Just about a year ago I filed my first claim ever on my homeowners policy. It was kind of strange. Our neighbor came over after a short visit to the community mailbox. She was wearing high heels, carrying her mail and had her dog on a leash. It had been raining. After her visit during which we discussed going out to dinner and upcoming parties, she left for home. Fell down in our driveway and broke her wrist. I wanted to take her to the hospital but she had somneone waiting at her house and had to take the dog home so I was excused from that job. That hospital visit indicated she had broken her wrist. Then I called my insurance company and reported the incident. After giving the insurance company the basic information and determining that she had Medicare, my insurance told me they would cover up to $1000 of her expenses without any questions as a goodwill gesture. Anything over and above that $1000, she would have to file a lawsuit and then show negligence on our part. She wouldn't be able to do that as she has been to our house many times, was familiar with the driveway and in fact had the same driveway at her house. The insurance company sent out one of their investigators, took pictures and statements from us. Company told us to treat the incident as a normal accident, not offer any details about our discussions and let the chips fall where they may.
As ot turned out, our neighbor had good insurance coverage, informed our insurance company of her costs (which were under $1000) but they paid her $1000 anyway.
Goodwill they said. We are still best of friends. Neighbor said she would never put us in a bad situation and didn't want us to tell our insurance about the incident but I felt it was our responsibility to do so. It worked out great.
Then that insurance company raised our rate, said it was not due to the incident, I shopped around and changed companies. Such is business life.
As ot turned out, our neighbor had good insurance coverage, informed our insurance company of her costs (which were under $1000) but they paid her $1000 anyway.
Goodwill they said. We are still best of friends. Neighbor said she would never put us in a bad situation and didn't want us to tell our insurance about the incident but I felt it was our responsibility to do so. It worked out great.
Then that insurance company raised our rate, said it was not due to the incident, I shopped around and changed companies. Such is business life.
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