We were at my son's high school baseball game yesterday and one of the players hit a foul ball into the parking lot. It hit my car windshield and smashed it. I do not have coverage to replace it under my auto insurance. The school will not reimburse us either. Someone told us that the homeowners insurance of the player who hit the ball should cover it (we know the player). Is this correct?

tickle

How could he have known the ball would hit your car ? It wasnt done on purpose. Then you dont have comprehensive on your policy. I have never gone without that on my policy; I got my backside covered for broken windshields.

Fr_Chuck

Sorry no, your house insurance may pay for someone elses windshield.

So you either sue the player who hit the ball or you sue the school if you want, Of course the school will refuse, you expected them to get a checkbook out?

But no that is why you had a choice to buy comp insurance for your car, that pays for windshields.

KeepItSimpleStupid

Comprehensive, not collision usually pays for windshield damage and often there is no deductible for windshield replacement even if there is a deductible for comprehensive.

ballengerb1

Let's back up for a moment. Your home owners insurance won't pay, correct, but I think the players home owner insurance would pay. Also, schools are notorious for saying they don't have insurance but that isn't the end of it. If it is known that foul balls have left the diamond before and hit cars the school is liable, insurance or not. You might have to sue but they would settle before letting it go that far. Insurance companies have deep pockets but short fingers, they could dodge a fast ball.

coachdjo

Thanks for all of the responses. Interesting BallengerB1 response about whether the school knows of a problem with baseballs entering the parking lot. They have a sign posted in the front of the lot stating "Baseball field. Park at your own risk." If that releases them of liability then so be it. If it signifies an ongoing problem then perhaps it should be addressed. My son was the one who parked our car there. He is a player on his school's baseball team and arrived at this away game and hurried to the field to be with his team. I paid for the windshield because of his oversight but would still like to know if we should actually be reimbursed by the school. I do know from past history that the homeowner's insurance of the player who hit the ball has liability but am hesitant to ask them for compensation as they may have to pull the deductible out of their own pocket for what was my son's oversight.

tickle

it the sign says 'park at your own risk', that releases them from liability. If your son didnt see it and parked anyway (heck we have all seen that sign and parked anyway, then maybe the money should come out of allowance. My son learned the hard way once by losing his money like that for not paying attention.

ballengerb1

That sign is like the one in the restaurant coat room that says they are not responsible for lost items. Guess what, they still are responsible but hope you will assume that the sign alleviated them, it does not. The school can put up any signs they want but can't insure you read or saw the sign. Schools do not carry insuance for windows and pay out of their pockets so they put up the sign in hopes you won't ask. They know there is a danger and have not taken action to protect the public or property. One of our high schools had a diamond too close to the street and many fouls went inot traffic. They now have a half globe cyclone fence screen that encloses the batters box. Call the Superintendent of the school district and tell him/her what happened and ask the district to reimburse you, they will.

coachdjo

Sounds like very good advice. One drawback (or perhaps not) is that the school is private so there is no district and therefore no Superintendent. You would think, though, that the school would be a little more eager to protect their patrons from possible small claims suits considering the extreme high tuitions they are paying.

ballengerb1

You'd think but schools frequently only fix problems that have repeated many times. One or two balls per year might not be worth the cost of a better cage, cheaper to pay the few who have damaged cars. Somebody gets killed and they will then say act of God.