In a Car Accident with Horn

[Voisi1ev]

I was in a small accident with my horn in the back seat, AND IT IS OK!!!!!!

So are the people, car is sort of meh shape.

No one else seemed to care about my horn, so I thought I'd share.

[Steve Marcus]

Glad that the things that matter most are OK.

[Voisi1ev]

Just to clarify, I super checked on the other person first/right away. Although my horn might be more valuable than my car, well for sure now.

[ken k]

Hypothetical question for any legal?insurance experts out there in tubenetland...

Your horn is in your car trunk when someone rear ends your car and severely damages your horn. Is the person who hit you liable for that damage? He/she would have been at fault for running into you from behind.

talk amoungst yourselves....

kk

[Will Jones]

Yes.

[bort]

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=24901&hilit=car#p213298

^ Roger Lewis' experience with this. A destroyed tuba saved his life.

[tofu]

Hypothetical question for any legal?insurance experts out there in tubenetland...

Your horn is in your car trunk when someone rear ends your car and severely damages your horn. Is the person who hit you liable for that damage? He/she would have been at fault for running into you from behind.

talk amoungst yourselves....

kk

Yes they are. Two years ago on Memorial Day I got rammed by a woman under the influence who blew a red light at 50 mph and slammed directly into my drivers side door. Took 45 minutes to cut me out of my totaled car. In and out of consciousness they loaded me into the ambulance and I started yelling about the tuba in the trunk. Refused to go to the hospital until the tuba was found. I was worried what would happen to it when they towed the car to the salvage yard as I knew I was going to be in the hospital for a good amount of time. So the cops and firemen pried open the trunk and retrieved my 185 and promised safekeeping. Which they did - they took the horn straight to the jail house and locked it up in a cell. Yeah that's right - my horn is a bad to the bone jail bird. Had to send my brother in law to spring it a few days later.

The settlement with the insurance co. included the repairs that had to be done to the horn. Fortunately it survived pretty well in its leather Cronkhite gig bag. The impact did throw the slides out of alignment, popped a couple braces and a few dents, but all were repairable. Could have been a lot worse. It was repaired in a day - took 12 months to repair me.

[opus37]

The answer is probably. Some states, like Minnesota, have no fault insurance. Basically, your insurance pays no matter what (and sometimes they can go after the other guy's insurance). So, check with your insurance company (agent) for what is the real answer in your state.

[ken k]

my apologies to Voisi for hijacking your thread.

I am glad you and your tuba are OK after your accident.

kk

[Voisi1ev]

No problem, I've wondered about the whole horn in a car accident a lot. I can fit one horn in my car, or two with one out of the case. I try not to since I worry about getting in an accident with an uncased horn in the trunk.

[bort]

My Willson is built like a tank. If someone rear-ends me while it's in my trunk... I feel sorry for the front of their car.

[Rick F]

Glad to hear you're okay Voisi1ev.

Tofu, your "jail-bird" tuba story cracked me up. Almost spit coffee all over my keyboard.

This probably would'nt work for you tuba players, but this is one reason I put my euph in the backseat... unless we're going to a restaurant after a gig, then it's in the trunk and out of sight.

[Tubajug]

I always keep mine in the backseat in case of rear - ending... and then throw it in the trunk if I need to leave the car alone. Of course, that doesn't protect against side hits, like in the story.

[DouglasJB]

With my new (new to me) Cerveny I worry about it, it has to be stowed in the truck, I worry about what happens if someone hits me, am I SOL? or will insurance help pay for repairs?

[ScottM]

Some thoughts on this from a guy who did insurance claims for 36 years.
If you are from a state where the other driver may be held liable for the damages to your car, that will generally include the property ( the tuba) in the car. It will only cover at ACTUAL CASH VALUE, so think new less depreciation or a market value for the horn. The other driver my have low limits of liability and those could be exhausted by your car repairs. If you are from a no fault state like Michigan, you are out of luck getting a recovery from the at fault driver as it is barred by statute. There are just a few No Fault states in the US. Florida has a modified no fault statute as does Minnesota.
Note so far the discussion is if the other driver is at fault.
If you are at fault, then the auto policy may have a very limited amount of coverage for personal property, like $100 to $250. It might be excluded if the horn is business property, I.E you make money playing it.
Your Homeowners or renters policy may cover the horn as it was damaged in a vehicle accident. However, if it is professional equipment, then the coverage may be subject to a limit.
Be Smart. Purchase an Inland Marine policy on the horn or horns if you have a "fleet." If you use it professionally at any time report it when insuring it. It will cost more for the policy, but if it is damaged at a gig, and you are being paid, the coverage may be voided if you told the company it was for personal use only. Costs are relatively low and then regardless of what happens, you will get a payment ( unless the loss is excluded by the policy.) If you are a Union Member they have a program which is reasonable as well.
Final notes: Read the insurance policy if you are trying to get coverage under the policy. They aren't that difficult and if you can play tuba you can read the policy. Also, don't try to hide the fact you were using the horn professionally. Failing to tell the truth about the facts of the claim can result is denial of the total claim, even the parts you told the truth about. With all the internet stuff it isn't too hard for an investigator to find out you are a member of a group and if you get paid.
ScottM

[jbaylies]

8 years ago my Rudolf Meinl 3/4 CC was in a softcase in the trunk when we T'd a minivan at 30mph. We were fine, the car was totaled, and there was no damage done to the tuba. Going from a pleasant conversation to airbags and smashed glass in no discernable amount of time is crazy.