CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Driving around Charlotte, you know about all of the construction in the Queen City, and while the new development is good for the city's growth it can be a pain for drivers.
So what happens if your car is damaged by debris from a construction zone? Who's responsible for the repairs?
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WHAT WE FOUND
Thompson said if your vehicle is damaged in a construction zone, there is a process to file a claim on the NCDOT website.
However, if the incident took place in a work zone, Thompson said NCDOT's office will send any claims to the contractor responsible for that site. She said the contractor is responsible for reimbursements in a work zone, not NCDOT.
Thompson said that just because an incident took place in a work zone, doesn’t mean it's necessarily due to construction. This means it might be hard to prove the damage you received was actually from the construction crew.
Her best advice? Call your insurance agent and see exactly how your provider handles these incidents.
Burkhard said the best thing to do is call your agent and see if you're covered. This will save you time and a potential headache if you wait until you get the car fixed and hope for reimbursement.
"If you have full coverage on your vehicle, a flying object or an object that falls from the sky is under your comprehensive coverage," Burkhard said. "So if you have comprehensive, then you have coverage there."
NCDOT stresses drivers should remain alert when going through a construction zone. Thompson said you should use caution when approaching and driving through work zones and always avoid passing other vehicles.
Meghan Bragg: Contact Meghan Bragg at mbragg@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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