Hail Damage While Working!

[say_wat]

Ok, so i'll initiate this thread... tis open to advice, but mainly a rant.

I work for the council and they pay me pretty well, but i have to use my own car to do on site evaluations and auditing. In my contract they have no mention of any work related damage cover, nor do they say anything about them not covering damage. B4 i got the job the HR department had told me that if i do have an accident (note: ACCIDENT) work will not cover it, and i didn't really care so i agreed.

As luck would have it, one of the days i was out working it started to hail, and my car got pretty badly damaged by the hail stones (bastard hail!). As further Murphy's law would have it, i couldn't find any low lying trees that i could seek shelter under!! Anys, I called the HR department up etc and they said that i'm not covered as had been mentioned b4; i'm pissed off quite bad and i told them that i want to take this up further and they advised me to write a letter but it would most probably be to no avail...
One of the stupid things she said was "another way you can look at it is that when you are travelling you are travelling to ur work location, and u are not exactly working, so we're not liable". I am always 'travelling' for this job, say about 50+% of the time im in the car, yet i get paid for the 100% of hrs that i work...

What do you guys rekon? Should i write a spiteful letter, should i contact somebody else ?

It would set me back quite a bit if i try to get the car fixed myself...i wpersonally woudln't do it- but yeh, it looks quite ugly with alto of dings.

[Thyraeus]

If you have to use your own car to work in locations other than your specified office they should pay you an allowance to drive to the work locations? per km...etc...they should....and if they do - they should also have some responsibility for damage whilst on duty...but not a lawyer!

[Sagacious]

Ok, so i'll initiate this thread... tis open to advice, but mainly a rant.

I work for the council and they pay me pretty well, but i have to use my own car to do on site evaluations and auditing. In my contract they have no mention of any work related damage cover, nor do they say anything about them not covering damage. B4 i got the job the HR department had told me that if i do have an accident (note: ACCIDENT) work will not cover it, and i didn't really care so i agreed.

As luck would have it, one of the days i was out working it started to hail, and my car got pretty badly damaged by the hail stones (bastard hail!). As further Murphy's law would have it, i couldn't find any low lying trees that i could seek shelter under!! Anys, I called the HR department up etc and they said that i'm not covered as had been mentioned b4; i'm pissed off quite bad and i told them that i want to take this up further and they advised me to write a letter but it would most probably be to no avail...
One of the stupid things she said was "another way you can look at it is that when you are travelling you are travelling to ur work location, and u are not exactly working, so we're not liable". I am always 'travelling' for this job, say about 50+% of the time im in the car, yet i get paid for the 100% of hrs that i work...

What do you guys rekon? Should i write a spiteful letter, should i contact somebody else ?

It would set me back quite a bit if i try to get the car fixed myself...i wpersonally woudln't do it- but yeh, it looks quite ugly with alto of dings.
Typically unless your work insures your vehicle then it is not their problem normally it owuld run like this:

Your vehicle & your insurance used for work compensated for by a vehicle allowance and the ability to deduct a portion of vehicle related expenses from your income at tax time so absically it boils down to your car your problem unless something fell on it in the depot that they were responsible for.

You are covered by workers comp to and from work and in driving for work related duties as long as you go to and from work by the most direct and convenient route i.e your usual route but that's a different question.

Hope this helps

contact your insurer for more information

[say_wat]

Yeh, they do give me milage allowance... So i'm doomed eh.

Also (Call me a cock if you like, but i would take full responsibility if i damage someone elses property) i dont have insurance (just have the ctp). I'm a poor uni student, i can't afford insurance as yet; i wouldnt be so worked up if i had insurance, heck i'd be cheering i'd get my car totally fixed and repainted :D

But alas, even my car was bought for me by my old lady as a prezzie.

You are covered by workers comp to and from work and in driving for work related duties as long as you go to and from work by the most direct and convenient route i.e your usual route but that's a different question.

Is this just for personal injury?

Quite distressed, i've been trying to save up for a motorcycle and all this shit keeps occuring, only +rep or a free motorcycle can make me feel better now :( hehe jks.

[Reprobate]

Also (Call me a cock if you like, but i would take full responsibility if i damage someone elses property) i dont have insurance (just have the ctp).

You may find that if you get Third Party Property Insurance it will lower your Third Party People Insurance (Greenslip CTP) so much that it costs the SAME for both.

True story.

From personal experience.

[say_wat]

Hmm, your ideas intrigue me, and i wish to subscribe to ur newsletter.

I really have to look into that then, i was always under the impression that CTP(personal injury) was something one has to pay regardless of anything, and CTP property is an added cost on top of it. Will i have to renew these things at the same time to be able to get that deal?

[Directed]

Sorry for your troubles. Hail would be considered an act of God against property not owned by your employer. Even if your job would pay for accidents, they wouldn't necessarily HAVE to repair your car in this instance. So shake your fists at God, and take some Rep like a man.

[Directed]

Oh, and I have to spread some around before I can give it to you again. So suffer unconsoled by me for a while. ;)

[say_wat]

haha, /me shakes fist at the sky, "i'll get you next time captain planet!"

Thats the thing that had me bothered though, it was due to work that i was faced with such damage, else my car would've been in my carport, and i would've been in my undies posting on Zgeek @ the time.

[frednurk]

Dude. Your insurance company has an option for a proportion of your cars usage to be for business use. This equates to a higher premium. In situations such as yours- the increased premium is worth it. Unfortunately, in many cases the ignorance of the insured ( this means you ) is exploited from both sides. Your employer says it's your responsibility, and you really should have known better than to point the finger at them. Your insurer says it's your problem, and you really should have known better etc. etc.

From past experience my advice is to ask your insurer what their policy is. Invariably this will cost you- however the cost can be usefull in wage negotiations :).

Just as an aside, and as an example: If you were to have an accident whilst delivering the company mail to the P.O. on your way home from work, and your insurer got wind of it ---- You're on your own sucker.

Don't do it. Do not take risks personally for the benefit of others- unless you're prepared and compensated in advance for the cost of the risk.

I think this forum is going to be full of 20/20 hindsight stuff. Hopefully enough Ppl will read it before they need to- but I doubt it. Youthful exhuberance is like that.

[Uther Pendragon]

On a related matter, I am currently pimping out a ho and she has been eating too many pairs of sugary edible undies. This is causing some serious "hail damage" on her thighs and ass. Can I claim the lyposuction bill back on tax since it is a work related hazard?

:)

[Reprobate]

Hmm, your ideas intrigue me, and i wish to subscribe to ur newsletter.

I really have to look into that then, i was always under the impression that CTP(personal injury) was something one has to pay regardless of anything, and CTP property is an added cost on top of it. Will i have to renew these things at the same time to be able to get that deal?

yes, you HAVE to pay CTP. It being compulsory of course. however as was the case when i was at NRMA for my insurance by getting TPI Property my CTP's (TPI People... aka the greenslip) premium was lowered.

Seperately the policies were as expensive as each other. I'll pull a figure out my butt, say $350 each. but when i got them together... or if you tell them (and prove) you have the TPI Property (if it's with someone else) it'll lower the premium. If it's with them you may want to remind them you're eligible for some kind of rebate.

I think instead of paying $350 for JUST the greenslip it cost me $370 for BOTH. Or maybe it was $330. Or $350. All I can remember now was being VERY surprised.

Ring them and ask. Or drop in.

Now I just go with comprehensive. And I'm with GIO.

[DrDivad]

def. get some third party property, nice and noble for you to say 'i'll any quote' and even though i don't know you, i beleive you would, .......but what about that ferrari you hit???

that's why i got it, not cos there was any danger of me not taking responsibility for my idiocy, but the chances of me pronging someone and having the repair be affordable are pretty slim.

I'm payin $560 for CTP and $550ish for Third Party Property (note I'm not covered for Fire and Theft, that's another wad of cash, but i guess i'll just take that risk)

Worth nothing in the UK and i think some states in the US (correct me yankees!) you need at minimum personal injury cover AND third party property before you can even get the car registered.

[say_wat]

I have hit a BMW recently(six mths ago), and lost $1700 after alot of negotiations with their insurance company...The dude told me that he would get his mate to fix it for a lower cost as it was the slightest of nudges, but ended up going thru the insurance company who not only replaced everything but re-painted the undamaged panels to 'blend the colour' which cost the fortune.

Suppose i had 3rd party property, it would have cost me 1500 dollars in claim fees + the extra yearly premium costs. Lucky me i guess, i probably broke even. Lucky i didn't hit a ferrari.

Either way, i barely received any damage on my civic, so i wasn't all that glum bout that. Hail damage on the other hand sux anus. On that note, i shall take heed to all your advice and go get 3rd party property at my next rego renewal. The whole bike dream is delayed by another few mths... the r1 can wait... prices are cheaper in winter anyway, afaik.

[DrDivad]

"They shouldn't call it insurance, they should call it 'In-case Shit...' In-case shit happens, they'll gimme some money, but wait a minute, hold on, what if shit don't happen, shouldn't I get my money back!" --Chris Rock

I just had my dodgy vortex t-boned two weeks ago and the quote to fix it using 2nd hand parts was $2k! But i found one for $880 that was going to be a just a panel beat, so I suckered the money out of uninsured joe for that instead, was much less hassle.

[Sagacious]

"They shouldn't call it insurance, they should call it 'In-case Shit...' In-case shit happens, they'll gimme some money, but wait a minute, hold on, what if shit don't happen, shouldn't I get my money back!" --Chris Rock

I just had my dodgy vortex t-boned two weeks ago and the quote to fix it using 2nd hand parts was $2k! But i found one for $880 that was going to be a just a panel beat, so I suckered the money out of uninsured joe for that instead, was much less hassle.

Interesting story:

Insurance is only possible becasue parliament has legislated for it. This is because insurance policies or contracts ar ein the nature of a wager or bet as in gambling. The policy holder bets the insurer that the risk insured against will happen and the insurer bets it doesnt and the stake is the premium you pay.

[ShinymetalASS]

I love the fact that you dont even need an insurable interest anymore.

Seriously though, I just don't think it's in anyway wise to drive without full comprehensive insurance. Paying CTP as a component of rego just isn't sufficient. I loath insurance companies as well....

With reference to the 'Act' of God' exclusions, if you haven't already done so, get out a copy of The Man Who Sued God. Just a nice chuckle at insurance companies, courts, and my old favourite, the Catholic Church. Wont retrospectively insure your car nor renegotiate the terms of your employment, but it might make you feel a little better :D

[Merudo]

Seriously though, I just don't think it's in anyway wise to drive without full comprehensive insurance. Paying CTP as a component of rego just isn't sufficient. I loath insurance companies as well....



Not everyone can afford comprehensive insurance though.

I've got third party fire and theft, i'm not going to be a complete dolt and drive around without any insurance... but yeah, just cars quoted me $2600 a year for comprehensive insurance....

Being a 19y/o on a low paying job means that's difficult to afford ;)

[ShinymetalASS]

Being a 19y/o on a low paying job means that's difficult to afford ;)

(a) what sort of car do you drive?
(b) what driving record do you have?

and

(c) I got my first car at 17 and have always had comprehensive insurance, more because I couldn't afford NOT to.... and I guarantee, I have yet to have anything but a low paying job. It just comes down to what is in your financial quality world my friend. I know insurance is just getting more expensive. Pay by the month can be of assistance. And shop around. There's always a huge deviation between quoted premiums. As a 19 year old male though, you are statistically handicapped before you even phone. Unfortunately these same statistics would indicate that someone of your "category" is more likely to have a mishap. I guess it's just a risk you have to weigh up in your own mind. I was more than happy to be insured when I had a giant kangaroo jump out in front of my hatch. $3000 worth of damage but not a word of complaint from my insurer. Same when a BMW driving wannabe reversed into me ;)

[Reprobate]

GIO Comprehensive Motor Insurance.

for me it costs either $497.04 as an annual payment, or $44.92 in monthly directed debited instalments.

Keep in mind I'm 34 and haven't had any accidents. Though I've only been with GIO for less than two years.

Over a month ago some dickheads smashed a back window on my vehicle (it's a van). I decided to go to the wreckers and get a replacement. The premium for the claim would have cost more than a brand new window. Insurance sucks arse, but at least when it will really matter it will count the most.

[Sagacious]

http://forums.zgeek.com/gallery/data/media/1/cellulite.jpg

Now this is some hail damage you'd never get compensated for by the insurer.