About that garage I thought I had...

by "Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
Published 06/12/2017 at 17:05

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STARS: 0

Well shit. Shitting shit shit shit. While I was out on my Top Gear cheap car challenge , things kinda went to hell at home.

I got a call the first Wednesday of the trip. My neighbor’s tree fell on my garage. The garage that I safely tucked my project Saab , my SO’s Cabby ( from the last Top Gear trip ), and my limited edition Volvo C30. Yeah... that garage.

The prognosis was grim. The tree, which was about 100 years old, had squished the garage in such a way it was unlikely they could remove the tree without causing the garage to collapse. Furthermore, they couldn’t move the cars because several large limbs were in the way. Those limbs couldn’t be removed because they were actually holding up the trunk and preventing it from causing the garage to collapse. Sort of a catch 22.

I made the call for them to do what they could and called the insurance companies.

Luckily, the were able to use a temporary steel support and a crane to hold the weight of the trunk for removal, and the garage still stands. Furthermore, the project Saab and Cabby were mostly unharmed. The Volvo took light damage to the hood, but otherwise I appear to have made it out of this pretty easy.

Now I’m faced with a situation where I have eight cars at my household (Yes, eight. Don’t judge) a leaning garage, and a huge hole in my fence.

Oh and the crane setup in my garden, so I’ve lost this years crop of peppers.

Things aren’t looking good, if I’m honest. I mean yes, I do have insurance and it will cover most of the damage, but not all of it. Furthermore it has been almost a month since this all went down, and I still haven’t seen a quote from any of the contractors I’ve contacted. Apparently nailing down a contractor is akin to herding cats.

Wish me luck!

Replies (33)

"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
06/12/2017 at 17:12, STARS: 6

My neighbor’s tree

hings aren’t looking good, if I’m honest. I mean yes, I do have insurance and it will cover most of the damage, but not all of it

Well, it should be their insurance, not yours.

"nermal" (nermal)
06/12/2017 at 17:14, STARS: 4

Nope. When a tree falls, the liability ends up on the person who’s property gets squished, not the person that owns the land that the tree was originally on.

Insurance is dumb sometimes.

"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
06/12/2017 at 17:14, STARS: 2

Huh. When my house got tree’d my neighbors paid out. Guess that’s an anomaly.

"benjrblant" (benjblant)
06/12/2017 at 17:15, STARS: 10

Now I’m faced with a situation where I have eight cars at my household (Yes, eight. Don’t judge)

You’re probably in the best place online to not get judged for owning eight cars.

"For Sweden" (rallybeetle)
06/12/2017 at 17:15, STARS: 3

We should take out the trees before they take us out instead

"Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief" (flynorcal)
06/12/2017 at 17:15, STARS: 0

Yeeeeeouch.

"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
06/12/2017 at 17:19, STARS: 1

I suppose you would have to prove, in court, that your neighbour’s action or neglect caused the tree to fall.

"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
06/12/2017 at 17:19, STARS: 0

Haha fair point. And to my credit 7 of the 8 run and are driven at least weekly. The 8th is close, though this is a bit of a setback....

"My X-type is too a real Jaguar" (TomSlick)
06/12/2017 at 17:19, STARS: 0

I’ve always wanted a Quonset Hut as a Garage.

"itschrome" (itschrome)
06/12/2017 at 17:20, STARS: 3

"LongbowMkII" (longbowmkii)
06/12/2017 at 17:20, STARS: 3

Likely depends on company and state

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
06/12/2017 at 17:21, STARS: 1

Is it bad that the first thing I thought about was Paul Walker?

"Nothing" (nothingatalluseful)
06/12/2017 at 17:21, STARS: 0

Same here. When I was in a rental home about 10 years ago or so, the neighbor’s tree fell and ripped a power line down. It pulled the meter off the house, and the meter on another neighbors house, which started a fire. Thankfully, they were able to put the fire out quickly. All liability fell on the neighbor.

"For Sweden" (rallybeetle)
06/12/2017 at 17:21, STARS: 1

Fact: trees don’t care about you, because they don’t have hearts

"Nothing" (nothingatalluseful)
06/12/2017 at 17:21, STARS: 1

Damn, that sucks.

"nermal" (nermal)
06/12/2017 at 17:22, STARS: 0

"Stapleface" (patrickgruden)
06/12/2017 at 17:22, STARS: 0

Yup, happened to my neighbor. The guy on the other side of his had a tree that fell on to his house. The whole root ball gave away and it toppled right on his roof.

I’m not sure exactly what my neighbor claimed but he got an entire new roof and re-sided his entire house. Whether his homeowners paid for the siding job I don’t know.

"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
06/12/2017 at 17:23, STARS: 0

Yup, nermal is correct... apparently. From an insurance point of view unless the fall was due to human intervention (botched cutting down or intentional) it is all on me. As the tree was on its last legs, I could make a claim for negligence, but would need to sue to make that happen. I give it 50/50 that would work and honestly I think suing your neighbors is a crappy thing to do regardless.

"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
06/12/2017 at 17:27, STARS: 0

Those cold, heartless things.

"crowmolly" (crowmolly)
06/12/2017 at 17:27, STARS: 0

Sorry to hear. Hope it works out well for you in the end.

"itschrome" (itschrome)
06/12/2017 at 17:27, STARS: 4

Oh no? then what is this?!

or are you saying only the palms care?

"itschrome" (itschrome)
06/12/2017 at 17:31, STARS: 0

Oh are your trees cold? see maybe that’s your fault. Have you tried burning them? that will war them right up!

"OpposResidentLexusGuy - USE20, XF20, XU30 and Press Cars" (jakeauern)
06/12/2017 at 17:45, STARS: 1

8? Rookie. My parents have 10 hahaha. 5 are used as secondary/loaner vehicles for customers that we can’t afford to shuttle everywhere though.

"JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!" (jqj213)
06/12/2017 at 17:50, STARS: 0

Wait wait wait. You have a Polestar C30???????????????

"Urambo Tauro" (urambotauro)
06/12/2017 at 17:51, STARS: 1

...A dimly lit one with inky shadows.

"My X-type is too a real Jaguar" (TomSlick)
06/12/2017 at 17:53, STARS: 0

And red paint splatters on the walls

"Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo" (akioohtori)
06/12/2017 at 17:57, STARS: 8

Six speed, owned since new. Sweet little car! Why do you ask?

"Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever" (superchan7)
06/12/2017 at 19:21, STARS: 0

The only thing worse than having your house tree’d is having it tree’d by a burning tree.

"Matsayz" (matsayz)
06/12/2017 at 20:20, STARS: 1

Sorry about the peppers... moar pics of the Polestar! And the other 7 cars

"JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!" (jqj213)
06/12/2017 at 22:24, STARS: 0

It’s beautiful!!!!

I owned an 08 C30 and I miss it very very much. It was such a cool little hot hatch!

Glad to hear it didn’t get too beat up

"E92M3" (E46M3)
06/12/2017 at 23:14, STARS: 0

It was such a nice garage too... Wish I had a detached garage like yours. Sorry about the bad luck....

"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich)
06/12/2017 at 23:46, STARS: 0

As someone who is into woodworking and just bought a chainsaw... I approve this message. :P

"ateamfan42" (ateamfan42)
06/13/2017 at 09:03, STARS: 0

Insurance is dumb sometimes almost always .

Fixed that for ya.