So my less than a month old MC/A (under 1600 miles) had a run in with a moving piece of peeled 18 Wheeler tire on the NJ Turnpike yesterday. Smashed in the bumper, ripped off the black trim from the botom of the bumper, ripped off the lower grill trim, took out a lower headlight and worst of all smashed in my radiator. For all I know the suspension is borked too.

On top of it all the insurance company says I am at fault...because apparently I said the peeled tire was stationary during the initial report...which I don't believe it was...but in my haste to get everything taken care of I might have said.

I don't have any pictures to share (yet) as the tow company took her away and she's now at a body shop waiting to be appraised.

By biggest concern is the length of time that parts are going to take come in to replace the bumper & trim. Any ideas on parts order times and if its gotten any better than a couple of months ago?

*sad*

 

Ouch!
I once had a large piece of carpet fall off a truck in front of me and all it took off was the side view mirror. I'm glad to hear only the car was damaged and not you. Good luck with the insurance company.

 

I don't understand what you mean by "my insurance company says I'm at fault". Unless you got the liscence plate # of the truck, and have witnesses... there is no "fault" and your insurance company is going to pay the claim. Doesn't matter if the the piece of tire was stationary or not. If you hit a stationary brick wall... it would be covered under your collision policy.

If your insurance company isn't going to pay because you hit a stationary piece of rubber...i.e.: you're at "fault"... it's time to review your policy and/or your insurance company. The cheapest route isn't always the best route.

Sorry about your car and hope all works out for the best.

 

The "at fault" status means my rates might be going up as opposed to say a deer running into the car or a piece of carpet falling off a truck which would be covered under comprehensive and not collison.

Apparently I wasn't watching where I was going and hit a stationary object....hence I'm to blame.

They're going to pay regardless (less the deductible of course) but its the insult to the injury that my rates might go up that annoys me.

 

On the plus side I guess...the dealership will get to turn off that pesky CEL again... :/

 

It should annoy you because IMO the insurance company knew exactly what they were doing when they got you to say the tire was stationary. I bet that's their standard way of upping your rates. And maybe a bunch. I'd fight that if I were you, and pretty hard. The difference could be thousands of dollars over the 3 years they usually apply the higher rate. Something like: "I'm driving on the turnpike at 70, all of a sudden there's this big chunk of tire in my way and I couldn't change lanes 'cause there were cars on either side of me". Was the tire moving or stationary? "Heck, I don't remember, I was freaking out trying to avoid a collision, with cars on the sides, a guy behind me, give me a break here, at least I didn't hurt any other cars". The company wants to increase your rates every chance they can, so they are not your friend in this situation, they are sort of the enemy. If they hold fast on the stationary tire issue (and I bet they use that one a lot because this must happen every day somewhere) I'd consider legal advice if this is really gonna cost you a bunch.

 

To your question about parts supply, when Nigel was rear-ended back in April and it was only 3 or 4 days before the dealer had his fender, new hatch, wheel well trims, etc.

 

This is a long shot - but large 18 wheeler tires are often 'branded' with the company's ID/ serial number which may allow them to be traced back to the owner. However, what you hit was most likely a recap - and the odds of a serial number go down with recaps.

 

What Big Newt said... Most insurance companies raise rates based on claims, not fault.

 

What insurance company is this?

 

RevQuixo... welcome to the club.

6 months ago or so I was on the freeway here in so cal and got nailed by a "Road Gator" the car in front of me drove over it sending it up in the air... all in all 3,200.00 repair bill but my insurance company did file it as a "comprehensive" claim because it was unavoidable flying debris. I would call the insurance comapny and try talking calmly to the rep handling your case and explain the situation, explain that you called immediatly after a traumatic experience and that the retread was in motion, as long as that is the fact. They may not like it but you pay them for a service, sounds like they aren't providing any service at all...

 

Not exactly. Comprehensive claims, which is what this would fall under if the tire was not stationary, are considered "not at fault" claims and don't result in a rate increase (at least in my experience with several large claims). Hitting a stationary object, OTOH is a collision claim and by definition you are "at fault". If you are lucky your insurance company has some sort of forgiveness which you qualify for.

rob and the Blue Shifted MINI

 

Depends on the company. I've seen rates raised for hail damage claims.

 

USAA...I've been pretty happy with them in the past so I'm hoping I don't get screwed. I've had a clean record since 2001 and in that instance I was rear-ended.

As far as I remember the object *was moving* it was kicked up by the 18 wheeler in front of me. The insurance company says that they will look into it and leave it up to the appraiser to determine if it was moving or not. Considering the tire didn't just do undercarriage damage...I'm hoping that is enough to convince them it wasn't stationary.

 

Bummer!!

Dnail, where you be in Germany? I work for German based company.

 

Kaiserslautern area.

 

I really hope this works out in your favor. I've been a life-long USAA member, and was pleasantly surprised at the minimal impact that a totaled vehicle by my daughter had on premiums.

 

+1 USAA'er since the ripe old age of 16.

 

+2 USAA. Best insurance company on the planet. Very well managed....

 

+3, me too since 16