Insurance question. (what is wrong with these people)

Pyrojodge

Pyrojodge

Well-Known Member
TECHNICAL Contributor
May 1, 2011
4,248
Lake Erie Ohio
Boat Info
1989 Sea Ray 340 DA
Engines
twin 454 Mercs
So went out yesterday to use the old truck. I haven't used it in a month or so and of course I climb in and I don't even have a click when I turn the key. OK, I guess I can figure that battery is dead. No problem, swap it out and back to business... Yeah not so much.

Popped the hood and found this...











So I make a call to my insurance describe what happened and that I am pretty certain that this was caused by rodents. The woman on the other end did everything but call me a complete liar. She kept asking me, "do you really think that's what happens" and "I just don't think they can do that" or " the damage you are describing sounds intentional". I know for a fact that my large torso didn't wedge in there and start gnawing at my wiring harnesses

OK, now the real question. 1st. This has to be squirrels, chipmunks, or mice that did this. 2nd will insurance cover the cost to replace automotive wiring as I am sure that it is not cheap to replace all of the different pieces. as you can see there is a lot of damage. Guess this solidifies my need for a new garage.:huh:
 
I have no clue about the insurance part, but I'd bet money on the squirrels.
 
That sucks !!!, Good luck on the repairs.

When you get it fixed, Hang a few fishnet bags with mothballs in there. :thumbsup:
 
Dang Jason, y'all gotta be feeding your kids and if you two don't have kids, start feeding the neighbor kids so they won't be chomping on your truck.

I'd suggest you drag out your insurance policy and see what it says about this. Don't necessarily take your agent's word for it (or his secretary!).
 
Jason,

I work for a car dealer and we see this type of thing in Florida somewhat frequently. Especially in the winter. Most insurance companies will handle the repairs and I believe this is part of the comprehensive coverage. I would call the insurance company back and pursue that further.
 
I have heard it said that in an effort to be "green" and increase the "renewable" percentage, many plastic and rubber type products are made from vegetable oils that rodents find tasty. Have not verified this but it came up when black vultures ate my sunroof seal and other rubber exterior parts. I feel for you, good luck on the insurance as most boat policies exclude this coverage.

MM
 
eweise said:
Jason,

I work for a car dealer and we see this type of thing in Florida somewhat frequently. Especially in the winter. Most insurance companies will handle the repairs and I believe this is part of the comprehensive coverage. I would call the insurance company back and pursue that further.
Click to expand...

Correct, this damage would be covered under your comprehensive coverage if you have it.
 
I had damage similar to that. The culprit was a woodchuck that liked hanging out in the engine compartment. I tried to chase him away a couple times but he would come back. He was always sitting under the truck or peaking out from behind a tire grinnin' at me.:smt101 Being the gun totin' mean CSR hombre that I am, I thought "he's on my property, he's giving me attitude, he's dead". So one day I opened up the dining room window got comfy with my pistol and shot him the next time he popped out to tease me.
 
MonacoMike said:
I have heard it said that in an effort to be "green" and increase the "renewable" percentage, many plastic and rubber type products are made from vegetable oils that rodents find tasty. Have not verified this but it came up when black vultures ate my sunroof seal and other rubber exterior parts. I feel for you, good luck on the insurance as most boat policies exclude this coverage.

MM
Click to expand...

Appears it is true, sad, but true...

http://www.pctonline.com/car-wiring-rodents.aspx


http://www.kjrh.com/dpp/money/consu...e-soy-based-wiring-insulation-in-new-vehicles

MM
 
Jason,

Yes it should be covered under comprehensive, BUT be prepared... It it's an old truck with high mileage and the repairs are heavy with labour, they may want to write the truck off and give you the "market value" (as they see it) less your comp deductible. If this happens keep in mind that you can usually take the payout figure and ask to purchase your truck back as salvage for the same price that the salvage place will pay the insurance company. Then use the funds to fix the truck yourself (which may be more or less than the net settlement). This is sometimes preferable if you have invested in keeping your old truck mechanically sound.

My next step would be to shop for another insurance provider. A comprehensive claim only should not stop you from being attractive to other companies. I wouldn't want to have that kind of representation especially if it was a big, nasty, complicated claim next time!
 
It will be covered if you have comp. As to the adjuster, most adjusters don't really understand much about this type damage because they don't see it very often. They rely on an appraiser for this. However, if they treated you with this type of lack of respect, I would definitely mention it to your agent.
 
My equipment and vehicles I have at my cabin, either in the shed, or outside, get a good dose of mothballs. Usually in a stocking but in some cases I use a plastic container full of holes. All the critters hate the moth balls. They need to be contained in something though, otherwise the little bastards just toss them out. Since I started doing that, I haven't had to clean out rodent or bird nests from under hoods or cowlings.
 
All rodents will eat wiring harness. Even the old stuff before the "green" compounds now used. Ever hear of the term Church Mouse. We had one in our church years ago. Everyone said it was so cute having our own little church mouse. The sucker got into the electric piano and caused a couple grand in wiring repairs.

Mouse wasn't so cute after that.
 
OldSkool said:
All rodents will eat wiring harness. Even the old stuff before the "green" compounds now used. Ever hear of the term Church Mouse. We had one in our church years ago. Everyone said it was so cute having our own little church mouse. The sucker got into the electric piano and caused a couple grand in wiring repairs.

Mouse wasn't so cute after that.
Click to expand...
:smt043:smt043We had the same thing with a new Toyota we had when we lived in WA. A rodent ate the wiring and caused a fire! The dealership had to order the parts direct from Japan as they reckoned they never had to replace any before in WA and never kept them in stock.......
 
I would be ringing back, demanding an assessor, and if necessary requesting to be put through to a supervisor

That said.
Our black Labrador, cost us a fortune off the first 2 years of his life, sometimes wonder how we still have him. Part of his destructive chewing, was my boat trailer, twice he destroyed the trailer lighting wiring.
At 5am in the morning when your preparing to head out fishing..............good job we love him, and those eyes and face, "who me? No it was the cat, honest"


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
Hey everyone quick update...

The first person I talked to was just the receptionist. Going to guess a young girl that they hired out of high school with no real world experience. I talked to a claims adjuster and she told me they would send someone out to look it over and figure where to go from there. So Friday they were supposed to be out between 8 and 5 (yes, I wish I could do my job like this). She calls me back around 3pm and leaves a message to take the truck and get and estimate. Um, what? I call her back and finally get her on the phone and ask her how I am going to get an estimate. She tells me just pick a garage and have them see what it will cost to repair the issues. I ask her if she is aware that the vehicle is non operational. She seems shocked by this news and I ask what the adjuster that was out had to say about the vehicle. She gives me a round about answer and i ask if they will cover the tow to the garage sine I absolutely can't drive the truck the way it is. She puts me on hold for 8 minutes and comes back to say they will cover it if I truly can't drive the truck. I quickly explain the I would be happy to put a new battery in the truck and when a fire ignites from all the bare wires and insulation that they will be fully responsible. She didn't find this as amusing as I did and quickly said they would cover the tow. So I call a local shop that I have had do work for me in the past that I trust to do this type of work. They tell me they can look at the truck first thing Monday morning and get the ball rolling. I ask if they can suggest someone to tow the truck and they do. Call the other company and I am told they will be there within the hour (wow not what I was expecting). Well now comes my dumb arse attack. I work 40 mins from home and never thought about the keys not being in the truck. The guy shows up to get the keys and the truck on his flat bed. He calls me and asks where the keys are. I of course had to explain that they were in my house and I would drop them off after work. He's says OK dude well how do you want me to move your truck since it's in park. *sigh- yeah never thought of that* OK, let me make some calls and get someone there that has keys to the house to get you keys to the truck. after what seemed a dozen phone calls I get someone that I trust to have a key to drive over to my house and grab the pair of truck keys. So long story short we are human and I guess we can all have brain farts just some of them are more frustrating then others. I guess I will know more Monday from the shop and insurance what they are going to do. I am worried they are going to total my truck as I am very attached to it. I bought it brand new off the lot when I graduated high school and I know what it took to pay for it. It's in great shape for its age (other then the usual rust from Ohio winters). I guess we will have to wait and see what happens. I had the pleasure of checking out a new 14 Silverado at work a few months ago and really liked it. Guess we'll wait and see what happens. Can't imagine my life without a truck and it wouldn't make sense living on a farm.
 
See what the buy out is and buy it back. They were going to total my wife's van so I bought it back after the payout and fixed it myself. You will need to see how to get the title clear though. Some states have a salvaged title.

Or treat yourself to a new ride.
 
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