Insurance Question (non-bike)

[Fencer]

Today, One of my trucks was "gray haired". My guys are ok with only mild damage to my truck.

As I am told. This woman decideds she is low on gas and cuts across the lane in front of my guys to make the turn at the gas station. How do you miss a 24 foot long flat-bed/ crewcab dually? Anyway it was done in front of a cop at the gas station. She admitted fault. My truck will need a new bumper, surrounding plastic/ headlights/ turn lights, and various misc broken attach plates. I don't know what it did to her car.

My question is. Can I get her insurance to compensate for time lost /wages, while my truck is being repaired? Can you get rental commercial truck reimbursment? I have never had to deal with stuff like this from a business standpoint before, But If my trucks aren't moving, I'm losing farkle money. I don't know who her insurance is with as of yet, as they had left (her and police) before I made it to the scene. (I had to pull off my job to get there - more lost time). We then pryed the bumper off my tire to make it drivable again. I, unfortunately, will not be able to get the police report for two days so I can get her info.

 

[James]

My question is. Can I get her insurance to compensate for time lost /wages, while my truck is being repaired? Can you get rental commercial truck reimbursment? I have never had to deal with stuff like this from a business standpoint before, But If my trucks aren't moving, I'm losing farkle money. I don't know who her insurance is with as of yet, as they had left (her and police) before I made it to the scene. (I had to pull off my job to get there - more lost time). We then pryed the bumper off my tire to make it drivable again. I, unfortunately, will not be able to get the police report for two days so I can get her info.

On a personal policy I have, but also have not delt w/commercial issues. Call your agent & see what he/she says.

James

 

[mdisher]

Your first call should be to your agent. He/She should take care of you.

If they are any good and you have the proper coverage (perhaps business interuption insurance) they'll set you up, take care of it and collect against her/her insurance company.

But a lot of that depends on what value you are to them.

The answers to your questions are, yes all of the above is possible. The time off work might be a stretch but they should compensate you with a rental.

Of course, if she has the minimum required in your state, and I have no idea what that is. It may not require that she have any coverage for that and you may have to go after her to get it.

-MD

 

[donaldb]

Fence.........assuming the other lady is properly insured I would like to say that you are entitled to compensation for down time. However try to remember that wrecks do happen and in all likelihood that other lady did not intentionally cause this to happen. So, in at least some minor respect you are expected to mitigate your damages. What I mean by that is to make some effort to hold down your damages. Yea, I know it took some time to get your truck back up and running by pulling the front bumper back out........but you did the right thing........that is an example of mitigating your damages until such time as the truck can be properly repaired.......so long as the truck is both safe to drive and legal to drive. Now while your truck is in the shop, her insurance should cover the cost of a rental/temp replacement even if your business needs/requires a commercial replacement. Since you are in a business which requires this type truck I assume you know where you can rent one for a few days. Go ahead and call them and secure a price for daily rental and be prepared to explain why you need that specific type vehicle to the lady's insurance claim adjuster. Advise him/her that it would be cheaper to rent and use while your vehicle is in the shop than to have to pay you actual down time..........this should be the cheaper route. Good luck!

 

[Rogue]

Fence.........assuming the other lady is properly insured I would like to say that you are entitled to compensation for down time. However try to remember that wrecks do happen and in all likelihood that other lady did not intentionally cause this to happen. So, in at least some minor respect you are expected to mitigate your damages. What I mean by that is to make some effort to hold down your damages. Yea, I know it took some time to get your truck back up and running by pulling the front bumper back out........but you did the right thing........that is an example of mitigating your damages until such time as the truck can be properly repaired.......so long as the truck is both safe to drive and legal to drive. Now while your truck is in the shop, her insurance should cover the cost of a rental/temp replacement even if your business needs/requires a commercial replacement. Since you are in a business which requires this type truck I assume you know where you can rent one for a few days. Go ahead and call them and secure a price for daily rental and be prepared to explain why you need that specific type vehicle to the lady's insurance claim adjuster. Advise him/her that it would be cheaper to rent and use while your vehicle is in the shop than to have to pay you actual down time..........this should be the cheaper route. Good luck!

+1

We had this happen to one of our trucks and thats how it worked out.

 

[Fencer]

Thanks for some advice here and PMs.

All I can say is damn. This **** is expensive! All body work, unless they find something else when the bumper comes off. It looks like it just missed the oil, tranny, amd engine coolers.

My est (an 04 Chevy 3500)

Front grill $435

Headlight assem $278

bumper and cap $500

lower air deflect $104

+ misc brakets and kits and paint

Tot if no other damage found $2,550.

The price on that grill kills me. We are talking about honeycombed plastic with a little chrome and a little paint on an area 12" x 36" approx.

Maybe I will go aftermarket on the grill and get the billit flame job

 

[donaldb]

by today's standards that's pretty cheap. 3 days shop time (for paint cure) and your done.

 

[Fencer]

Finally got the report.

I am dealing with Nationwide. The claim rep said they accept liability and want their own adjuster to look at it. First avail was next week. I said No to that, so now First avail in in the Morn. He said they would provide me with a rental CAR. I explained this is a Co work truck with a dump bed. not an every day commuter and gave him the price Hertz Equip rental gave me of $199 per day. It sounds like they are gonna try to balk at the rental price as he had to go ask his supper for the ok here. After he called back he said they would determine the rental at the adjustment.

Any advice here?

 

[James]

Finally got the report.
I am dealing with Nationwide. The claim rep said they accept liability and want their own adjuster to look at it. First avail was next week. I said No to that, so now First avail in in the Morn. He said they would provide me with a rental CAR. I explained this is a Co work truck with a dump bed. not an every day commuter and gave him the price Hertz Equip rental gave me of $199 per day. It sounds like they are gonna try to balk at the rental price as he had to go ask his supper for the ok here. After he called back he said they would determine the rental at the adjustment.

Any advice here?

Be polite, but firm. Perhaps "the use of this truck generates x dollars a day for my company" might help. No need to piss off anyone that might help you, eventually.

 

[donaldb]

Fence tell the adjuster your truck is your business and you rely upon it for income. If they wont supply you with an equivalent which you can use then he must pay you for lost income as a result. This is a pressure tactic, there hoping you will agree to a cheaper car rental for 3 or days rather than having to go to the trouble to document and prove your loss of income as that would take more of your time. Hey, it's your decision.........is it worth the trouble to you? Just ask him why they cant just do the right and simple thing to make you whole? that it would speek volumns about there company if they choose not to put you through this hassle, just repair the truck and let you maintain your business as normally as possible under these unfortunate circumstances. Advise him that after all you helped mitigate your damages by getting the truck driveable again and that if you hadn't they would be looking as several additional days of down time and lost income. That should work..........but if it doesnt give'm hell. Good luck!

 

[Fencer]

Well, Nationwide wants to be a pain. They ain't on your side.

They do not want to pay the prevailing labor rate for the area - $6 per hour less.

They are still UNSURE of the rental truck.

The superviser has not returned my call, yet.

They want me to use non-OEM parts.

Their adjuster is approx $800 less than my dealer.

I called the State Insurance Dept and filed a complaint. So far - They will have to pay the area rate. and provide me with a commercial truck for at least 2 days.

I do not recommend Nationwide as a Company. They did the same thing with a friend of mine on a personal vehicle and 9 months later they still have not taken care of him completely.

I am a little (ok a lot) more agressive than he is though and will push this to my satisfaction.

Hell, Its not like I am asking for extra money or any at this point. I just want my truck back to original pre-accident condition. I don't feel that is too much to ask.

 

[donaldb]

you really want to piss them off!............tell them you are making a diminution of value claim, that now when you sell the truck you must disclose that it has been wrecked before and that it is no longer worth as much. Pay me the difference, turn that wrench on there arse a little tighter

 

[Fencer]

you really want to piss them off!............tell them you are making a diminution of value claim, that now when you sell the truck you must disclose that it has been wrecked before and that it is no longer worth as much. Pay me the difference, turn that wrench on there arse a little tighter

I did.

Got everthing I asked for + diminution (approx $400 -20% or so of claim). :yahoo:

I'll have to remember to call the State Commision if I find myself in this situation again. He is the one who suggested the diminution of value. I finally go ahold of the claim rep super today. He was not happy as "I have authorized the rep to provide for your rental and damage request + diminution, and I am awaiting callback from the Insurance Commision."

I guess they may get dinged on running below current labor rates.

I warned the rep I could be a real pain

My truck will be ready Monday and I have (more than I need but was all that was avail kinda thing) a 24 ft flatbed with a liftgate for a rental. I would prefer the dump but I'll live.