Comments on: Filing a claim with the city maybe

Question: Filing a claim with the city maybe

AceRock — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 09:29:34 -0800

Messed up my car! City construction work was involved. What can I do?

My city is doing some work in the alley behind my house (something with pipes and drainage and digging up the ground). I have to use this alley to get to my parking spot. Because a city truck was in the way of my usual path to my spot, I had to maneuver around it and in the process I had scraped and dented by door pretty badly.

I talked to the guy who were working out there and they told me to call the "risk manager" who would process my claim if I wanted to file one.

My question is: what do I need to know and make sure to do to get the best possible result here? What should I expect? What are my rights? Do I need a lawyer? Should I call my insurance company? I have taken pictures of the damage, where I had to drive to maneuver around the truck, etc.

Thanks!

By: jon1270

jon1270 — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 09:33:58 -0800

If the city truck was stationary and your car was moving, then this is your fault and you will be paying for it (even if only indirectly through your insurance). That access to your parking space was blocked is not relevant. Just get an estimate from a reputable body shop and decide whether you'd prefer to pay cash, or go through your insurance, pay the deductible and also pay increased premiums for a few years.

By: Admiral Haddock

Admiral Haddock — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 09:35:03 -0800

Did you ask the men to move their truck before you tried to maneuver around it, or did they signal for you to go around, or something? I think that would be the biggest impediment to getting a remedy based on what you've described.

By: effigy

effigy — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 10:02:05 -0800

Were they directing you maneuvering around the truck? If not, just file a claim through your own insurance, the city is not at fault.

If they were directing you, contact the city. Chicago has a 311 service, start there:

https://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/311.html

By: AceRock

AceRock — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 10:03:51 -0800

Was worried but expecting you guys would say that. Thanks!

By: Ruthless Bunny

Ruthless Bunny — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 11:42:07 -0800

More than likely this will be on you, but I'd call the city first to file a claim.

When they had just put in the transponders at the toll plazas in Florida, I thought the arm would go up, but it didn't. I tore right through it!

I called the turnpike authority to fess up and see how much I owed. I moaned for a minute about how some go up without having to slow down, and other's don't and how is one to know. After they determined that I was calling about their damage, not mine, they laughed at me. I didn't have to pay a thing.

So, the point being, you never know until you ask.

By: bitdamaged

bitdamaged — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 14:54:39 -0800

I agree by all means file a claim with the city.

All they can do is deny it but there might be some outside chance that they'd give you something. It can't, in any way, hurt.

By: Lexica

Lexica — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 18:13:18 -0800

All they can do is deny it

Or they could turn around and file a claim against the OP for whatever damage may have been done to the city truck. As others have said, OP, if their vehicle was parked and yours was moving, you're at fault. As it is, it sounds like they don't have your name or contact information, and may be figuring that the damage to the truck was minimal enough that it's not worth the hassle to deal with. Color me cynical, but if you file a claim and give them your info, it makes it really easy for their insurance company to track you down.

By: AceRock

AceRock — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 11:32:27 -0800

Thanks again everyone. Just to be clear there was no damage to the city vehicle or any city property at all. The damage to my car was caused by a large rock hidden behind a bush that scraped against my car as I was maneuvering around the work the city was doing.