Disaster Strikes Me!

[BiXLL]

Well gang, I have been thinking weather or not I even wanted to say anything. I am rather numb at this point, not sure what my next steps should be, and basically hate life! I got home from coaching my little league team today, and got a phone call. It was the president of my boat club. He said, "you better come down here right away"! I asked what was up, and he just said come down here! I jumped in my truck and took of. Getting to the river I noticed the water was REALLY high, I mean up 7 or 8 feet! I get to the club, and the first thing I see is we are flooded clear up past the pavilion. Then I see it! The boat that I spent 4 months researching, and a good 1 1/2 months personalizing and making it "PURR-FECT" was upside down sitting on the bottom! The boat club up river from me broke apart and basically disintegrated. A large chunk of their dock came down and slammed into the side of my boat. It apparently punctured a hole in the one pontoon, as it started to lean badly to that side. There were a few members there that saw it happen, and they were trying to pull it in close to shore, but before they could get it untied, another section of dock hit it, and flipped it over.<br />I am looking for advice, so far as handling my insurance company, how to go about going after the other boat club to recoup what my insurance does not cover, if I should get an attorney, and if so, what kind, and now? I am not thinking real straight, so any other advice you feel important, PLEASE post!<br />

 

[crab bait]

Re: Disaster Strikes Me!

wow bummer..!! that's an ugly sight..<br /><br />everything will workout.. mite get to spend july 4th on the river.. if all goes well.. <br /><br />sorry about yur luck..

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: Disaster Strikes Me!

That's a shame. I would suggest that it's going to be easiest on you to let your insurance company handle it. That's what you pay the premiums for. Just make the claim and let them take it from there. I can understand the feeling that you should go after the people who caused it, but that means lawyers, courts and all the things that make life NOT worth living. Plus, under the circumstances, there's not any gaurantee that you will get anything at all from them. Hope everything turns out OK for you and you get through it with a mimimum of stress.

 

[Hooty]

Re: Disaster Strikes Me!

Awww cheet!<br />I think I'd start by informing my insurance co. Take lots of fotos, get signed depositions from witnesses and round up all your receipts. <br /><br />G'luck & c/6<br />Hooty

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Disaster Strikes Me!

Wow!!! I really feel for you, guy. You are definitely boat impaired, but not likely to shoulder any of the cost. <br /><br />You have only one major concern that I can see; the up-river boat club is not insured, is underinsured, or files for bankruptcy. Otherwise, you’re ok. You should report the problem to your insurance immediately. I really don’t know how a major claim goes for boats, but if it was a car, you would work through your insurance company and they would be reimbursed by the boat club’s insurance.<br /><br /><br />Please keep up to date on what happens. I would be interested on your insurance works, what boat club does, etc. I’ve been watching the wicket weather on the tube. Lots of areas hit. I wondered if JB was swimming, yet. Parts of Texas had it bad, too.<br /><br />On the other hand, how’s the Little League team doing?

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Disaster Strikes Me!

BiXLL,<br /><br />I was checking in to get some information on your well and I saw this. Man, I feel for you and nothing anyone can say with make your day any better.<br /><br />I am with 18Rabbit on this. Photo's and depositions from those who saw it happen and then to the insurance co. Put the wheels in motion. Start tommorrow if possible. The sooner the better in these situations. <br /><br />Please keep us posted.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Disaster Strikes Me!

That really sucks. Don't take the first offer the insurance company gives you - keep complaining and you'll get more. If that happened to my boat I think I'd buy some beer and have a party!

 

[RatFish]

Re: Disaster Strikes Me!

That really sucks... Enough said.

 

[Bass Runner]

Re: Disaster Strikes Me!

I think I would first let the Insurence co. handle if you have a lawyer that you have used before run by and let him know about what is going on then if the insurance co dosn't cover the total loss, then go to the lawyer, if your insurance co is any good at all the first thing they will do is go after the other boat club, when the adjuster comes to look at it have all the goodies listed that you have put on it from the looks of things there isnt much to save they will have to total it, if they try to say it can be rebuilt that's what you want the lawyer in the wings for, but i doubt if that will happen but don't settle for less than a replacement with all the bells and whistles you have on yours, sure sorry for your loss to heck with the beer get a bottle of crown and do it right. Let us know how you come out

 

[BiXLL]

Re: Disaster Strikes Me!

Bassrunner, you got ESP? Wife and I are sittin here workin on kickin a bottle of Crowns As*!

 

[BiXLL]

Re: Disaster Strikes Me!

Was sitting here taking stock as to what was in the boat so far as extra stuff. Off the top of my head, I figure there is at least 2500.00 worth, then add the 3500.00 for the full camping enclosure, and I come up with about $6,000.00 above the price of the boat! I can't talk to insurance untill Monday, but I know the boat was insured for the amount on the sales aggreement. I bought it out of state, so you have to add the sales tax I paid when I registerd it too! I have a feeling I am going to take a real bad hit on this! Now what did I do with the rest of that Crown Royal?

 

[neumanns]

Re: Disaster Strikes Me!

It may not hurt to lawyerup on this one. Just bring one you trust into the loop for consultation and advice on steps to take just in case you hear the dreaded words "act of god". For the cost of an hour or two attorneys fees the insurance co will be a lot less likley to screw with you if they are sure you are gonna fight should they contemplate claim denial. I would also start reading through your policy with a highlighter and ask your attorney for his take on anything that may be open for interpitation. Hopefully none of this will be nesacary but it wouldn't hurt to be prepared. The other club may also be more coaperative under the impending doom of legal action. Best case scenerio you are satisfied with there offer and you "wasted" a couple hundred on the attorney. NO Probono BS either, pay attorney up front on this one. Good luck

 

[Bass Runner]

Re: Disaster Strikes Me!

Bixll how's the head? I don't see how anyone can say act of god, when a dock breaks up and smashes a boat at another dock, I would say the dock was not moored properly, is there any state inspections on docks in your area? Might look into it. Did you find the rest of the Crown?

 

[DJ]

Re: Disaster Strikes Me!

I get a little bit anxious about everyones wanting to get a lawyer. I've never hired a lawyer in my life and obvously, I do not "have one" as so many people seem to.<br /><br />That's what is wrong with this country.<br /><br />Get the evidence, make the calls, make the claims, and see what happens. Make sure you have documentation and copies of that.<br /><br />You are in the drivers seat here. If you have sufficient coverage, and you paid your premiums, there is no issue here. Just be thankfull no one was injured.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Disaster Strikes Me!

I'm with DJ on this one. You have no way of knowing IF you will even need (and to pay for) a lawyer until the claim is made. Also, I will be suprised if you are out one thin dime. Taking stock of what is/was on the boat is a good idea so you can make the claim with a realistic value and every expectation to have your "damages" made "whole", pergaps in part by your insurer and in part by the dock owner...you don't care, you just want to be made whole.<br /><br />File a realistic claim with your insurance company and sit back and wait.