What would you do?

[adoihcj]

Wife was driving on the highway yesterday and a dump truck spilled rocks all over the road and there was nowhere her or all the other cars could go.

I have a paint chip on each fender, two chips on the front of the hood, and chips across the front bumper. Spoke to my insurance company and I need an estimate.

Question is, would you repair the chips yourself (I already have the kit to do it), or would you have someone paint the fenders, hood, etc. For obvious reasons, I do not want to lose the factory finish.

I am very upset with this as I keep my 4R spotless - I also have the name and address of the trucking company. Any suggestions?

 

[Will733]

Take the keys away from her:jk:

That really sucks man... Hopefully insurance will cover a high end paint job and go after the truck company for you but if it's really not too bad and noticeable, just touch it up.

If it's BAD... You might just have to lose that factory finish.

 

[philsey]

Will the ins co write the check to you? Some will, some won't. Some write it to you and the repair shop.

If they'll write it to you, get a re-paint estimate, and touch it up yourself.

 

[kmiller8821]

Wife was driving on the highway yesterday and a dump truck spilled rocks all over the road and there was nowhere her or all the other cars could go.

I have a paint chip on each fender, two chips on the front of the hood, and chips across the front bumper. Spoke to my insurance company and I need an estimate.

Question is, would you repair the chips yourself (I already have the kit to do it), or would you have someone paint the fenders, hood, etc. For obvious reasons, I do not want to lose the factory finish.

I am very upset with this as I keep my 4R spotless - I also have the name and address of the trucking company. Any suggestions?

I don't know the laws in your area, but in Texas if debris hit's the ground "first", then your car, it's considered a road hazard. I know your case may be different given that rocks dumped all over the place, but I had a concrete truck drop something in front of me that bounced up and cracked my windshield. I went after the concrete company but they weren't obligated to pay me because of this. They said the only way it would have been covered is if it "flew directly off the truck" on to my window. I called my insurance company which confirmed the same and had to pay to have my windshield replaced myself. I would make every effort to go after the truck company first, if I were you, given that this seems like an unusual situtation. It's not like 1 rock fell, a ton of them did. If not, claim it on your insurance and then take your vehicle to a Toyota body shop to have them fix it. (my 2 cents). Your insurance company will go after the truck company for you if you can't get anywhere with them (if they legally can, anyway). I know how you feel - good luck.

 

[philsey]

You sure there's no windshield chips?

 

[dekeman]

Unless you're a professional painter, don't do it yourself or the repair will look DIY. But paying for it should not be your responsibility: if the trucking firm spilled some of its load, then the spill can be classified as an unsecured load, which you could argue is in contravention to the highway traffic act (it's the law here in Canada). Get an estimate to repaint, then approach the trucking firm with that cost. They caused the damage, they need to rectify it. They may be amenable, but if not your insurance company may be able to go after their insurance co.

Good luck.

 

[BrianLSU]

Man, what a PITA..

I was driving on the highway in New Orleans and dump trucks carrying fill for the projects there are zooming around me. I swear I had to go over 80mph to keep a truck behind me instead of him overtaking me and dropping crap all over the road doing the same thing that happened to you.

Why I'm having to drive like a maniac to keep in front of a dump truck, I have no idea. I think he enjoyed destroying the cars behind him...

These trucks, per law, should be cleaned before and after leaving a jobsite. Yet the law for some reason is not enforced.

I would try to fix it myself, but if it's bad and you make a claim, get if fixed perfectly. The insurance company is going to ding you anyway.

 

[B'klyn_Mike]

If you want a professional looking job then have it done by a professional! If the insurance will cover it, or a part of it...heck, even if they didn't, I'd have mine repainted professionally. Just my .02! :hatsoff:

Good luck and kick some a$$! :AK47:

Mike :artist2:

 

[MikesToy]

Hope you have a police report as well. Is the trucking company or it's insurance going to pay for damages? Or is your insurance company going after the trucking company?

 

[MikesToy]

Will the ins co write the check to you? Some will, some won't. Some write it to you and the repair shop.

If they'll write it to you, get a re-paint estimate, and touch it up yourself.

Most insurance companies will write you a check if you have the pink slip (in other words, vehicle paid for) and write a check to you and the repair shop if the vehicle is still financed (which will cover the lien holder as well) and some will write a check straight to the repair shop either b/c the vehicle is still financed or simply they don't trust you.

 

[westwind77]

Most insurance companies will write you a check if you have the pink slip (in other words, vehicle paid for) and write a check to you and the repair shop if the vehicle is still financed (which will cover the lien holder as well) and some will write a check straight to the repair shop either b/c the vehicle is still financed or simply they don't trust you.

Interesting, (knock on wood) I have not had to deal with this but a few of my friends have, none of them have it paid off yet, each one got the full check addressed to them, will have to ask them who they use. I can see why companies do it though, especially these days, if they give you the full amount, you do not fix it, then stop payments and they repo it, they have to pay for the repair 'again' to have it fixed before they sell it, or take a hit selling as is.

To the OP, I would go after the trucking company, their fault, their insurance!

 

[adoihcj]

Thanks for all the help. Spoke to my insurance company and I can file a claim which falls under my comprehensive protection. Then, my insurance company will go after the trucking company for reimbursement.

After taking a good look at all the chips in the sun, I decided to touch them up. While I have some "globs" of paint on some of the chips, they are not very noticeable. I'd rather do this than paint the hood, bumper and fenders and have them turn out like a Black Jeep Commander I saw yesterday which was clearly painted. Nothing beats the smooth factory finish and I do not want to mess with it.

Thanks again,
Joe