A CFI driver ran into my trailer when I was in a service plaza on I-76 in Ohio just before the PA border. He had got himself stuck on my trailer and was going back and forth trying to get unstuck when a witness stopped him and made him come inside to find the owner. Here are a few pics of what I found when I got out there.
It’s not a lot of damage, but I was told the parts would take at least 4 weeks to be shipped due to back orders and technically it’s oversized due to how far the bumper is pushed back beyond the rest of the rear of the trailer.
I asked CFI to cover the cost to repair the trailer, my lost revenue for the first 8 days following the accident, and a trailer rental for 4 weeks.
They wouldn’t even cover the trailer damage. They said I’d have to go through my insurance and let them submit the claim to CFI. I did go through my insurance for that, but I don’t have any policy that covers downtime or trailer rentals, so my insurance told me I’d need to collect the money for that directly from CFI.
I emailed them about this and I didn’t receive a response for 5 days. I still haven’t got a response. Then I called them and they transferred me to a line that didn’t have voicemail and no one answered after ringing for 10 min.
It seems like they’re hoping I’ll just give up and forget about it. Any of y’all have experience with a mega carrier damaging your equipment and not cooperating following the accident? What options do I have at this point? I have a witness statement in addition to the photos.
The total dollar amount involved is so low that it’s hard to justify an attorney, but I’m still considering that as an option.
Thanks in advance for any advice and / or feedback.
CFI wrecked my trailer. They don’t want to pay for it
Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by TBlank72, Jul 23, 2021.
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ProfessionalNoticer, Brettj3876, blairandgretchen and 4 others Thank this.
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There is so much room in those rest areas. Was he leaving that spot? Regardless no reason for that accident.
alds, Bean Jr., ProfessionalNoticer and 4 others Thank this. -
He had turned around in front of my truck and was circling back around to get to the exit I think. He managed to work his tractor around quite a bit from the position it was in when he first made contact. Not sure how many times he ran back and forth to get it into that position, but it would’ve been a lot less damage if he’d just stopped. You’re right, no excuse. There was about 10 football fields worth of open space at the time of the accident.
feldsforever, Bean Jr., JoeyJunk and 5 others Thank this. -
Remember this phrase as it will get you your normal earnings while your trailer is being repaired. (Loss of use)
If their insurance company gives you any problems, file the claim with your insurance. You won’t be able to get loss of use from your insurance company, but they will be able to get CFI’s insurance to accept responsibility sooner if they fight you at all. Then after their insurance pays the claim and accepts responsibility send them your claim for loss of use. Your claim should be exactly what your rig earned going down the road for that same period of time that it is out of service. Personally I used the same quarter of the prior year, but if I was you I would use what ever period shows the most daily revenue.feldsforever, Bean Jr., Brettj3876 and 13 others Thank this. -
Summer of 2015 I was at a motel in Woodward OK. A Freymiller truck pulled in and for some reason had his truck so jackknifed that he backed into the toolbox between the spread on my cattle trailer and caved the doors in with his LEFT rear drive tire. Same deal, they were all willing to cover charges at first until they found out how much a set of doors cost from Wilson, then it was crickets. Luckily I took pics of everything he provided me for information and after a couple weeks of not being able to get ahold of anyone to pay for the doors the owner of the trailer threatened small claims court against the driver since we had a pic of his license. That’s when Freymiller cut a check instead of hanging the driver out to dry.
Oxbow, Lonesome, feldsforever and 14 others Thank this. -
Lonesome, feldsforever, Flat Earth Trucker and 9 others Thank this.
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I guess if you're dealing with a fly-by-night insurance company you won't do so well..Speed_Drums Thanks this. -
Bean Jr., ProfessionalNoticer, JoeyJunk and 1 other person Thank this.
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So what happened after all the paperwork? -
I’ll let you know if it goes up or stays the same, and if they drop it back down to it’s prior price if I have to call them.ProfessionalNoticer, BigBob410, JoeyJunk and 1 other person Thank this.
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