My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: Maryland

Hello all.

I have found my way to this forum because this situation has reached a boiling point with myself as well as my co-workers.

Roughly a month ago, my base hired a contractor to come and re-paint an enclosure that had some work done to it. The contractor came on base without telling anyone and without putting up any signs or notices that there was painting occurring that day. He did his job and left. Fast forward to 1700 that day, and everyone is making their way to their vehicles to go home. During his painting, the contractor managed to coat 17 vehicles in marine grade, high strength enamel based paint. My car is a little different due to the fact that my windows were down the day it happened. First time in three months since I got the car that I left them down, so I wasn't pleased.

For the last month, we have been trying to narrow down who is to blame here. The person who physically did the painting was actually sub contracted out by the person who was originally tasked to perform the work. Just this past week, Friday of last week, we finally got their insurance information. I got in contact with the lady there who informed me that I needed to submit a claim through my insurance company and that they will then recoup the money from the painters insurance company. That doesn't seem right to me, especially since I would be submitting a claim and that could in turn make my rates go up. I was a little uneasy about just dropping it off to a shop and having the work start, especially because a lot of the panels that were ruined on the interior are on back order according to Ford, and my insurance only covers so many days for a rental. Another reason I don't want to take it to a body shop to have the repairs done and to go through insurance is that my vehicle is a special model from Ford, and the interior parts are specific to that model. What that equates to is one estimate at $15,900 and another at $17,500, which according to the body shop, in MD that totals the vehicle out. I do not want to have a vehicle that I put $6,000 down on get totaled out four months after purchasing it.

Do I have a case against this contractor? Also, what chance do I have to have their insurance company cooperate and not have me go through a body shop/my insurance company? I refuse to total my vehicle out due to someone being negligent.