Question About Auto Insurance In Alberta

[iggyntangs]

Just a quick question:

If you're the victim of being in a hit and run, i.e. you discover your parked vehicle hours later of being hit and the mirror being torn off, in terms of auto insurance what's the law in AB?

I know in Ontario, if this happens and you make a claim through insurance you pay the deductible and your premiums will not go up.

Is it the same in AB, or is it just dependent on your coverage/insurance company?

I just want to know if it'll be cheaper for me to pay for it out of pocket or pay the deductible which is hundreds of dollars cheaper (and am scared to call my insurance company to find out and then them formalizing a claim and raising my insurance)?

Of note I've made no claims through my insurance company before, only had it for 1 year only been driving for 1 year and have no accidents/tickets/demerits whatsoever.

Thanks in advance CP faithful.

[Slava]

This usually goes through your comprehensive coverage (same as fire, theft, etc.) and most of the time there wouldn't be an increase in the premiums. You would want to make sure though and ask your agent.

[flamesrule_kipper34]

^ Are you 'allowed' to call an insurance agent and ask hypothetically? Like I said I'm just worried about calling, finding out and somehow getting my premiums increased when it would have been better to pay out of pocket.

Going thru a similar situation myself with my gf.

[Tailspin]

If the damage was caused by another vehicle, it will be a collision loss rather than a comprehensive loss. Comprehensive would only cover it if it was decided to be an act of vandalism.

It would be a not at-fault collision loss and shoudn't impact your driving record. If you are receiving any kind of claims free discount it could be affected, but that varies carrier to carrier. You will have to pay the deductible unless they find the third party and can charge them.

If you have any more questions shoot me a pm. Best advise is to speak with your broker as they know the details on your carrier/policy etc.

Originally Posted by iggyntangs

Just a quick question:

If you're the victim of being in a hit and run, i.e. you discover your parked vehicle hours later of being hit and the mirror being torn off, in terms of auto insurance what's the law in AB?

I know in Ontario, if this happens and you make a claim through insurance you pay the deductible and your premiums will not go up.

Is it the same in AB, or is it just dependent on your coverage/insurance company?

I just want to know if it'll be cheaper for me to pay for it out of pocket or pay the deductible which is hundreds of dollars cheaper (and am scared to call my insurance company to find out and then them formalizing a claim and raising my insurance)?

Of note I've made no claims through my insurance company before, only had it for 1 year only been driving for 1 year and have no accidents/tickets/demerits whatsoever.

Thanks in advance CP faithful.

[Canehdianman]

Originally Posted by flamesrule_kipper34

^ Are you 'allowed' to call an insurance agent and ask hypothetically? Like I said I'm just worried about calling, finding out and somehow getting my premiums increased when it would have been better to pay out of pocket.

Going thru a similar situation myself with my gf.

I would call a broker with the same company on a no-names basis. I do this quite frequently with the Alberta Securities Commission when I have a question.

Although, if the answer is dependent on your individual policy (and not the broad policies of the insurer), then you might not be able to do that.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by flamesrule_kipper34

^ Are you 'allowed' to call an insurance agent and ask hypothetically? Like I said I'm just worried about calling, finding out and somehow getting my premiums increased when it would have been better to pay out of pocket.

Going thru a similar situation myself with my gf.

Sure you can. Just asking isn't a big deal.

Originally Posted by Tailspin

If the damage was caused by another vehicle, it will be a collision loss rather than a comprehensive loss. Comprehensive would only cover it if it was decided to be an act of vandalism.

It would be a not at-fault collision loss and shoudn't impact your driving record. If you are receiving any kind of claims free discount it could be affected, but that varies carrier to carrier. You will have to pay the deductible unless they find the third party and can charge them.

If you have any more questions shoot me a pm. Best advise is to speak with your broker as they know the details on your carrier/policy etc.

That is certainly different than my experience.

[Hilch]

Originally Posted by flamesrule_kipper34

^ Are you 'allowed' to call an insurance agent and ask hypothetically? Like I said I'm just worried about calling, finding out and somehow getting my premiums increased when it would have been better to pay out of pocket.

Going thru a similar situation myself with my gf.

Your premiums should only increase if they payout a claim (by law), not if you file one. There should be no issue with you phoning your insurance company, saying this happened, and finding out your best options. Just because you file a claim doesn't mean you are stuck going through your insurance company.

[Tailspin]

Comprehensive specifically excludes any damage caused by collision with any other object..

That being said, I've seen stranger things happen, and I'm sure that no one would argue with the company paying a loss out as comprehensive rather than a collision loss, it wouldn't be at-fault, and the deductible is often lower. It would be nice, but I wouldn't count on it happening.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Tailspin

Comprehensive specifically excludes any damage caused by collision with any other object..

That being said, I've seen stranger things happen, and I'm sure that no one would argue with the company paying a loss out as comprehensive rather than a collision loss, it wouldn't be at-fault, and the deductible is often lower. It would be nice, but I wouldn't count on it happening.

Well in my experience for most hit and run accidents the insurer will consider this a comprehensive loss for the insured. The same applies to a collision with a deer (for example), where its considered a comprehensive claim even though by pure definition one might assume its a collision.

The difference, aside from the definition is that the driver or insured is not "at fault" for these kinds of losses whereas for a collision where there is some kind of driver error they are.

[squiggs96]

Originally Posted by flamesrule_kipper34

^ Are you 'allowed' to call an insurance agent and ask hypothetically? Like I said I'm just worried about calling, finding out and somehow getting my premiums increased when it would have been better to pay out of pocket.

Going thru a similar situation myself with my gf.

So "someone" hit your girlfriend and ran? I wouldn't call anyone and I'd advise your girlfriend not to call anyone either.

[flamesrule_kipper34]

^Hmm?

[Tailspin]

Its definately common practice to pay out impact with an animal under comprehensive, although this is starting to change with a few companies.

Ive dealt with 3 hit and runs already this week, 3 different companies all paid out under collision. I'm sure it does happen that it gets paid out under comprehensive, but that certainly is not the industry standard.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by Tailspin

Its definately common practice to pay out impact with an animal under comprehensive, although this is starting to change with a few companies.

Ive dealt with 3 hit and runs already this week, 3 different companies all paid out under collision. I'm sure it does happen that it gets paid out under comprehensive, but that certainly is not the industry standard.

What do you do for a living?

[Hilch]

Really it doesn't matter if it's under comprehensive, collision, or whatever as long as it goes as a no fault claim. If your insurance company wants to raise your rates over a hit and run I recommend changing insurance companies because that would be a joke.

[macker]

Hit and Run is collision. Hitting a deer is only comprehensive because it is impact with a flying object. These are standard coverages and standard wordings found in the SPF #1.

[Slava]

Originally Posted by macker

Hit and Run is collision. Hitting a deer is only comprehensive because it is impact with a flying object. These are standard coverages and standard wordings found in the SPF #1.

It says that a hit and run is a collision in SPF 1?

Maybe things have changed since my last dealings with these claims (could be the case for sure), but that was always a comp. claim.

[macker]

Originally Posted by Slava

It says that a hit and run is a collision in SPF 1?

Maybe things have changed since my last dealings with these claims (could be the case for sure), but that was always a comp. claim.

Section C

Subsection 2. Collision or upset - caused by collision with another object or by upset. This is the coverage that would apply to a hit and run.

Subsection 3. Comprehensive - from any peril other than by collision with another object or by upset. Section includes loss or damage caused by misles, falling or flying objects, fire, theft, explosion, earthquake, windstorm, hail, rising water, malicious mischief, riot or civil commotion.

Deer is flying object and hit and run is non-chargeable collision.

[Finny61]

I would have guessed collision as well, don't see how hit and runs would qualify for comp, I thought comp was animals and acts of God.

[Slava]

Well when I adjusted claims we always did these as Comprehensive claims. Where's FKA when you need him?

[macker]

Originally Posted by Slava

Well when I adjusted claims we always did these as Comprehensive claims. Where's FKA when you need him?

What peril under comprehensive would this fit under that is more suitable then collision or upset?