Crash damages Warren home before scheduled sale
A vehicle crashed into a Warren home on its scheduled closing day, damaging the house and leaving the sale uncertain.
The crash happened overnight on Joe Drive before buyers arrived from New York to close Tuesday, Oct. 20. A neighbor said he discovered the damage after hearing a loud bang overnight. Bricks had flown toward his property, he said.
The seller’s broker said an offer to place $25,000 in escrow for repairs could help keep the sale moving. The seller had already moved to Florida.
The Warren Police Department was investigating, and no one was in custody as of Tuesday evening. Surveillance video showing someone getting into a dark-colored SUV around 4 a.m., shortly before the crash, was part of the investigation.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Warren police.
Who pays when a vehicle damages a house in Michigan?
Michigan property protection insurance can pay for accidental damage a motor vehicle causes to someone else’s house in Michigan without requiring the homeowner to prove the driver was at fault. Coverage depends on the vehicle’s insurance and statutory requirements and exclusions.
Under MCL 500.3121, benefits are limited to the lesser of reasonable repair costs or replacement costs minus depreciation, plus the value of lost use when applicable. A single policy cannot pay more than $1 million for all property damage from one accident.
Claims go first to insurers of the involved vehicles’ owners or the people listed on their registrations, then to insurers of the drivers. Identifying the vehicle and its insurance helps determine where to seek payment. Michigan Legal Center’s steps after a Michigan car accident explain how to record insurance information and photograph damage.
A lawsuit for property protection insurance benefits must be started within one year after the accident under MCL 500.3145.
Get help from Michigan Legal Center
Michigan Legal Center: the Law Offices of Christopher J. Trainor & Associates handles motor vehicle injury and no-fault insurance claims.
If a vehicle has damaged your Michigan home and you have questions about an insurance claim, contact Michigan Legal Center to ask whether the matter falls within Michigan Legal Center’s practice areas.
There is no attorney fee unless money is recovered for you. Case costs and fee terms are governed by the written fee agreement.