Bad day on the Interstate--damage!

dshepp806 · dshepp806's Garage

felt like sharing this misery (and educate myself for when I meet the adjuster).

South on I-75,....lots of hiway construction going on, BTW,.......the car in front of me goes over several pieces of metal, some of which went airborne.....I only saw the piece that hit the windshield, carving out a divet with a small crack heading outwards,..only "heard" the rest (sheeit hitting the car (outer and under). I didn't stop,...as work was only a few miles away. Upon arrival, the inspection, so far, reveals a busted headlight and foglight assembly,..paint chips gone (on the hood and headlamp ring),...some scrape damage on the passenger side quarter panel--just above the tire....lower front piece (black) has a a few deep scratches...

that's about all, as I plan to inspect further when time allows,..as well,...I'll get some pics posted soon..

slated to see the adjuster Thursday @ 1:30......

Been saving for a paint job......she could use one...now, this happens.

She's a 1989 S.A. Edition, Silver Metallic...

Words of wisdom? Or, moreso, caution?

(I've also posted this in the bodyshop forum,...some good guys over there)

Thanks,

Doyle

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

the hwy dept., construction co., and driver in front are responsible and should pay

look at it as a way to get some new paint on part of the car

Good luck

McLovin · 10-25-2011, 02:09 PM

Since your car needed a paint job anyways, maybe not so bad a day on the Interstate.

I'm sure the driver in front of you is long gone, so there will be no recovery against him.

But if what flew up and hit you was construction related debris or items, you would have a claim against whatever governmental entity is in charge of the construction.

If you want to pursue that route (instead of just going to your insurance), you need to:

1. Figure out what governmental entity is in control.
2. Go on line to figure out what their claims procedure is. They will very likely have a very specific process and specific forms you need to fill out.
3. If possible, go back and take some pictures of the site. Hopefully the debris is still around.

I had a similar thing happen once. Driving along and hit a massive pothole, that caused a bubble in the sidewall of my tire. I stopped, took a picture of the pothole, pictures of the damaged tire, and submitted the claim (this was to the City). They paid right up.

CHICKS · 10-25-2011, 02:19 PM

In what world would the driver in front of him be responsible for running over and kicking stuff up from the road? If anything, he was following to close to the car in front.

I'm not blaming the OP, but you can't blame the driver in front of him.

db_cooper · db_cooper's Garage

Hey..prior to suing govt highway departmental types and whoever.. you pay for comprehensive coverage? Its very inexpensive.

It pays for just this type of thing..or hit and run..or parking lot issues too.

If you have it..call your insurance company..and file a claim..there are no points or underwriting issues (bigger premiums) with a comprehensive claim..do it.

Wait too long and they can deny the claim as not being timely in reporting it.

kidrock · 10-25-2011, 03:08 PM

sorry to hear about that, Doyle. Good to hear you have coverage, though. I think you'll be happy when the work is complete, and you'll probably wind up saving a few $$$ than you would if you had sprung for an entire paint job on your own.

LakeCleElum · 10-25-2011, 03:16 PM

Forget about who is to blame. It varies state to state. In my state, you'd put a claim into D.O.T.

But the reason we have insurance is so you can be paid right away and let the insurance company worry about all of that. Maybe consider a claim later for deductible.

Then, tell adjuster UR thinking about a paint job and you want to pick the shop. The shop does the repair and paints, your ins. pays the shop for their part of it.......Win,Win in the end...

regency · regency's Garage

My 1st "real" Job, out of College was a claims adjuster ( the worst job I ever had....so far ) and I can tell you, the car in front that ran over and sent some of the debris "airborne", is in know way responsible. It's just a "road hazard". If someone actually saw this debris fall off a truck or other vehicle, then they are the responsible party.

Steve

73 911 T MFI Coupe, Aubergine

86 911 Targa · 10-25-2011, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by regency

My 1st "real" Job, out of College was a claims adjuster ( the worst job I ever had....so far ) and I can tell you, the car in front that ran over and sent some of the debris "airborne", is in know way responsible. It's just a "road hazard". If someone actually saw this debris fall off a truck or other vehicle, then they are the responsible party.

Steve

73 911 T MFI Coupe, Aubergine

Correct, at least in California.

Bob Kontak · Bob Kontak's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Win,Win in the end...

Bet you find this is the outcome.

Comprehensive type damage is NOTHING to insurance companies. Liability is where the $$ are. They won't even flinch at coughing up some money towards your repaint. Be straight forward with them and you may find they even bend the rules for you if YOU are really nice to them. They are human and will demonstrate human behavior. Leverage on that. Good luck.

I have had good experiences. E.g., When stripping the paint on my 81 rear end I spilled some paint remover on my rear PORSCHE reflector. Said to them through e-mail , "Man, I really screwed up" with pics - net of my $100 deductible, they covered a new Stoddard rear reflector.

wdfifteen · wdfifteen's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Comprehensive type damage is NOTHING to insurance companies. Liability is where the $$ are. They won't even flinch at coughing up some money towards your repaint.

I'm in Ohio and that hasn't been my experience. My '56 coupe got caught out in a hail storm 6 months after it was restored. The adjuster couldn't find a dent in the right rear fender, so he was only going to pay for 3/4 of a repaint. I had to scream bloody murder to get them to send out another adjuster. Same story. Scream again, new adjuster - she "found" a dent after I asked (for the third time) "How in heck is it going to cost less to try to match and blend the paint than it is to paint the whole darn fender? It's another 2 square feet of surface!"

I see dump trucks that have signs on the back saying. "Not responsible for debris thrown up from road surface," and I assume that is correct. I also see dump trucks that have signs on the back saying. "Not responsible for objects falling from truck," and I assume that is nonsense. How can we have laws that require a load to be secured if drivers aren't responsible for unsecured load?

Bob Kontak · Bob Kontak's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

I'm in Ohio and that hasn't been my experience.

I hear you. Simply is a function of the individual person you talk to and how much "schmooze" you have - AND the flexibility the adjuster has (probably more important that your/my BS factor)

No quarrel at all.

1985RedTarga · 10-25-2011, 05:54 PM

10 year police officer here. At least in Ohio, and most states, you're pretty much screwed. It's not the DOTs fault. Not the driver in front of you. That's why you have insurance. And they won't pay for a total repaint. Just the damaged areas and only by their body shop.

Sorry to bring the bad news to you. Hope you luck out somehow.

tirwin · tirwin's Garage

I-75, huh? I heard we're changing the state flower to the road cone. Sorry to hear about your run-in with GA DOT work. With the constant construction if you live around here long enough and it's a matter of when, not if. Not much you can do about it. Hopefully you just paid your dues for the next 10 or 15 years.