QuestionMy 99 Ford Expedition was damaged by vandals while parked at a mall. The estimate for repair is $2500. I used valet parking. The valet company refuses responsibility claiming that it was beyond their control. I claim that it was their decision to park the vehicle in a remote location without proper security. I have threatened legal action but would really prefer not to have to go through all that that envolves.
The valet company has offered to pay my $500 deductable if I claim it on my comprehensive coverage. I am concerned that my rates will go up as both of my teenage children have had accidents (one collsion claim, one liability claim) within the last 6 months.
How much, if any, will a comprehensive claim affect my insurance rates? I am with Farmer's Insurance in Arizona and I'm affraid that even asking them about a claim may affect my rates.
Thank you for your help!
AnswerMost (caveat) insurance companies look at loss history and divide it between At-Fault losses and Not At-Fault accidents... so this most recent incident/loss should not affect you at all or that much... check with your agent to confirm that.
The valet company is arguably "on the hook" for the damage to your car and should report the matter to their liability carrier. I suspect that what they are trying to do is to avoid reporting this matter to their carrier by offering to pay your deductible..
A word of caution.. if you take the valet company up on their offer, you may be waiving your own company's right to go after the valet company for what they pay you (that process is called subrogation).... if you do anything to waive or reduce your company's right(s) they (your company) may have recourse against you. Suggest that you run this issue by your own company to make sure they are both on notice and on board...
You may also have a liability claim against the mall even though they may have contracted the service to the valet company and gotten a hold harmless from the valet company. You MAY be able to "leverage" the relationship/good will between the Mall and the valet company to your advantage...
Suggest you lay all the above cards on the table with the valet company and see if you can't get them to "see the light"... If they refuse to accomodate you I would suggest that you run the claim back through your own company and have them go after (subrogate) the valet company for reimbursement of their payment as well as your deductible (that process may take weeks or months or perhaps even longer)..
If you can get your deductible back from the valet company without in any way waiving or otherwise reducing your company rights then I would go ahead and do that.. that way you are "whole" and the ensuing battle for the rest will be between the companies.
Hope and trust that the above answers your question(s) and provides some direction..
Feel free to get back to me with any additional issues/questions relative to this matter.
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Thanks
