Yeah, comprehensive usually covers falling branches too—had a branch dent my hood last summer and insurance took care of it. But always good to double-check your specific policy...these companies love their fine print.
"these companies love their fine print."
Tell me about it... had a similar thing happen with hail a couple years back—my comprehensive covered it thankfully, but the adjuster tried to argue that some dents were "pre-existing." Took some back-and-forth to sort out. Anyone else ever had trouble proving hail damage?
Had a similar run-in myself, though thankfully not as bad. A few years ago, got caught in a freak hailstorm while road-tripping through Colorado—car looked like a golf ball afterward. Insurance covered it, but they tried to lowball me at first, claiming some dents were "normal wear and tear." Seriously? Didn't realize my car was supposed to look like Swiss cheese from everyday driving...
Ended up sending them timestamped photos from the trip (thank goodness for Instagram stories), and they finally backed down. Makes me wonder how many people just give up and accept the first offer. Has anyone ever successfully challenged an insurance estimate without photo evidence? Seems like it'd be tough...
You're definitely right about the importance of photo evidence—it's usually the strongest tool you have when disputing an insurance estimate. I've seen plenty of cases where insurers initially offer lower settlements, banking on policyholders accepting without question. It's not always malicious; sometimes adjusters genuinely underestimate damage or rely on generalized guidelines rather than specific circumstances.
That said, challenging an estimate without photos isn't impossible, just significantly tougher. I've known clients who've successfully contested estimates by providing detailed repair quotes from reputable body shops or even weather reports confirming severe conditions at the time and location of the incident. Witness statements can also help, though they're less concrete than visual proof.
Still, your experience highlights a crucial point: documenting incidents thoroughly—even casually through social media—can save a lot of headaches later. Glad you stood your ground and got a fair outcome in the end.
Good points overall, but I'd be careful about relying too much on social media posts as proof. I've seen insurers push back, arguing timestamps or locations aren't always reliable. Plus, casual photos might not capture the full extent of damage clearly. It's always better to take dedicated, detailed pics right after an incident—just to be safe. Learned that the hard way myself after a minor fender-bender...
