Opening door while in reverse, and some other questions

That’s essentially a myth. In US anyway. I worked for several major and minor insurers in my career and I am unaware of a single insurance policy that has ever excluded coverage for drunk driving.

They may non-renew your policy later, but the accident is always covered.

 

That is interesting I guess I never thought about it, I think some types of insurance are invalidated if you are committing a crime, but I suppose drunk driving isn't considered at that level even if they are charged with drunk driving. What about a felony like say the car is being used as a getaway car for a bank robbery and hits a tree? The driver is released on bail and gets his car out of impound and wants insurance to pay for his repair.

 

All depends on wording of the policy. For such an obscure example I would have to read into the weeds of the particular policy to answer it. I don’t know off the cuff.

So if that’s your business plan I suggest reading carefully into the policy first lol.

But drunk driving happens every day. It’s always covered. No different than committing other infractions that cause an accident....speeding, blowing lights, tailgating, etc. All illegal, all cause wrecks, all covered losses.

Heck there is an insurance market for anything. One company I worked for specialized in insuring unlicensed drivers. No joke. There’s a substantial market for it out there....habitual offenders of usually speeding or OWI who have lost their license, yet have good income and a lot of assets to protect and intend to drive anyway. Many high level business executives tend to fit this mold. Department of insurance in Indiana approved the sale of such products when my company suggested it, and it’s really a public service if you think about it...allowing the traditionally uninsurable who have been cancelled by other normal companies due to loss of license to still buy valid insurance from a specialty company. Expensive as heck, but it sold very well and was very profitable for the insurance company. In many metro areas as many as 20% of drivers on the road are unlicensed...so might as well give them the opportunity to buy legit insurance to protect the people they’re gonna run into...

 

I can only assume you may be short or average height. Doesn't work if mirrors are adjusted for a tall person to see. Would have to wedge one's head against the ceiling.

 

One if the features I'd like to see on the car, in addition to memory mirrors, would be mirrors that can automatically tilt down when you put the car in reverse.

 

I know some other cars have that but I would want it to be something that you push a button for, I don't need it every time I back up, no reason to put unneeded wear on the motors.

 

I had an Acura with that “feature” once. Hated it. I prefer to see behind me when backing, not look at the ground...

Memory mirrors? Yes I want those and am kinda stunned Clarity doesn’t offer it.

 

Interesting story, so were his crushed knees also covered under the policy? Also what's the weirdest claim you had? Anything like those farmers ads?

 

Lol I didn’t always see every aspect of the claim. I was just the car guy. So I will assume if he had medpay coverage, his policy limits paid out for the knees (likely $1000).

Most of those high risk customers had low coverage limits and state minimum required liability coverages because that’s all they could afford. At the time Indiana limits were only $10k for entire accident ($25k now). How far do you think that $10k went toward fixing or totaling those 8 cars he hit? Not far I assure you. Maintain your uninsured and underinsured coverages folks....all those innocent people on that street needed it after they got their pro rata allotment for the incident paid of this guys policy.

For weirdest? A wierdly gruesome one comes to mind high on list. I was asked to inspect a Lincoln that had been towed into our total loss center. I often don’t know the incident details...they’re all just wrecks to me and it’s usually irrelevant. But this Lincoln...looked entirely undamaged. Windows blacked out. Writing scrawled on every window “do not open”. Strong odor from 20 ft away. So before approaching too closely I looked up claim details. A person was reported missing in July and never found. It was now October. Farmer was harvesting his corn and came across his Lincoln in middle of field. Autopsy and investigation revealed missing man in car was now found, he died of natural causes while driving back in July, car careened into cornfield, came to stop mid field, was never found, and cooked the body in the sun inside that car for the next 3 months until the farmer found it...

Obvious total loss, no damage appraisal needed. I had the misfortune of buying that car from the widow...

Uplifting story, huh?

Pedestrian hits always a little freaky. And cars used as a murder weapon...twice I appraised cars that were driven into a brick wall of a bar, purposely, each time killing a person who was crushed between the front of the car and the brick wall. Incidentally these claims were indeed denied. But not because of the murder being a crime....but because the incident didn’t meet the definition of an “accident”. It was an intentional act. Intentionally caused damage is always excluded in the policy...allows companies to not pay for arson, staged car thefts, etc.

I have far more morbid and sad stories than fun and weird ones....

Holy cow are we off topic here. My apologies for thread hijack....

 

We asked for it, so no apologies necessary. (Actually only @RobinBrain did, but I guarantee a whole lot of us were hoping you would answer the call.)
I however, am a card carrying, bona fide, credentialed, certified, licensed, and bonded, professional thread drifter. @Domenick probably has me on his top 10 most wanted list and my picture soon will be on the Post Office walls.

 

I do this. Just aim the mirror down and in so you can see the curb and car. Either side.