When the Fourth of July rolled around this year, my neighborhood was filled with the familiar sounds of fireworks. As a patriotic American, I don’t mind the occasional boom and crackle of fireworks, but when they start damaging my property, that’s when I draw the line. Unfortunately, that’s precisely what happened this year, and I was left with a damaged car and no idea of how to handle the situation.
The Incident
On the night of July 4th, I parked my car on the street in front of my house. I was inside, enjoying the holiday with my family when I heard a loud explosion. I immediately knew it was a firework, but I didn’t think much of it at the time. It wasn’t until the following day that I went outside to find that a firework had damaged my car.
The damage was extensive. The front windshield was shattered, the hood was dented, and there were burn marks all over the car. I was in shock and didn’t know what to do. I immediately called the police to report the incident, but they could not do much since they didn’t know who was responsible for the damage.
Dealing with Insurance
The next step was to contact my insurance company. I was worried they wouldn’t cover the damage since fireworks caused it, but I was relieved to find out that they would. However, there was a catch. My insurance policy had a $500 deductible, meaning I would have to pay that amount before they would cover the rest of the damage.
I was hesitant to pay the deductible, especially since I didn’t know who was responsible for the damage. But I knew I had to get my car fixed, so I paid the deductible and filed a claim with my insurance company.
Tracking Down the Responsible Party
While my insurance company was handling the claim, I tried to track down the person responsible for the damage. I talked to my neighbors, but no one seemed to know anything. I even went door-to-door, asking if anyone had seen anything, but no one had.
I was starting to feel like I was hitting a dead end when I remembered that my neighbor across the street had a security camera. I asked him if he could check the footage from the night of the incident, and he agreed.
To my surprise, the footage showed that a group of kids had been setting off fireworks on the street, and one of them had accidentally thrown a firework at my car. I identified the kids and their parents and approached them about the damage.
Resolution
The parents were apologetic and offered to pay for the damage to my car. I was relieved that the situation was resolved, but I couldn’t help but feel frustrated. I knew that the kids didn’t mean to damage my car, but I also knew that they should have been more responsible.
Ultimately, I fixed my car, and the responsible party paid for the damage. But, the incident made me realize that fireworks can be dangerous and that we must be more careful when setting them off.
Conclusion
Fireworks can be a fun and exciting way to celebrate the Fourth of July, but they can also be dangerous. My car was damaged by a firework, which reminded me that we need to be responsible when using them. If you’re going to set off fireworks, be sure to do so safely and legally, and always be aware of your surroundings. And don’t forget to check your insurance policy to make sure you’re covered in case of