So Friday night I'm driving home from the airport, and I take the exit to go to my home, and I see a flash of an animal running across the road and THUMP. The upshot is the front right bumber of my car is damaged, the driving light is broken, and the tire well lining is all messed up.

But wait, it gets better. I called my insurance company (State Farm) and they tell me I don't have insurance on my car. Seems when I bought my MR2 a month ago, they added the MR2 and took off my MINI. I'm told they will undo the cancellation backdated to the date of cancellation and cover my loss. Anything less than that will result in great agitation and lawsuittery on my part.

Incidentally, can anyone with State Farm verify that collisions with animals is covered under the Comprehensive coverage and not collision? That's what my research has indicated, but the agent I talked to today (the same one who cancelled my coverage) said it would be collision, but I don't think that's right.

 

Hitting an animal (that is alive and moving) is a comp claim, not a collision. If there were a dead dear laying in the roadway and you struck it, it would be a collision claim.

 

bad luck. I was in an "Oh Deer!"(2 deers) situation 3 weeks ago, but I was lucky enough to have 2-3 secs to slow down and let both deers run through.

 

I hit a deer with my VW (or the deer hit me) a few years ago and it was not considered a collision. Everything was covered without me having to pay a dime.

 

Poor animal!

Sorry about your MINI. The damage looks mostly cosmetic so hopefully you'll have it back to new in no time.

If you want to look at it from the positive side of the coin, at least by having this minor accident you've discovered you were technically insuranceless. Could've been messier if you were in a serious accident then discovered you were insuranceless.

 

Well, I got the appraisal today. They have to replace the front bumper, lower grill, passenger side fog lamp and bezel, the passenger side wheel flare, the horn, a radiator support, the A/C unit and condenser, the intercooler, and the wheel well lining.

I'm feeling sick. I have been so careful and kept it in pristine condition. Now it feels...sullied.

I hate dogs.

 

poor mini

 

That's way more stuff than I'd guess seeing that pic. That's a shame. I'd guess it's collision 'cause you ran into/over something but I don't know. I know you cannot have comp without collision coverage.

 

Hey, Jeremy, are you after my job ??



Yeah, you're right, of course. Striking an animal is a comp claim. Unless, as you say, the animal is already dead. My dad hit a dead horse in the road once and yep, collision claim.

Anyway... to the OP, did State Farm (my employer, btw) make you pay the back premiums for that month you were not insured when they back-dated your coverage ? Of did you get some "free" insurance due to their error ? (appears your agent's office processed the application as a replacement vehicle and not an added car policy).

 

See my previous post and Jeremy's. He's correct.

And depending on the state, you can have Comp coverage and not Collision coverage on your auto.

 

OK, thanks. I know you can't have just comp in AZ. Just to play the devil's advocate, what would stop someone from hitting something, claiming it was an animal, and trying to collect if they had only comp? The animal isn't gonna answer any questions mind you. Rub a little steak juice on it and have at it!

 

Try to fool one of our estimators once. We just prosecuted a guy in WV for playing that game. He faces huge fines, at a minimum.

You might get away with it, you might not.

 

That's good to know. The old "I saw Bigfoot and it just jumped in front of my Mini" won't work with you guys!

 

Nope, we don't normally buy that one.

 

What if I had pix?

 

Well... if you hit that guy on the far right... I'm thinking Comp Claim.

 

If ya'll are hiring I'd gladly put in a resumé

 

We're always looking for good people, Jeremy. I can get you the contact info for an HR rep if you're serious.

But hey, you must be making a boatload of bucks in your current job considering you just ordered an MCSC.

 

That'd be great, I'll shoot you a PM. Panera doesn't pay as good as the MCSC would make one think.

 

Aren't you doing some IT stuff, too ?

 

Yep, programming for the ole' iPhone.

 

That must be a decent job.

And hey, if you get hired on at State Farm, I'll buy your first lunch.

 

They have verified that it will be covered under comprehensive rather than collision. It'll only cost me $100 for the deductible, plus another $200 for some PDR I had done to fix three dings. Might as well get it all done at once.


I don't know if they will. I haven't seen a bill from them yet. If they bill me I'm glad to pay, but I certainly won't remind them.

Steve

 

Sorry to hear about your car damage, but am I the only one that's offended by this remark? Was it a dog that you hit or some random woodland creature? Could have been someone's beloved pet that will never see home again. Car damage sucks, but frankly, I feel worse for the poor animal.

 

I said that up there.

I understand how the OP feels, but I agree with you. Cars are... replaceable, fixable, inanimate objects (no matter how much we feel attached to it). An animal, whether it's someone's pet or not, is a living being--it can't be replaced or fixed once it's dead. Wild animals don't know better than to dart out into a road--we're the ones that built roads through their habitats. And for domesticated animals, they don't know better either--it's up to their owner to train them and control them properly.

/endtreehuggingrant