What happens if a ball hits your car and damages the windshield or puts a dent in the body? Who pays for the repair? It can vary, depending on the situation and the people involved. Insurance can play a role in repairs if the out-of-pocket expense is too high.
File a Claim on Car Insurance
You can file a claim on your car insurance policy if you have comprehensive coverage listed at the time the vehicle is damaged. Your comprehensive deductible will apply. If the damage sustained to the vehicle is lower than the deductible, your insurance will not pay any money for repairs.
How a Claim Affects Car Insurance Rates
Many insurance carriers do not surcharge for comprehensive claims. Many do begin surcharging if you file three comprehensive claims in a three year period, however, and some insurance carriers surcharge for all claims including comprehensive. It is best to check with your insurance carrier to verify how they handle surcharging for different types of claims.
Who Pays the Deductible?
Often, out of moral obligation, the at-fault person who hit, kicked, or threw the ball will come forward and offer to pay for the damages or the deductible. The deductible can be a cheaper way to go for the person who caused the damage. Unfortunately, you are going to have a hard time forcing the at-fault person to pay up. If they are unwilling to take responsibility, you will be on your own—unless you want to pursue the issue in small claims court.
File a Claim on a Homeowner’s Policy
The at-fault party can file a claim on their homeowner’s policy for liability if the incident occurred on their property. Many home policies do not have a deductible on liability. However, the surcharge on a home policy can be steep at your next renewal due to filing a claim, and this surcharge can last for three years on home insurance policies. Often, paying out of pocket is the cheaper route to go.
Damage Occurs at a Baseball Stadium or Golf Course
Most likely, you will need to file a claim on your car insurance policy under comprehensive coverage if your vehicle is damaged at a baseball stadium or golf course. You probably will not know who caused the damage, and the stadium or course will not accept liability. It certainly would not hurt to bring it to the stadium or golf course’s attention. If they did not provide proper netting or other necessary safety measures, you could bring in a lawyer and potentially have a case. In most cases, though, the cost of the damage won’t warrant these steps—it will be more hassle than it’s worth. Even if you know who caused the damage, you might not be able to go after them. It is a risk you take when parking somewhere that you know could be in the line of fire. Keep comprehensive coverage on your vehicle at all times if you are concerned with the potential for physical damage to your vehicle.
The Bottom Line
Expect to pay for repairs yourself. You will most likely either have to pay out of your own pocket or by filing a claim on your car insurance policy. You can hope that, if the at-fault party comes forward or is caught red-handed, the moral obligation will take over, and they will volunteer to cover the damages. But accidents happen, and sometimes it is not worth the hassle and frustration to chase down the at-fault party.
