It Was about a week and a half ago I was driving home and suddenly in front of me was a black cloud raining down on my vette. It sounded like a hail storm and running into a pile of gravel at the same time. The first thing I saw was cracks and chips everywhere in my windshield. I looked ahead and seen a truck with a load of asphault and one car directly behind him then me. As I kept going to catch up to the driver low and behold it dropped another bunch again,car infront slammed on brakes and again asphault was flying through the air. I swerved off into a paved roadway and into the gravel shoulder. I avoided most of the asphault this time butt from the paved area into the gravel was a litttle drop, just enough to bottom my car out and scratch the heck out of bottom of car and my LT'S.

I immediately followed truck wich now had pulled off road onto a side road. Luckily I had my camera with me and started taking pictures. I couldn't safely pull off where the truck had so I turned around. I parked across the road from him and took a few pictures which he seen me doing and ducked down. At this point I figured no sense in trying to get back across road to talk with him especially after a childish ducking under dash as I took pictures. This was a fairly busy road coming from the indian casino. I watched as quite a few cars were pelted from cars in front of them but not one vehicle stopped. I then drove down to first spill and took pictures. Vehicles were having to drive around the pile and taller vehicles were just going over it.

I then pulled to a clear spot to take pictures of damage, literally hundreds of chips and hot asphault melted into paint, rims etc. I was suprised though how fast the company had guys out to clear the roadway. I know many other vehicles had to be damaged, I took pictures as some cars were pelted , pictures literally showed asphault being thrown at cars from cars ahead of them.

I immediately had my wife call company as I found a local P.D. They said I had to go make a report a the CHP office. My wife called me back and said the company knew what happened and had other complaints and to go get an estimate. This was literally within an hour of mishap. I took the vette to the local bodyshop and they said they wouldn't touch it. The front end was a ten hour job alone to disassemble and it needed a full repaint.

I then took it to another shop where asphault was found in every nook and cranny Engine compartment was filled , interior fenders even had it in them. Windshild has to be replaced , chips covering front end, hood, fenders , mirrors, top, rear window had one chip, rear fenders where tires threw asphault up were chipped. Places where hot asphault landed pulled paint away when removed. Then bottom had asphault coated and clumped everywhere, tattered my stainless exhaust,scratched the heck out of bottom where I had pulled off road to avoid second hailstorm " my fault I guess".

I guess the rear gate opened because it wasnt secured properly is what trucking co. said. Body Shop estimates it at over 10k. The insurance co. sent out an adjuster and I guess she agreed and found some damage bodyshop didn't see. When adjuster went back the insurance company they only agreed for 4k. to just replace windshield and buff out paint.. How do you buff out literally 100's of chips beyond the paint? Scratches can be buffed out but missing paint??

Now my insurance company is having to come out and estimate it and pay for damages then go after other company for pay. I then have to go after them for my co-pay.. Major hassle and value of car I can imagine with a re-paint will drop.. Also had plans for winter work myself, new clutch, navigation system and some other mods I now have to put on hold..

 

My fat little fingers hit the enter button after first sentance... sorry..

 

Oh a PC-DA and some Zaino ZPC will make it right.

 

That sucks I would not be scared to go after them at all. A number of violations should have been issued to trucking company also. Sorry to hear about that.

 

Amazing how these insurance company's work. Their own adjuster comes out and agreed with Bodyshop ,then goes back and company only offers to pay to buff paint. Not sure about everyone else but my stomach kinda turns looking at all the chips that are clear down to the fiberglass. I guess they think a buff and quart of touchup paint and she'll look like new! I left a long message for the insurance carrier when I found out what they were wiling to cover. Couldn't even talk to a person had to leave a message. Hopefully I'll get a return call.

 

Yeah that is a little ridiculous. I would remove all your aftermarket parts and push for a total. I mean, once it gets cleaned up and everything repaired. At the very least, I would sue the company for anything not covered and that hard to come out of my pocket.

 

You could have at least added photos....

 

You should turn it all over to your insurance company, this way you're only dealing with them where you have a relationship, their client. You'll be responsible for the deductible. The insurance company will go after the company and its insurance company and will also recovery your deductible as well. With the police report and other mitigating information your insurance company should have little problem with this. They have big lawyers to fight them on your behalf.

Consider in the claim, adjustment for loss of value.

 

[Rule number one never follow BIG TRUCKS !

 

That sucks man i'm sorry your car got messed up . RAY

 

The Bodyshop also put in for loss of value, like you said my insurance is probably the best way to go anyway. Unlike me I'm sure they will get their money from the other company.They were happy to learn I took a bunch of pics. I will post pictures as soon as I upload them. I guess just one of those unexpected things. I know most of us pamper our cars, keep them washed waxed and look forward to mods etc. then stuff like this happens.

 

Came back and read the post after you fixed it. Man, that sucks!

I agree with filing a claim with your insurance company and letting them duke it out. Sad that you have to do this. Good luck with the resolution and the repair.

 

Wow, I am paranoid driving the car behind big trucks anyhow, been pelted with rocks myself. On the bright side you should get a new paint job. Good luck with your outcome.

 

Wow it sucks what happened and good luck with the insurance company

 

I'm dissapointed that I will no longer have factory paint but, on the plus the bodyshop is excited about doing the car(other than money reasons). I've seen the owners paint work and it's excellent so, I'm not too worried about that part of it. He said he will have it 4-6 weeks. Seems like a long time for paint but, I guess windshield and all the other stuff will take some time also. Then I have to add in the time it takes to get it all approved.

 

Almost the EXACT same thing happened to me 1-1/2 years ago, but with a dump truck leaking gravel out the rear door instead of asphalt. I followed him after I had to run off the shoulder, got his license, etc. and immediately called my insurance company. My insurance company contacted the driver and he admitted to being on that road at that time. My insurance company then contacted his insurance company and then the wasting of time began... his company sent out an adjuster which gave a decent adjustment and said they would be cutting me a check , but instead a few days later they called and said they would do nothing as there was no way I could "prove" that my damage was a direct result of their driver (even with pictures) - and that is "true". They said for all they knew my windshield and top were already broken and paint was damaged before their truck ever drove by and that maybe I had just been waiting for someone to blame for my previous damage! This is when I learned that it is a TOTAL WASTE OF TIME to take photos of the offender and turn them in - all it did was delay my repair work for over a month. Finally I just told MY insurance company to cover it under "comprehensive" (which they did). Then they wasted another year trying to collect from the other insurance carrier (never did).

One thing to keep in mind, my insurance company said that because the gravel hit the ground BEFORE it bounced up and hit my car, it was covered under comprehensive (with no increase to my rates), BUT if the gravel had come directly off the back of the truck and hit my car, then it would be considered "collision" and my rates would have increased!!!

 

The good thing is I have pictures not only of driver but both spills The amount spilled 3-4" thick on the road, and no way they can deny it with the hot asphault melted into my paint ,windows, engine compartment, undercarriage, you name it it's covered in asphault. Also company already stated they knew of the problem and had other complaints.. Not saying this is a certain because you never know what can happen until it's said and done. And yes your right my insurance company said they would just charge the comprehensive rate so, I am glad about that.Did your paint turn out ok?

 

What a horrible day. Good luck with trying to collect! Maybe you should get a lawyer.

 

Windshield turned out fine (4th one so far thanks to flying rocks out here).

Took ordering 3 GM Targa tops before I could get one that was not either DOA or separating from frame soon after installation.

I redid the paint myself and added 3M ClearMask to the front afterward. The main reason I airbrushed in the damaged paint on the 5 panels involved is because all the body shops here said that there was no way that the front bumper especially would be as resistant to rock damage in the future if the re-painted it - they said the factory process is much stronger than what they would have to resort to (according to all three body shops visited) and since my paint damage was only in a few spots, I was able to fix it myself in about 24 hours of work. None of the body shops here do those kind of minor spot repairs (would be too expensive) - they can repaint a whole hood in less time than it took me to fix the several nicks in my hood.

In your case, does not sound like "spot touch-ups" will be an option.

 

Man, that is a bummer. Push the insurance to have your car fixed the right way!