All Forum Posts by: Liam Goble

@Derek Kartchner and @Mark Doyle Thank you for your responses.  That is exactly what I needed to hear.  I completely understand your positions (no legal advice, etc).  I have a meeting scheduled with my attorney next week and will take into account your points mentioned above.  

Based on some of what we have learned through engineers and other meetings with code officials, I suspect the policy may simply pay out the maximum amount and not rebuild the building.  We'll see how it all goes.  

Thanks again for your help.

@Terri Lewis Yes, I do screen my tenants.  This whole accident underlines why you should screen employees.  At my previous job, you couldn't drive a company vehicle if you had a DUI w/in the past five years. 

PS. @Jerry W. , I had not considered some of the costs you mentioned.  I'll certainly be adding them to my total costs.  Thanks for your reply.

@Jerry W. When you say to not let my insurance handle the claim, does that mean I should let the driver's insurance cover the claim or handle this through my attorney as @Terri Lewis suggests?  One of the things I need to determine is if I actually have a claim against the driver or only my tenants and the residents of the adjacent building.  Obviously, I'll know more when I discuss with my attorney next Tuesday.

On a side note, the state required minimums for property damage here in PA are $7,500, however, as has been stated, this is a commercial claim with higher limits.

@Account Closed 

Guys, I asked for some help, not a lesson in the English language.  Please either post some suggestions or take this offline.  Just remember: The Panda eats, shoots, and leaves. (or was it "The panda eats shoots and leaves"?)

@Account Closed Thanks.  I'm pretty sure I understand all you mention.

@Account Closed When you ask if I had more than policy limits, do you mean higher than policy for bodily harm?  If so: yes, I had more coverage per incident.  What are his grounds to sue (or is it that he just lives in the US)?

Yes, the driver is under arrest pending final blood work.  

@Mark Creason So if I understand you, I would settle for at least Mortgage + Demolition costs?  

I know the municipality is considering a demo order on the building because of the length of time between now and when we would be able to properly shore up the building.  

Thanks for your thoughts.

Hey guys.  I apologize that I've been MIA for most of the summer.  It's been a crazy summer for me.  Between changing careers, completing my first flip, family issues...it's been a busy summer.  

Here's my situation:  A (suspected) drunk driver drove into my all masonry building.  This occurred Friday night.  The driver hit one of the load bearing corners of the house.  Due to the damage, the entire house had to be evacuated (duplex - two families displaced).  Because of the concern regarding the structural integrity of the house, the house immediately adjacent to mine is also condemned (duplex - two families).  A total of four families have been affected and the damage is pretty extensive.  

I am meeting w/ my attorney next Tuesday.  Insurance is on this already (got them out of bed at 3am on Sat. Morn).  The driver isn't toast, but he's hurting: two broken legs, broken back and in a medically induced coma.  

A few questions: Has this happened to anyone?  What additional steps did you take?  For better or worse, the driver was driving a commercial vehicle...yes, after hours, but obviously the company trusted him to be driving the vehicle.  The guy does have a past, generally on the wrong side of the law: at least one felony conviction.  This specific building gets messier and messier: It's in a flood zone so any improvements will have to make the whole building match the new flood code (building's worth about $50k; repairs will be at least $50k); the building is in a historic district; when SAR shored the building, they put the shoring on the foundation of the adjacent building...meaning the structural integrity of the adjacent building may be in question; the first engineering company didn't want to take on this project due to liability issues...the list goes on.

It's a total PITA.  Thanks for any thoughts/suggestions.

Totally sweet.  I admit that I'm on the fence.  If the mortgage is at 3.375...do I pay off or not.  It's an internal debate of mine.

Congrats!