horrible claim to reimburse repair cost.

[lovealways]

How safely do you run smart car?

On this monday, reckless truck driver ran out to intersection on the red light while I turned to the left. I took on my lovely smart car to smart dealershop directly managed body shop. Sorrowfully, the status of mine is that front pillar of driver side is critically sunken.

According to mechnician, surprisingly the solution is to cut partially a bent part of pillar,to flaten it and to weld. It seems that the body shop makes money by repairing below total loss otherwise, if body shop claims more expenditure than 50% of car value, it will lose an opportunity of earning money. I demanded to bodyshop that tridion itself should wholly be replaced.

I am collection valuable informations from websites to protect my interests; potential safety after repair, minimizing value depreciation since repaired.

I raise some questions to smartcar owner as well as its professionals;
1)Is it proper that such repair that cutting a pillar out from tridion and welding back?
2)As for legal consultation, Does the liable insurance company an obligation of following victim favourable repair way? Offense side holds fully responsible for my accident.
3)I will be grateful to you if you post relevant sources onto me.

http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/gal...p?imageid=9469
http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/gal...p?imageid=9470
http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/gal...p?imageid=9471
http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/gal...p?imageid=9472
http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/gal...p?imageid=9473



P.S while I do panic against liable insurance comany guilty truck driver may take a vacation in tropical shore under warm sunshine.

[lovealways]

I felt strongly inclined to attach accident photos onto thread. Strangely, post didn't support attachment. Could you, anyone inform me of posting pictures?

[mvaldes]

This should help: http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/for...-threads-6576/

[Turbo42]

that stinks thats in a spot that its very hard to repair by cutting it out

[chieftmc]

Originally Posted by babybenz

that stinks thats in a spot that its very hard to repair by cutting it out

My problem wouldn't be with a repair there, BUT the "straightening" of a piece and welding it back in That piece of metal is already stressed from the bend and is now weaker than the rest !

Weld in a NEW piece, ok; but put the old piece back in

[forestacademy]

Yeah that sucks, Very little damage over all, but he hit you where it counts. The car did its job of keeping you safe.

The issue is will it still do its job if repaired

[a2jack]

Originally Posted by chieftmc

My problem wouldn't be with a repair there, BUT the "straightening" of a piece and welding it back in That piece of metal is already stressed from the bend and is now weaker than the rest !

Weld in a NEW piece, ok; but put the old piece back in

Old airplane restorer here, and I agree 100% with the Chief.
Further, inspect those welds before they button it up. A2Jack.

[lovealways]

I don't realise informal words; total, section, claim adjuster.. etc in american english. I managed to look up them in dictionary, and knew these were american. Because I didn't hear what estimator said about then.

Anyway, unless negligent party's insurer does replace damaged one to new intergral frame, Could I demand on total? (techincally, insurance com. purchases mine from me at some value)
a joint part with roof pillar and main lower body is somehow risky to be cut, weld, in my respect

Grrr.. I disgust insurance adjuster's behavior. Seriously, I consider to accuse her of racial discrimination to the authority(or its HR dept).

[Dustoff44]

If there is a manufacturers recommendation to replace rather than repair. Then the insurance company is legally bound to do so...
So what does Mercedes/Smart say about repair to the safety cell ?

[lovealways]

On behalf of more accurate, trustful repair, I made over my smart car to dealershop's bodyshop. However, ridiculously they lacked preliminary knowledge if 'cutting and welding bodyshell distorts bodyshell, decreases frame's strength'. You should keep in mind that much of smartcar database is not accumulated in US. A major importer,smartusa also is confusing now.

Estimator told me he already contacted with smartusa. He uniquely convinced me he still attempted to find... avoiding clear answer.

I am at the point of raising crucial inquiries to smartusa on the first hand. Afterward, I'll post what will happen.