Borrow my tractor......

Bird · Dec 14, 2003

( I stopped to change a flat tire for a woman )

Dieselsmoke, Thursday afternoon I went and picked up my 14 year old grandson from school (he and some friends had stayed a couple of hours after school was out to work together on a special project), and there was a male school teacher rolling around on the asphalt in the parking lot trying to change a flat tire. It didn't take long to see that he didn't know what he was doing, so we went and helped him. He had two jacks and didn't know how to use either of them; the scissor jack that came with the car worked just fine in the spot it's supposed to be placed, but he was trying to get it way back under the car from the front and using a bottle jack under a front bumper support and I was afraid he was going to hurt himself. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif And he had a spare tire laying out already, but it was on a 6 bolt wheel and the car had the 5 bolt pattern. And it turned out to be a borrowed car instead of his own. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif At least the "compact" spare was in the back of the car, so we could get him on his way. Of course the guy probably knows a lot of things I don't, and I understand he's a good teacher (and seemed like a nice guy, too), but it still amazes me to find someone who had to be in his 50s and not know how to change a flat tire.

And of course when I see someone like that who obviously needs some help, I never even stop to think about the possible liability. I guess I should, but at my age, I probably won't change. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

PineRidge · Dec 14, 2003

I no longer lend my ride out. That way if it breaks I know who broke it. Plus I don't have to worry about liability threats. I won't even let the 4 wheelers on the property any longer since I heard tell of an accident and a following lawsuit that happened close by.

art · Dec 14, 2003

A dealer legally can't loan equipment to you as there is no insuranace coverage for him. They have to be rented in order to be covered.

Taylortractornut · Dec 14, 2003

I had an old Allic chalmers 10 foot disk or the rear section out of one. A friend wanted to use it for his friends horse field. So I took it ovver there and dropped it off and stopped by they were pulling it in the transport position with the discs hinged straight. I showed them how to pull the pins then back up to make tha angle agressive then repin. I came back and they were runing in 4th gear in high on his 2000 Yanmar. His oldest son fell off the tractor fender and the oaut side blade rolled over his arm. It broke his wrist and when he came over wanting me to pay his dr. bill. I told him that I had given him that disk. I didnt have anything in the disk. His lawyer called Ijust told hime that the tractor said no riders, and that he owned the disk at the time. I was lucky.
One thing is when a person borrows something they dont know what a strange noise is. I also hada neighbor ask if he could borrow one of my backhoes. I told him I was available id go down to do his work. He told me nevermind then. I told him I wouldnt charge anything he still told me to forget about it. Later that day i was getting the retal stores hoe out of the remains of a beaver pond. He had drug the whole machine back there with the hoe to do an excavators job. I knew then why he didnt want me to see the job. He still wont speak to me but I figure Im just as well off Ive even offered to sell him the spare hoe but he said if he couldnt borrow it he wouldnt buy it.

40Kchicks · Dec 14, 2003

I won't even let the 4 wheelers on the property any longer since I heard tell of an accident and a following lawsuit that happened close by. 

Pineridge.
That’s just the way an old friend of mine is. She and her husband have been pretty successful. They own some beautiful property in the costal foothills in Oregon. They have several horses that I was admiring one day. I asked if she had anyone to ride with and she said that she used to but everything they owned was paid off and they were too afraid that someone would get hurt on their property or horse and they would lose their assets so she doesn’t let others ride there anymore.

It’s really sad when a person can’t enjoy their own place with others because the owner is responsible for others actions. When I bought my farm I covered everything with a million dollar umbrella policy. I don’t want to live my life constantly worrying about losing my shirt. I hope I never have to use it but if it comes to that I hope it will be enough.

Junkman · Dec 14, 2003

A bunch of years ago I upped my umbrella policy to 2 million... I was the only person that the agent had that had a 2 million dollar umbrella policy. I just noticed last week that it had been reduced to 1 million and I called the agent. He told me that the company no longer offers the higher coverage. I have a feeling that at sometime in the past year, that they had to pay out that amount for the first time and decided that it wasn't worth the small premium that they were charging for it vs. the additional risk... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif... I am now trying to find it elsewhere.....

PineRidge · Dec 14, 2003

I totally agree. I used to ride dirt bike myself back in my younger years so I have nothing personal against motorcycles, 4-wheelers, or even horse back riders. But if a horse steps in a ground hog hole and throws the rider and he breaks his neck on your property you are the man responsible. That is because no one in this world today wants to take responsibility for his or her own actions. It's a crime but thats what it has come down to. Only the lawyers come out ahead. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

JJT · Dec 14, 2003

Junkman, Try GEICO, I have a reasonably priced $5MM excess liability umbrella with them, (although it went up significantly last year due to experience, ie claims). It's still under $300/yr. JJT

soarkrebel · Dec 15, 2003

I learned my lesson young when it comes to loaning or letting someone drive my machines.
I was 18 and worked very hard to make the payments and insurance on a 78 trans am. i bought it cause i had noone to buy it for me. i let a friend drive it with me in it and he wrapped it around a tree! my cherry T/A was totaled!
since then i don't let anybody( except my wife of course) drive my stuff. if i tear it up so be it. folks don't respect it if they ain't got there money and sweat in it.

I work to hard to have something to let fols tear it up. but i will help them if they need it and appreciate it.

cowboydoc · Dec 15, 2003

I hate to tell you tractornut but the liability only covers liability. You can still be sued for your personal assets as well. It's called punitive damages. When you get sued they will sue you for both your insurance and your personal stuff. If they can prove negligence on your part in any way they can claim punitive damages as well which insurance doesn't pay.