Story:
Driving on I-95 at 65 MPH (Speed Limit Posted: 65) around midnight. When I am close to my house, next thing you know, I hit some kind of metal object in the middle of the road. As a result, I got a "flat tire". I thought to myself, "Well isn't that nice...." Next thing you know, 10+ cars got hit by the same object. Immediately I knew that we were all going to have a case number to address to our insurance companies . So it did happen, couple state police drove in and gave each of us a case number, there were some cars who had AAA coverage so they went on their way safely. So I thought to myself, everything will work out fine...

I called the insurance company and next thing you know, they said I am not covered? I will admit, that I do not have full coverage, I have insurance that will cover me only if I am the victim in an accident. I told the insurance that I already talked it over with the State Police and they said "He has no idea what he is talking about".

Now, I thought to myself, fine, whatever, I'll just pay extra $$$ to replace my front-driver side tire... BUT
I didn't get a flat tire.... the rim itself is in major damage, and came to a conclusion with an impact like that, I fear that my suspension might have been damaged as well...
I'm taking the TL to my parent's body shop for an estimate of the damage. And I'm still wondering why my Auto-Insurance still refuses to cover for this damage...

Sorry for the long post. Any help is appreciated. ESPECIALLY regarding insurance, because I've worked for my parents fixing cars all my life and handling insurance claims, and... this is a first for me.

 

It sounds like you answered your own question. You only have coverage if you're in an accident. Running over something in the road isn't considered an accident, I guess. Sucks either way.

Joe

 

I guess so, I just figured since I had a case number, where more than 10 people were involved, that the Auto-Insurance would consider it a problem or some sort.
I understand if it was a nail or something, but... I'm talking about a huge metal piece in the middle of the road on 95.

Thanks for the reply though .

 

and thats why you want full coverage

 

Looks like you have just liability, missing comp/collision.

 

Truth is, even if you have comprehensive/ collision, most people have a deductible of $500 (I do) to keep the insurance cost down. Assuming you don't have any other damage than the wheel/tire, even with full coverage, you would likely still be on the hook for the tire/wheel replacement.

I had a similar event several years ago when a metal object on the road was kicked up by a truck in front of me that crashed into the right upper windshield of my MR2 (convertible)- I had to get the windshield replaced at my cost as it wasn't covered by insurance (cost to replace was less than the deductible). For road hazards, it would seem that no one is responsible (unless you saw it fall off a truck or car and were able to get a license plate number matching the item to the vehicle).

 

^^^^ What he said. Shit happens Be glad it wasn't any worse.

 

Comprehensive coverage is what covers things like that. Such as a tree falling on your tree,etc

 

Correct. Most people don't have a deductible on comprehensive. That's why many people get windshields replaced for free due to cracks.

Joe

 

Ah, I see. Thanks for the reply.

 

Exactly what they said, but I'm curious. My comprehensive coverage requires 0 deductible, and I'm able to fix my windshield chips. Can I do the same thing for my bumper? Rock chips on I-10 hitting my bumper 24/7 by 18 wheelers?

 

yeah insurance companies like screw people over. My fiance car was involved in a accident while parked. The driver was reversing out and clipped the side of the front bumper cause deep scratches and a crack headlight. We made a police report and the driver admitted that he hit my fiances car but that was not his car he was driving but his brothers. So we tried to make a claim with geico who denied the claim due to the driver not being covered by geico. But to my understanding i thought the vehicle is covered regardless who is driving it. Long story short it was loose loose situation for geico so they denied both party claims and the owner of the vehicle ended up paying out of his pocket to fix the damages. Insurance companies are so shady sometimes.

 

Nothing is broken, nor is your ability to drive the car hampered... so no.

Joe

 

With Comp not only will you be able to fix your windhield, but if a shower of stones come off a passing truck it will pay for that also. Even hitting a deer is covered under comp, and no points, at least here in NJ. The windshield needs to be beyond chip repair, such as a crack and it will be replaced.

 

Insurance agent here in Dallas. You would have to have had collision coverage. Comprehensive does not cover an object YOU hit in the middle of the road. collision is what would come into play. if you had collision it would be subject to your deductible which as mentioned earlier most people carry 500. also, a collision is a chargeable accident, so this would make it worse for you in the end. all you can do is pay out of pocket. the state trooper doesnt know what hes talking about in a sense...he doesnt sell or service insurance...so he cant say much about the detailed parts of thinsg re: insurance. Just like we as insurance people cant say quote or do anything re: state police or whoever with what they know/do etc.

I would suggest getting coverage to protect yourself in the event you run into an issue like this again. never bad to make sure you have good protection. :-)

 

well i guess this all differs per state. when you say 0 deductible...I find that hard to have that limit...but again different per state. for rock chips...sure that no deductible as it can be repaired to prevent further cracking. but if the crack is unrepairable...then they use your comprehensive coverage and then its subject to your dedcutible. so if a shower of stones shatter your windshield and front of the car thats comprehensive but more than likely will be a deductible..again...differs per state but ive never heard of a zero dollar deductible except for a specialty collector car policy through Hagerty...

 

my thought when you have a bent rim, is that if you hit something on the road some part of the car needs to absorb the impact. if the rim remained unbent the shock would travel through the suspension and damage a suspension part. but if the rim is bent, most of the force from the impact would be absorbed by the rim.

so i think your suspension should be fine, but if your parents have a body shop, itll probably be free for you to get it checked, so might as well and let us know!

gluck with the repairs!

 

blue_devil is right. This is a collision loss, not a comprehensive loss. You collided with something... thus a collision loss.

You are owed nothing. You chose to save money and not pay for the coverage.

 

I never stated I had zero deductible.

This is where it originated:

 

no, that's because most people have GLASS coverage in addition to comprehensive/collision. While glass is covered under comprehensive/collision, you would have to pay the deductable if it gets damaged. Most insurance company offer it for a small fee or may include it by default in the quote for your policy. Some states require glass coverage without a deductable to be included in comprehensive/collision while others do not, hence the small fee... Here in MN it cost me like $6 every six months for glass coverage....

if you have 0 deductable insurance it's becuase you like paying a lot of money or you are in some insurance program that lowers it by x amt for every year you are accident free but you start off with higher rates......

Op if you messed up your rim, you definately need at least 2 tires plus a rim and most likely some suspension peices as well.I can't imagine things bending your rim and leaving everything else unscathed

 

Sadly the key here is saying what hit you was still attached to a car and it drove off and then the piece dropped of. That is an accident.

When its not attached, it is not treated as an accident and you will be at fault.

Good luck

 

So say a 18 wheeler was behind me and I had a lot of rocks hitting my front bumper. Now my front bumper has little small white dots all over it. Will I be covered? I'm confused because you said this and then someone said that since it doesn't halt my car from driving, no it won't be covered.

 

gotta cover dem trees.

did you have a road hazard warranty on your tires?

AFAIK collision is anytime you HIT something, not only a car. If something hits you, other than a car, that would be comprehensive (depending on if your car was moving or not and the manner it hit you in)

I would fight to have this covered, although if it becomes a collision claim your insurance might go up because of it.

 

Just to update:
Yeah, you were completely right, most of the shock was absorbed towards the rim so suspension was not in any way damaged
My only dilemma was, the tire I use, Yokohama Avid H4s, apparently stopped selling from where I normally get my tires from. They might not appeal to some people, but I loved them. Got a tire from Firestone for a good price and have it on temporarily, until I have enough to buy four more new tires or another one from Firestone to make it a pair.

Thank you guys for your responses

Oh btw, bought a new OEM Rim to go with the Firestone Tire (can't remember what it actually is right now) it is so @!#!@(* clean

 

A few months ago, my son in law got his Grand Cherokee repainted using comp, hood, fender and door when a passing truck showed it with rocks. State Farm, NJ.

 

those Yokohama Avid H4s are discontinued. Whatever is being sold is whats left in inventory.
I went through the same dilemna trying to get 4 of them.
Ended up with some Hankooks....they're,...ehhhhh...ok