by erb1953 » Sun Dec 30, 2007 05:13 pm
I am in a rent to own situation, I carry my own insurance on the home, about a month ago I came home to find a pick up truck in the middle of my deck that was just finished two weeks before that, I had not even had time to get furniture on it yet. I could have just cried, all the hard work in the evenings after work and on the weekends all shifted and crooked. The truck also shifted my chimney over. I want the insurance company to pay for the repairs on the chimney too, the impact knocked items off my walls and kitchen counters, I am really surprised that the truck did not come through my kitchen.
The individuals car insurance wants to settle the claim for $4000, I have almost that in the deck in the treated lumber, it is a pretty big deck with a ramp leading up to it. It sits second story. I am not happy with this amount, so my question is, will my homeowners step in and make the car insurance company pay for the other damage to the home, chimney and such. They will be the ones insuring the damaged property so I would think that they would have some interest in making sure the repairs are done right. I am asking for any advice at all here, dealing with two different worlds of insurance is confusing me car insurance vs homeowners insurance. thank you in advance for any advice you can offer.
The individuals car insurance wants to settle the claim for $4000, I have almost that in the deck in the treated lumber, it is a pretty big deck with a ramp leading up to it. It sits second story. I am not happy with this amount, so my question is, will my homeowners step in and make the car insurance company pay for the other damage to the home, chimney and such. They will be the ones insuring the damaged property so I would think that they would have some interest in making sure the repairs are done right. I am asking for any advice at all here, dealing with two different worlds of insurance is confusing me car insurance vs homeowners insurance. thank you in advance for any advice you can offer.
Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 06:15 pm Post Subject:
The insurance on the vehicle that hit your house should be fully responsible, I don't think that your homeowners would have anything to do with this unless the person driving the vehicle did not have insurance. Did you contact your home owners and make them aware of the situation. I would make sure they know, just in case you don't get the damaged area repaired correctly, I would do this be for accepting any payment from the vehicle insurance, once you accept they are no longer held responsible.
I am sure some one else will come along and further advise you on what to do here, this is just what I would do.
Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 08:09 pm Post Subject:
I was hoping that they would give me at least what I had in the deck and then at least pay for the chimney repair, I think it is on the car insurance to do this, it was not a home owner issue that caused this, it was the truck that veered to miss, but hit another vehicle and then was thrown into my yard and eventually hit my house. Apparently, a couple was arguing and was pulling out of the side road across from my house, she gave the car gas while in the middle of the argument, she did not see the pick up truck coming and when she pulled out, the pick up truck tried to swerve to miss them, but they were in the forward motion and he hit them and then ended up losing control of the vehicle and it come over into my yard, thus doing the damage that is talked about in the original post.
Funny thing is the couple that was arguing and caused the accident are the people that I am buying the house off of. They only live across the street from where the accident happened, they were at the american legion and I guess got into a heated argument there that continued in the vehicle, I just feel like I am between a rock and a hard spot here. They are not disputing that their insurance should pay, they are more or less letting the insurance companies handle it all and state, that is what they pay the insurance company for.
My concern is getting paid the amount that the damage is actually worth, not having the insurance company undermine my estimates and cut me a check that will not pay for all the damage caused. My house was innocent in this incident.
Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 07:53 am Post Subject:
Hi erb1953,
I would make sure they know, just in case you don't get the damaged area repaired correctly, I would do this be for accepting any payment from the vehicle insurance, once you accept they are no longer held responsible.
Well, thats quite true. Apart from that, informing your own insurance would enable you to avail their invaluable expertise & guidanceMy concern is getting paid the amount that the damage is actually worth, not having the insurance company undermine my estimates and cut me a check that will not pay for all the damage caused.
See, you may always write a letter to them asking them for an explanation of the amount they have arrived at.Thanks for sharing!
Norma_hepburn
Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 10:29 am Post Subject:
Good morning ERB and welcome...
First, the insurance on the vehicle is responsible for ALL OF THE DAMAGE, including anything that fell in the house and was damaged...period...
They (car ins company) has to show you EXACTLY how they came up with the 4k...there has to be an acurate estimate to repair and a contractor that will complete the repairs for that price....
Here is what I would do...have them give you a copy of the repair estimate (how they arrived at 4k)....after you have that in hand contact a couple of contractors give them a copy of the estimate and make sure they can and will complete ALL the work for that amount...If they won't have them write an estimate after you have all of this contact the adjuster again (do not accept payment, and tell the adjuster straight up, you want to make sure the work can be completed for this amount prior to accepting payment)...
Remember now, they are repairing not rebuilding this entire deck, so the cost of repair is going to be lots less than you have invested (more than likely)....
You should put your carrier on notice, but I wouldn't file a claim as yet...you can't accept payment for part of this loss from the auto carrier then go to your carrier for the rest, it doesn't work that way...one carrier or the other have to pay the entire claim...your carrier could repair it under your homeowners policy then subrogate the auto carrier, but they won't 'fix what's left' after the car carrier has paid...understand? make SURE that the adjuster has included this chimmeny repair too!
Any other questions please don't hesitate to ask...
Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 11:18 am Post Subject:
That is what I thought that the car insurance company should be totally responsible for it, I can't see how the homeowners would even come into play here at all.
Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 02:01 pm Post Subject:
That is what I thought that the car insurance company should be totally responsible for it, I can't see how the homeowners would even come into play here at all.
I intended to comment on the prior post too, you hit this one on the head...only thing would be (re:OP's HO policy), if either the truck is uninsured, or the OP just doesn't want to hassle with the other company he can have his HO policy repair his property, and then subro against the auto policy for him or in his stead...There are people that just want to deal with their carriers an no others, or as little as possible with the other carriers, if there is a choice...(and generally there is)...they can always elect to use their own coverage and let the adjusters handle the arguments regarding reimbursement. (great job by the way good natured and erb!)Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 04:21 pm Post Subject:
My advice is to make sure regarless ,that you get plenty of pictures as evidence.Take pictures inside and out and of the chimney.
Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 04:23 pm Post Subject:
One thing to keep in mind... the other person's insurance will apply depreciation/betterment to the repairs of older items (chimney). Your policy may cover "replacement cost". It's up to you if you file a claim under your own policy for the damage. As mentioned, take a look at the appraisal done by the other carrier and see how they arrived at their amount.
[You could then get a PA and get $20k :lol: . Sorry, inside joke :P }
Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 09:58 am Post Subject:
[You could then get a PA and get $20k . Sorry, inside joke }
you bad boy! :D :lol: :PPosted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 04:33 pm Post Subject:
I have read some of your comments and know to take you lightly tscope, I do appreciate all your help here, you too Lori. The insurance company is sending me out forms next week, they said it will include all the necessary paperwork, which I assume will have the estimate information and the list of repairs in it. The deck is twisted and pushed away from the home, it should be okay for a contractor to come in and repair, I won't be able to do it that is for sure. As far as the chimney, I did talk to them about it, I have a furnace guy of my own coming in to look at repairing it. I am sure that all will be as it was as soon as the snow stops flying with the deck, the fire company did come in with detectors and check for gas leaks when the incident happened, I know that is okay. I appreciate all your input and will come back here to this thread when I get the paperwork that they send me for some further explanation, if I have questions I am sure that I can find the answers here. I shall return.
Add your comment