Insurance Question

Old 01-16-2010 | 04:35 PM
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Insurance Question

My wife and I have continuously driven into our house (our garage is at a bad angle). We probably have about 2K worth of damage each on our cars in various locations of the cars (mostly quarter panels). Will our insurance cover the repairs, or should we just let it be?
Old 01-16-2010 | 04:47 PM
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I wouldn't get insurance involved.
Old 01-16-2010 | 05:03 PM
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If I don't, then Im not getting it fixed...
Old 01-16-2010 | 05:05 PM
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Well, from the insurance company's perspective, it was your wife's and your fault that you damaged your cars, hence they mostly likely would not cover that. It was not an accident, so no claim will be made. Even if you asked, I doubt they would cover it. I would pay for the repairs out of pocket. :twocents:
Old 01-16-2010 | 05:20 PM
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It was obviously our fault.
Old 01-16-2010 | 06:27 PM
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Originally Posted by gatrhumpy
Well, from the insurance company's perspective, it was your wife's and your fault that you damaged your cars, hence they mostly likely would not cover that. It was not an accident, so no claim will be made.
:shakehead

Striking the wall accidentally is a result of negligence which will be covered by insurance, unless Whiskers and wife are intentionally driving their cars into the wall to damage the cars or house. Fault is irrelevant to coverage.

However, Whiskers should pick the most recent date(s) when the cars hit the wall if he makes a claim-- most policies have a reporting requirement (often 30 days from the incident date) to get coverage.
If Whiskers & spouse wait for more than the XX days under the policy to report an incident, the insurer can deny the claim.

Last edited by Will Y.; 01-16-2010 at 06:29 PM.
Old 01-16-2010 | 06:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Whiskers
My wife and I have continuously driven into our house (our garage is at a bad angle). We probably have about 2K worth of damage each on our cars in various locations of the cars (mostly quarter panels). Will our insurance cover the repairs, or should we just let it be?


I'm sorry Whiskers, I just find this funny. What do you mean continuously?

Is there no way you can modify your garage? Or parking?



Terry
Old 01-16-2010 | 06:44 PM
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Get the cars fixed, then put some padding on the walls
Old 01-16-2010 | 07:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Will Y.
:shakehead

Striking the wall accidentally is a result of negligence which will be covered by insurance, unless Whiskers and wife are intentionally driving their cars into the wall to damage the cars or house. Fault is irrelevant to coverage.

However, Whiskers should pick the most recent date(s) when the cars hit the wall if he makes a claim-- most policies have a reporting requirement (often 30 days from the incident date) to get coverage.
If Whiskers & spouse wait for more than the XX days under the policy to report an incident, the insurer can deny the claim.
Good info..I may need to make up the date though...

Originally Posted by teranfon


I'm sorry Whiskers, I just find this funny. What do you mean continuously?

Is there no way you can modify your garage? Or parking?



Terry
Well, not continuously like I backed out and in again, but over the course of a year....The only change I can make is to take out the two double door garages and make it one big door. But even so, not sure if that would help since I have polls in between...
Old 01-16-2010 | 07:06 PM
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Originally Posted by LuvMyTSX
Get the cars fixed, then put some padding on the walls
The padding would need to go outside the house....

I need draw a diagram....
Old 01-16-2010 | 07:20 PM
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Here is my house, the turn into the garage sucks.
Old 01-16-2010 | 07:37 PM
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i am sure you can claim it under collision, but you will have your deductable and most likely your rates will go up a tad. In the long run it would be cheaper if you were to repair it out of pocket.

orrrrr, have the garage widened. that would be a suite mod.
Old 01-16-2010 | 09:06 PM
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i'd be more worried about just showing everyone on AZine where you live

...so you hit the wall on the passenger side of the cars when turning in then?

what do your neighbours do? some of them seem to have a pretty close garage to driveway shape

Last edited by mitch14; 01-16-2010 at 09:08 PM.
Old 01-16-2010 | 10:38 PM
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so we finally find out the truth

























Whiskers (and his wife) are both
Old 01-16-2010 | 11:08 PM
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I would change the drivers..
Old 01-16-2010 | 11:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Whiskers
My wife and I have continuously driven into our house (our garage is at a bad angle). We probably have about 2K worth of damage each on our cars in various locations of the cars (mostly quarter panels). Will our insurance cover the repairs, or should we just let it be?


Originally Posted by teranfon


I'm sorry Whiskers, I just find this funny. What do you mean continuously?

Is there no way you can modify your garage? Or parking?



Terry
Old 01-17-2010 | 06:33 AM
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Is it because you have to turn at a right-angle to get into the garage?

Would backing in make it easier?


Any ground-level pics?
Old 01-17-2010 | 06:34 AM
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Originally Posted by teranfon


I'm sorry Whiskers, I just find this funny. What do you mean continuously


Terry


Old 01-17-2010 | 06:48 AM
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Originally Posted by Shoofin
I would change the drivers..
Probably the best idea....
Old 01-17-2010 | 06:49 AM
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Originally Posted by I Go To Costco
so we finally find out the truth

























Whiskers (and his wife) are both
Me so horny.
Old 01-17-2010 | 06:58 AM
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Anyways... in all seriousness and after much deliberation, I think your best bet is to install a new garage, which has a better angle
Old 01-17-2010 | 07:01 AM
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Originally Posted by I Go To Costco
Anyways... in all seriousness and after much deliberation, I think your best bet is to install a new garage, which has a better angle
I think the only option is to remove the two doors and make it one, but not sure on how to do that. Plus there is a poll inside...
Old 01-17-2010 | 09:34 AM
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Originally Posted by Whiskers
I think the only option is to remove the two doors and make it one, but not sure on how to do that. Plus there is a poll inside...


there's your problem, you've got a poll in your garage.
Old 01-17-2010 | 09:59 AM
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Could you pull into your driveway and position the car(s) to pull in backwards? That would make pulling out easier. You could also install parking sensors so that you don't hit the back wall

Other than that, find out if the pole (column) in your garage is load bearing. If not you may just be able to remove it.
Old 01-17-2010 | 10:03 AM
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So chop the pole off Just don't come back to me why your garage ceiling collapsed



Maybe re-do your driveway so you can drive straight up from the street instead of all those turns? Not sure if that's allowed, and then again straight down would put you onto a main road it looks like. If not maybe increase the pavement space on that last turn so it's large enoughf or you to maneuver w/o driving on the grass.

Wait- which side is your garage on? The right or left side of the pic?


Last edited by Shoofin; 01-17-2010 at 10:08 AM.
Old 01-17-2010 | 10:07 AM
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I've got the perfect solution!

Old 01-17-2010 | 10:24 AM
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Must be a PA thing. We looked at a great house in Newtown that had a side-entry garage. There was literally no way (without driving on the grass) to get into the garage. It was ridiculous.

If you go the route of removing the center support, you MUST consult an engineer to determine if you need to beef up the header with either wood or steel.
Old 01-17-2010 | 10:53 AM
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^ a lot of new subdivisions around here are building houses just like that. I think its stupid!

Talk to your neighbor. Go together and have the section of land between the 2 houses paved. You use his driveway to get into your garage and he uses yours. That way is a easier approach into???


That said, this is part of why you pay for insurance. If you arent making claims left and right your rates shouldnt go up, plus you are adults (well your wife may be ) and not kids so you should be ok.
Old 01-17-2010 | 11:11 AM
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Originally Posted by NSXNEXT
Must be a PA thing. We looked at a great house in Newtown that had a side-entry garage. There was literally no way (without driving on the grass) to get into the garage. It was ridiculous.

If you go the route of removing the center support, you MUST consult an engineer to determine if you need to beef up the header with either wood or steel.
as a former pa resident I have to say it is NOT a Pa thing.
Old 01-17-2010 | 11:26 AM
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I forgot that they made side entry garages, haven't seen one in awhile. who the hell thought that was a good idea? sheesh
Old 01-17-2010 | 12:51 PM
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They do it to keep nice lines and flow so the side of the garage looks like another part of the house and not a garage (from the front of the house). Curb appeal.

Whiskers: Is it possible to just extend the driveway ~5 ft wider in that area to give you more space to make a wider turn?
Old 01-17-2010 | 01:43 PM
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back in. and turn in your man card.
Old 01-17-2010 | 01:53 PM
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Originally Posted by Shoofin

Originally Posted by fsttyms1
Talk to your neighbor. Go together and have the section of land between the 2 houses paved. You use his driveway to get into your garage and he uses yours.
This is probably the most practical approach, assuming there are no utility boxes, etc. located between the garages.
Whiskers and neighbor will have to record access easements for each other, though.
Originally Posted by The Dougler
back in. and turn in your man card.
It's Whiskers, AZ's best known metrosexual-- didn't he already turn in his man card many moons ago?
Old 01-17-2010 | 01:58 PM
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My neighbor and I do drive on the grass between, so I guess we can still do that, but it doesn't always work.

Yes, pole :duh: Its probably load bearing, so don't know about the one garage door option.

Backing in won't work since I won't have enough clearance ahead of me without bumping into my fence.

Ill call the insurance company and ask what the procedure it, but since we both have damage in the front and real panels, I don't know what we will say the last hit was. Plus, will they care if we both have a claim...?

Its really the kind of thing that will really bother us unless we sell the cars, so not sure if we would even bother, especially since we will do it again.

Yes, turn in my man card...The worst part is something you don't even notice it until the next day, the slightest rub does a lot of damage. The Mr. Clean erasers get the paint from the house off, and touch up paint gets a lot done, but its still sucks.

I suck.
Old 01-17-2010 | 01:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Street Spirit
They do it to keep nice lines and flow so the side of the garage looks like another part of the house and not a garage (from the front of the house). Curb appeal.

Whiskers: Is it possible to just extend the driveway ~5 ft wider in that area to give you more space to make a wider turn?
We would need to see who's property its on.
Old 01-17-2010 | 02:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Will Y.


This is probably the most practical approach, assuming there are no utility boxes, etc. located between the garages.
Whiskers and neighbor will have to record access easements for each other, though.

It's Whiskers, AZ's best known metrosexual-- didn't he already turn in his man card many moons ago?


Seems to be go info....

Maybe a smart car is in order...

If it ever stops raining, Ill take pics of the damage of the Lexus and Infiniti...
Old 01-17-2010 | 02:16 PM
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It will most likely be an at fault accident for you. I had $1000 worth of damage in a fender bender and a $500 deductible. So insurance paid $500. They raised my rates 25%

I called them and they said the monetary value doesn't matter. i would have been better paying out of pocket.

I haven't had an at fault accident in over 14 yrs and now they said I am a high risk driver for either 3 or 5 yrs, I forget.

I hate insurance companies...
Old 01-17-2010 | 02:19 PM
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Just called Geico and they will only fix one accident per car, so that would get one panel fixed, not sure if its even worth it....They they told me that I need to report any accidents to them regardless and I quickly hung up....Never gave them my policy number...

Last edited by teranfon; 01-17-2010 at 04:42 PM.
Old 01-17-2010 | 02:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Snookie
Just called Geico and they will only fix one accident per car, so that would get one panel fixed, not sure if its even worth it....They they told me that I need to report any accidents to them regardless and I quickly hung up....Never gave them my policy number...
Make sure they can't trace you.... Hope you called from a blocked number
Old 01-17-2010 | 02:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Hapa DC5
Make sure they can't trace you.... Hope you called from a blocked number

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