rear ended

3ps

My 1972 Merc was rear ended this A.M. I was sitting in a lights queue at the m1/m50 junction and some guy hit me. I didn't have the footbrake on but luckily I didn't move forward mutch... my foot was on the brake.

He didn't hit me that hard actually but when I got out it was obvious he needed a new bumper, new lights and perhaps a new wing. He from from the States driving a rental 06 VW Jetta.

I could not see one bit of damage to my car... the corner of the bumper was just embedded in his lights!

Anyway, he was fine and I was fine and apart from a few people shouting at us to get off the road it was all amicable. I'll fill in a report for notification purposes and I'll get the car checked out just in case but I think in this instance 1972 "built like a tank" technology won the battle!!

Max_Damage

Sorry to hear about that.

Nothing beats good ol' chrome bumpers, they could stop a tank. The crap that cars are made from nowadays is nothing compared to cars of old.

1275gt

great stuff!! i was dreading opening this thread thinking it was another horror story.

junkyard

I hope you called the cops?

3ps

no, i wan't hurt and he wasn't hurt. We swopped all info including personal details and I've notified my insurance company.

junkyard

Make sure you report the accident to the cops, he might be the nicest guy on the planet but you'd be surprised how some people change their story after a nights sleep, I see it every day.

icemanjimbo04

The car might be built like a tank alright, but if you were in a big crash you'd be fairly screwed..

But the car will be fine.

3ps

After closer inspection it appears that the rear light is cracked to the point of needing replacing. I don't know how I didn't notice it... it must have been a hairline crack that has gotten worse.

I don't know whether to just fix it myself and forget about it or whether to bother chasing insurance. I suppose if I get receipts etc I can just claim for the amount spent and if I get it then fine.

Dades

I'm surprised with the damage to the rental car there isn't even a dint on your chrome bumpers.

You might be better off just replacing the lamp yourself. Usually there's a big excess the person renting the car has to pay before any insurance kicks in. That may mean chasing him, rather than the rental company.

If the rear lamps are very pricey make the claim double-quick while the guy is still in the country.

mustang68

Do it yourself, because next time you go for your insurance and they ask: "have you been in an accident in the last five years?" you'll get hammered for insurance. I actually couldn't get a qutoe for a year after a guy wrote my car off and claimed liability.

1275gt

mustang68 wrote:

Do it yourself, because next time you go for your insurance and they ask: "have you been in an accident in the last five years?" you'll get hammered for insurance. I actually couldn't get a qutoe for a year after a guy wrote my car off and claimed liability.

EXACT same thing happened me man. Its a ^%@$ disgrace!!!

3ps

sigh.....

as I look at the car now it could be argued the bumper is slightly out of alignment... but the car is only new to me... I can't be sure that it wasn't like that before I got it. You would really have to be looking.

I really feel that the car is OK. It wasn't a massive impact. I think he was just unlucky the the corner of my massive bumper went straight into his lights and deformed the lightweight plastic bumper at the same time.

I can stand on and kick my bumpers and nothing happens to them!!
Theres 1 inch of rubber. 2-3 inches of chrome... then a gap of 1-2 inches before you get to the bodywork!

I'll just fix it myself.

MercMad

Its more than likely okay, save for the lamp, but check the body seams inside the boot, that they havent cracked and try to take a look underneath just in case !

Good luck !

andreas_220D

3ps wrote:

I really feel that the car is OK. It wasn't a massive impact. I think he was just unlucky the the corner of my massive bumper went straight into his lights and deformed the lightweight plastic bumper at the same time.

I've had such a "little" impact 2 years ago with another 200D/8. At first sight it looked like as if it only the broke the backlight and the deformed the bumper a little. A closer inspection in the boot and under the car showed a deformation. In the end i got 1500 Euro from the insurance. You'd better have your car inspected before you make any claims.

tc20

Sorry to hear about your bump 3ps, saw the thread title and was fearful...
hope it aint too much damage. I think i might know where you can get replacement lenses if you reckon you need em. PM me if you wish

Tony