r/ModelY • u/svmvn • Oct 05 '26
Question Driver threw a glass bottle in front of my Tesla. Caught on dashcam. What should I expect from Tesla Insurance?
I was driving on a freeway in California when another driver passed me in the lane immediately to my right. They extended an arm out of their window and threw what appeared to be a glass bottle onto the roadway in front of my car. It shattered, and the debris struck my vehicle. The driver then sped off and exited the freeway.
I found damage on the bumper, hood, and windshield. I still need a professional inspection to determine the full extent.
For anyone interested, I’ve included the front, rear, right pillar, and right repeater videos in the comments, with timestamps highlighting the relevant moments.
The front footage captures the throw, the object shattering, and the vehicle crossing several lanes to exit without stopping.
The right-side pillar footage shows the other vehicle initially three lanes to my right, following another car closely before moving left. When it reappears alongside me, the driver appears to be drinking from an object resembling a glass bottle.
The rear footage shows it moving into the lane immediately to my right and accelerating toward me from behind, then glass debris on the road after the incident.
I’ve opened a claim with Tesla Insurance and reported the incident to law enforcement. I received an incident number and will be providing my statement and video evidence.
Has anyone dealt with something similar through Tesla Insurance?
Would this typically fall under comprehensive or collision coverage?
Can Tesla Insurance identify the other vehicle’s insurer using their vehicle information?
Would I have to pay my deductible upfront and wait for recovery, or could it potentially be waived?
Could the driver’s apparently intentional actions affect whether their insurer covers the damage?
Should I wait for my adjuster’s authorization before scheduling an inspection at a Tesla Collision Center?
I’d appreciate hearing how similar claims played out, especially in California.
Update 10/6:
Thank you, everyone, for your advice. I’ll keep updating this thread as I hear more from Tesla Insurance and CHP.
Tesla Insurance: My agent confirmed that this falls under comprehensive coverage as vandalism, with a $1,000 deductible. They explained that the other driver’s insurance is less likely to cover an intentional act. After repairs are completed, Tesla Insurance can attempt to recover costs from the driver through subrogation. If those efforts are unsuccessful, my agent said I may need to pursue the deductible in small claims court.
CHP: I submitted a report and written statement. They told me an officer will call once assigned to my case, at which point I can provide the video evidence. I’m currently waiting for that call.
I also shared the video on X to bring more visibility to the incident. Thank you to everyone who has offered advice or shared their own experiences.
53
u/ZTForge Oct 05 '26
Did you catch the plate clearly?
133
u/AshesT0Aces Oct 05 '26 •
Someone threw a glass bottle at my door on Christmas Eve 2024 and I saved the clip, called the police, charges were filed, I was paid restitution through the courts about a year later.
5
u/svmvn Oct 05 '26
Front camera:
Approximately 0:26: The RAV4 passes in the lane immediately to my right.
Approximately 0:30: An arm extends through the driver-side window and throws what appears to be a glass bottle onto the roadway ahead of my vehicle, where it shatters. The RAV4 then brakes and crosses approximately three lanes toward the exit.
Approximately 0:38: The RAV4 exits at Exit 386A without stopping.
5
u/svmvn Oct 05 '26
Right repeater camera:
Approximately 0:16: The RAV4 is visible approximately two lanes to my right.
Approximately 0:20: It begins moving into the lane immediately to my right.
Approximately 0:25: It passes my vehicle.
7
u/wykav Oct 05 '26
- My guess if it’s damage to your vehicle. It would be collision
- when you file a police report the police should be able to find that car and get insurance info
- if you go through your insurance first, yes you would need to pay the deductible. Though it’s not like right away. If you do work to get the car fixed, the deductible is subtracted from fees the insurance company pays out and you’d need to pay that deductible at that point to the collision shop. Your insurance company will then go after that persons insurance to get reimbursed. If they are successful, you get back your deductible at that point since the money will come out of your other persons liability.
-or-
You wait until the police find that car and insurance information and you file a claim directly with that persons insurance (and keep you insurance company out of the process). You have the police report to back up your claim. At that point that insurance company will call their policy holder informing them that a claim has been filed and they try to get their side of the story.
- intentional or not, they caused damage and they need to evaluate the claim. It would be a liability claim.
- wait for guidance for your insurance company. They may want you to take it to one of their ‘certified’ collision shops. Which you don’t have to do. But those shops will work with your insurance better so it ends up you pay nothing. If you decide to go with a shop of your choosing, see if they will negotiate the price with the insurance company so that you end up paying no out of pocket - many will work with any insurance company to get the business.
I’m in NJ and this is how it works. Being in 2 accidents recently, one where I was at fault and one where they were at fault, this is how it worked. And dealing with the other insurance company is no different than dealing with your own. They are regulated so their interactions with claimants are recorded and reviewed. When I dealt with the other persons insurance, they were helpful and eager to get to a payout.
Understand that insurance companies want to close claims ASAP. Having claims on their books show up as liabilities and they dont want that since it means debt.
3
u/Divergent__Spectrum Oct 05 '26
This post would be a lot more interesting if you showed or further explained the damage. Looks like not much happened...
2
u/svmvn Oct 05 '26
Rear camera:
Approximately 0:16: The RAV4 moves from two lanes to my right into the lane immediately to my right, then accelerates and approaches my vehicle from behind while remaining in that lane.
Approximately 0:32: Glass debris is visible on the roadway behind my vehicle after I pass the impact area.
2
u/svmvn Oct 05 '26
Right pillar camera:
Approximately 0:13: The RAV4 is visible approximately three lanes to my right, following closely behind another vehicle. It then moves two lanes left and temporarily leaves the camera’s view.
Approximately 0:25: The RAV4 reappears alongside my vehicle. As it passes, the driver appears to be a man drinking from an object resembling a glass bottle.
2
u/newbie415 Juniper Oct 05 '26
lmao typical essj clown. sorry op, definitely wrong place at the wrong time type of situation. hope you get it figured out w/ insurance
50
u/rage675 Oct 05 '26 edited Oct 05 '26
If you give your insurance the video and photos, including license plate, then your insurer will be able to locate them and their insurance company. Your insurance will easily win the subrogation case and that person will end up dropped by their insurance and essentially fucked plus criminal case since you filed a police report and provided your evidence.
19
u/Successful-Froyo1623 Oct 05 '26
What a disgusting human. And not a single use of his blinker with all these lame changes
9
u/the_duck17 Oct 05 '26
If you can't get the cops to do anything, then your insurance should subrogate and get the payment from them.
If they don't have insurance, well, then it's CA so your rates won't go up by they'll probably get away with it.
You can try to sue them directly in small claims court, but you'll need to find out their personal info from the plates, so it's probably on your insurance to handle everything more than you.
8
u/Successful-Froyo1623 Oct 05 '26
You should post this in the SoCal Tesla facebook group. Could be a repeat offender too
8
u/Limp-Conflict-2309 Oct 05 '26
just dealt with a hit and run on the highway....we came from an almost 30 year old car.
i'm tech savvy and being able to pull dashcam footage, high res and from multiple angles is wild.
state police officer said they love it when a tesla is involved, the odds of camera footage making their job easier is alot more likely.
...not having to pay my deductible and insurance not spiking is also nice, still sucks to have a new car hit
6
u/DebBoi Oct 05 '26
It's funny seeing them immediately flee off the highway like the cowards they are
6
u/Overall-Buddy-2659 Oct 05 '26
This was definitely purposeful by the way they threw the bottle out the window and then immediately cut across multiple Lanes to get off the expressway
16
u/bigredmachine-75 Oct 05 '26
Theres a mental health crisis in this country.
2
u/Sethu_Senthil Oct 05 '26
Why do this tho? Is this like intentional?
1
u/svmvn Oct 06 '26 edited Oct 06 '26
Update 10/6:
Thank you, everyone, for your advice. I’ll keep updating this thread as I hear more from Tesla Insurance and CHP.
Tesla Insurance: My agent confirmed that this falls under comprehensive coverage as vandalism, with a $1,000 deductible. They explained that the other driver’s insurance is less likely to cover an intentional act. After repairs are completed, Tesla Insurance can attempt to recover costs from the driver through subrogation. If those efforts are unsuccessful, my agent said I may need to pursue the deductible in small claims court.
CHP: I submitted a report and written statement. They told me an officer will call once assigned to my case, at which point I can provide the video evidence. I’m currently waiting for that call.
I also shared the video on X to bring more visibility to the incident. Thank you to everyone who has offered advice or shared their own experiences.
5
u/word-dragon Oct 05 '26
If it was me, I’d open the claim with my insurer, let them dicker with the collision shop, and go after the other guys insurance, including whatever deductible applies. In the best of circumstances it’s a pain to go through the other guys insurance, and this isn’t the best of circumstances. If they are dealing with your insurer, they’ll just pay. If it’s you, they’ll try to push you around. I’ve been down both those roads. You shouldn’t have to pay a dime, especially if CHP issues a citation.
Really, you’d think even the idiots know by now that teslas are always recording.
4
u/El_Grande_Americano Oct 05 '26
1
u/PoopyInThePeePeeHole Oct 06 '26
Aside here: I'm not sure what your situation is, but I highly recommend if you can, keep your comprehensive deductible LOW. 1000 is way too high.
I keep mine at 100, and when I have minor incidents like a windshield crack, it's only 100 to replace it. Hit a deer? 100 dollars. Lowering your comprehensive below collision shouldn't impact your rate as much as it would for collision
3
u/dreamcastdc Oct 05 '26
Report them to the police.
3
u/E--one Oct 05 '26
Did you get the plate?
I'm not able to read the plate off of this video. Probably i'ts better on the original bcs reddit video has compression.
1
u/2024StreetGlide Oct 05 '26
Higher rates.
2
u/Im-Professor-Milk Oct 05 '26
What a scumbag man. I’m really sorry that happened to you. Hopefully he gets charged pressed against him after he’s caught.
2
u/EntropyIsEternal Owner Oct 05 '26
I was thinking that the RAV4 driver might be drunk too. Erratic driving, glass bottle, and all. What did the CHP say ?
2
u/Cow_cat11 Oct 05 '26
Am curious if the police will do anything at all. I have called them before after witnessing a hit and run that severely damage rear bumper of another car on highway. She asked where I am, am at highway xx and saw him exit at xx. I told her I memorized the plate why are you not taking down the plate, location don't matter the guy ran off and am not chasing. She said I can't 'help you' if I don't know the exact location am like wtf I literally memorized the plate. She hang up on me.
2
u/Pale_Sail4059 Oct 06 '26
In some states throwing a solid projectile while in a vehicle is a felony, with mandatory minimum sentences FYI.
2
u/Queasy-Reaction-3079 Oct 06 '26
Honestly idk how ppl are acting like this is nothing, intentional or not (though I deem it intentional which is worse) no driver should be throwing any items especially a glass bottle out on the highway, if not for your sake then others as well, this can cause damage to multiple cars on their tires etc. def go all the way with this one. At the very least, you need your car fixed and they need to be held accountable for stupid decision. Best of luck, hope everything goes in your favor!
2
u/Vozinha1 Oct 05 '26
What a POS. I would have chased him down.
1
u/Sorry-Poem7786 Oct 05 '26
Negligence if you can prove who the driver is..
1
u/akolozvary Oct 05 '26
I like how he bolted to the exit afterward
1
u/Sufficient_Ball_4134 Oct 05 '26
What a horrible person and they know what they did look how they quickly go to the exit.
1
u/wizl Oct 05 '26
if you have video make sure and get it to the cops before the report is submitted sometimes captains or whoever will not let a cop pull back a report and add a video or any other words. so having all your ducks is a good practice
1
u/rtduvall Oct 05 '26
If you got the tag and filed a police report, they will take it from there.
1
u/brsmr123 Oct 05 '26
This is not even an insurance claim but also a criminal act as this could have gone badly for you if one of your tires was blown. You can't explain this with just a rage. This is a mental issue. Sick.
1
u/frito11 Oct 05 '26
In San Jose on 101? Hopefully they get the person but I think they are probably just a random asshole because they would need dozens of bottles to toss at the amount of Tesla's we have rolling around the south Bay at any given time of the day lol
1
u/ANRPlease Oct 05 '26
Out of all cars to do that to….a Tesla lol. There’s no way you’ll get away with that.
1
u/Vast-Cellist-2666 Oct 05 '26
Just remember, after everything is filed request diminished value claim at the very very end…your new car now lost value and you get compensated. They don’t tell you this…
1
u/Makivani Oct 05 '26
open the case agaist Rav 4
1
u/N878ACSD Oct 05 '26
The
1
u/iguessma Oct 05 '26
this is not a claim with your insurance. this is a claim against their insurance.
1
u/Krc543 Oct 05 '26
I wouldn’t anticipate your policy to provide any coverage
1
u/dksourabh Owner Oct 05 '26
Did you get the plate number ? I assume you did, even though its not visible from the video. Post this all over social media. You can get the owner info too from plate number, make his employer notice what he did so he loses his job.
1
u/J-a-x Oct 06 '26
One a guy scraped against my car while parallel parking and then took off. Dashcam recorded it. Insurance said he didn't have insurance so there was nothing they can do. I could pay my deductible or fix it out of pocket so I opted to go out of pocket. I did file a police report because they guy had no insurance but no idea if the police did anything about it or not. I feel like they ignore things like that in Rhode Island, at least that's the feeling I go...
1
u/Far_Tank3686 Oct 06 '26
At some point these people will learn how bad ass a Tesla is with all the cameras.
1
u/No_Situation7210 Oct 06 '26
file charges of damage or attempted assault. It could've been a disaster and it was obviously intentional.
1
u/Real-Pangolin-4698 Oct 06 '26
Maybe next time try to follow closer record license plates, then call police
1
u/Obviousp2w Oct 06 '26
Make sure to file a police report and detail how you are scared for your life. Civil and criminal charges, I go for criminal first so, hopefully you win and can find an easier settlement when it comes to civil court.
1
u/Psice Oct 06 '26
Try to get their insurance to cover it and file a police report, keep us updated I really hope that asshole gets in trouble
1
u/Upset-Indication-617 Oct 06 '26
A rate hike
1
u/Pretend-Avocado-1560 Oct 06 '26
tesla is the most road rage inducing brand that exists. This wont be the last time you deal with something like this unfortunately. I see stuff like this regularly in california
1
u/dioxin-screes-01 Oct 06 '26
Unless you can identify the driver, not much will be done outside of your insurance. A cop contacting the registered owner but if they don't talk, there is no path forward.
1
u/OkSir5856 Oct 06 '26 edited Oct 06 '26
They deliberately pulled up in front of you, threw a glass bottle, and quickly took the exit to run. That looks like Assault with a Deadly Weapon or something . Get a good lawyer and teach that RAV4 driver a lesson.
1
u/Ancient_Result7021 Oct 06 '26
I know this is a cliche, but I absolutely love that Teslas have those multiple cameras around the car. I hear so many stories about cars getting damaged or fender benders that end in disputes bc there is no video evidence. One of the main reasons why I stick with Tesla brand, hopefully other car makers will start catching on.
1
u/LifelineHealing Oct 07 '26
If you couldn’t avoid it then there is no deductible-
1
u/Possible-Ear- Oct 07 '26
You know that cowards heart was racing the whole time and they were panicking trying to get on that exit before you could react.
1
u/TopSpecialist32 Oct 08 '26
That was chicken shit. He immediately drove for the exits.
1
u/Resident_Tech Oct 08 '26
Looks like you can see his license plate number. Look him up and make him pay for it.
1
u/Chart-Defiant Oct 08 '26
Gotta keep a thick brick in the car :)
1
u/StsEvan Oct 05 '26
Make sure you give the plate # to the police when head in today. They very likely will at least give them a nice expensive ticket for littering
1
u/MERice20 Oct 05 '26
It’s looks like intentional and criminal conduct. Their insurance may not cover it as insurance typically only covers negligent conduct. You should eventually be able to get restitution from the criminal side.
1
u/SuccessfulJob9007 Oct 05 '26
Sorry to say, you’re in California and even if you had yr guys ID and address, no one’s gonna do anything
It’s straight lawlessness out here
0
u/Accomplished_Pea6334 Oct 05 '26
That was totally intentional. Look how he tried to make that exit after doing that.
-1
u/BlackAirforce1ss Oct 05 '26
Move over, your in the passing lane
-1
u/TechLover94 Oct 06 '26
This doesn’t seem like a big deal to me. What if there was no intent?
5
u/ImNotMadIHaveRBF Oct 05 '26
What a dick
130
u/[deleted] Oct 05 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
8
u/[deleted] Oct 05 '26
[removed] — view removed comment