Has Anybody had to Use their HDT insurance?

Has Anybody had to Use their HDT insurance?

How was it when the company had to fulfill it's obligations?

Bluenoser
23 May 2010
02:10 PM
As a new HDTer who is doing the insurance search like many others, it occurred to me there is a great deal of discussion in here about different companies and agents who may or may not be helpful to us as we buy insurance.  But does anyone have a story about how an insurance company actually backed up someone who had to make a claim regarding the use of their HDT?
10-9jc
23 May 2010
05:41 PM
IIRC - the answer is "YES" - forgot who the forum member (& HDT owner) is - IIRC major damage - or totaled.  Maybe he -or somebody else - will see your request - and bring it back for an "FYI".  Maybe a search?
grumpydoc
23 May 2010
08:35 PM
Bluenoser
We have State Farm here in VA.  Last year in FL our new (4 day old) truck broke down with a split fuel line and we had to have it towed to the nearest FL dealer in Jacksonville.  Unfortunately the truck was hit while sitting still at a stop light while being towed.  Long story short $24K damage and costs.  After a year we have recovered all but the original towing bill($500) from FL which they refused to pay because they (Jacksonville) didn't repair the original problem (it was repaired in TX).  Our insurance agent/co were great, they went out of their way to help us, the big hold up was in the woman who hit us and her insurance co.  Because she lived in FL and her insurance co home office was in Chicago and ours was in VA it was a major hassle getting them to finally pay, which they eventually did.  So as you can see it isn't just your insurance that can be a problem to deal with.  Get good insurance and hope you never have to use it!! 
Best wishes, Jay and Kathy
HERO Maker
23 May 2010
11:52 PM
Grumpydoc
I would have thought your insurance company would have made you "whole" and then gone after her company, instead of making you wait! ?
MLC
24 May 2010
08:11 AM
I had hail damage on both the truck and trailer.  Progressive covered it with no problems.  Total was over 17,000.
Mike
avan
24 May 2010
08:58 AM
Well, I don't have an HDT, but I have been hit a few times and have never dealt with the hitter's insurance.  I pay a premium to my insurance co. for a policy and my policies have always had a subrogation agreement.  It's my insurance company's job to pay to have my truck repaired to my satisfaction and to keep me free from having to deal with some 'strange' insurer which sees their job as one of minimizing costs vs. my company's job of satisfying me.  For example, I don't need the hassle of arguing with some adjuster working for another insurance co. about why I want the OEM parts that I paid for when I bought my truck replaced with OEM parts and for sure, I wouldn't be waiting a year for reimbursement.  Grumpy - call your insurance co. and ask them to cut you a check for whatever is owed you and let them wait to collect from FL, IL or wherever.  That's what you pay them for!  ...And I'd be looking for new insurance coverage at my next renewal just because they didn't suggest that a year ago.
Hdonlybob
24 May 2010
09:26 AM
I had hail damage from same storm as MLC.  My insurance covered nicely too.
Cheers,
Bob
Jeff- C IL
24 May 2010
12:44 PM
NOTHING to do with HDT's, but...

I hate to say this, but seems like every time State Farm is involved, you have to sue to get your money.  At least in my experience.  My sister was hit by someone coming thru a stop sign a number of years ago.  State Farm (his insurance) never did pay for her car repair.  A year ago, someone turned directly in front of my parents on a highway--almost killed them both.  It did kill a woman in the other car.  A year later, we haven't got a DIME out of State Farm (their insurance) and are finally (on our insurance agents advice) filing a lawsuit just to recover medical bills and loss of income in the business.  State Farm claims they can't pay my parents bills (the injured party) because--get this--the other driver's (who was at fault and admits it) brother is suing his sister AND my parents for "Not avoiding the accident."  HUH?  Total mess and doesn't make ANY sense to me.  I know there are people who have had excellent service thru State Farm (go thank your Agent!).  Just not us (the other party!)

grumpydoc
24 May 2010
02:07 PM
I think what made our situation such a problem was that I insisted on a new hood ($3000) for the truck rather than trying to rivet and bondo the fractured front cross piece.  Our builder said that would have a likelihood of failing due to vibration.  Fortunately I had taken pix of the damage and after much fussing it was agreed to pay for the new hood.  All we lost was the excess of the tow bill which Freightliner refused to pay because they didn't repair the truck.  After a year it became a "not worth it" situation for us after we got the new hood paid for.  We were just glad to get our truck back!!
Best wishes, Jay and Kathy
Hdonlybob
24 May 2010
06:31 PM
I should add that my insurance was great, but the adjuster was a complete ASS.  Dragged it out, and about a stupid as a rock.

I had to really bitch and push.  If I remember correctly, it took well over six weeks to get it settled.  Same insurance on the 5'er, but different adjuster and done deal with check in hand in one week.
Cheers,
Bob

J.W. Morgan
24 May 2010
06:44 PM
I ran over a Jaguar last year and they paid him in full in less than two weeks!  I bet he NEVER takes up a blind spot again!
grumpydoc
24 May 2010
09:42 PM
HDonlybob
That was the same problem we had.  The adjuster, who knew nothing about HGT trucks and admitted it, refused to agree to replace a $3000 hood on a brand new 4 day old $160k custom built truck.  I refused their settlement and paid it out of pocket to get the truck repaired and back to us stuck in FLA in our Teton.  It took a year of arguing with the other Insurance co. to get all but a few hundred bucks back.  I just chalk it up to one of life's little aggravations.  It's not the first time I've been screwed out of money by an Insurance co., after 30 years practicing medicine I'm used to it!!  I guess the best insurance policy is the one you never use.
Best wishes, Jay and Kathy
Nolan
26 May 2010
11:31 AM
National Interstate Insurance.  Have had to use it twice in almost 6 years on our HDT.

First time.  Bounced on a humped railroad crossing and messed up the wheel alignment on the trailer.  Really couldn't see the problem, but the tires started wearing funny.  They covered the repair on the trailer but not the truck.  The sway arm was damaged.  They felt that the sway arm was damaged before the accident.  Because it was a older truck and had over 500,000 miles on it.

Second time.  Was making a left turn on a green arrow and some lady ran the red light and hit the truck.  National Interstate only asked for the guesstiment and pictures of the damage.  Got the get go that next day.

The lady who ran the red light said it was green for her.  Since no one stopped to tell the police what they saw, I got a $190. ticket for failure to yield.  Could go to traffic school and pay a less amount for the schooling, and if I passed I would not have to pay the ticket and no points would go on my driver's record.  Which I did and passed.  However.  Now when I get a green arrow, I wait until all oncoming traffic has come to a stop.  Do get drivers behind me that aren't too happy about it.  But to bad.  Once was enough.