[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by buggyone

I would guess your homeowner policy would pay as well as your umbrella policy.
That is a guess. Contact the insurance company. However, this thread is about windows.

What would you teach your kids if they broke a window? Run?

No - but what if is my question> What if it led to MORE than a window. WHAT IF - I'd like an answer - what would you do? Would your ethics fly out the window?

What if, like me, the homeowner had a $1000 deductible and the bill came to over 1K. What would you do? Hmmm. Don't seem to get a straight answer from anyone as to what they would do. We've had this thread 20 times in the past 5 years and no one answers my question. Would you still pay the homeowner even if the bill came to a much higher than expected amount? Yes? No? If not why not?

And please don't answer with something like "Don't you have any ethics Russ?". I want to know what you would do - not what you expect me to do.

Thanks in advance for anyone honest enough to try an answer the real question. Anybody can say they'd pay for a cheap window.

[murray607]

Originally Posted by DougB

Is there a statute of limitations on breaking a window? Just wondering, I busted one when I was ten and ran home without getting caught. Now y'all got me feeling all bad. Wonder if that little old lady still lives there.

No statute of limitations......you will take this to the grave, unless you fess up and pay her.

Let me see, a new window was how much back when you were 10?..........

$10.00 should cover it!

[Pepperhead]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

No - but what if is my question> What if it led to MORE than a window. WHAT IF - I'd like an answer - what would you do? Would your ethics fly out the window?

What if, like me, the homeowner had a $1000 deductible and the bill came to over 1K. What would you do? Hmmm. Don't seem to get a straight answer from anyone as to what they would do. We've had this thread 20 times in the past 5 years and no one answers my question. Would you still pay the homeowner even if the bill came to a much higher than expected amount? Yes? No? If not why not?

And please don't answer with something like "Don't you have any ethics Russ?". I want to know what you would do - not what you expect me to do.

Thanks in advance for anyone honest enough to try an answer the real question.

If it were I who hit the golf ball, I would initially feel morally responsible to pay for the damages. If however, the home owner acted like a jackass about it, I would exercise my legal right to blow it off. BTW, the home would have to be on the left side for me to hit it. I haven't sliced a ball in years, but a sneaky pull hook does slip its way into my game occasionally.

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by Pepperhead

If it were I who hit the golf ball, I would initially feel morally responsible to pay for the damages. If however, the home owner acted like a jackass about it, I would exercise my legal right to blow it off. BTW, the home would have to be on the left side for me to hit it. I haven't sliced a ball in years, but a sneaky pull hook does slip its way into my game occasionally.

Honest answer but - What if the homeowner was nice but said the bill was 1k from some hidden damage? I think that's the real ethics question. Maybe say I'll pay for the window but nothing else? Then why even pay for the window? The homeowner still has unpaid for damage.

I find it very interesting to challenge the ethics of any situation.

[Cantwaittoarrive]

Originally Posted by rubicon

Hi Cantwaitoarrive: This is an excellent time to insert the adage

"It depends on whose ox is being gored."

Beside which your comparison is incongruent. For one thing there is no legal relationship between a golfer and the homeowner who incurs damage.

As to ethics. Many of us know many golfers who often hit errant balls. They well know they are likely to hook or slice.

Ethics is involved in most of our decisions.

Finally there actually are some residents here who believe that people who buy on a golf course deserve what they get. I find this attitude mean spirited.

Personal Best Regards:

Morals and ethics are two different thing and there is a "legal" relationship between a golfer and a "homeowner " that buys on a golf course. Ask any laywer

[DeanFL]

I seem to recall that this was a topic on other Threads during the year. Personally I would believe (hope) that there is a written TV policy on this. Kind of simple - either:

a) the TV Homeowner must accept responsibility for unintentional damage to their private property caused by a TV-approved sporting activity on Community property.

or

b) the person committing unintentional damage to private property of a Homeowner or TV property is responsible for payment of repairs.

We will be moving into Gilchrist next Feb - not directly next to the course, but a healthy ball-bounce from a green...
Hasn't this topic been put to rest (hope...) with TV Directive/Regulation?

[DonH57]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

Honest answer but - What if the homeowner was nice but said the bill was 1k from some hidden damage? I think that's the real ethics question. Maybe say I'll pay for the window but nothing else? Then why even pay for the window? The homeowner still has unpaid for damage.

I find it very interesting to challenge the ethics of any situation.

I find it interesting too because what if the homeowner wasn't so ethical about the alledged hidden damages. How well do insurance adjusters investigate a case like this.

[charlie49]

A consideration in buying our house on a golf course was how often we would be hit by golf balls, not if it would happen. We are on an executive course half way down on the left, non-slice for most, side of the fairway. We would not have bought the property if it had been on the right side of the fairway. We also would have passed on property next to a tee box because of noise.

My guess is all people who purchased golf course frontage property also assumed their property may be hit by golf balls at times. We have not had any damage in nine years, but we have found a few balls in the yard. We really enjoy seeing the golfers and having a vista of the course instead of 'kissing lanais.'

[redwitch]

Russ, I don't play golf but I was taught that if something was damaged by your actions, you take responsibility, regardless whether the damage is $0.05 or $5,000. I may not be able to pay the owner the full bill at once but it would get paid.

I recently dinged a woman's car when the car door blew out of my hand. I could have easily walked away and she would have never known. I couldn't do that. The damage for this minor ding was $500 (a very large amount for my budget). It got paid.

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by redwitch

Russ, I don't play golf but I was taught that if something was damaged by your actions, you take responsibility, regardless whether the damage is $0.05 or $5,000. I may not be able to pay the owner the full bill at once but it would get paid.

I recently dinged a woman's car when the car door blew out of my hand. I could have easily walked away and she would have never known. I couldn't do that. The damage for this minor ding was $500 (a very large amount for my budget). It got paid.

I appreciate the answer Red. But you were responsible legally for the unfortunate car damage.

But there are lots of times in life that your actions cause damage but that doesn't mean you always pay for the damages. The other example I use when this thread comes up repeatedly is this:

You are driving on a highway going the speed limit - you reach up to adjust your sunglasses and they fall into your lap - by instinct you hit your brake way too hard causing the guy behind you to slam his car into yours even though he was a reasonable and legal distance behind you - Yes your actions precipitated the accident but you're not responsible legally since you didn't hit the brake intentionally - I don't think you'd pay under this circumstance would you? Why would you pay for the golf ball damage which you are not legally bound to do?

[DonH57]

I have only played two courses here in TV and the layout of play for all holes pointed away from homes. It looks like a lot of courses here are well away from homes but I haven't been on all them.

[TrudyM]

Originally Posted by ajbrown

<hearsay>

Let me say, I have no first hand knowledge, I share the story as it comes to me from a good friend who has played golf with the person telling the story. Maybe someone knows the person? I offer nothing else at this time....

My friend told me of a guy that told him <I know how that sounds >, he was being sued because his tee shot on number nine at Havana, Kenya hit a woman on a bicycle on the multi-modal. When he told me I said NO WAY, cannot be.....

Some time later (year+) he said you remember I told you about the guy being sued? I said yeah. My friend said, I saw him again and the insurance company had settled with the woman for quite a hefty sum. I still told him he was nuts but we are still good friends

The person sued also adds that the day he hit her, he felt awful and went over the fence and asked if she was OK. She said she was fine, they laughed, they talked for a bit and then she rode off very friendly.... hmmmmmmm.

</hearsay>

Just because an insurance company pays doesn't mean you were at fault.

A guy jumped infront of my car as I was making a slow left turn during a heavy rain storm and claimed I hit him. No rips to his pants or any sign of damage other than wet clothes. He was lying in the street in a way that did not support the claim and the police didn't believe him when called, as there was no scratch on my car or him. However Allstate paid him $5000 without even contacting me to get the facts and then doubled my rates. It was out and out fraud but no one gave a flying fart in space, it was easier to pay than to go to court, never mind that it just encourages people to sue for everything.

[gustavo]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

Honest answer but - What if the homeowner was nice but said the bill was 1k from some hidden damage? I think that's the real ethics question. Maybe say I'll pay for the window but nothing else? Then why even pay for the window? The homeowner still has unpaid for damage.

I find it very interesting to challenge the ethics of any situation.

I consider myself ethical. If I hit a house and caused damage, regardless of price, I would assume the homeowner would take care of it as he "assumed responsibility" when he bought it. If he asked me to pay for it I would refer him to my insurance co, for him and/or his insurance co to hash out, as I head for the next hole.

[DonH57]

Originally Posted by TrudyM

Just because an insurance company pays doesn't mean you were at fault.

A guy jumped infront of my car as I was making a slow left turn during a heavy rain storm and claimed I hit him. No rips to his pants or any sign of damage other than wet clothes. He was lying in the street in a way that did not support the claim and the police didn't believe him when called, as there was no scratch on my car or him. However Allstate paid him $5000 without even contacting me to get the facts and then doubled my rates. It was out and out fraud but no one gave a flying fart in space, it was easier to pay than to go to court, never mind that it just encourages people to sue for everything.

Unfortunately I wouldn't doubt your story given the direction our society seems to be heading. Fraud is a big cash cow now and we all have to pay for it.

[DougB]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

I appreciate the answer Red. But you were responsible legally for the unfortunate car damage.

But there are lots of times in life that your actions cause damage but that doesn't mean you always pay for the damages. The other example I use when this thread comes up repeatedly is this:

You are driving on a highway going the speed limit - you reach up to adjust your sunglasses and they fall into your lap - by instinct you hit your brake way too hard causing the guy behind you to slam his car into yours even though he was a reasonable and legal distance behind you - Yes your actions precipitated the accident but you're not responsible legally since you didn't hit the brake intentionally - I don't think you'd pay under this circumstance would you? Why would you pay for the golf ball damage which you are not legally bound to do?

I get where you're going with this Russ, but I believe that is a bad example.
If someone slams into the back of you car for whatever reason you brake, intentionally or unintentionally, he/she is not following a reasonable and legal distance and is responsible.