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Auto Insurance Claims/Car Engine water damage

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Expert: - 2/4/2009


Question
My son drove his car on a snowy/rainy day.The state roadway was flooded and his car went through a puddle.The car stalled and the state police had it towed to a lot 2 towns away.I went to have it picked up by AAA and brought home, The tow truck driver told him not to start it.It has water in engine.Does car insurance coer this? Other cars were being towed from same spot the same day.
Thankyou for your time

Answer
Hi Alan,

We did repair on flood vehicles for insurance companies. In the situation you are referring to, yes, the insurance company would cover this event under comprehensive coverage.

Although it is not very smart to drive a car through flooded roadways, the insurance companies don't have a stupidity clause in their policies normally and commonly have to cover events like this.

In your case, because you are concerned about coverage, you may state like you did here, to minimize the damage is that the car was driven through a puddle. A puddle is not going to cause internal engine damage. Now, it is true you may feel like your son was stupid to drive on a flooded road--so what!

All you need to do is state the truth. The vehicle was driven through water on a flooded road--cut and dry!

Check your policy as it relates to your comprehensive coverage. Unless it positively states in the language "Vehicle is not covered if driven on a flooded road" they have to pay.

I am not calling your son stupid. I am just saying, they do not normally have a stupidity clause.

An example: I had to determine the origin and cause of a fire on a brand new Cadillac Escalade. Interestingly enough, the vehicle was parked on the 4th of july at an unauthorized fireworks display. The moon roof was left open on the Cadillac. Fireworks fell into the seats causing the fire. Yes, this was covered.

Good luck,

Rob

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Rob Painter, Ase, CFEI, CAFATE

Expertise

Please remember. I am not an attorney and cannot legal advice. My answers are based on my experience due to litigation I have been involved in as an expert, for both insurance companies and while oposing them opposing them. I deal with only comprehensive claims on autos related to fire and theft. I have even had the opportunity to rewrite policy coverage language as it relates to vehicle theft and forced entry for insurance defense attorneys.

Experience

Experience in the area: Working with insurance companies and attorneys on these issues for over 20 years. It is very common to have a reported stolen car with a so-called factory anti-theft system to have the theft claim denied. I have served successfully as an expert witness in the courts across the US representing the insured and their attorney revealing that the insurance expert did not take all known theories into consideration before rendering their "Forensic" conclusion. Many insurance carriers us independent "Forensic" experts to examine reported stolen vehicles commonly using flawed methodology implicating the innocent insured with the theft. My job is to determine if the insurance expert reached his conclusions based on accepted scientific principals or just net opinion with no basis other than opinion. My case record against such experts is very compelling.My resume can be seen at the catagory "Auto Theft and Prevention." In "Forensics" the scientific method must be employed. In the forensic locksmith field determining how a reported stolen vehicle was last operated, many processes cannot be duplicated and are conveniently not addressed. If they were, juries would have the opportunity to make a fair and impartial opinion at least about what the expert could or could not prove. There is a purported process determining the last key used. The chances of determining such is very rare uless the key is found in the ignition lock. Experts commonly destroy evidence as well and are rarely questioned on this event. I reveal the weakness in their testimony on such instances.

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