You left the windows open on your vehicle and now there’s significant damage to the seats. Perhaps the window was broken as a result of an accident and now you have seats that are in bad condition. What should you do? Are you covered under your auto insurance plan? The answer to that is, sometimes. In some situations, you may be able to recoup some of the cost to making repairs.
When Does Car Insurance Cover Your Losses?
Car insurance plans may help you to overcome the losses of water damage like this, but it depends on the type of plan you have. If you have a liability insurance plan only, which is common for low-valued vehicles, you may not have protection from water damage. To obtain coverage, you’ll need to have comprehensive auto insurance. This type of plan provides coverage for non-collision types of incidents that are considered both accidental and unpreventable. Does your water damaged seat qualify?
Before cleaning up your vehicle, take photos of the damage and take any steps possible to minimize a worsening of the condition (such as closing the window or tarping the car. Move it into a garage if possible. Then, call your auto insurance provider. In many cases, he or she may talk to you about your specific policy and the type and amount of insurance protection it offers. A few things can play a role in whether or not you can have coverage:
1. Was the incident preventable under reasonable means?
2. Did you suffer significant loss (if the seats can just dry out, this may not qualify)?
3. Was the vehicle flooded? Flooding for vehicles can be severe and much be treated by a professional.
4. Does your auto insurance policy specifically state it does not cover water damage?
Keep in mind that some flooded vehicles may need to be salvaged and you will need to report these types of vehicles before selling them to others. It’s important that water damaged property gets the highest level of car since it can lead to underlying mold and mildew growth if left untreated.
For many, auto insurance will help to defray some of these costs, making it more affordable for you to recover from such a loss. Need more help? Call Allen Harmon Insurance for more information on Michigan auto insurance.