[chuckles01]

So this happened to my wife's car the other day and i thought I'd ask people here for thoughts.

Her car was parked in a parking lot. When we came back, we noticed that there was a new dent and scratches on the hood of the car. We checked our dashcam footage and sure enough, while the car was parked there was someone that was riding a bike, tripped in front of the car and the whole bike flipped onto the hood of the car.

We have State Farm insurance and have both comprehensive and collision. Our comprehensive deductible is much lower at $100, and collision deductible is at $1,000. From my knowledge, I was fully expecting this to be considered a comprehensive claim. However, when I spoke with a couple of different State Farm agents (not the claims person, just their customer service), they both said that this actually is considered a collision claim because it technically was a "collision" with something.

I'm really confused because I always thought that a parked car hit by something was considered comprehensive (e.g. classic example that has always been explained to me was if your car was parked and a grocery shopping cart bumps into it, then it's comprehensive), whereas a collision is when cars are moving and collide with another vehicle.

Am I misunderstanding what comprehensive coverage is? Any thoughts appreciated.

[Billfitz]

Comprehensive usually covers when something hits you. Collision is for when you hit something. Read your policy.

[chuckles01]

That's what I thought too - my car was parked, no one was inside, and a bicycle hit my car. Their policy language is vague - basically comprehensive covers stolen or damaged other than a collision. The point is they are saying that a bicycle hitting a parked car in a parking lot is considered a collision, which has not been my understanding before hence seeing what other people have experienced.

[Billfitz]

Bicycle, thrown rock, falling helicopter, suicide jumper, whatever. When it hits you while sitting still that's comprehensive.

[chuckles01]

Ok, so i spoke with a State Farm claims underwriter. They doubled down that a bicycle flipping over and hitting a parked car is considered collision since something collided with the car. they went further to say that because it's collision coverage, even though I was not at fault (I wasn't even in the car) it could affect my insurance premiums.

They said anything where it involves another person with an object hitting the car is collision. In their definition, comprehensive only applies if it's unforeseeable and unavoidable, such as a garage door falling on your car, an animal, or paint calls tipping over in the garage and falling on your car, etc.

Honestly to me this feels odd, but oh well.... nothing I can do. Either way, thought I'd just report back in case any of you have State Farm and wonder about the same.

[Billfitz]

Time to go to a different insurance company I'd say. Tell Jake to take a hike.

[jsouth]

"I came outside and someone had vandalized my car with an unknown object." Simple. "No, my dashcam wasn't on."

[I.T. Guy]

That's Crazy. So do they try and chase down/file a hit and run for you too?

[chuckles01]

Originally Posted by I.T. Guy

That's Crazy. So do they try and chase down/file a hit and run for you too?

I know, it's insane to me that they so broadly categorize things as "collision". Technically most damage to a vehicle is with something "colliding" with it….. really lame.