Insurance/who pays for mild fire damaged car?

[Anonymous]

Our neighbor left ashes from a grill in a container alongside their fence. The ashes later reignited and set the fence on fire. One of our cars was on the other side of the fence, a few feet away, unfortunately. However, it was not on our property but on a public street as there is a narrow street between our houses. While the fence damage was limited to one section of the fence with total destruction, it did result in paint blisters on one 18 inch wide spot at the rear of our car, all within one body part, along with a semi-melted rear light cover. The paint blisters are not that noticeable due to the dark color, but they're there. The car is driving just fine. Neighbors are apologetic and we've exchanged numbers. Tomorrow I will take the car to the garage to be checked out and get an estimation for repairs.

Before I go down this rabbit hole, is it reasonable to assume no matter what the neighbor is at fault and pays, whether via his insurance or not? The car is a 2017 Outback so I'm not wildly upset, chalking it up to the annoyances of life but I'd like to know they're definitely paying for repairs

And speaking of repairs, for something like I described, would it entail a body part replacement or is it better to get some kind of repainting job?

[Anonymous]

Just get their insurance information and file a claim

[Anonymous]

I have no idea if their insurance would pay for this. Please report back after you find out, OP!

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a small repaint job, maybe $300-500. You said the neighbors are
apologetic. Did they actually offer to pay for repairs? It is kind of doesn’t make sense for them to involve their home insurance as the repair bill is likely to be below the deductible.

[Anonymous]

I'm the OP. I've never had to file an insurance claim before so it's unfamiliar terrain for me and everything I know is second hand. What I've picked up is to offer the other party the option of paying out of pocket for repairs rather than notifying their insurance company if they want to avoid increases in their premiums. My plan is to get repair quotes from my garage tomorrow and then notify the neighbors what the out of pocket quote is and give them the choice of reimbursing me or filing a claim and letting the insurance take care of it.

What I'm slightly worried about is my own insurance going up! Even though we're not at fault here but one hears stories.

[Anonymous]

Your plan makes sense. I would inform the neighbors that I plan to file a claim with my insurance and ask if they want to settle it before i do that. If they offer to pay, great. If not, and the repair cost is small I might just pay myself. Not so much because I worry about the insurance premiums going up but because having the accident on carfax will reduce the resale value of the car.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your plan makes sense. I would inform the neighbors that I plan to file a claim with my insurance and ask if they want to settle it before i do that. If they offer to pay, great. If not, and the repair cost is small I might just pay myself. Not so much because I worry about the insurance premiums going up but because having the accident on carfax will reduce the resale value of the car.

Car insurance or home insurance? I’d not do that.

[Anonymous]

This is it a small job, the paint job will be an entire panel which can be 1000 a panel (check now many) then then the light is another $1000 inc labor , at least 2000. Get estimate and have the neighbors pay for it and if they don't have then file with you car insurance and they will go after the neighbor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is it a small job, the paint job will be an entire panel which can be 1000 a panel (check now many) then then the light is another $1000 inc labor , at least 2000. Get estimate and have the neighbors pay for it and if they don't have then file with you car insurance and they will go after the neighbor.

Correction This is NOT a small job

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm the OP. I've never had to file an insurance claim before so it's unfamiliar terrain for me and everything I know is second hand. What I've picked up is to offer the other party the option of paying out of pocket for repairs rather than notifying their insurance company if they want to avoid increases in their premiums. My plan is to get repair quotes from my garage tomorrow and then notify the neighbors what the out of pocket quote is and give them the choice of reimbursing me or filing a claim and letting the insurance take care of it.

What I'm slightly worried about is my own insurance going up! Even though we're not at fault here but one hears stories.

You don't tell your insurance anything about this, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is it a small job, the paint job will be an entire panel which can be 1000 a panel (check now many) then then the light is another $1000 inc labor , at least 2000. Get estimate and have the neighbors pay for it and if they don't have then file with you car insurance and they will go after the neighbor.

Why would OP’s car insurance pay/get involved? This wasn’t a car accident.

[Anonymous]

Your car insurance does not go up if someone else is at fault.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is it a small job, the paint job will be an entire panel which can be 1000 a panel (check now many) then then the light is another $1000 inc labor , at least 2000. Get estimate and have the neighbors pay for it and if they don't have then file with you car insurance and they will go after the neighbor.

Why would OP’s car insurance pay/get involved? This wasn’t a car accident.

Comprehensive insurance isn't necessarily accident related. Baseball breaks your window, comprehensive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is it a small job, the paint job will be an entire panel which can be 1000 a panel (check now many) then then the light is another $1000 inc labor , at least 2000. Get estimate and have the neighbors pay for it and if they don't have then file with you car insurance and they will go after the neighbor.

Why would OP’s car insurance pay/get involved? This wasn’t a car accident.

Any damage to the car is car insurance

[Anonymous]

I’m assuming you are on friendly terms with your neighbor and they are accepting responsibility. I would go to a body shop and get an estimate for repairs. I’d present that to neighbor and see what they say.

I would not involve my own insurance at this time. I would consult my insurance if your neighbor balks at responsibility.