Boat hit by careless driver. Now what?

[Tom7227]

Comprehensive coverage is for things that happen like a window getting broken, hail damage and such.

Liability coverage is for the damage you do to someone else.

Collission coverage is for the damage done to your car and I think in this instance the boat as well.

For the issues mentioned so far a lawyer will likely slow things down. I've been one for 35 years and am retired now so I don't need to [PoorWordUsage] anyone about this any more.

[Rugbyguy]

Thanks everyone for the tips and encouragement. The other driver has All State insurance; I have been contacted by her insurance company since the accident. Hoping that's a sign that things will move at least somewhat quickly.

I have full coverage on my vehicle, Liberty Mutual insurance. I have not been contacted by anyone from my insurance company since I called in the claim Friday afternoon. I will be calling them tomorrow, if I don't hear from them in the morning.

[Down Deep]

IMO - Work with the other carrier. They will be more motivated to settle up with you. If, in the end, you don't like what you hear contact your carrier. You already reported the accident to them. In 30 years of dealing with collecting for accidents I've always been better off dealing with the opposing carrier. Don't deal with the owner of vehicle that hit your boat.

Note: If you had an injury resulting from the accident you will need to deal with your carrier because of MN No-Fault coverage which will pay for medical benefits up to a coverage limit. Check with your agent for this amount.

[Northlander]

Make sure you check ALL the equipment that was in the boat. Every rod, tackle box and lure. Rods can easily be nicked and made useless later in such a accident. Make sure all the reels work etc. Dont forget the little things because they will add up later.

I had a huge claim years ago when some idiots burned my garage down and I still think of things I forgot I had that got burned in that fire.

Good luck and I hope everything goes smoothly.

[Trouthunter]

With proper boat insurance that will cover replacement value he would have nothing to worry about.

Just bought boat and I'm pretty sure replacement value is only available on new boats

[BobT]

We are making an assumption that the tow vehicle is fully covered..Comprehensive Full Coverage..right? If for instance it had just liability I can't see the tow item being covered...or am I missing something here?

Boat insurance generally covers loss in storage or at rest, theft or vandalism, damage due to on the water collisions, liability or loss of life coverage.....but not damage in transit under tow unless it has a specific rider attached to the policy to cover this. There are many levels of coverage options here too. $500K to several Million if one wished on liability alone.

Good point. I didn't consider that.

[Meat-Run]

seperate point to this post but I had a buck run right into the side of my truck and boat and damaged my ranger trailer and scuffed my boat with his antlers. Truck insurance didn't cover the boat/trailer damage only on the truck and the seperate boat insurance I had did cover the boat/trailer. The point here is don't assume that a any rig hooked to your truck is covered under your vehicle insurance most cases they are not.

Good luck and I think you should come out ok on this problem since that person was sighted for running a stop sign, proof she was "in the wrong".

mr

[LightningBG]

Couple random thoughts....

I've always had the best luck dealing directly with the other persons insurance company. Even my agent said that's the best way to go (if you're not at fault at all), because if you get a reasonable settlement, there wont be any deductible and it shouldn't show on your driving record (hopefully). He said if I have any problems, let him know and they would get involved at that time. But, I've always been VERY pleased with what the other company has offered me.

As far as Truck vs Boat. I've heard it many times, many different ways. My best guess is it depends on the company and policy. Read those policies. Hopefully it wont matter, because the others persons insurance will cover everything.

If it were me, when my insurance company called, I would state that there was an accident, just to get it on the record, but that you would like to wait to file a claim if possible (if it wont hinder your ability file at a later time.)

There is no way that I would call an attorney unless I ran into problems down the road.

[Surface Tension]

Its quite simple. The other drive was issued a citation for running a stop sign.

That puts the fault to the other driver and his insurance company will pay.

[Trouthunter]

Its quite simple. The other drive was issued a citation for running a stop sign.

That puts the fault to the other driver and his insurance company will pay.

Not quite that simple. If they have more than liability coverage yes, they will pay, otherwise, your insurance will have to pay. Fault vs. coverage, ability to collect are all seperate attributes of this situation.

[10,000 Casts]

I almost threw up after reading some of the stupid comments above about attorneys.. Only go with a lawyer if you absolutly need them.

THE LIABILITY PORTION OF A TOW VEHICLE COVERS THE LIABILITY OF THE BOAT AND TRAILER HOOKED TO A TOW VEHICLE IF IT IS YOUR FAULT. IT WOULD PAY FOR DAMAGES TO THE OTHER PERSONS PERSONAL PROPERTY NOT YOUR BOAT IF YOU ARE AT FAULT.

YOU NEED TO FILE A CLAIM UNDER THE OTHER PERSONS INSURANCE SINCE YOU DON'T HAVE A BOAT POLICY, IF IT IS THIER FAULT THEN IT WILL COVER YOUR BOAT UNDER THE PROPERY DAMAGE SECTION UNDER THIER LIABILTY. IF THEY DON'T HAVE INSURANCE OR LOW LIMITS LIKE 30/60/10. THEN YOU WILL NEED TO TALK TO A LAWYER IF THEY CAN'T WRITE YOU A CHECK FOR YOUR DAMAGES.

I can't believe that you didn't insure your boat right away. If the other person has low limits or no insurance and no assets or cash the best lawyer in the world won't get you much..

Did you get her insurance info? That's step 1, then file a claimand they will send an Adjuster out. You need to start finding Z"like kind and quality boats and documnting the prices so you know what pay out to expect and go from there, hopefully you can come to an agreement.

As far as getting paid out more if you file under the other persons company , it depends on the compny, and yes you will have to pay your deductible but you will get it back after your company subregates with the other company.

[PierBridge]

How about this hypothetical ... what if you didn't have any insurance at all not only on the boat but your vehicle was uninsured and the lady who was obviously at fault here did have insurance.

What happens then?

[10,000 Casts]

it won't matter if you are totally not insured, you will still have a claim against the lady because it is her fault. You may get a no insurance ticket from the cop if they check and that will lead to some huge premiums when you do get auto insurance. 3 out of 10 drivers nationwide are driving with no insurance right now, absolutey stupid if they can help it. It is a disservice to all other people on the road and one of the things that is leading to higher insurance premiums.

[PierBridge]

WOW, 3 out 10? thats sounds insanely high.

[10,000 Casts]

agreed and I thought it was a MN average but our claims dept confirmed it was Nationwide. I thought it was high too but in my office, we quote on average about 75-100 different people a month and I see that it holds very accurate. The people driving with 30-60-10 (MN state minimums) would surprise you to! IMO, this is only as good for being legal to drive on the road. How many cars are valued under $10k??? And how many hospitol bills are less than $30k??? Not many, That's the main reason for so many personal injury lawyers. PI is where the money is.

When my clients want 30-60-10, I try to educate them and if they demand the low limits, I politely tell them to go with a different agent. (I don't want to be on the hook when a Lawyer calls and wants to know why they didn't have adaquate coverage) But for so little more they can be aduquately insured.

[Slabasaurus]

I worked for a major insurance company as a claims rep out of college for 2 years... I can tell you, a lot of people have policies, for about a day, then cancel it once their ID cards come in the mail.

"But the driver had his ID card!"

"Yeah... yeah that was a fake one"

The response I usually received after saying that was the primary reason I got out of that job. I loved writing estimates and working with shops... but people after accidents are really mean. Especially when YOU are the one who gets to tell them they're stuck.

To the OP... I see attorneys as a last resort in property damage claims. First utilize the other party's insurance. If that does not work fast enough, use your own, who will subrogate as described earlier, if that still does not move things along write a letter or call the attorney general's office and complain, they will send a letter to each company involved. 99 times out of 100 that does the trick on a slow moving claim.

If not, then contact an attorney.

Should be a last resort though, again, especially with a PD case only.

[Hillbiehle]

Agree with 10,000 Casts.

From reading this thread, I see why there are so many boats that are uninsured and another reason why I carry uninsured on my personal boat to protect me from the people that don't understand their coverage and or lack the correct coverage in its entirety. You DO NOT have collision/comprehensive on your boat while it is being towed by an insured vehicle. Only liability.

The replies I'm readin here make me shake my head.

[PierBridge]

I know I've been told numerous times I'm way under insured! Probably better look into that as things add up quick if something real bad happens!

[thatoneguy]

Agree with 10,000 Casts.

From reading this thread, I see why there are so many boats that are uninsured and another reason why I carry uninsured on my personal boat to protect me from the people that don't understand their coverage and or lack the correct coverage in its entirety. You DO NOT have collision/comprehensive on your boat while it is being towed by an insured vehicle. Only liability.

The replies I'm readin here make me shake my head.

It depends on your policy. Mine DOES have collision & comp when the boat is on the trailer (I double checked with my agent after this thread initially popped up).

The moral of the story is know what your policy says, and what it does and doesn't cover

[Hillbiehle]

I will agree that everyone should sit down with their agent and get in writing the intepretation of coverage. Just be sure that there isn't a length or horsepower limitation to the coverage your referencing.

[Mr.Seaguar]

How about this hypothetical ... what if you didn't have any insurance at all not only on the boat but your vehicle was uninsured and the lady who was obviously at fault here did have insurance.

What happens then?

I can answer this. The other insurance pays. This may or may not have happened to Seaguar during one of the less responsible periods of his life. AT least the accident wasnt his fault. If there was an accident.

[10,000 Casts]

Quote:

It depends on your policy. Mine DOES have collision & comp when the boat is on the trailer (I double checked with my agent after this thread initially popped up).

You are going to want to check on that again. I just called 2 very large independant agents who represent 100 companies and have been in the business for 30+ years and they both said that they have never seen comp and coll extend to a boat from a tow vehicle.

[Slabasaurus]

The moral of the story is know what your policy says, and what it does and doesn't cover

it's amazing how many people have no idea what their insurance policy covers

[Hillbiehle]

As mentioned previously to get in writing and you are confident in your agents ability to interpret coverage; I would send an e-mail to the agent advising, "Per our conversation on 6/20/2011, liability, comp, and collision extends to hull/motor while being trailerd by insured vehicle." See what kind of reply you get and hold on to that e-mail if he/she agrees.

[10,000 Casts]

Quote:

As mentioned previously to get in writing and you are confident in your agents ability to interpret coverage; I would send an e-mail to the agent advising, "Per our conversation on 6/20/2011, liability, comp, and collision extends to hull/motor while being trailerd by insured vehicle." See what kind of reply you get and hold on to that e-mail if he/she agrees

good advice. at least then they can go after the Agent's E&O if the company denies the claim.