Page 33 - AAA Magazine – AAA Ohio Auto Club – September 2021

Ask Ed:
What things can affect my insurance policy?
In each issue of AAA Magazine, we break down an insurance topic – and what it means for you – with answers from Ed Conley, CPIA and Director of Insurance Sales and Financial Services at AAA Ohio. Have a question for Ed? Drop us a line at AAA.com/AskEd.
I have a Level 2 car with advanced driver assistance systems (meaning a vehicle that can steer, accelerate and brake, in some
My neighbor has a large cottonwood tree that hangs over my yard and house. If it were to fall on my property, who would be responsible
This is a question we hear often, and it can be confusing to clients. If a tree falls onto your property and causes damage to covered
property (this is key), such as a fence, shed, house,
deck, etc., regardless of who owns it, the claim should
be filed with your insurance company. I know, that seems backward. If the falling tree does not damage other structures or covered property, there likely would not be coverage. Most companies limit the amount they will pay for debris removal to $500 to $1,000 per tree, and it’s subject to your deductible, along with the other damage repair. Depending on the circumstances, if your insurance company feels that your neighbor was negligent in
caring for the tree and preventing this damage, they
may try and subrogate against your neighbor’s
insurance company to recoup some of the damages.
If you’re concerned about the health of the tree and
your property, it’s best to have a neighborly conversation and see if you can address the issue before it does damage to your property.
circumstances). I absolutely love it and do rely on all the features available to me. My question is: If I have a Level 2 car, should I get an insurance break on my premium?
for the insurance claim?
The short answer for many insurance companies is likely no, at this point. But that will change. Insurance companies are still in the discovery
phase with autonomous vehicles and the impact they will have on insurance rates. While the frequency of accidents will reduce over time, the cost of repairs has increased significantly due to the technology in the vehicles. Today, because of the relatively small amount of AV, or even Level 2 vehicles on the road, the risk of you being at fault for an accident has decreased. However, the risk of you being hit by another driver, the lack of availability of aftermarket parts and the expense of the repair are all higher. It’s too early for traditional insurance companies to discount their rates significantly. Even if you’re not at fault, the insurance company is at risk of paying for the claim.
As more AVs are on the road, the liability for accidents, specifically for more advanced autonomy, will begin to shift or be redefined.
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1 The APY for the Online Savings Account as of 6/17/2021 is more than five times the national average APY for interest bearing savings accounts with a balance of $500 as reported by Informa Research Services Inc. as of 6/17/2021. National average is based on information regarding the top 50 banks (by deposit size) and may not include information from variations in regional pricing at such banks or information from products that may not be widely available to their customers. Rates were obtained from Informa Research Services, who relies on the data from the banks it tracks and such information cannot be guaranteed. APYs are subject to change at any time.
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