Damage claim
A damage claim asks the carrier to pay for harm to the car during transit. Note the damage on the delivery report, photograph it, and follow the deadline in the contract and in federal law. RideShipper does not decide the claim.
Key facts
- Claim filing floor
- Not less than 9 months, for a carrier subject to 49 USC 14706
- Source: govinfo.gov
The sources are listed on this page.
A damage claim is the demand you make after delivery for loss or injury to the car. The path starts at the curb. Note the damage on the delivery condition report before you sign. Take photos. Then notify the carrier named on the bill of lading, in the way the contract requires, and keep a copy. The broker can help you find that carrier. The broker is not automatically the company that pays.
What the statute sets
For a carrier subject to 49 USC 14706, the company may not set a claim-filing period shorter than 9 months, or a lawsuit period shorter than 2 years from the written disallowance. Contracts also tell you to note damage at delivery. Those are two different clocks. A short note deadline and the federal claim period are both reasons to read the paper the day the car arrives, not a week later. This is a floor in the statute, not a promise about your shipment. If the company says you are too late, ask a lawyer or file with FMCSA rather than guessing.
FMCSA's auto-transporter advisory gives a complaint line, 1-888-368-7238, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The advisory was last updated on 10 February 2015. A complaint is not the same as a claim against the carrier. RideShipper does not adjudicate damage and does not insure the car.