A choice made by the company, not by me. The U/W dept transferred to another office in another state. I didn't want to move. BOOM... here I am.

So far, it's not too bad. The hours won't be so good though.

But you're right, you do get some VERY angry people on the phone. But dealing with them rationally and unemotionally helps calm them down.

 

That is absolutely correct, deb.

Instincts will most often take over and the driver will try to avoid the animal (unless they're animal haters--afraid there are some out there). But when it comes to your insurance coverage and your bank account, you're always better off hitting the animal than to lose control of your vehicle trying to avoid it.

If you hit the animal, regardless what happens after that (you lose control, hit a guard rail, total your car, for instance), the accident is covered under the comp coverage and is not at-fault.

If you miss the animal and suffer any damage, the accident is covered under the Collision coverage and IS considered at-fault.

 

Thanks for the clarification. Wonder who that THAT up!

Going back to the thread, why would the aluminum object in the road for our original poster not be considered a comp claim (assuming he didn't damage the car in the process of trying to avoid it)? Or if, as in my daughter's case recently, there's a mattress in the middle of the road some night, why wouldn't that be considered unavoidable and a comp claim? Or is it? Fortunately, and due to her superior driving skills, she swerved and missed it! (A testimonial to DE events)

 

That's a bit of a gray area, Deb. Striking an object, whether it's a car, a tree, a building, a pothole, or a mattress in the road, is a Collision loss.

It's almost ALWAYS considered an at-fault accident, especially if it's lying there stationary. Where the gray comes in, is when an item comes off a vehicle in front of you and is unavoidable. We will often treat them as comp claims or even pay them out of your collision coverage but call them non-negligent (read not at fault).

It's not an exact science, mind you. There's some subjectivity involved.

Hope that helps though.

 

daff- The thinking of insurance law on that situation is basically that if the object is stationary you should not be overdriving your headlights and/or leaving enough room between you and the other traffic to avoid any hazard to presents itself. Obviously this does not always work in real life so that is why it is often excused or paid under your comprehensive coverage.

 

Thanks for the explanations. Unfortunately, I frequently have to drive to Houston, where there is a ton of junk on the road, so it's a frequent issue. I HATE unsecured loads!

 

didn't realize you were having a bad year.. and I thought your parking spot was an issue as they say.. things come in 3's... that means you should be fine now maybe we'll catch ya at the next gathering