Albany refuses to pay for man's SUV swallowed by sinkhole on city street

[TexasTowelie]

The City of Albany has refused to pay a man whose SUV sunk into the street when a sinkhole opened up beneath it last month.

WTEN-TV reported that Steeve Pierre hadn't planned to sue for damages because he assumed the city would replace his car.

The city denied his claim, however, saying they aren't liable for damages because there was no way of knowing the water main break and sewer collapse would happen when and where it did.

"I thought was kind of disheartening that yeah there was a water main break, but it was the sinkhole that brought my car under," Pierre told the station. "The car wasn't washed away, the street caved in."

Read more: http://www.syracuse.com/state/index.ssf/2016/09/albany_refuses_to_pay_for_mans_suv_swallowed_by_sinkhole_on_city_street.html

[Sherman A1]

1. I would think that he should simply turn it in on his insurance

and let them take the city to court for damages. Insurance companies are rather adept at that sort of thing.

[TexasTowelie]

3. He may have only had liability insurance

depending on how old the SUV is. Of course the insurance vehicle may have denied the claim saying it was an act of God.

I agree that an insurance company would have better luck trying to collect on an indemnification claim rather than an individual directly suing the city and the attorney costs would be less since the insurance company would use a staff attorney.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Act of God won't work here?

[TexasTowelie]

5. That's what I was thinking also.

It is either that or he cancelled his comprehensive insurance.

[IADEMO2004]

4. and if his brake line broke and he punched a hole in city library?

[TexasTowelie]

6. That would be the fault of the owner

for failure to maintain his vehicle properly.