My Neighbor Damaged My House and Has No Insurance

asksheri
Dear Sherri,

My neighbor was power washing his home as he does every spring and this year he managed to hit my house and damaged a section of my brand new wood siding. Well, he had the decency to come to my front door and inform me of the damages. He apologized but also advised me he no longer has insurance and he is not willing to pay for the repairs. OMG!!!!! What can I do? What is my recourse? Please help me.
– Going Ballistic in Queens

Dear Going Ballistic in Queens,

You have several options. One is to rent a bulldozer, go over to your neighbor’s house and… No you better not do that one. So your first real option is to submit a claim through your homeowner’s insurance policy. However, if you do this, your carrier will pay for the cost of the repairs, but you will be responsible for the deductible and it will be a claim against your policy. Your second option is to sue the no good, I mean your neighbor and go to court. In New York you can sue through Small Claims Court if damages are $5,000 or lower without involving a lawyer. Otherwise, you will need to consult an attorney to sue in civil court. Of course, I’m not a lawyer, but I say, ‘’GIVE HIM THE CHAIR!”
Good Luck.
Sherri

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