I hit a car mat that was blown into the air by the car in front of me, causing $1,600 in damage to my bumper. Travelers Insurance won’t approve it as a comprehensive claim, saying the mat was partially on the ground and calling it a collision. I believe this should be comprehensive since the mat was airborne. Has anyone experienced this? How did you resolve it?
If something is lying on the road, even if part of it lifts, it’s usually considered a collision. Insurance companies base it on the point of impact. Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem like comprehensive to me.
@Tru
I have dashcam footage showing the mat partially in the air during impact. Does that change anything?
Kim said:
@Tru
I have dashcam footage showing the mat partially in the air during impact. Does that change anything?
The footage could help, but if the damage is low on the bumper, it still looks like a collision. Comprehensive typically applies when the object falls onto your car, not when you drive into it.
It depends on your policy wording. In some states, debris kicked into the air could be comprehensive if considered a falling object. If it fell back to the ground and you hit it, it’s likely collision. Check your policy and discuss with your agent.
The damage being on the bumper supports it being a collision. If it were airborne, the damage would likely be higher up on the vehicle.
For a $1,600 repair, it might not be worth filing a claim, especially if you’ll pay $1,000 for a collision deductible. Claims stay on your record for five years, and this could affect your rates.
If you’re sure this was airborne and caused the damage, push for a reconsideration. But if Travelers has already decided, you may need to accept the collision designation or pay out of pocket.
Does your policy have accident forgiveness? It could reduce the impact of this claim on your record if you proceed.