ANY comments and advice is welcome.
We've had two people drive through our property, so I am very familiar with this situation, at least in PA.
In each case, they;
1. Left the road
2. Drove through first fence
3. Across pasture
4. Through second fence
5. Across our back yard.
6. Through third fence
7. Across second pasture
8. Through fourth fence.
9. Hit horse trailer(s)
10. Pushed horse trailer(s) into barn.
in the first situation, the guy claimed he was trying to avoid a deer. He came within inches of being decapitated by the post on our GN trailer. Neither he nor his girlfriend were hurt. They walked away.
In the second situation, the driver had a medical emergency. He was actually driving home from the hospital where they told him they could't find anything wrong with him. He was unconscious when the EMTs arrived.
The total distance from where they left the road to where they hit the horse trailer was close to 500 yards.
First guy had Progressive, the second had State Farm.
I took plenty of pictures of the damage they did.
I hired someone to fix the barn damage. They also re-did the fence posts. I could have redid the posts, but didn't. Since I use HorseGuard Fencing, I strung new tape. The contractor who fixed the barn and redid the fencing submitted an estimate to me which I sent to the driver's insurance company.
I made a list of all the supplies I needed to fix the fences AND the yard, e.g., topsoil, grass seed, etc. I got prices from HorseGuard Fencing and Lowes websites, including the 6% PA sales tax. I also guessed at how many hours all this work would take and paid my self $40/hour (this was several years ago). I submitted this (material, hours and tax) to the insurance company in a PDF created from a spreadsheet in which I documented everything, e.g., date, description, cost, etc.. They didn't blink an eye or ask for receipts. They sent me a check for my time and materials plus the contractors estimate. I think they knew a contractor would charge A LOT more than I did. I paid the contractor.
For the horse trailers, I found three sites on the Internet and got prices for the year and model trailers we had. They paid me the middle price. The prices were all close.
I called 911 when each event occurred. The same people and equipment arrived on scene as for a traffic accident. Fire, police (state) and EMTs. Many who were at the first accident, were also at the second. The police called the tow truck operator. They hauled the car away. The insurance companies paid to have the horse trailers (GN in the first accident, 2 BP (yes 2) in the second) moved so we could use the driveway at the barn. When their adjuster determined it they were totaled, they paid to haul them away.
Personally, I'd make getting the Jeep out of your property the problem of the driver's insurance company. But I'd make it plain you want it removed while the ground is frozen, to minimize further damage to your property. I would not use my equipment to move anything.
We did not contact a lawyer, nor did I play any games with the vehicles or people. Even though your situation appears to deliberate damage, I'd still try and work through the driver's insurance company. If he doesn't have coverage, your homeowners insurance should cover it. Frankly, I'd keep the lawyers out it, if possible.
We, and the drivers, were very lucky the injuries were minor and it was just property damage. As I mentioned, the first people could have been decapitated. The horses could have been hit, in the pasture or the barn.
I's also notify YOUR homeowners insurance so they know what is going on and in the event they have to get involved.
Feel free to PM if you have questions. If it'd help, we could also talk.
