'I wanted to cry': Ontario woman to pay nearly $9,000 in damage to uninsured parked car
An Ontario woman is on the hook for nearly $9,000 in damages after her uninsured car was hit while stored in a parking lot.
Shanise Richardson of Scarborough said after a former boyfriend smashed up her previous car her premiums skyrocketed to $1,000 a month.
“That's too much money for me. I have two little kids so I couldn't afford it," said Richardson.
Richardson decided to save money by parking her car and cancelling her insurance policy. She parked her 2021 Hyundai Sonata in her building's parking lot, but last summer another car smashed into it in a hit and run incident.
"They lost control out of nowhere there was a car parked next to mine. It was a white Lexus and it got hit and that car was pushed into mine," said Richardson.
While the driver left a note on Richardson’s windshield saying he would pay for the damage, later on he refused to and cut off all communication.
With no insurance of her own she is responsible to pay for the damage which is estimated to be about $8,600.
“I’m stuck having to basically pay for my own damage even though technically the accident wasn’t my fault,” said Richardson.
Matt Hands, vice president of insurance with Ratehub.ca, a website that allows you to search for and compare insurance companies, said comprehensive insurance is worth having for anyone who is parking or storing their car.
An Ontario woman's uninsured car was hit and damaged while parked. "You have collision insurance which protects your vehicle while your driving it and you have comprehensive coverage which protects it while it's parked. Comprehensive insurance will offer coverage in case the car is vandalized or stolen,” said Hands.
An earlier version of this story said that comprehensive insurance would have covered a hit and run accident. However, Anne Marie Thomas with the Insurance Bureau of Canada reached out to CTV News and said that’s not the case.
Thomas told CTV News “Collision is the coverage that the consumer would need to have in the event that a vehicle is damaged in a hit and run. Comprehensive coverage would not have protected the consumer in this case or any hit and run.”
Hands said that comprehensive insurance is generally not expensive and that “what it affords you, is worth the cost."
Comprehensive insurance will also provide coverage for hail, fires and flooding or if a tree falls on your car. While it's not mandatory it may be required if a vehicle is leased.
Richardson said she was unaware she should have kept comprehensive insurance on her car which would have paid to repair the damage.
"I wanted to cry. I’ve learned a big lesson about the situation and comprehensive insurance," said Richardson.
Richardson is now saving her money and hopes that she will have enough to repair her car soon.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.