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NFT: Comprehensive car insurance- Should I submit claim?

MookGiants : 1/15/2018 11:48 am
I have gotten mixed answers on this. Something came off a truck and made a small crack on front end of my car and also put a little gouge in front end. Normally i wouldnt care, its not that noticeable but I bought the car brand new a couple months ago, my first brand new car, and im just bummed about it.

I have comprehensive insurance with 100 deductible. Damage is probably near 700. I have progressive if that makes any difference.

Think its worth turning in or will my rate go up?
Absolutely submit a claim..  
Sean : 1/15/2018 11:49 am : link
Comprehensive is not at fault and does not generally go against you.
How long have you had progressive? I would give them a call  
jlukes : 1/15/2018 11:50 am : link
and give them the scenario and ask about a potential rate increase. It might fall under their accident forgiveness policy.

That being said, no so sure I'd risk using up my "accident forgiveness" over such a small amount. I would probably just end up paying out of pocket for the repair.
Accident forgiveness is a buy-in endorsement..  
Sean : 1/15/2018 11:52 am : link
Generally, auto carriers do not look at comp claims as at fault & raise rates unless there is a volume trend (filing 2 claims a year consecutively for ex).
Mook....  
BillKo : 1/15/2018 11:55 am : link
definitely!!

New car and you're already probably paying a high premium for the $100 deductible. Utilize it!

And if your rate did happen to go up next year due to this - which it shouldn't - shop around. There are better rates to be had if you need it.

It's why you have insurance, esp for a new car.
fix it  
gtt350 : 1/15/2018 12:05 pm : link
,
Agree with everything Bill said  
tangled up in blue : 1/15/2018 12:05 pm : link
.
.  
Danny Kanell : 1/15/2018 12:05 pm : link
Definitely submit a claim.
Mook  
baadbill : 1/15/2018 12:50 pm : link
I'd be cautious. First of all, the concept of "fault" only applies to accidents. Thus, for example, if you submit a claim through your collision coverage (which is paid regardless of fault), your carrier will, in fact, attempt to recover their payment by pursuing the other driver's insurer in arbitration. If they don't recover 100%, then they charge your rate history with a "chargeable accident" which will impact your future rates (note that the significance is that collision is supposedly something you paid for that isn't based upon fault - yet they will increase your premium anyway if they weren't successful in making a full recovery).

Auto insurance is highly regulated and whether or not the insurer will consider a payment to you under your comprehensive coverage will simply be a matter of what your state dpt of insurance currently permits (if they can, they will).

Your insurance agent should know the answer. I'd call first and ask. If you don't have an agent, I'd ask your insurance company directly - but I'd recommend getting their response in writing - and if you can't, then I'd send a confirming letter to them documenting what they told you (i.e. don't wait for your next policy renewal to send the letter - that will make it seem you are just "making it up" when you learned about the premium increase - send it now, right after speaking with them, and your letter will carry more weight if, later, you get hit with a premium increase).

Good luck. Dealing with insurers (of all kinds) is a royal PIA.
No charge for comp. claim  
Giant John : 1/15/2018 12:55 pm : link
Get your baby fixed!
My wife just hit the garage door when she was backing out  
rasbutant : 1/15/2018 1:03 pm : link
the door is old and not working right and didn't open all the way and she didn't notice. She was backing out, couldn't see it and hit it with the ski roof rack ripping the rack off the car. The rack is fine, but the car not so good where the rack was attached. Damage to both sides of the roof.

Bought the car new in Oct. This Sucks.
edit:  
baadbill : 1/15/2018 1:10 pm : link
whether or not the insurer will consider a payment to you under your comprehensive coverage TO IMPACT YOUR PREMIUM will simply be a matter of what your state dpt of insurance currently permits (if they can, they will).

I'd also ask others who claim it will not impact your premium to tell us the basis of their statement. Do you have expertise (i.e. are you an auto insurance underwriter or work with dept of ins or an auto ins agent?) If you don't work in the field, then what is the basis of your statement and how confident are you it's accurate? Confident enough you'll agree to reimburse Mook if he follows your advice and then his carrier increases his rates?

Mook  
jlukes : 1/15/2018 1:12 pm : link
My comment was made on the basis of me going through the exact same thing with Progressive 3 years ago.

I ended up deciding to not go through insurance
Mook ... what jlukes said...  
baadbill : 1/15/2018 1:17 pm : link
If Progressive told jlukes he could avoid charges by using accident forgiveness - then that means Progressive DOES charge your rates for comprehensive claims but they are willing to "look the other way" if you choose to use your one time "accident forgiveness".

It's an important distinction. I recommend getting a definitive answer directly from Progressive but I'd want it in writing - which will probably be difficult to get. If it's verbal, it's completely worthless (and believe me when I tell you that the people you talk to at the insurance company won't all know the correct answer - I worked in the insurance industry for 40+ years).
What jlukes  
Bubba : 1/15/2018 1:54 pm : link
said. ALL claims are noted in your file regardless of fault. The old days of the insurance point system is long gone i.e. 2 pts for speeding, 5 for an accident etc. However every incident is accounted for and has an affect on your premium in some fashion. Your paying the guy whether you talk to him or not so you may as well have the conversation.
I am not an insurance expert  
pjcas18 : 1/15/2018 2:05 pm : link
but something falling off someone else's truck and damaging your vheicle (unless it was your truck) should not be your responsibility and it shouldn't be your comprehensive coverage.

if you got the license plate # of the truck owner they should pay for the damage to your car and your insurance company should be irrelevant.

My mother-in-law had something similar happen, but a chair fell out of a the back of a pick up truck loaded with stuff the owner was moving while driving on the highway and pretty much totaled her Prius, she didn't have to pay a cent, but the truck driver stopped.

unless I'm misunderstanding.
RE: I am not an insurance expert  
jlukes : 1/15/2018 2:21 pm : link
In comment 13790405 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
but something falling off someone else's truck and damaging your vheicle (unless it was your truck) should not be your responsibility and it shouldn't be your comprehensive coverage.

if you got the license plate # of the truck owner they should pay for the damage to your car and your insurance company should be irrelevant.

My mother-in-law had something similar happen, but a chair fell out of a the back of a pick up truck loaded with stuff the owner was moving while driving on the highway and pretty much totaled her Prius, she didn't have to pay a cent, but the truck driver stopped.

unless I'm misunderstanding.


All true if you indeed are able to get the information of the offending party and they cooperate. If not, it all goes under comprehensive.
I'd ask a lawyer  
jamison884 : 1/15/2018 3:37 pm : link
I worked in customer service for an auto insurance company during my college years and from what I noticed, ANY activity on the policy, regardless of who was at-fault or type of claim (collision or comp), ultimately impacted the future premiums. Except for windshield chip repair.

This is in NJ. If I were you, I'd fix it out of pocket, as the potential for accumulated premium increase over the following years is likely to exceed the $700. I'm not a lawyer or insurance expert, but I had a ton of calls from angry people concerning higher than average rate increases (compared to other customers), and they had no-fault activity on their policy in the prior term.
RE: I'd ask a lawyer  
mrvax : 1/15/2018 3:52 pm : link
In comment 13790759 jamison884 said:
Quote:
I worked in customer service for an auto insurance company during my college years and from what I noticed, ANY activity on the policy, regardless of who was at-fault or type of claim (collision or comp), ultimately impacted the future premiums. Except for windshield chip repair.

This is in NJ. If I were you, I'd fix it out of pocket, as the potential for accumulated premium increase over the following years is likely to exceed the $700. I'm not a lawyer or insurance expert, but I had a ton of calls from angry people concerning higher than average rate increases (compared to other customers), and they had no-fault activity on their policy in the prior term.


8-9 years ago I was involved in an accident where a guy came zipping down an off ramp, ignoring a yield sign and I ended up rear ending him. It was unavoidable. The cop gave him a ticket for failure to yield.

State Farm didn't have to pay a nickle but his insurance paid $5K to fix my car. My rates stayed the same. (Florida)
RE: RE: I'd ask a lawyer  
Mike in NY : 1/15/2018 4:04 pm : link
In comment 13790816 mrvax said:
Quote:
In comment 13790759 jamison884 said:


Quote:


I worked in customer service for an auto insurance company during my college years and from what I noticed, ANY activity on the policy, regardless of who was at-fault or type of claim (collision or comp), ultimately impacted the future premiums. Except for windshield chip repair.

This is in NJ. If I were you, I'd fix it out of pocket, as the potential for accumulated premium increase over the following years is likely to exceed the $700. I'm not a lawyer or insurance expert, but I had a ton of calls from angry people concerning higher than average rate increases (compared to other customers), and they had no-fault activity on their policy in the prior term.



8-9 years ago I was involved in an accident where a guy came zipping down an off ramp, ignoring a yield sign and I ended up rear ending him. It was unavoidable. The cop gave him a ticket for failure to yield.

State Farm didn't have to pay a nickle but his insurance paid $5K to fix my car. My rates stayed the same. (Florida)


When it gets to the point that the police are issuing ticket(s) to one of the parties the insurance companies will usually find that definitive as to fault. If you consider that most rear end accidents probably involve a vehicle following too closely (otherwise they'd have time to stop) you don't see a police officers writing that up so to get to the point that ticket(s) is/are issued means something unusual.
Mike:  
mrvax : 1/15/2018 4:16 pm : link
Correct. To that point, I had never heard of the rear ender (myself) being cleared of any fault. I was worried for a while. In truth, there was no way to have avoided contact. I also had a witness phone # I gave to the cop who correlated my account.
Absolutely submit it, not going to raise your rates  
montanagiant : 1/15/2018 4:16 pm : link
Something like this is considered akin to a Hail Damage claim. It's somewhat considered an act of God and beyond your control.

I will tell you this though, after working with all the insurance co's for the last 24 years in my industry if you can get State Farm, USAA, Farmers or Nationwide for similar cost do it because Progressive sucks. I mean they blow when it comes to certain claims.
RE: Absolutely submit it, not going to raise your rates  
mrvax : 1/15/2018 4:51 pm : link
In comment 13790893 montanagiant said:
Quote:

I will tell you this though, after working with all the insurance co's for the last 24 years in my industry if you can get State Farm, USAA, Farmers or Nationwide for similar cost do it because Progressive sucks. I mean they blow when it comes to certain claims.



Montana, you are so right. We bought a used car for cash last year. My daughter who was helping my wife when I was hospitalized chose Progressive. Wife and I are 57, no tickets/accidents. Progressive minimum coverage = $143 month. USAA = $85 with collision/comprehensive ($1000 ded. )!
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