Damage to truck roof in parkade

sharpstick · #1 03-23-2018, 10:24 AM

Long story short:
Took my truck to a detailing place in the basement of the parkade in 8th Ave Place. Sign says 6 foot, 11 inches. I stop to measure, look out my sunroof and I have 2-3 inches clearance... Perfect. Drive down to the 5th floor, just in front of the car detailer and I hear a nasty grinding, rubbing. I stop, stand on my running board to look and sure enough my roof is rubbing against the clamp on one of the pipes. I back up and try to avoid that clamp and move forward to where the detailers tell me to park and I hit another clamp, this one a bit lower.
I am fuming, discuss this with the car detailers which cannot hardly speak English. I then go up to talk to the person at the front desk of the building who gives me a name and number. I have been talking to him this week and he has been saying he will look into it. I have pictures, I explain to him that those clamps are no way 6 foot 11 inches and offer to take him down to show him exactly where this happened.
I received an email from him last night stating that if I haven't done so, to contact my insurance company...
Is he suggesting I go through my insurance and make a claim? I don't want to make a claim as I don't want my premiums to go up and this is not my fault.
I responded to him asking for an explanation on what they are going to do or if he is suggesting I make a claim through my insurance company... waiting for a response.

Any thoughts on what I should/need to be doing?

To those that are wondering, I drive a 2017 Ford 350. Stock tires and no lift kit...

Thanks,
SS

Kanonfodder · #2 03-23-2018, 10:33 AM

i have seen this happen to friends before, in their case the fire supression system was actually lower than the height indicated on the bump sign as you enter the parkade, the parkade or management company eventually ponied up.

Trochu · #3 03-23-2018, 10:35 AM

Maybe contact the building's management company, or is that who you have been talking to? As with so many things these days, it seems basic responsibility is no longer a viable option and lawyers are loving life. Might have to contact one, or threaten to do so, if you want to take it that far.

CaberTosser · #4 03-23-2018, 11:13 AM

Pictures tell a thousand words. Go to the parkade with a friend, a tape measure and either a laser level or a plumb bob. Measure the noted pipes, hangars and clamps, etc and do it on video. Take some still photos as well. You don't want those pipes to be raised by their fire sprinkler contractor prior to gathering your proof. If they do that you might be hooped, at the very least things would be made more difficult by such an action. Also take photos of their clearance signage.

Dean2 · #5 03-23-2018, 11:22 AM

Caber is spot on!!. Once you get all the documented proof you have two choices, file a small claims action, no lawyer needed and better off if you represent yourself anyhow, or get an experienced debt collector like Ken from here on AO to help you put pressure on the building to pay up. They are clearly liable so as long as you have good pictures of entrance, pipes clamps etc you will eventually win..

bobtodrick · #6 03-23-2018, 11:32 AM

Couple of things:
-have you actually measured the height of the opening?
-is the ramp on any kind of incline
It may indeed be 6'11", but if their if the approach way is angled, and you have long wheelbase truck, though your vehicle may not be 6'11" high, the approach angle may cause it to exceed that measurement.

Jack Hardin · #7 03-23-2018, 11:44 AM

Just an FYI on this subject. I had a Ford F150 (factory configuration) and drove it into the underground parkade that is located in the rear of the building at the NW corner of Memorial Drive and 10th st NW Calgary. The clearance was ok going in but the exit was lower and it wouldn't fit. fortunately, I caught it in time and had to turn around and go out the entrance. My point being is, don't always count on the height given on the sign at the entrance.

ETOWNCANUCK · #8 03-23-2018, 11:37 AM

Why guys with big trucks insist they can go where ever a car can, stock or not is beyond me.

Sometimes just because you can fit,
Doesn't mean you should sit.

Tactical Lever · #9 03-23-2018, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ETOWNCANUCK

Why guys with big trucks insist they can go where ever a car can, stock or not is beyond me.

Sometimes just because you can fit,
Doesn't mean you should sit.

Ridiculous comment. The sign is there to let you know how much room there is. Not everyone has a smart car.

Just what should he have done, measured every step along the way?

Leave the truck in the entrance?

Look for parkades with 10' of clearance to be on the safe side?

Maybe one day, when they design all the parkades to fit cars with 48" tall roofs you'll find your Buick just won't fit. And who will be to blame?

parfleche · #10 03-23-2018, 03:24 PM

Like Jack hardin said <, Get out and check for yourself, I trucked 37 years in B.C Alberta Sask and beyond IF you believe every sign that tells you height , width or other . The onus is on you to verify it is so! Same as water depth and diving in the dark , Check it out !

ETOWNCANUCK · #11 03-23-2018, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tactical Lever

Ridiculous comment. The sign is there to let you know how much room there is. Not everyone has a smart car.

Just what should he have done, measured every step along the way?

Leave the truck in the entrance?

Look for parkades with 10' of clearance to be on the safe side?

Maybe one day, when they design all the parkades to fit cars with 48" tall roofs you'll find your Buick just won't fit. And who will be to blame?

I guess you missed the FX4 as my avatar.

Thats ok.

Can't expect you to see it, if you are unable to see out your windshield that you are about to put your truck into someplace it ought not to go.

Like the possibility of hitting something, you maybe should have seen.

Of course park your truck in the parkade,
but some things may be lower than they appear.

As one other commenter said,
Do you trust every sign and every measurement you see?

hilt134 · #12 03-23-2018, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ETOWNCANUCK

Why guys with big trucks insist they can go where ever a car can, stock or not is beyond me.

Sometimes just because you can fit,
Doesn't mean you should sit.

Bingo

EZM · #13 03-23-2018, 07:36 PM

1) The call to the insurance company should go to the parkade owner/operator's insurance company, not yours. The parkade operators needs to make that call. Your insurance isn't paying for their negligence, error or oversight in not properly signing the clearance heights. They will also not act as your advocate and waste thier time to collect your money becuase they don't get anything out of the deal. Your insurance company, in fact, will likely record this incident and could use that information against you in identifying you as having a 3rd party no fault claim which could lead them to raise your premiums as you may be deemed to present a higher risk to them. These guys are unscrupulous. the less they know, the less ammo they get to play games with you. Maybe I need tinfoil on this one - but ALL these guys (insurance companies) are shrew businessmen - they didn't get rich doing you any favours.

2) Never trust a clearance sign - so many reasons mentioned, grades, slopes, re-surfacing, post construction piping, sprinklers, ducts, whatever. My truck is about 6'-6" and even at a clearance of 7ft - I am diligent and have, in fact, had a few pipes barely clear in more than a number of parkades leading me to believe this is not an uncommon issue/problem.

3) Like others said - take photos of the sign at the entrance, the place of impact (with a measurement device in the picture), pictures of the damage and similar pictures of your trucks height (also with a tape measure in the picture). Get evidence.

Sorry about your incident - that would suck and it could be a pain in the butt for you to finally collect your settlement. Good news is that nobody was hurt.

HunterDave · #14 03-23-2018, 11:39 AM

I'm not an expert but.......Ask him for his insurance policy number.....kind of like exchanging info at the scene of an accident. Take the info to your insurance broker and have them open a claim and let them sort it out. In the mean time, I'd be reporting it to my insurance broker so they could advise you and put it on file. I wouldn't open a claim until you have his info because you only have 30 days to proceed with the claim and then it might have to be covered by your insurance. At least with my insurance it's that way.

Dewey Cox · #15 03-23-2018, 09:17 PM

How tall is your truck?
I noticed that’s one piece of info left out.

Tactical Lever · #16 03-24-2018, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dewey Cox

How tall is your truck?
I noticed that’s one piece of info left out.

I looked it up, and the tallest model of his truck would be 6' 8". The heavier versions would sit a little lower, and any load, such as fluids, and passengers would bring it lower yet.

Mackinaw · #17 03-23-2018, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharpstick

Long story short:
Took my truck to a detailing place in the basement of the parkade in 8th Ave Place. Sign says 6 foot, 11 inches. I stop to measure, look out my sunroof and I have 2-3 inches clearance... Perfect. Drive down to the 5th floor, just in front of the car detailer and I hear a nasty grinding, rubbing. I stop, stand on my running board to look and sure enough my roof is rubbing against the clamp on one of the pipes. I back up and try to avoid that clamp and move forward to where the detailers tell me to park and I hit another clamp, this one a bit lower.
I am fuming, discuss this with the car detailers which cannot hardly speak English. I then go up to talk to the person at the front desk of the building who gives me a name and number. I have been talking to him this week and he has been saying he will look into it. I have pictures, I explain to him that those clamps are no way 6 foot 11 inches and offer to take him down to show him exactly where this happened.
I received an email from him last night stating that if I haven't done so, to contact my insurance company...
Is he suggesting I go through my insurance and make a claim? I don't want to make a claim as I don't want my premiums to go up and this is not my fault.
I responded to him asking for an explanation on what they are going to do or if he is suggesting I make a claim through my insurance company... waiting for a response.

Any thoughts on what I should/need to be doing?

To those that are wondering, I drive a 2017 Ford 350. Stock tires and no lift kit...

Thanks,
SS

im sure if you check you will find a sign that says use car park at own risk most do.

mack

AB2506 · #18 03-24-2018, 10:41 AM

FYI. I won't take my F150 into Bankers Hall parkade again. Going down was no issue, but the exit ramp and exit was. The exit ramp is such a tight turn I thought for sure I was going to leave paint on the walls. Then at the exit before the ticket reader, they had set up a sort of slalom (to slow cars down?). Again, I thought that I would be leaving paint on one of the metal posts. Not sure why they would make such tight turns on that slalom. There were no signs saying "No trucks". That exit ramp from the lower levels is very tight.

tractor1971 · #19 03-24-2018, 12:36 PM

Without being too philosophical, there is a lot of people stating that signs cannot be trusted, enter at own risk. A sign is there for a reason, and like everything in life, carries accountability.

It will be foolish of me disbelieving stop signs, one way signs, speed signs etc. Or is it not?

"Why guys with big trucks insist they can go where ever a car can, stock or not is beyond me."

"My point being is, don't always count on the height given on the sign at the entrance"

"IF you believe every sign that tells you height , width or other . The onus is on you to verify it is so! Same as water depth and diving in the dark , Check it out !"

Dewey Cox · #20 03-24-2018, 03:29 PM

Someone should take a tape measure to the truck in question.

tirebob · #21 03-24-2018, 03:36 PM

The roof of my truck is higher in the middle than it is at the door... when you measured I would assume you measured at the door. This might be your difference...