Ran a red by accident...smashed my Mark

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Wouldn't you know it. I'm just about finished modding my Mark, and I smash it. I was coming up to a red light, and when it appeared to turn green, I stepped back on the accelerator. Well, the green was for the people turning left. So I T-Boned this Mercedes. Our cars must be tanks because I came out a lot better than they did. No one got hurt, in fact the airbags in the Mark did very well. Not even a stiff neck. I was able to step on the brake about 20 yards before impact, so I think I got down to about 20 mph. There doesn't seem to be anything mechanically wrong with the car, so hopefully it won't get totalled.

What gets me is how I could have sworn my light turned green. I must be getting Alzheimers or something. I'm trying to figure out how this could have been prevented. I guess I'll have to start driving like an old man from now on.

I have an insurance question that some of you might now the answer to. Being that I have done some expensive mods to my car over the last couple years, I called my insurance company a few weeks ago asking to have my car's total value bumped up to account for the upgrades. The guy said I would need the receipts, which I have, but that he would need to speak to his supervisor about the details. He said he would get back to me, but he never did. Now my dad says that based on that phone conversation, I am covered. He said that the moment I asked for the extra protection, that I would be covered until THEY REFUSE to accomodate my request. HE went on to say that life insurance is the same way. If someone were to call an insurance company asking for life insurance and they end up dying a half hour later (for acceptable reasons) without signing anything, they are still covered. Can anyone confirm or refute this?
 
RE: Ran a red by accident...smashed my Mark

that life insurance bit is definitely BS. as for your cars value, you may be able to get a little extra. But that would depend on the insurance company. They might also tell you to go to hell. I know some insurance companies won't cover it if you make changes to the drivetrain to improve acceleration. and most mods won't actually increase the cars value.

I've had that happen many times, where the light for the left turn or the right turn turns green, and i just go. Luckily i've always been able to catch myself, or gotten lucky on traffic, when doing that.
 
RE: Ran a red by accident...smashed my Mark

I'd guess that by you tee-boning the Merc that your front end is toast, and replacing the air bags alone would put the car in the totaled column. Glad you survived the wreck. Sheet metal can be replaced. Good thing it wasn't a semi or something. I had an uncle who hit a garbage truck that shot out of an alley into the street. He was driving a big caddy and the garbage truck actually rolled onto its side. Nothing like having big iron around you.
 
RE: Ran a red by accident...smashed my Mark

As long as you have receipts for all of your modifications, you will be reimbursed, regardless of the insurance company, if you had full coverage. If you onlyu had Liability, I would not hold my breath.
 
RE: Ran a red by accident...smashed my Mark

some insurance companies, if you show them a reciept for a modified motor, won't cover you AT ALL. so read your policy first. including your declarations page.
 
RE: Ran a red by accident...smashed my Mark

How do you "accidentally" run a red light? Is that the same thing as "not paying attention" while driving? Just wondering....
 
RE: Ran a red by accident...smashed my Mark

That's the scary part...I wasn't fooling around with anything, I wasn't in a hurry, I wasn't tired. I was just rolling up, thought my light turned green, so went on ahead. Just before I hit, I looked up at the light and was utterly shocked to see that it was red. Honest to God truth. My mind/eyes totally betrayed me on this one.
 
RE: Ran a red by accident...smashed my Mark

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
As long as you have receipts for all of your modifications, you will be reimbursed, regardless of the insurance company, if you had full coverage. If you onlyu had Liability, I would not hold my breath.
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Cool. I have full coverage (100/300 liability, 100 property (for hitting Mercedes), and 1,000 deductible on both collision and comprehensive) and I have most of the important receipts.
 
RE: Ran a red by accident...smashed my Mark

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
I'd guess that by you tee-boning the Merc that your front end is toast, and replacing the air bags alone would put the car in the totaled column. Glad you survived the wreck. Sheet metal can be replaced. Good thing it wasn't a semi or something. I had an uncle who hit a garbage truck that shot out of an alley into the street. He was driving a big caddy and the garbage truck actually rolled onto its side. Nothing like having big iron around you.
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I was able to take a look at the damage a little more and it appears that there is no mechanical damage, and only the front passenger frame was smashed in about 2-3 inches. Radiator wasn't touched. Even the drivers side headlight survived. And I don't think I actually T-Boned them because I had actually spun them out. I hit them at about a 70 degree angle. My hood, passenger fender, grill, and front bumper will need to be replaced as well as the airbags. Funny thing is, my insurance company puts the value of my car at about $7K (before mods) for totalling purposes. Not sure why. Based on this, am I totalled?
 
RE: Ran a red by accident...smashed my Mark

yep, it's probably totaled. and you hope it is.
 
RE: Ran a red by accident...smashed my Mark

You know, believe it or not... there is a light near me that will turn green for about 30 seconds, go directly back to red (no yellow) for 7-8 seconds and then back to green for a minute or so...

The first time it did it to me, I thought I was seeing things, as I was coming up to the light, I watched it turn green, so I just proceeded up to the light, right as I'm about to enter the intersection, I notice it's red. I slam on my brakes (no one was behind me) just manage to stop the car before totally entering the intersection, I came to rest blocking the cross walk. Just as the back end of the car drops from the panic stop, the light turns green again.

I go away thinking that I must have imagined the light being green. I curse a few times and go on my way.

Not a week later, I damn near rear end a guy because the light did the same thing and he panic stops at the foot of the intersection. Once again, we had just come to a complete stop when the light turns green.

So since then I've watched the light do it at least 3 more times, and I ignore it. When it really turns red, the yellow light comes on first for about 45 seconds prior to the red. So if I see the red just flash on with no yellow, I keep going. Oddly, none of the other lights at this intersection seem to be effected, just the one in the direction I'm most often traveling... of course...

-J :7
 
RE: Ran a red by accident...smashed my Mark

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
yep, it's probably totaled. and you hope it is.
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Under normal circumstances, I would agree. But I've put in so many hours of work in that car. I'm not looking forward to doing it all over again.
 
RE: Ran a red by accident...smashed my Mark

Sorry to hear about your car.

Everyone has moments when one is mistaken as to what they see. Fortunately, it usually does not result in an accident.

Alexander
President
Lincolns of Distinction
 
RE: Ran a red by accident...smashed my Mark

I don't know, i wouldn't mind an ass-kicking by a mercedes owner. that could be quite profitable.
 
RE: Ran a red by accident...smashed my Mark

You may get nothing for you're car. If you're found to be at fault i'm sure they won't pay you. My 93 got totaled out when I had my addcident and i got 4400 for it. now the other guy was said to be 100% at fault, now if he was 50% at fault i would've gotten half that money. but then again I am not sure how insurance companys work with collision. the other guys insurance paid me because i only had basic coverage. just if they havn't taking pictures of the car yet... clean it up a bit... sounds stupid but if they see the car in mint shape, you'll be more likely to argue about the price.

edit. i almost forgot sorry to hear about your car. I know exactaly how you feel to put so much effort into the car only to have it destroyed. I have parts from my 93 if you wish. search for my posts to see the car, I have lots of front end stuff thats fine from my car.
 
RE: Ran a red by accident...smashed my Mark

[div class="dcquote"][strong]Quote[/strong]
You may get nothing for you're car. If you're found to be at fault i'm sure they won't pay you. My 93 got totaled out when I had my addcident and i got 4400 for it. now the other guy was said to be 100% at fault, now if he was 50% at fault i would've gotten half that money. but then again I am not sure how insurance companys work with collision. the other guys insurance paid me because i only had basic coverage. just if they havn't taking pictures of the car yet... clean it up a bit... sounds stupid but if they see the car in mint shape, you'll be more likely to argue about the price. edit. i almost forgot sorry to hear about your car. I know exactaly how you feel to put so much effort into the car only to have it destroyed. I have parts from my 93 if you wish. search for my posts to see the car, I have lots of front end stuff thats fine from my car.
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I'm going to have to call BS on that one.

I could call my insurance company and say "i was drunk and ran into a wall" and they'd pay me off for my car. They wouldn't ever insure me again, but they'd have to pay me, regardless of fault.

Different states have different insurance laws, but i don't think there is any state where an insurance company can refuse to pay off on collision coverage just because the insured was at fault. In some states, if the insured is not at fault, the at-fault driver has to pay for the repairs on the not-at-fault drivers vehicle. In other states, your insurance covers your vehicle, no matter what. The only situation i can think of where you would get paid if you're not at fault, but not if you're at fault, is if you are only covered for liability, in a non-no-fault state. However, it would not be your insurance company paying you.

There might be some states where you can get some weird insurance that will only cover you if you're at fault, but i've never heard of it. And i don't think your finance company would allow it, if you have a loan. If your insurance company wouldn't pay off if you were at fault, no 16 year old would ever be driving a new car. And it would be damn hard for even a 20 or 21 year old to buy a new car.
 
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