Stone Chips Dilemma

My car was pelted with small stones bouncing out of a dump truck (without the roll out cover being used) on the interstate last week. The front Aero bumper, the hood and one on the roof. What are the suggestions here. This stone / gravel company owns and operates over 150 trucks in the Southern Tier, they frequently ignor the law to utilize covers on their loads. Generally I stay back a long ways when I see them, but this truck hit a bridge expansion joint, and thousands of little pea stone went everywhere. I have photo of truck with time stamp and plate number, along with clear view of uncovered load peaking over top of dump box. The question is do I report to insurance company and then the history of car could be afffected or try to deal with stone / gravel company. I plan on getting paint estimate from closest Porsche dealer which is about 100 miles away. Suggestions??

I doubt that the insurance company will cover it. I�ve never heard of an insurance company covering gravel damage. Also, I�d be shocked if the trucking company covers it. I�m sure they will say they will �look into it� and then never call you back.

This happens to me all the time which is why I xpel cars I cara about....in some cases I expel the whole car except the roof....now you have me thinking I should do the roofs as well! Never even thought its something to go after insurance for....

My car has a clear bra which covers the entire front, 1/2 of the hood, and the mirrors. I’ve seen a GT3 with full eXpel treatment. That is excellent!

If you have photographic evidence, can you have your insurance company go after their insurance company and have them pay for the repairs?

Quotes source post: 15277484

Yes My agent said, If I choose to file a claim it would be under comprehensive not collision. And they would go after the gravel company, which they have numerous times on this particular company. I don't know enough about car history reports, ie Collision vs. Comprehensive. There is no damage, just little micro chips in paint, that look like litte dots. No damage to windshield at all.

Quotes source post: 15277507

There you go. It is a comprehensive claim just like hail damage, hitting a deer (without going into a ditch)

Trucking companies are responsible for the damage they cause. If you have evidence you should be okay.

This is the very reason why I mount a dash camera on interstate trips in my cars. I know it sounds silly to a lot of people, but there is nothing, I mean nothing, that will stop a thief or inconsiderate fool in their tracks, like hard evidence on video. Unfortunately, we live in a "I didn't do it or it's not my fault" type of world and this is the very reason cops insist on having cameras in their cars and on their bodies. How many times have you heard of a cop being blamed on the news for a wrongdoing, but once his video is posted online, the accusers change their tune? It's sad that so many in the construction workers don't care about other people when loading their trucks. I can't tell how many times I've seen trucks with unsecured loads. They pile trash, tools, buckets, and spare parts all in one big pile just bouncing down the highway with no care in the world. One of my employees was almost killed when a construction worker forget to tether a ladder on the back of his truck. The ladder slid off the truck and shot through the her front windshield hitting her in the face. Her face was crushed... and the fool ran! She was in a coma for several months and then later had to have full plastic surgery to reconstruct her face. Did they catch the fool? Yes they did! Fortunately, there were lots of witnesses and the cops traced the serial number to a Home Depot. Home Depot pulled the transaction and got the man's name. He went to jail. One for the record books! Enjoy your cars, but be safe out there!

the "repair" they're gonna give you is going to be worse than the little rock chips; i.e. a crappy respray with overspray and paint runs and orange peel. I would just have a good detailer (Detailer's Domain since you're up north) go over the car to reduce the obviousness of the defects, and/or apply some touch-up paint like Dr. Colorchip.

I see the following choices: 1. Make a claim in small claims court (have your evidence and several estimates). 2. Retain an attorney and let them go after them. 3. Go through your insurance company. My story, for what it's worth; I had someone back into my legally parked car. Called insurance company with a few questions. The next day the person that hit my bumper said he was happy to pay me directly, which we both agreed upon. Called my agent back to say that the issue has been favorably resolved.... But, my agent had already logged the incident, spoiling my perfect accident-free record. I wasn't even in the car and the insurance company had no further involvement, but that didn't matter. So, be careful who you talk to and what you say.

Quotes source post: 15279531

That is exactly what I am fearing. I called my allstate agent for advise, and his office mgr started a claim. I called them back after I got an email from allstate asking for photos and said WTF I called allstate directly, and service person said nothing on claim will be processed until I submit photos and estimates. She also stated no history report initiated. But I don't know if that is true or not. Both Allstate and agent suggested I contact the gravel company after I get an estimate. I will be really &$#@/& if anything has been reported on car history.

Quotes source post: 15278708

I have a dash cam with front and rear cameras permanently mounted in my car. I had one in my last car, and when I was rear ended I had proof that I had been stopped for several seconds due to traffic ahead of me and was hit. The driver behind me said to the officer that arrived on scene within a couple of minutes that I had swerved in front of him and slammed on my brakes. I showed the officer that I had been in the same lane for at least 3 minutes prior. The other driver got a ticket and was threatened with arrest for lying. The officer was madder than I was.

Can you post pictures of the damage? I had a chunk of concrete fly off a mixer and hit my front bumper. After some rubbing compound and a polish, I was happy with how it looked. I wouldn't worry about your unfiled claim showing up on vehicle history. Carfax doesn't even pick up on all filed claims, it's very unlikely they'd report an unfiled one.

The sooner you contact the gravel company the better!

Before pictures, see small chips Now the reveal, quick video of picking up at dealer You Tube

Quotes source post: 15279531

+1. A neighbor called her insurance company to inquire about a possible claim. They raised her rates the next billing cycle even though she never followed through with that claim.

What was the cost If I may ask?

Quotes source post: 15405314

Initial estimate was $2970.00 Actual at pick-up $5490.00 I was not aware about the need to disassemble so many pieces and then the seals could not be reused and had to be new. I was told the clear coat could not be appied properly if the rubber seals and individual body pieces were still on the car. Even the sunroof had to come out and new seals for that.

Good to know, thanks!