 

Each state is a little different. He may have a case against the other driver, but there are only a few states (Georgia being one) that allow you to claim diminished value against your own insurance. I'm not sure what it takes, but if you have to involve a lawyer, there goes netting anything from any award.

I don't believe Maryland allows claims against one's own insurance. Dawg would have to go against the other driver and then I'm sure his insurance would fight it.

 

it was mentioned in the original postings. Where I am they usually agree to a diminished value if there is frame damage. I guess I could check since nothing has been resolved yet.

 

I highly recommend that the victim here file a diminished value claim. A car that has been damaged and repaired—ESPECIALLY a semi-special interest car like an SL—truly loses value when damaged to the point of needing paint repairs. I did it on an E Class sedan in California and got $3,500.00. Damage was a fender-bender, but I made a good argument supporting my claim.

 

Yep it would only be applicable if it is a claim against a 3rd party's insurance -- not your own insurance -- and only if you were in no way at fault in causing the damage.

 

Yes, make the loss of value claim against the carrier who insured the driver.

 

Yes, I will inform my agent Monday that I would like to do that. I was in no way at fault. My car was legally parked in a proper space.The other driver hit the parked car. They have already admitted to their insurance that they were 100% to blame.