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Okay..here's the story. Back at the end of June, I parked my car outside of my house on the street where I always do. I go inside and hear the alarm. Here, it rolled down the street about 100 yards and hit my neighbor's truck. The only reason to explain this is that the e-brake failed (although i don't think the dealer found anything wrong) So it can't be my fault whatsoever, although, for next month, my insurance went up! I called them today and they said that it IS my fault!! I asked them if there is anyway to prove or something that it's not my fault. There is no way I'm going to be paying $100 extra per MONTH! Am i getting ripped off? What can I do. With my tight budget it's goign to be quite hard on me.
Maybe it's time to shop for a new insurance company. Mine is currently with State Farm, and THought it was the cheapest. HELP!!!
-------------------- 2004 Cavalier LS Sport Coupe Manual,Sunroof,16" Chrome, Zaino!!! http://community.webshots.com/user/pazbich3 Used to Drive: 2001 Camaro SS #3220 Posts: 2651 | From: Enola (Harrisburg Area), Pennsylvania | Registered: Jan 2002
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Can't give you any advice but I've felt a bit of your pain.
The "mini drum in the disk" park brakes are next to useless. I sustained $1,600 damage to our Envoy because the brake would't hold the vehicle stationary idling in drive. It cost me the $250 deductible plus a one-time $200 surcharge on my license to retain my merit discounts. Posts: 4222 | From: Winnipeg MB CA | Registered: Feb 2000
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Yeah, I had $1500 worth of damages!...I just had the rear quarter panel replaced. The weird thing is that where I park it is virtually flat! It must have gained a little momentum to 'bump' into the truck. My monthly payments went up 40% adn for teh next 3 months I'm paying a $25 surcharge. The thing that really bites is I didn't know about the up in payment until last week in which the bill is due in ONE week. grrrr
Posts: 2651 | From: Enola (Harrisburg Area), Pennsylvania | Registered: Jan 2002
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Make sure that you know when the sur-charges are to come off. 9 times out of 10 the insurance companies seem to forget to take them off. Some times combining car with other insurance(home /boat/ect.) form the same company can save some money. Posts: 3091 | From: Canton Mi. | Registered: Oct 2002
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even if the e-brake failed, i'm surprised the car did not stay in one spot if it was in gear. hhmmmmm...well, hope everything turns out for ya. i'm with state farm too, and they are the cheapest around that i have found. my ins. also went up, but that was because they had been charging me for a V-6 model and found out a year later that it was actually a V-8 Posts: 1579 | From: Portland, OR. | Registered: May 2001
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Yeah, the only thing the insurance company might have against me is that I stated that it was not in gear Though wsan't in the habit of putting it in gear when i parked at home since the street was flat. Although, does it say any place int eh manual to use the e-brake AND keep it in gear? I looked briefly and didn't. If that's the case maybe I have a case against them, unless you all can think of a different stance/approach I should take.
Oh and yeah, they should have added that surcharge beggining last month, so they told me that they were a month late in adding that.
My payment is due the 1st so, I guess I shoudl pay the bill this month and continue to try to find some approach against them. They said it's my fault becasue it's considered property damage, although the car only scraped along side the truck. Is it b/c it was parked outside the house? Ah well...further help or thoughts would be great! Posts: 2651 | From: Enola (Harrisburg Area), Pennsylvania | Registered: Jan 2002
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Dan, Whether it states it in the manual or not, ...always leave the car in gear when you park it (with the E-brake on of course). As far as who's fault, ...it really doesn't matter. It's your car, it hit a parked car (yours was the one in motion), ...I'm assuming your insurance company has to pay for repairs on other vehicle. When they pay, ....you/we pay, ...period. As for shopping around, It's worth checking however I'm not sure it will help. Since you are a new/younger driver and you do have prior accidents (re: your other posts, qtr. panel, etc.) you are most likely under "assigned risk". No matter what company 'carries' you, ...my guess is the rates will be similar. The only suggestion I would have, ...increase your deductibles as high as you can (ie. as high as your lending institution will allow, ...sometimes they have stipulations on this). Another suggestion (which it seems too late for now), ...is to handle the situation 'privately'. It was your neighbors vehicle you/your car hit, ...many times it's worth working out the deal between the two parties involved. Even paying a couple thousand dollars privately could still prove cheaper than an insurance rate increase over the course of 2-3 years. ...Another thought is to sign up for a Defensive Driving class (if you haven't already), ...it should save you 10% off your comprehensive, (not 10% off your total, ...as many think) ...hope your car isn't too bad...
[ 29. October 2002, 06:45 AM: Message edited by: RagSS ]
Posts: 1046 | From: Pine Bush, NY USA | Registered: Aug 2001
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Thanks...seems like i have an unlucky SS or something, since nothing has been my fault so far (don't worry, I still wouldn't trade teh SS in for anything) . Oh well, that's how the cookie crumbles. I was thinking of increasing the deductible a bit, since I do have a $100 deductible and that's the major bulk of. Guess I better send the payment out for this month and will just keep you posted.
Oh, and yah, I know I should keep it in gear...I usually always do too! I now have to worry 24/7 if my car is going to roll down teh street or soemthing. Quite scary. Posts: 2651 | From: Enola (Harrisburg Area), Pennsylvania | Registered: Jan 2002
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I've noticed that the e-brake on my 2002 has to be pulled up a lot farther to engage than on the '99 I had. It's like it doesn't really engage until it's all the way at the end of its travel. If not, then the car will roll. Given all the accidents you hear about with kids and adults rolling into the water and drowning, etc., it's an excellent idea to leave the car in gear (first pointed uphill, reverse pointing downhill) and set the brake. I rarely set the brake on what appears to be level ground, but always leave it in gear. I remember the last time I saw my dad park he set his wheels against the curb even though it was perfectly level. Wonder how you decide which way to curb them when it's level. That's another excellent way to prevent your car from rolling, though, turning your wheels and rolling back or forward until the tire is touching the curb. I've heard tons of horror stories about cars rolling and even seen a couple. In fact, I almost ran myself over one time trying to get a Honda unstuck on a hill. It had slid into a stump and I put on the brake but left it in neutral while I went behind to slide it off of the stump. I was strong enough to move it off the stump but not strong enough to keep it from rolling backwards. Another stump down the hill kept it from running me over. Bottom line is I guess I don't have any advice about dealing with your insurance now, unless you can somehow prove that your emergency brake was at fault (don't think that will provide any relief from your insurance rates, though). But certainly take advantage of all the safety procedures you can when parking.
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So it can't be my fault whatsoever, although, for next month, my insurance went up! I called them today and they said that it IS my fault!! I asked them if there is anyway to prove or something that it's not my fault. There is no way I'm going to be paying $100 extra per MONTH! Am i getting ripped off? What can I do. With my tight budget it's goign to be quite hard on me.![[Mad]](mad.gif)
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. Oh well, that's how the cookie crumbles. I was thinking of increasing the deductible a bit, since I do have a $100 deductible and that's the major bulk of. Guess I better send the payment out for this month and will just keep you posted. ![[erm]](graemlins/erm.gif)
