Insurance Coverage facts wanted:

[Bert_the_Welder]

Just to be clear outta the gate, I by no means want this to turn into a flame fest over truck type, add-ons, SRW vs DRW. There are enough of those on here over the years and zero good or agreement comes from them. This is a query for facts only from anyone that's asked.
The question I have is:
Has anyone, that carries a TC, asked there insurer if they carry a load in excess of what is stated on there vehicles official sticker and are involve in an accident, either being found 100% at fault for causing said accident, being 100% not at fault, or found to be anywhere between those two points. Could they be denied coverage, either completely or partially for repairs or replacement of their truck and/or TC OR in the case of fault, denied coverage pertaining to law suits, etc. against them from injured parties/victims, etc.

I have an opinion on what the answer is, so please, with respect, I don't need another.

I'd be happy to hear from current/former insurance agents that have first hand knowledge as well as lawyers on here who are/have their area of practice in this particular area of law.

Also welcome would be anyone with FIRST HAND accident involvement. What degree of fault were you or not, found? (Zero judgement, none of us where in your seat). What was the out come coverage wise? Did your over the spec load come up at all? Did no one mention it? Did your insurer vacuum up every particle, weight it and tell you to GFYs? As much detail as you feel comfortable sharing, please.

With all the above, the fact of State/Province/Country etc. must be accounted for, of course. So maybe mention that in reply's, if you would.

I realize there are strong opinions on truck capabilities and the miracle or delusion of mod's. But there's been enough foot stomping, incomplete thinking and poor physics lessons to last a life time on here.

If you choose to chime in with that stuff here, fine. Free world. But I'd like this to just be about the specifics I've mentioned. I'm simply interested as in the previous exchanges on capacity carrying, actual liability doesn't seem to get much more then a passing peep. And to me, this is a pretty big factor in the choice of what to haul with what.

Thanks in advance.

Bert

[northshore]

First off, I have nothing but personal experience to offer.
We were towing a travel trailer, I don't believe we were over weight.
We were towing over the Tehachapi Mts in California. a guy passed us as we were passing a truck he got caught between our trailer and the divider.
CHP responded, No witnesses stopped, actually no one stopped except us and the other guy.
CHP deemed it as a no fault accident. No questions about the truck/trailer None.
His vehicle was pretty roughed up the trailer lost a running light, really no other damage... some tire marks but no dents no scratches.
The other guy had relative lawyer in LA and sued, the insurance company took care of everything. Never a question about the truck/trailer. The travel trailer had no other insurance other than that it was being towed by our truck that was insured. Our Insurance company is State Farm.
The other guy sued cause months later his dog died ( he was in the car) and was traumatized, sued for diminished value, and of course to repair his vehicle, State Farm took care of everything.
We ended up having a trial went to court. Not one word about the Travel trailer / truck, nothing about weights, nothing about any thing about the trailer/ truck.

All of this "pain in the rear" situation and not one word about the truck and trailer. Of course there was no deaths or injuries(besides the dog) I thought State Farm was very good about the whole thing.
I know this does not answer truck camper weights, weight police, and all of that. Just real life hi way accident and how it went.

[STBRetired]

I have a MH, not a TC. I usually run 500 - 600 pounds over GVWR but still manage to stay within my GAWRs. I was rear ended by a new Hyundai while driving down the road at 50 mph. Messed up my bumper, trailer hitch, and the 2 rear compartment doors. It totaled the Hyundai. The LEO did not ever ask anything about weight. Neither did the other driver's insurance company. My insurance company (Country Preferred) handled everything with the other company (Geico).

[Supercharged111]

So my 1131 policy is an add-on to my K3500's policy. When I added said coverage, no concerns were raised. I added the coverage more out of concern for hail and getting run into rather than me running into someone. I can't speak to any claims processes to date and hope never to.

[Bert_the_Welder]

mkirsch wrote:
You will not find what you are seeking here. If someone were found at fault and left holding the bag by their insurance company, they have absolutely no reason to be here, so they aren't here. On the off chance that they were not completely turned off of camping by the experience and on the off chance they participate here, they will be legally bound by an NDA and cannot reveal any details of the settlement.

I know if I were left hanging by the insurance company, that would be the end of my camping career.

:B:B :B :B :B Yeah, that would be understandable!!! At least not if they weren't short a few cans to make a case. :W

[Bert_the_Welder]

Ranger Tim wrote:
I work for one of these organizations. I have never heard of POE or police weighing private vehicles involved in traffic accidents. This does not mean it won't happen though.

If you are driving a commercial vehicle then you will be held to a higher standard and can expect to be heavily scrutinized, at least in Idaho.

Thank you for posting. :C

[Bert_the_Welder]

specta wrote:
Call your insurance agent and ask them.

Yep, on it.
Just want to hear the real world experience of others.

[Bert_the_Welder]

jimh425 wrote:
It doesn’t take a truck camper to put a vehicle over it’s GVWR. If you are interested in overweight vehicles, look for overloaded cars, suvs, RVs, and pickups irrespective of a TC in the bed or not. It would be simpler to find examples if you look for all vehicle types.

Given this is the TC forum, I figured I'd stay on topic. It's also a smaller segment of the greater web. I like to think, or kid myself, that the BS is a little thinner here and the IQ's are a bit higher and more stable. If I wanted tales of a B2200 hauling a Mammoth 11.5 while towing a D9 from a guy that swears his only mod was swapping Goodyear's for Michelin's , I'd go to Google. :B

jimh425 wrote:
If you are worried about liability based on payload, it’s simple. Buy a TC small enough or a truck with a big enough payload to handle all that you will carry.

Not worried. And not the question posed.

[Bert_the_Welder]

A1ARealtorRick wrote:

specta wrote:
Call your insurance agent and ask them.

x2

With all due respect, I'd bet the odds are very slim that anyone on this forum is YOUR insurance agent! :W

Happy travels!

No doubt. I have my paper work out and a call in. Just wanted some other input from those with first hand experience, not looking for advice. To me, it's a better discussion then the tired back and forth over who's truck can haul what. Just posing a question. :C

[Bert_the_Welder]

billtex wrote:
I was broad sided a couple of years ago loaded up heading north on a week long trip. Mid morning, light traffic, 3 lane highway. Came out of no where and bounced off my drivers side. Several witnesses stopped to provide witness to State Trooper. The camper jacks actually prevented any damage to the truck, but they were damaged.

My Allstate insurance handled everything. NO QUESTIONS ASKED. NONE.

I was driving 3/4 ton diesel at the time. Let’s just say I ran heavy and knew it.

Hope this helps.

Thank you Billtex. Exactly the kind of input I was looking for. Certainly hope you and any passengers you had are OK. That must have req'd a change of drawers! And glad you were covered.
Thanks

[jimh406]

It doesn’t take a truck camper to put a vehicle over it’s GVWR. If you are interested in overweight vehicles, look for overloaded cars, suvs, RVs, and pickups irrespective of a TC in the bed or not. It would be simpler to find examples if you look for all vehicle types.

If you are worried about liability based on payload, it’s simple. Buy a TC small enough or a truck with a big enough payload to handle all that you will carry.

[RetiredRealtorR]

specta wrote:
Call your insurance agent and ask them.

x2

With all due respect, I'd bet the odds are very slim that anyone on this forum is YOUR insurance agent! :W

Happy travels!

[otrfun]

There is no black & white, absolute answer to your question. Every country/state/province applies their laws differently. A good or bad lawyer can dramatically change the outcome of any legal proceeding. Emotionally charged juries have been known to make verdicts that go against the rule of law.

With that being said, I'd suggest reading the "exclusions" in your auto policy. Unless there's an exclusion for the general scenario you're concerned about, then odds are very high they'll provide coverage.

Some food for thought. If insurance companies refused to pay claims simply because someone was "negligent" (drunk, speeding, overloaded, etc.) what would be the purpose of having insurance in the first place? Common sense says the purpose of insurance is to financially protect us when we're negligent. Odds are very high that they'll do just that. However, there are no absolutes.

[billtex]

I was broad sided a couple of years ago loaded up heading north on a week long trip. Mid morning, light traffic, 3 lane highway. Came out of no where and bounced off my drivers side. Several witnesses stopped to provide witness to State Trooper. The camper jacks actually prevented any damage to the truck, but they were damaged.

My Allstate insurance handled everything. NO QUESTIONS ASKED. NONE.

I was driving 3/4 ton diesel at the time. Let’s just say I ran heavy and knew it.

Hope this helps.

[mkirsch]

You will not find what you are seeking here. If someone were found at fault and left holding the bag by their insurance company, they have absolutely no reason to be here, so they aren't here. On the off chance that they were not completely turned off of camping by the experience and on the off chance they participate here, they will be legally bound by an NDA and cannot reveal any details of the settlement.

I know if I were left hanging by the insurance company, that would be the end of my camping career.