If you were in Atlanta over the last few days, you know why this post is relevant. For most of the rest of the world, I imagine this is a question that rarely, if ever, enters your mind. However, “Snowmaggeddon 2014″ — as I have rather dramatically dubbed it — changed all that. People in the city spent sometimes up to 12-15 hours stuck in their cars, due to a combination of icy roads and heavy traffic.
So, what happens if you had to abandon your car on the side of the road? Here is some hopefully helpful information from MSN Money:
Here is the role auto insurance plays should you abandon your car on the road, and return to find it damaged, or discover it’s not where you left it – it’s been towed or stolen: Your car has been hit. Collision coverage would be required for you to file a claim. “If the driver who hit your car was nice enough to leave a note with their information, you can make a property damage liability claim. If you have uninsured motorist property damage coverage, it doesn’t apply in this case because hit-and-runs or unidentified vehicles hitting your car isn’t covered,” says Penny Gusner, consumer analyst for CarInsurance.com. Your car has been towed. You will likely have a hard time getting reimbursed for recovery costs, unless you have roadside assistance coverage in your auto policy. Even if you do, there are exceptions, says Gusner. “You should check your roadside assistance coverage because some insurers only pay if you call to have your vehicle towed. It’s a possibility you won’t be covered if the car is towed without you calling for it,” she says. “Also, some policies limit coverage and only pay when a claim has been issued against your physical damage coverage after a covered accident. So if you were just stuck and the car wasn’t damaged, your towing coverage under your car insurance policy may not pay.” Your car has been stolen. Only comprehensive coverage covers theft, so you would be required to have it to file a claim.
