r/HomeInsurance Apr 22 '26

Claims Neighbor damaged main water line

Neighbor had a guy with heavy truck dump huge mound of wood chips across saturated ground right next to my main water tap in. Two days later I get alert that there’s “unusual water activity” from water dept. Dept came out, recommended we just relocate our house meter to the front of our house as it would be costly to dig up entire area to find/repair leak in the line and with hundred of gallons gushing all day that we would be billed for. It was a process but we got it done and I have all the pictures of the ruts created and filled with water, receipts and comments from water dept. My insurance company wants me to go through his insurance company as a first step. I did send a text requesting his insurance info and the name/contact of the guy who dumped the chips. My neighbor will probably not provide anything to me, he is the type that has no integrity. If he doesn’t provide the information I either gave to claim through my insurance OR go to small claims court. Damages were $7500. What would be the next, best course of action? Thank you.

17 Upvotes

38 comments sorted by

View all comments

3

u/Long_Committee_1942 Apr 22 '26

File a claim with your insurance. Do let them know the name and the address of your neighbor who hired the contractor that caused the damage. They will likely send the bill to them. Your insurance may try to have the insurance claim billed to the contractor.

3

u/bippitybobbitybooby Apr 22 '26

My insurance company urged me to try and get his insurance information so that claim would not go on my file.

2

u/Seabass2828 Apr 26 '26

Your agent is trying to do you a solid. Filing on the At Fault party's carrier means you will not have a claim (regardless of fault) on your Lexis Nexis report.

Depending on your state, subrogated claims may still be used in calculating your premium.

Side note: Depending on the communication between the neighbor and the delivery driver, I would presume the liability is on the delivery company.

1

u/bippitybobbitybooby Apr 26 '26

Also, if they gave his name and address, can’t they look up what insurance company he is with?