pics of the accident (& what's a good body shop in the Philly area??)

[skjolden]

Car was wrecked this weekend. Pics & a link to more below. We all hate to look at these, but we can't pry ourselves away, right?

I live in DC, was driving up to visit a friend on saturday afternoon. He lives downtown by the train station, I was very close, east-bound on the Platt Bridge (which I understand is a pretty bad area for accidents). I am cruising at, oh, probably 80 going up the bridge with no other cars around. As I'm cresting the top, bingo, there is a car stopped in my lane (left) that I have to immediately swerve out of the way for. (for the unfamiliar, both east-bound and west-bound are two lanes with no shoulders and jersey-barrriers on either side). So I dart over into the right lane, then try to countersteer to get back in line, but of course by this point it's all I can do to keep the rear end from fish-tailing, which is to say I can't. Next thing I know the car is pointing toward the left-hand jersey barrier, slightly backwards (think 8 o'clock if noon is intended direction of travel) and the right front bumper impacts the barrier. When the car stops I am pointed at 2pm. Get out of the car (unscathed) to assess the situation. Guy with stopped car is futzing around with the hood, so I leave him be for a bit--I am about 50 feet ahead of him.

I notice the windshield has popped out (sitting in one nice piece in the right lane), so I pick it up and get it back over in front of my car. My car is poking a little bit into the right lane, so I get back in, it starts up fine, steer it back fully into the left lane and shut it off. Go back to guy working on his hood, he is fine, but doesn't say much. I call the cops, who have already been called in by another vehicle. I pick up random pieces of trim, rearview mirror, etc. from the road and put in the trunk (including windshield, which neatly folds in half now), close the trunk, and notice the other vehicle is gone. SO YOU"RE TELLING ME THAT HE WAS ILLEGALLY PARKED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BRIDGE BUT HIS CAR WAS FULLY OPERATIONAL????? Dumping something over the side?? What an A-hole!

A tow came in advance of the cops (he was listening to the scanner) and wanted (of course) to take it to his buddy's body shop. I thought the car was driveable until he pointed out the right bumper mount was shuvved back sufficiently so that the wheel couldn't turn very well without rubbing. So, needing to get it to a secured area under cover (no windshield, remember?), I agree to have it towed into his garage, which isn't far from where my friend lives. Leave it there, will talk to insurance the next day, friend picks me up, drinks beers. Lots of beers.

Took the train back to DC sunday, the car is still sitting at Alex's Autobody on Washington, and insurance (Allstate) is willing to take it anywhere else, and will then do an estimate. They gave me a list of their preferred places (which guarantee work, which helps b/c if I get it back to DC and am not happy, an allstate-preferred place in DC can continue to work on it no charge to me), but I have no idea who's good/who knows Porsche's well in the Philly area. Here's a list of who they gave me:

--Elmer's Autobody (Crescent Blvd, West Collingswood, NJ)
--Michael's Autobody (Rt. 73, Cinnaminson, NJ)
--Auto Tech Collision (Keystone St, Philly)
--Collex (Baltimore Pike, Morton, PA)
--Broomall Auto (Medialine Rd, Broomall, PA)
--Denardo Autobody (Washington Ave, Philly)
--Keenan Lumpkin (Market St., Philly)

Anyone know any of these shops, or can give me a list of good shops that know/do 911's well? I don't want my baby messed with, you know?

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=m1ggdkl.9x1dsc1h&x=0&h=1&y=6brmsl

[BlueSideUp]

Good to hear you were OK, did they catch the genius who was stopped on the bridge?

[Wavey]

(Note to self: Job 1 is writing down the other car's license number.)

[skjolden]

didn't get his license at the time...figured his car was immobile and that the cops would take care of everything. At the time, I wasn't even thinking he could have been at fault, since his car appeared to have broken down and there is no where to pull off. But in retrospect, knowing now that he was in essence "parked illegally" and was fully able to drive off, I am a bit pissed I didn't get his information. Judging from what he may have been doing up there, I'd say he wouldn't have given me any info anyways...and he/his car didn't look like the type to even have insurance.

[nesslar]

Sorry as always to see a wrecked 911.
I think the guy on the bridge, regardless of what he really was up to, and maybe he did just 'stall' there, would never have been found at fault unless he simply confessed. Probably that would never happen, me thinks.
I guess it's always wise, on public roads, to not just fly over a rise to where you can't see a *&^(&$@ thing 'til it's too late.

[Wavey]

Originally posted by skjolden
didn't get his license at the time...figured his car was immobile and that the cops would take care of everything. At the time, I wasn't even thinking he could have been at fault, since his car appeared to have broken down and there is no where to pull off. But in retrospect, knowing now that he was in essence "parked illegally" and was fully able to drive off, I am a bit pissed I didn't get his information.

Exactly. I've learned a valuable lesson, sadly at your expense. Don't expect the other guy is going to hang around. And whether he had insurance or not, there would have been some enjoyment in seeing him get arrested.

[Rich76_911s]

I'm sorry about the accident and am glad you are OK.

Maybe you should try calling some of the shops mentioned in this thread and see who the recommend:

Porsche Maintenance Philadelphia Area.

[jabb]

Do not use Allstate recommended shops. They are on the Allstate list because they work the cheapest for the insurance companies. They do not care about your car or the work they do. Find a good High End body shop, hopefully someone here can give you a good shop in your area. Do not be surprised if your car is total loss... Good Luck

[2.7RACER]

What bridge in DC has an 80 MPH speed limit?
Sorry pal, no sympathy here.

[skjolden]

clear. So 80mph is not an unreasonable speed, though I do take some blame...had I not been going quite so fast the consequences may have not been so bad. Still, if you knew this bridge, you would know how dangerous it is. The apex is somewhat abrupt, so things can really get hidden on you.

[1911Guy]

80MPH!!!!!!! On a bridge - and you understood it is a pretty bad area for accidents - Jeeeeze!

It does not matter if it was Interstate or not. you were driving too fast for the road I guess. Save it for the track, not roads where I may be driving on.

Good thing no one else was involved and no one was hurt - except your pride I guess.

No sympathy here either.

[Jim Richards]

He's looking for body shop recommendations in Philly. If he didn't tell you how he bone-headedly crashed his 911, what shop advice would you offer him?

[trader220]

Keenan Lumpkin used to be one of the best and I used to know the owner. The bad is that he sold it about 7 years ago and the new owner is no where near the kind of guy the old one was. I have not been there since 2001 I had a bad expereince there with one of my cars then.

I know a few shops out in the burbs like in the WC area where you located?

[skjolden]

Originally posted by 1911Guy
80MPH!!!!!!! On a bridge - and you understood it is a pretty bad area for accidents - Jeeeeze!

It does not matter if it was Interstate or not. you were driving too fast for the road I guess. Save it for the track, not roads where I may be driving on.

Good thing no one else was involved and no one was hurt - except your pride I guess.

No sympathy here either.

So nice to know I have friends here. A) I've never been on the bridge before, so I didn't know about this blind crest, B) 75-80 MPH is average on interstates across the land, what are you smoking?, C) If you can't be constructive in your criticism here, please just don't post. I'm an excellent driver with nary a my-fault accident on my record, and I will continue to keep it that way. And yes, I do reserve the high-thrill antics for the track (Summit Point).

I'm not asking for sympathy, but I was asking for advice on body shops. And to Rich96_991s, thank you for the link, Bill Dougherty of Dougherty's was great over the phone and linked me up with Brandywine Coachworks.

[David]

Sorry to hear about the accident, but glad you're OK. The car doesn't look too bad either.

I had a similar wreck with a car stopped in the left lane on the freeway. Two wrecked cars and a jack-knifed 18 wheeler behind him and he just drove off when we weren't looking?!?!?! When the cops asked us what happened, we all pointed at where the stalled van was in disbelief.

[berettafan]

as it happens there is a great glass replacement thread recently resurrected on this forum!

[Rich76_911s]

Man some of you guys are heartless. Same accident probably would have occured at the 65mph speed limit.

Originally posted by trader220
Keenan Lumpkin used to be one of the best and I used to know the owner. The bad is that he sold it about 7 years ago and the new owner is no where near the kind of guy the old one was. I have not been there since 2001 I had a bad expereince there with one of my cars then.

I know a few shops out in the burbs like in the WC area where you located?

Not to hijack the thread BUT,

Trader220,

If you don't mind either posting those or sending me a PM with that info I would greatly appreciate it. I might need to take my SC to someone in the area to have some prior accident damage inspected.

Thanks,
Rich

[jabb]

If this thread does not produce a recommendation call the Local Porsche, BMW , Mercedes Dealers and find out where they send there body work. Most dealers today do not have a Body shop, they send there work out. Based on the dealer reccomendations take a ride by these shops and see what they look like. Try to get and estimate prior to dealing with Allstate.

[radiosimon]

Originally posted by Rich76_911s
Man some of you guys are heartless. Same accident probably would have occured at the 65mph speed limit.

I agree. All of us have had times when we were probably going too fast in a not so ideal situation...where someone could pull out or something could happen. No sense in being so critical...

...unless of course he put Armor All on his tires...

[Doug&Julie]

...*cough*backdate*cough*...

Seriously, send it to TRE and let them make a kickin' RS look 911!