By Deanna Robbins
Check out this slideshow of the damage that occurs when a car hits a house.
Deanna Robbins with Gateway Restoration continues the countdown and in Position #8, are those in the “other” category.
Robbins explains “This category is an odd group, that makes up 6% of our claims. We call it “other” because it includes all the odd and interesting accidents that don’t quite fit into any category.”
Robbins said, “We will break up the “other” category into parts over the next few weeks. Starting today, is Part One: Structure damage from vehicles. This is typically caused by cars inadvertently driven into houses from a random driver or sometimes by the owner or their kids. Every year, we have two or three people call to say a family member accidentally ran into their house. In one case, we had a homeowner who lived at the end of a “T-Road” and had a vehicle run into their home three times.”
Robbins shares both tips to prevent vehicle impacts and a step by step guide if it ever happens to you:
Tips To Prevent Vehicle Impact To Buildings:
For home buyers, if you are eyeing a home in a high-traffic area or at the end of a T-shaped roadway, it’s prudent to vet the property carefully. Check the news, typically cars crashing into homes make the news. If it happened before, there is a possibility it will happen again.
Erect barriers around your home. For instance, build a wall, large planter, or put boulders around the home, which are both decorative and protective.
Garage: There are a variety of parking aids to help stop cars from hitting your garage wall, which include:
- Hanging a tennis ball on a string from the ceiling
- Parking blocks or mats
- Laser pointer
- Adequate lighting and clean/clutter-free garage
After a Vehicle Strikes Your Property You Should:
- Make sure all family members are okay and not involved in the crash.
- Call the Police/911.
- Obtain insurance information of the individual that struck property.
- Call a restoration contractor to make emergency repairs/patch the area for security.
- Take Photos.
- Call your insurance company.
- Repair the damage.
(Stay with us, as we continue our countdown next Thursday.)
