by liaoyu03 » Sat Sep 08, 2007 07:40 pm
The fence is 6' wood. It's obviously leaning due to soggy ground and high winds over a period of about 3 months. The fence has not yet fallen and may not fall in the near future. My concern is that it is now very weak
Fencing is leaning due to continued rain and wind. Will insurance co replace it?
Fencing is leaning due to continued rain and wind. Will insurance co replace it?
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 08:05 pm Post Subject:
Only if it's damaged by a covered peril. Age and rot and not covered perils. Beside, you've not even suffered a loss yet as the fence is still standing. The situation you have right now is called"maintence".
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 10:38 pm Post Subject:
which is not a covered peril. ;-)
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 10:47 pm Post Subject:
which is not a covered peril
Yup... there are a few things that bug me as a non-property adjuster but I'm sure the maintence issue has to really give property adjusters headaches. It's what we call a moral hazzard 8)Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 10:56 pm Post Subject:
I can see how it would! I know of a few claims we dealt with during a hurricane that struck the coast of VA years ago before moving inland and causing massive damage....even though the hurricane caused a lot of damage, many claims were denied because the property damaged was in poor condition to begin with! It would have withstood the hurricane if not falling down already. In fact, the was a FENCE claim....where the wooden fence was found to be so rotten when it fell during the hurricane that it fell apart in the adjuster's hands when he picked a piece up! It was actually hard to tell whether the fence was even standing upright when the hurricane hit, or if it was already on the ground, as there was no evidence of it ever having stood up at all - the grass under the downed fence was even dead. LOL
Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2007 11:49 am Post Subject: FENCE
I agree, the homeowners policies generally will have the wording, 'sudden and accidental', not 'slow deterioration'. Of course the arguement can (and always is) made, 'yeah, it was old, but it stood up just fine till the storm'. But of course the homeowner is required to maintain their property free of hazard. Another thing for the homeowner to consider (as with dead trees etc), if you know (and you do), that the fence (or tree) is rotten and "choose" to not take care of it, you have in effect accepted or assumed the liablity should it cause damage or injury to another. Have seen many of these types of claims denied........Something to think about..I'd fix that fence post haste !
ps Suebee did you deny the 'fence claim'?
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