Re: [A/S] Insurance for my Airstream PLEASE HELP!!!

["John P Sargeant" <john.sargeant@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ok, just to sort out insurance on cars, trailers, boats etc.
The policy is made up, usually, of three kinds of coverage.
    1. Liability. Covers you for any lawsuit that might arise out of your
use or operation of the unit. In the case of  trailers, boats etc attached
to the tow vehicle, the liability on the tow vehicle covers any damage done
by the driver while towing. When the boat or trailer is detached, there is
no coverage that extends from the tow vehicle. So, you have to buy liability
coverage for the lawsuit that might arise from the use of your boat or
trailer. If you have a house or condo, the liability coverage on your house
insurance can be endorsed to cover the liability. If you don't have
homeowners insurance, the best route to follow is to have the liability
coverage added to your trailer coverage. Most specialised RV insurers
recognise this and cover this type of loss.
    2. Medical . * This really varies from state to state to province.
Again, if your trailer is attached to your tow vehicle and there is an
injury to you or what the policy defines as the "insured", you can make a
claim for medical expenses, disability, and death benefits etc from your own
policy. These coverages really vary a lot from jurisdiction to jurisdiction
and it really is important that you check. You may also find that speciality
RV insurers recognise the problem of being injured and not able to drive
while away from home, so there can be added coverage's , like costs to get
you home, costs to have your relative come and be with you, temporary
quarters rental coverage etc added to the coverage.

    3. Own damage coverage. This is what most of the discussion here has
been about. What will I get paid if my trailer is damaged or destroyed?
There are several ways to insure the damage or destruction of your trailer.
The usual auto policy provides collision (hitting and object in or on the
ground) and comprehensive (damaged done by any other peril e.g.. fire,
theft, windstorm, etc) There is also a coverage called All Perils, that
covers both collision and comprehensive. Settlement under the above
coverage's is done on a cost of repair vs. actual cash value basis. That is,
if the trailer is damaged and the damage is less than the actual cash value,
the insurance company will pay for the cost of repair. Sometimes the damage
to the trailer is so extensive that the cost of repair plus the value of the
salvage is greater than the value of the trailer. It then is considered to
be a total loss. The total loss is settled on an actual cash value basis.
Actual cash value is usually considered to be the price that a willing buyer
would pay for a trailer of like kind and quality. So that means someone has
to research the price that a willing buyer would pay for your trailer with
all its faults and credits taken into account. This figure is usually
determined by an appraiser whose job it is to research the market and come
up with a good average figure. This figure is given to the insurance
adjuster who will proceed to negotiate  the value of your trailer with you.
If the adjuster is up to the norm, he will offer you a figure that is below
what he thinks he will have to settle the claim for.You need to be prepared
to negotiate this figure. Negotiation is a  whole other topic. Some of us
have the sand for it, some don't, but the best advice I can give, is to go
into that negotiation , particularly with older trailers, with a big fat
bundle of photos and invoices showing what you have put into the trailer.
The adjuster may want to have the appraiser review these materials. Not all
of them will add value to the trailer, such as maintenance items like having
the bearings greased, but others will add value like getting a new fridge.

As stated in previous posts, there is another way to insure the value of
your trailer and that is to set a value on it with the insurer prior to the
loss. Note: this is not the figure you give the agent when he asks you how
much your trailer is worth. That is simply to figure out how much per
thousand to charge you for your own damage coverage. This figure is when you
say to the agent " I want a Valued Policy for my Vintage Trailer". His eyes
will light up and he will reach into his little desk and pull out a brochure
on vintage vehicles and say " You know we have to have an appraiser set a
value" . He will then arrange or ask you to arrange to get a formal
appraisal of value from a licensed appraiser. The licensed appraiser will
take the above information into account and should do an extensive , (book
value, market research, web research, local RV dealer, local Airstream
dealer etc to set a basic price. Then he should be adding the items which
you have "improved" in your trailer. This formal document will be sent to
the insurer, who will put a rate of so much per thousand on it and cover
you. The settlement will be this amount if the trailer is a "total". Some
insurers are a bit hinky about damage to Vintage trailers. Again negotiation
is a crucial part of this.
As a longwinded adjuster for 37 years, I found there were two kinds of
negotiators, those who calmly and cheerfully made their points and to whom I
found I couldn't help but return courtesy and consideration. The other group
thought I was out to screw them and that my income depended on how much I
"beat them down". (I in fact, was paid a salary which had no relationship to
my settlement figures. When I really got in trouble, is when I made someone
angry and my superiors heard about it.) The aggressive insured , though
treated with all courtesy, soon found out that the insurer could grind fine
and exceedingly slow. I guess the old saw about reaping and sowing is an old
saw because its true.

Any other questions about insurance I will be glad to answer. Please
remember however, that you do have to make certain that you talk with your
agent. Unless he knows what you have in some detail, he can't insure it
properly. Take pictures to him, bills, etc.

Sarge
John & Louise Sargeant
London Ontario Canada
WBCCI #5530
* You also may have a liability claim for your injury.  If you or a loved
one are injured  in your vehicle, you really need to review the matter of
whose fault the accident was, with the adjuster and if need be, your lawyer.
There can be astronomical amounts of money involved in the treatment of
injury, settlement of pain and suffering claims, settlement of death claims
arising out of a MVA.
If someone is injured in either vehicle, take pictures, get all the names of
witnesses, police personnel, ambulance attendants, etc etc. Most insurers
and police departments have little cards on which you can record that
information .
Take plenty of pictures. They are cheap and they are invaluable.
Don't, under any circumstances even though you are a really nice
Airstreamer, admit to any fault or offer any explanation for what occurred
other than to the police. You can seriously shoot yourself in the foot if
you do.
Do express your concern for others involved and get them medical assistance
if they need it and can't do it for themselves. (Most states have a law that
says you must do this)
Remember that you are on a highway and that other traffic is not expecting
you to be standing beside your vehicle, they expect you to be in it. I've
adjusted more than one accident where the guy was hit after he got out to
render assistance or check to see what was going on.
Carry a "Just in Case" card in your vehicles. It should list who you are,
your phone and address, insurer, if you have a dog that may be loose or need
help back at the camp, etc. I think there was a blurb on here a few years
ago about this. I have an example if you want to see one. It tells the
authorities who you are and that you have coverage etc if you can't tell
them yourself.
One needs to watch his P's and Q's.  I guess pre-warned is pre-armed.