valet crashed car - who'll cover?

by Guest » Wed Feb 06, 2013 10:26 am
Guest

I stayed over at a hotel in Texas (shouldn't name in open forum, I think). Visited there for business purposes. My husband was driving my car, which is okay since he's listed and all. We parked the car ourselves, though the front desk clerk insisted on valet parking. However, while we were checking out and the valet brings out our car, I notice it has a huge dent in the front. Should that not be paid by the hotel or the valet or covered by their parking liability whatever. Or will I have to claim from my insurance and suffer the consequences?

Total Comments: 5

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 10:56 am Post Subject: valet crashed car - who'll cover?

You car's damage should be covered by the parking lot's liability insurance.

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 01:29 pm Post Subject:

You car's damage should be covered by the parking lot's liability insurance.

While the hotel is free to accept liability, the reality is they have no responsibility to do so. This is simply a comprehensive claim against one's own policy.

adamsarthur is not a licensed insurance producer, so much of what he has to say is uninformed, and often incorrect.

Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 02:04 pm Post Subject:

Did the hotel/valet cause the damage? Did they take possession of your vehicle? Did they create a hazardous condition? I see no indication that any of these things are true. As such, I don't see that the hotel is responsible. It's the same as if you parked the post office and someone hit your car while it was parked.

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 05:48 am Post Subject:

Should they not? Since the damage must have been caused by someone else's car when it was parked by the valet. I have asked for the surveillance tapes, but they have conveniently denied saying that the camera in the area was not working for the last few days. I'm feeling quite helpless here. I have comprehensive coverage. However, why should my insurer pay without any fault of mine? I will have to bear the consequences in the form of raised premiums. Should I go for legal advice?

Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 02:01 pm Post Subject:

Since the damage must have been caused by someone else's car when it was parked by the valet.


What proof of this do you have? Exactly none. Here's what you originally wrote:

We parked the car ourselves


So what's the chance that someone else, not a valet, caused the damage? About 95% or more.

Should I go for legal advice?


This is not legal advice, but it is advice. Don't waste the money on an attorney. If anything, this is a small claims case. And guess where it must be filed? In Texas, not where you live. So what's that going to cost you to make another trip there?

You have no way of proving who caused the damage, and if the valet service owner shows up in court, you are going to lose. All he has to say is "My drivers did not cause the damage." What can you say to make anyone believe they did? Nothing.

File your comprehensive claim, pay your deductible, and get on with life. If you want to take it to small claims, that's your choice. The odds of winning are 95-5 against you, and you cannot be compensated for having to return to Texas to have your matter adjudicated.

why should my insurer pay without any fault of mine? I will have to bear the consequences in the form of raised premiums


That's why you pay for comprehensive (other than collision) coverage. To cover things other people do that cannot be conclusively attributed to a collision. It should not have any effect on your premiums because it's not related to your driving habits.

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