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Is pothole damage covered by my auto insurance?

April 05, 2018

After a tough winter, we may be in for a bumpy pothole season this spring.

Vehicle driving by road pothole

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What causes potholes to form?

Wear and tear on roads leads to small cracks in the pavement.  As ice and snow melt in the warmer spring temperatures, the water seeps into these cracks.  The water freezes and expands as temperatures drop below freezing at night, forcing the pavement to rise, bend, and crack.  This process repeats and eventually creates a cavity under the pavement.  As the pavement above the cavity becomes more brittle, the pavement cracks under the weight of traffic and forms a pothole in the road.

It’s best to avoid potholes if possible, but a driver may not see a pothole or have room to drive around.  Hitting a pothole with your vehicle can result in damage, most commonly to your tires, rims, suspension, and undercarriage.

Is pothole damage covered by my auto insurance policy?

Yes, according to the Insurance Information Institute, some damages caused by a pothole are covered if you have collision coverage.

Collision coverage is an optional coverage of your auto policy.  It pays the cost of repairing or replacing your vehicle when it is damaged in a collision with another object, like a pothole, pole, or another vehicle.  Collision also covers your vehicle in the case of a rollover.  However, your auto insurance policy does not cover wear and tear to your vehicle that has occurred from sustained bad road conditions.  Additionally, road damage to your tires is specifically excluded and not covered on your auto policy.

Collision coverage carries a deductible, which you will have to pay before the insurer will pay your claim.  If the damage amounts to less than your deductible amount, it may not be practical to file a claim.

Your auto insurance policy also covers you if you hit another car or a pedestrian as a result of the pothole.  Your policy's liability insurance kicks in to cover damage to property of others and injuries to others from your vehicle.

Will the local jurisdiction pay for pothole damage?

Some cities, counties, and states are taking steps to help drivers with vehicle damage resulting from potholes through pothole trackers and damage reimbursement.  You can start by researching which jurisdiction is responsible for the road, and determine if there is a possibility of being reimbursed.

Whether you’re asking for reimbursement from your insurance company or your local government, remember to document the damage to your vehicle.  Take a photo of the pothole and the vehicle damage, and note the date, time, and location of the accident.  This documentation will be helpful when filing a claim.

For more details, call your local agent to discuss your auto insurance policy coverages.

Resources

https://www.iii.org/article/does-my-auto-insurance-cover-damage-caused-by-potholes


This blog entry is created for informational purposes only.  Any viewpoint or sponsorship of outside parties involved in the blog entry does not necessarily represent Goodville's stance as a company.  The blog should not be used as a substitute for professional advice.

Does a driver with a learner's permit have auto insurance coverage?

August 30, 2017

Do you have a driver in your household with a learner’s permit?  This is an exciting time for the new driver!  This can also be an unsettling time for parents of the new driver.  One thing you shouldn’t have to stress over is auto insurance coverage while your young driver is behind the wheel.

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Does a driver with a learner’s permit have auto insurance coverage?

With a Goodville auto policy there is automatic coverage for a driver with a learner’s permit as long as:

  • The driver qualifies as an insured on the policy, i.e. is a member of the insured’s household, and
  • A parent, guardian or in some states a 21 year old licensed driver is required to be with them while driving.

You should report the new driver to your insurance agent right away to verify they are covered in the case of an accident.

What happens when the new driver becomes licensed?

Once the child is at least 16 years of age and licensed, or they are still on a permit and a parent or guardian is not required to be in the vehicle with the permit holder, we will list the child on the parents’ policy as a driver.  This means that we will start charging a premium for the driver on the parents’ policy because they are now a recognized, legal driver.

Call your local agent to get full details on how drivers with learner’s permits can affect your auto insurance coverage.

Also check out the graduated driver licensing (GDL) requirements for your state on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) website.  According to the IIHS, all 50 states and the District of Columbia have a GDL system in place, which consists of laws to reduce the crash risk of young drivers by ensuring that teens build up driving experience under lower-risk conditions.

This blog entry is created for informational purposes only.  Any viewpoint or sponsorship of outside parties involved in the blog entry does not necessarily represent Goodville's stance as a company.  The blog should not be used as a substitute for professional advice.

Homeowners Equipment Breakdown Coverage

November 14, 2017

In the next few months, we will rely on our home heating systems more and more.  But are you prepared to pay for an expensive repair if this equipment breaks down?  With Equipment Breakdown coverage you can be protected against risks to your home systems and property that are often excluded from a typical Homeowners policy.

What is Equipment Breakdown coverage?

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Equipment Breakdown coverage protects you against unexpected repairs or replacement costs due to an electrical, mechanical, or pressure systems breakdown.

A few highlights of this coverage are:

  • The coverage follows the terms and conditions of your current homeowner’s policy, meaning that other structures on your property, such as a garage or shed, are covered as well.
  • Off-premises coverage is included for property away from your home, like a laptop at college.
  • This is a good alternative to home warranty plans, which can be expensive.

What property does it cover?

  • Clothes washers and dryers
  • Computer equipment
  • Dishwashers
  • Freezers
  • Heat pumps
  • High efficiency home heating and central A/C systems
  • Home security systems
  • Refrigerators
  • Ovens
  • And more!


What doesn't it cover?

This coverage is intended to protect you in the event of a mechanical breakdown, not normal wear and tear.  A mechanical breakdown often occurs suddenly.  Wear and tear takes time to occur; equipment performance slowly declines but the equipment continues to work.  This includes leaks from a water heater.  Coverage for wear and tear is excluded in a homeowner’s policy, and because no equipment breakdown has occurred, it is also excluded as a coverage by the equipment breakdown endorsement.

Why is it important to you right now?

The coverage helps you pay for losses, including breakdowns specific to heating systems:

  • If your furnace breakdowns unexpectedly and needs an expensive repair.
  • If you experience a power surge, damaging electrical items including your furnace.

Equipment Breakdown coverage can be added to your Homeowners policy with Goodville.  Speak with your local agent about the coverage and if it fits your needs.


This blog entry is created for informational purposes only.  Any viewpoint or sponsorship of outside parties involved in the blog entry does not necessarily represent Goodville's stance as a company.  The blog should not be used as a substitute for professional advice.