Count your blessings because...

[DollyKim]

We haven't heard from anyone's insurance but have been talking with other people about possible options, and we were looking for a younger car before. The thing is we would have to pay California zip code lottery car insurance on whatever we get. But we've gone from hay to junk so we do want something to haul with.

Hopefully today someone will come and at least cut up the tree. A neighbor said they would if they had the tools. Fortunately for the time being other life circumstances don't have us making appointments. And we've been without a car before :/

*The plot chickens. The neighbor's security camera caught the tree falling at 5:15 am when everyone in the house was already awake and starting our day but no one heard it. The winds were that strong.

**Incase any of y'all have a similar thing with a tree that looks like trouble if you have any conversation with the tree's owner about your worries about the tree falling down that counts, better if it's in writing. The landlord had the tree trimmed a few years ago because there was worry some of the branches were rotten. The pine sap drips on the driveway will attest to how crappy that job was. I also happened to have caught a nice pic of the tree and the scars not too long ago when I was taking a picture of how foggy it was.

[DollyKim]

I don't know anything about trees but shouldn't something that big have deeper roots?



Extra image incase someone wants some artistic references for a fairy hole or something.

[Tam I am]

It totally should have more roots. When one of the black swamp spruce around here goes down, it can rip up an entire front yard's worth of soil.

[DollyKim]

Well, it literally has wrack and pinyon steering now. :/

Our property owner insists it will start. And that replacements are only half of what they're really going for around here. Which is still not much in the scheme of things. And it'll probably be Monday before the tree is taken care of.

Basically we're pretty much stuck here, even before this happened to the car, because we gotta live somewhere.

[Tam I am]

Wrack and pinyon. LOL!

Aww. Yeah. Bummer on the wait.

[victoriavictrix]

Well here is my suggestion.

Go to your car insurance company. Show them what happened. Tell them the property owner is fighting you. YOUR car insurance company should pay out the maximum they can, and then THEY will go after the property owner and the property owner's insurance company. This is literally the easiest way to handle it, and it can all be done over the phone/computer (they'll want pictures) and take you the smallest amount of time for the biggest/fastest payout.

This is how we have handled all of our car insurance claims. No, this will not increase your premiums, because you were not at fault in any way.

Bear in mind it probably will not be much, because that is an old vehicle with a ton of miles on it. And unless your car insurance has "full replacement" coverage, it still might not cover the cost of a replacement. But it's the closest and fastest you are going to get.

Now, none of this applies if all you have is liability insurance.

If all you have is liability insurance, then you'll have to fight with your landlord.

[DollyKim]

Thanks, our insurance company is the one who told us because the owner had the tree serviced for rotten branches it counts as him knowing that tree could be a problem, like the first avocado tree in our yard and who knows what on the other plot. What is this liability insurance you speak of? Lol, we have the bare minimum we need to drive here.

Never were expecting much for that Buick but we just finished getting the brakes done and it was running safely. It's probably going to be totaled and we'll take that and pooling our stimulus checks to get anything that runs. Neighbors do have a Toyota like you suggested, we just feel safer in something a big bigger. There is a near by Buick that's just within our means I've contacted the dealer about.

As for lawsuits we're trying to play nice, been here 10 years and can't afford to go anywhere else now, but we're also seeing what the broken fence neighbor does too.

[Kirahfaye]

Liability insurance is for the car and only protects you if you cause an accident.

[victoriavictrix]

I just checked the California minimum requirements. All you have is liability--which means your insurance does not cover you or your car, only the damage you or your car does.

So your insurance company will not fight your battle for you.

This is why we get (slightly more expensive) comprehensive insurance.

You are on your own fighting this. This might cost you a lawyer's fees. This is why we get comprehensive.

[DollyKim]

Never were expecting much in the first place. Too long to get into but Trust is just a song on the Wish album. Have been looking for a younger car for awhile but were expecting to be able to sell this one to help offset that :/

At the moment I'm trying to get an out the door cash total from a dealer for a replacement we should be able to manage with our pooled stimulus checks and couch change. Also the neighbors might sell their Toyota if we wave cash at them.

Not the first time we've been without a car but at least this time it's easier to get groceries delivered.

If anyone wants to write an article about our adventures at this house just with cars- motor stolen from one and the puppies part of that whole mess that ill never come to justice, next car hit by someone with a back-up camera, a rental totaled when someone else hit us, the shenanigans from that rental company, and the adventures with the previous mechanic with this one LMK. Great human interest story on how continuous things keep people stuck on the escaping poverty fence no matter what they do. Will only spend that money on a running car.