Luckily not my Ram but my new GTI was hit by a branch that fell off a trailer in front of me on at TX freeway. Wondered if you guys had any advice. I saw the branch come off and heard it hit but didn't think much of it. When I stopped I found a pretty long gash in the paint. I did get pictures of the trailer full of unsecured branches and the Nissan Titan with license plate and made a claim with my insurance. I spoke to two friends in law enforcement in other states and they seem to think I'm screwed ($1000 deductible). I know he's insured but if they don't want to pay is there anything I can do? I spoke to the state police and they said I should have called right away. Lesson learned.

 

Yes, you should report an unsecured load right away. We have a law in WA re: this after a woman was almost killed a few years ago by a piece of furniture that flew off a truck.
She was maimed pretty badly, lost her eyesight and got a decent settlement...still never should have happened.

We can also report a broken windshield caused by a rock chip if we can positively ID the rig it came from. I took a nice one off a dump truck about 8 years ago and reported it to my insurance and got the windshield replaced, no charge to me.

 

My friend who was a local PD in MA and also a Vermont State Trooper said it has to be gross negligence like a tire or something like furniture coming off of a vehicle to collect. He said rocks and sticks don't fall into that category. He agrees it is stupid. I guess I'll see what happens in Texas.

 

Good luck with it.....

 

Thanks. The other guy's insurance adjuster called me today and interviewed me. It sounds like they're going to pay me. I'm pleasantly surprised.

 

Neat!

 

depends on how your insurance policy is set up.

Mine with State Farm has $1000 deductible on collision, $0 deductible on comprehensive. Basically, collision is anything avoidable, comprehensive is damage that is out of my control like animals or something falling off a vehicle.

 

I have a $1000 deductible all around. So they're (the other guy's insurance) trying to screw me now saying there isn't enough evidence on my behalf and that the other guy said his load was tied down (though you can clearly see it isn't in my photos). My insurance lady can't believe it. I guess I'll talk to her Monday. I spoke to a couple of cops here and they said I should file a small claim.

 

At least you don't have to live and drive in Russia





EDIT: Sorry, I meant to say live and DIE on the roads of Russia....

 

That's some crazy crap!

Makes me not want to leave the house ever again!

 

Wow.....

 

Yeah. The one where they are deliberately driving stupid, whooping it up and passing on the wrong side of the road before the head on with the truck,
---hope they didn't have kids before they died.

 

Or at least removed their contribution to the gene pool along with themselves if they did.

Have to wonder if some of the things, like the one speeding that had the little purple/blue car crowd it into the left lane, is not on purpose because of the way they have been driving.

 

At 6:35 you see A LOT of cars stopped on snow covered roads with dark cloudy skies and the drive wasn't even slowing down!!!

What a bunch of stupid drivers.

I've also heard that many drivers have dash cams to prove the accident wasn't their fault!

 

I'd like to get one and send the video to the state police when I have the same couple vehicles tailgating me with their brights on day after day after day.