Would/should insurance pay for this?

[SugarKane]

This summer we had a drunk driver crash into our house. Sometime during the 2 month construction process, I got a big screw in my tire that couldn't be patched so I had to buy new tires. A week and a half later the same thing happened to DH's car. It sucked especially after having to pay a 1k deductible, but we did it and never mentioned it to the contractor working on the house.

My mom keeps telling me that our insurance should cover the costs and won't let up. She brings it up every time we talk on the phone including today when I called to see if het basement was flooded. She's wrong, right? FWIW, our insurance company has been absolutely horrible during this process. They almost make me feel like it's our fault that this accident happened.

[SugarKane]

That's exactly what I thought too

[speckledfrog]

No.

[lucky513]

why didnt you just buy one tire?

[SugarKane]

We eventually needed new tires anyway so we went ahead and replaced them earlier than planned.

[SugarKane]

Couldn't patch because of the placement of the screw. Maybe the kid was trying to fuck with us further. He only lives 3 blocks away

[bleubook]

Typically tires are covered as collision subject to your deductible. But I probably wouldn't put the claim in because it is doubtful it would be worth the rate increase. Alternatively you could take your contractor to small claims court if you feel the screws were due to his negligence. Or you could just let it go..,

[Ruby Gloom]

Gmama, why would the drunk driver's auto policy's property damage insurance not have paid at least your deductible? Just curious...

[SugarKane]

Oct 31, 2012 4:41:17 GMT -5 Ruby Gloom said:

Gmama, why would the drunk driver's auto policy's property damage insurance not have paid at least your deductible? Just curious...

They might, but honestly we're not holding our breath. The work still isn't 100% and they wouldn't attempt to go after the guy's insurance until we are. This whole process has been an absolute mess and insurance played a big role in that. At least we found out that the guy has insurance because he didn't have any proof the night of the accident.

[Ruby Gloom]

I don't know where you are, or what the rules are in your state, but I believe that your HO insurance will subrogate against his auto insurance for the $ that they put into your house, and you should AT LEAST get your deductible back. "You may be eligible for compensation under the law" (haha, TV commercial voice)

ETA***Not legal advice or insurance advice***

[SugarKane]

Yeah, we've been told this as well, but like I said, we're not holding our breath. Everyone says how good USAA is, but this experience has been awful

[Deleted]

Tell your mom to mind her business. Or do what I do sometimes LIE. I know I know.. but my parents can get relentless with shit like that. So its easier to lie and say "Yep insurance paid us".

I am not an advocate of lying in general but with my parents sometimes its a necessary evil

[SugarKane]

I might have to do this. She's the type of woman who will ask a question 100 different times/ways if she doesn't like your initial response

[tigress]

Can you share what has been awful? I work in insurance claims and am curious why it has gone so badly.

[SugarKane]

Oct 31, 2012 9:32:26 GMT -5 tigress said:

Can you share what has been awful? I work in insurance claims and am curious why it has gone so badly.

So many things. It took over a week to send a contractor to assess the situation, then another week for them to send someone to test for asbestos which was positive. I would leave messages for the adjuster and she wouldn't call back for 4 days and when she did, she was extremely rude and dismissive. Then she transferred our case to another person without notifying us and that person didn't call us either. There's more, but there's really no point on harping on it now