Golf ball breaks back windshield on Buena Vista today.
 

I was riding in a car who's back windshield was destroyed by a golf ball. Needless to say it was a very loud and scary experience, which left my girlfriend and I thankful nobody was sitting in the back seat of the car at that time.
We stopped and were able to locate the golfer who hit the ball.

It was obviously an accident but my friend has a $500 deductible on her car insurance. We have the name and phone number of the golfer, and the insurance company said they would contact the golfer to determine if he has insurance which would cover the deductible.

This happened south of 466A, past the Pinnelles entrance. I have seen golf courses with high nets along the road where balls can be hit into traffic. Now I understand the real danger golf balls can pose to traffic and the danger of a possible accident, if the driver were to lose control of the car.

Well now - isn't that an interesting dilemma??? Do you expect damage if you drive on a road that runs along a golf course like if you buy on a golf course. Hopefully these situations are few and far between, but they do happen and who do you think is responsible???

I believe all florida auto insurance policies have whole glass coverage....i dont know if it only covers the windshield though

I'm sure it was frightening. Glad no one was hurt.

Glad no one was hurt
 

I am always a little paranoid about traveling on a road that's really close to a golf course. There seems to a quite a few here. I am surprised the golf ball through the back window didn't cause an accident. My heart probably would,have come out of my chest. I expect that the auto insurance would pay for the damage. I also expect it would be treated much like living on the golf course as far as who pays for it....it's a risk you take living near all of these beautiful courses. Maybe we should start wearing helmets?

[QUOTE=gomoho;792644]Well now - isn't that an interesting dilemma??? Do you expect damage if you drive on a road that runs along a golf course like if you buy on a golf course. Hopefully these situations are few and far between, but they do happen a who do you think is responsible???[/nd QUOTE]

I would say the golfer, and not the golf course owner. One has to be responsiblr for their actions. He/she has the make the golf cart damaged owner whole, (like before the accident happened).

Glad to hear no one was hurt. :smley:

[quote=2BNTV;792677]The golfer is not legally responsible for breaking a window on a home along a fairway..................why would they be legally responsible for hitting a car?
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ALSO

Source: http://www.carinsurance.com/kb/content51786.aspx


Question

I live in the state of Florida. Is all auto glass covered under the comprehensive coverage?

Answer


Yes, auto glass would be covered under the Comprehensive portion of your Florida auto insurance policy.

Comprehensive coverage covers your vehicle, and other vehicles (in limited scenarios) you may be driving, for losses resulting from incidents other than collision. For example, comprehensive insurance covers damage to your car if it is stolen; or damaged by flood, fire, or animals. Your vehicle's glass breakage and damage done due to vandalism are also covered under Comprehensive coverage. It pays to fix your vehicle less the deductible you choose.

However in Florida for some glass breakage claims the deductible is waived. As the Florida insurance regulator, FL Department of Financial Services, notes on their site, your insurance company will not assess your deductible to replace your front windshield. Florida law requires this waiver in order to encourage drivers to replace cracked or broken windshields immediately to avoid a major driving hazard.



The wording of the Florida Statute, 627.7288, reiterates what the state's insurance regulator notes by the law saying that the deductible is waived only for windshield glass. The basics of this statute states that the deductible provisions of any Florida motor vehicle insurance policy, providing comprehensive or combined additional coverage, shall not be applicable to damage to the windshield of any motor vehicle covered under such policy.

Current Florida statute states: Comprehensive coverage; deductible not to apply to motor vehicle glass. The deductible provisions of any policy of motor vehicle insurance, delivered or issued in this state by an authorized insurer, providing comprehensive coverage or combined additional coverage shall not be applicable to damage to the windshield of any motor vehicle covered under such policy.

So in FL your front windshield being replaced or repaired using your Comprehensive coverage would mean that your deductible would be waived. Your Comprehensive coverage also covers other glass on your vehicle, such as your side window and back window however for claims regarding these other areas of glass on your car your deductible amount would be due.

HUH? I'm not a golfer, but REALLY? A ball hit by a golfer hits an innocent home onwers window, and it is the homeowners fault??? The ball was caused to be airborn by the golfer. Please explain why the golfer is not responsible. Thanks

OH,I get it , you're being sarcastic, right? :laugh:

[quote=JB in TV;792712]Actually, it is a point of law. The purchaser of a home on a golf course assumes that liability. Same is the case of a player injured by a golf ball.

If you live in Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, or South Carolina you live in what's called a "Zero Deductible State". That means that your insurance company is required by law to allow you to purchase a windshield replacement using insurance with no deductible as long as you have comprehensive insurance on your vehicle. If you live in one of these states, and have comprehensive insurance, it makes sense to use your insurance to pay for your auto glass replacement.

We have lived on 2 different golf courses...none of them here. The only broken window we ever had was when my husband was driving down the street(not in our neighborhood) and his vehicle windshield was hit by an errant golf ball. Our auto insurance paid. It was rather ironic that he was hit on a public street, not in out neighborhood on the golf course.

No. I said legally responsible. Morally is a different story, many golfers would offer to pay for the broken window.

Windshield only, right?

I am trying to do the math

one broken car window
in "my" ten yeat\rs
out of 100,000 residents
60(?) golf courses
millions and millions and millions of possible drives
millions and millions of balls
?
?
?

forget it I'll take my chances on the lottery, the odds are better.

btk

I understand exactly the point of your post. It is a very rare occurrence.


It was frightening and caused real damage, but fortunately it is something that doesn't happen very often.


I extend my sympathy to the first poster. I also want to point out that in six years of diligently reading this forum that usually catches wind of most things of this nature, I hadn't heard of it happening here before, so I truly believe it shouldn't be worrisome for the rest of us or make us attempt to take action.


Bad golf things happen occasionally and unexpected good ones too, like holes in one.


I hope that no one reading this forum ever is victim of an errant golf ball but we do have a LOT of golf courses that were here when we moved here and it is remote possibility. We G's have lived on Golf courses or in golf course communities for the last 40 years and have escaped being hit.

[quote=Bogie Shooter;792706]Thanks for this information Bogie Shooter! It really clears up a lot of questions I had. My friend was quite shock up when talking to the insurance claim office, so I took the phone from her to ask some questions on her behalf. I questioned waving the deductible for car windows and was told she had never heard of it before. It would have been helpful if she stated it applied to only the front windshield.

To all other posters: I am a golfer and I posted this information to make others aware of this situation and know that it can and does happen. Just because it has never been posted before does not mean it has never happened. Please be extra careful when teeing off next to the road! I know, I have hit really close to the road before and thanked The Lord I did not hit a car. Not for financial reasons either.

And as an aside, it's also against the law for the insurance company to raise your rates due to auto glass breakage.

Thank you for clearing this up for me. The legal portion seems wrong to me, but I guess there are alot of things I see as wrong these days. Sigh

Like a baseball player being held harmless if a foul ball hits a person in the stands?

god

Last year, my wife and I were returning from playing Bonifay. We were northbound on Morse riding alongside the ninth hole of Havana's Kenya. An errant golf ball from the tee slammed into the windshield of our golf cart, dead center drivers side, shattering it. It was like getting hit with a pumpkin ball from a shotgun. I drove on the path close to the tee where the foursome was speechless. The guilty golfer was obvious and apologized. It was apparent he fully expected an angry rant. I told him he needed to work on his hook and that it might be the result of an inside out swing path. I wished them a good round and drove home. What I didn't mention is that I've actually hooked one there myself.

I accept the fact the accident was unintentional. That sounds redundant. I guess I could have made an issue but it's not my style. We replaced the fold down windshield and keep it up.

The one valuable lesson learned from my experience is to DRIVE YOUR CARTS WITH THE WINDSHIELD UP. That golf ball had the velocity of a missile fired from a weapon and in my opinion could have been fatal if not for the windshield.

I hope this unsolicited safety tip prevents someone from sustaining serious injury.

Have fun, play safe.

A class act.:ho:

Well, see in that situation, the fan has agreed to hold harmelss the stadium owners and the players, (etc) when paying for the ticket and agreeing to the terms of entering the privately owned stadium.

You are a gentleman.

I like your style.:) My windshield will always be up from now on.

:bigbow::bigbow::bigbow::bigbow::bigbow::bigbow::b igbow:

I don't understand the references to a "golf cart". I believe the OP said the person on Buena Vista was in their car - not their cart.

And a scholar. A gentle good lad.