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Just looking for some suggestions/ thoughts into an incident that happened in the wind storm. A piece of metal had blown out of our driveway and into our neighbors, scratching their vehicles. The one scratch on the one vehicle is most definitely from the metal however the other vehicle has about an inch scratch that is very questionable as to how long it’s been there or if it was even in fact from the metal. They want both deductibles covered by us. Would you just pay them and take fault even though you have no idea if the one vehicles mark is your fault or? Not sure what to do. The deductibles together are $1000

We are missing lots of information here, but if autopac made 2 different claims, then autopac doesn’t think the scratches are related.  
Sounds like your being scammed.

Last I checked people don't control the wind. If you feel it's necessary to pay them then do so, but I know what I would do.

I was going to say the same thing. If there is 2 deductibles then there has been two separate claims. If it was all from the wind and metal it would all be under one claim and one deductible. I would look more into it before paying anything. Sounds like they have had the other claim for awhile and are trying to get you to pay. Ask to see the papers from MPI for both claims

The op states vehicles which means more then one I believe there were 2 separate vehicles scratched. My opinion pay one deductible that you know is from your metal and take pictures of everything vehicles scratches etc etc make them go to mpi and claim it then write them a cheque stating claim number for which vehicle and if they want the other claim paid by you they can take you to small claims and prove it was caused by you. Other option is, your home insurance may cover there damage if your claiming other damage ask them about the vehicles scratched up.

I wonder if there are 2 deductibles because it involves 2 different vehicles, not sure how MPI looks at these claims.  
Also, was the metal just sitting in your driveway prior to the wind or did it get blown there? If you don't make reasonable efforts to secure stuff in your yard, might be your responsibility.  
Would be interested to see how this plays out MPI does some strange things.....

Mpi tries to fleece as many people as possible! They will claim 2 seperate incidents so as to get 2 deductible pay ments if steel hit vehicle twice that is 2 seperate collisions and there for 2 deductible in there opinion. Why is the natural assumption the neighbor who has been damaged is trying to scam you? Talk to your home insurer and have there damages covered under your liability policy as you are liable for not securing o:bjects in your yard  
 
Edited by tafeel, 2017-10-22 12:28:47

2 separate vehicles, 2 separate policies, 2 separate claims. Speak to MPI directly about your possible responsibility. Get the claim numbers. Don't give any money directly to your nieghbors without very specifically written documentation, or without speaking to mpi first about this specific claim.

What information am I missing? 2 vehicles, 2 separate claims. I’m not sharing my neighbour is trying to scam me. I’m just asking for opinions because I’m not sure what to do. It’s a lot of money to cough up especially if the scratch was there before but there’s no way to prove one way or another. Also don’t want sour blood with the neighbour so unsure.

Definitely do nothing until they file their claim, and MPI contacts you.

I checked into home insurance and they said I had liability but because I wasn’t negligent, they wouldn’t cover it.

If your home insurance says you are not negligent then it is act of god. If you like your neighbor offer to pay half and call it a day. And only after they make a claim and get it fixed.

I would be checking on what the cost to fix them would be. Can probably fix for less than $1000, depending on damage.  
 
Check with a body shop.

When a claim is filed with MPI and the person owning the vehicle says he is not at fault, doesn't MPI investigate and determine who is responsible for the deductible?  
Could be wrong, but it seems reasonable to wait and see what they have to say, and if you are held responsible pay the money to them, rather than the neighbour.

CatMan said "When a claim is filed with MPI and the person owning the vehicle says he is not at fault, doesn't MPI investigate and determine who is responsible for the deductible?   Could be wrong, but it seems reasonable to wait and see what they have to say, and if you are held responsible pay the money to them, rather than the neighbour. "

This, big time. Not sure about how bad the bigger scratch is, but for a 1" scratch, there's no way I'm paying a $500 deductible to get it fixed.  
 
Get an estimate and pay of out pocket, better yet, go to the dealer, get a $10 touchup pen and call it day.

first sounds like your neighbor is a cheapskate to start with having 500 deductible on both vehicles.secound only autopac can make you pay deductables not your neighbor,does he have video of the incident to prove it was your metal ? third I agree with pudds pay 20 bucks for touch up pen and fix it yourselves,buy him a case of beer ,if he is a good neighbor that should satify him

The neighbours should make a claim on both of their vehicles, have the damage estimated for cost, and an estimator would also be able to determine if the scratches were in fact from the piece of metal. After figuring out the cost and cause of damage, then work out what you will owe your neighbour. Legally, you owe them nothing, that is why we all pay for insurance. But, being a good human being, you would offer to pay for damage that your property caused though.  
There is a good chance that those scratches could be repaired for way way less than the deductible cost, so that needs to be determined first.

cdog said "first sounds like your neighbor is a cheapskate to start with having 500 deductible on both vehicles.secound only autopac can make you pay deductables not your neighbor,does he have video of the incident to prove it was your metal ? third I agree with pudds pay 20 bucks for touch up pen and fix it yourselves,buy him a case of beer ,if he is a good neighbor that should satify him "

A cheapskate. Right. More like a good driver with a brain.  
Just checked the mpi website and my truck would cost an additional 198$ a year for a $200 deductible or $346 a year for a $100 deductible vs the $500  
10 years accident free yeah I guess I'm a cheapskate for not giving mpi an extra $3500  
 
And in a case like this not even autopac can make the OP pay a deductible because he did not cause the damage with a vehicle he had insured with mpi. mpi would need a court judgment affirming the OP's liability to recoupe anything from him and in which case he would be on the hook for the full cost of repairing the damage, not just the $500 deductible. (this is where your home insurance would come in if you were indeed liable)  
 
My $0.02 if the neighbor expects a $1000 from you their not the type of person I would care to get along with anyway. The wind could have just as easily blown the opposite direction and sent something from his yard your way. Not your fault which way the wind blew.

Talk to your insurance broker. On your home owners policy there is a coverage called “voluntary property damage”. It allows you to pay out small sums to third party’s even when you are not liable. It has been a long time since I have actually read a home owners wording but it use to be $500.00.  
 
It also would not be seen as an actual claim on your policy.  
 
Talk to your broker on this.  
 
Failing this I would tell you not to pay a thing unless The adjusters holds you liable for this.

sjelectric said "    cdog said "first sounds like your neighbor is a cheapskate to start with having 500 deductible on both vehicles.secound only autopac can make you pay deductables not your neighbor,does he have video of the incident to prove it was your metal ? third I agree with pudds pay 20 bucks for touch up pen and fix it yourselves,buy him a case of beer ,if he is a good neighbor that should satify him " A cheapskate. Right. More like a good driver with a brain.   Just checked the mpi website and my truck would cost an additional 198$ a year for a $200 deductible or $346 a year for a $100 deductible vs the $500   10 years accident free yeah I guess I'm a cheapskate for not giving mpi an extra $3500     And in a case like this not even autopac can make the OP pay a deductible because he did not cause the damage with a vehicle he had insured with mpi. mpi would need a court judgment affirming the OP's liability to recoupe anything from him and in which case he would be on the hook for the full cost of repairing the damage, not just the $500 deductible. (this is where your home insurance would come in if you were indeed liable)     My $0.02 if the neighbor expects a $1000 from you their not the type of person I would care to get along with anyway. The wind could have just as easily blown the opposite direction and sent something from his yard your way. Not your fault which way the wind blew. "

I can tell you 100% that damage to your vehicle from an o:bject on your property isn't covered by home insurance and I did have to pay my deductible through MPI to get repairs. Regarding liability, since I wasn't driving and damage wasn't my fault there is no penalty against license or insurance premiums.