So I normally hold my hands up if I have ever had a bump (couple times as a new pass)
However as you get experience, you develop the knowledge to avoid such incidents however just had a phone call from the boss saying insurance company have informed them of an incident I was involved in (as I was recorded as the driver) …. 8 weeks ago!!!
Surely I would know about it if it happened but 8 weeks ago seems too long to even remember….
I know one lad that was side swiped by a car and wasn’t even aware until a claim came in and they saw the footage of car driver on their phone and veered lanes however I’m clueless of this process thinking it’s something I have done. Anyone had a similar situation?
If you’re in a hire or contract/lease vehicle it’s possible it could take that long. Their insurance would have to contact the registered keeper which would be that hire company who would then take their time to reply and then the insurance company would slowly turn cogs until it eventually sent a letter to your boss.
You may not even be aware of it, especially if you’ve done something like clip a car with the back end of your trailer on your blindside when turning a corner.
When you’re driving something 44 tonnes and 15 metres long it’s definitely possible to hit something without realising.
Kieran1706:
So I normally hold my hands up if I have ever had a bump (couple times as a new pass)
However as you get experience, you develop the knowledge to avoid such incidents however just had a phone call from the boss saying insurance company have informed them of an incident I was involved in (as I was recorded as the driver) …. 8 weeks ago!!!
Surely I would know about it if it happened but 8 weeks ago seems too long to even remember….
I know one lad that was side swiped by a car and wasn’t even aware until a claim came in and they saw the footage of car driver on their phone and veered lanes however I’m clueless of this process thinking it’s something I have done. Anyone had a similar situation?
Deny all knowledge. Let the insurance firms wrangle it out.
I was reported for ripping the door off of a mail van in Barton Under Needwood back in the eighties, the fact that I was actually tipping tarmac in Sheffield at the stated time of the ‘mishap’ as my delivery note proved did have some influence on the outcome!
Company will know where you went on a particular day, check the time and precise place of the alleged incident, you’ll know if you would be there at that time and if it possibly is you.
I had this many years ago when ‘‘0800 drop this driver in the crapper’’ was a thing, boss called me in, you hit a car on Kew Bridge, ok what time of day was this boss? mid morning…i immediately knew i was in the clear because only used Kew Bridge going south early morning to avoid the London Boroughs scam, coming back after deliveries would cross nearer the centre of the city for better er sightseeing (back in the days when the fairer maidens used to dress rather better than now), so next question , where did i go that day boss? checks schedule…Grimethorpe, we’ll forget about that then.
Many years ago I had a similar situation where it was alleged I’d hit a car on Barton bridge. Although I knew I hadn’t done anything the company shoved a bunch of insurance forms in front of me to fill out. So I wrote on them “I have no knowledge of this incident”
Eight weeks is a long time, but not unheard of after tracing vehicle/driver etc. The first thing I’d do is consult my diary (which you obviously keep) to ascertain that you were actually driving the vehicle allegedly involved on the day in question. I’d then be asking for any proof that I was involved in said accident, dashcam footage, eyewitness etc. Finally I’d give serious thought to getting legal representation if as you say you have no knowledge of the alleged incident.
obviously if your a serial killer, or similar and fear being tracked don’t turn it on, or turn it off, but personally have this on then delete the history from time to time, as does show you your movements or rather your phones movement… and in cases like this pretty useful.
wonder how many suddently realise WTF didnt know it had that, and if its on, might be a partner keep tabs on you lol…
the maoster:
Eight weeks is a long time, but not unheard of after tracing vehicle/driver etc. The first thing I’d do is consult my diary (which you obviously keep) to ascertain that you were actually driving the vehicle allegedly involved on the day in question. I’d then be asking for any proof that I was involved in said accident, dashcam footage, eyewitness etc. Finally I’d give serious thought to getting legal representation if as you say you have no knowledge of the alleged incident.
I too keep a diary, but no need:
Driver Tacho card should have reg number of vehicle driven on that date.
It should also record whether vehicle was moving at time of incident.
8 weeks will still be on the vast majority of cards.
Franglais:
8 weeks will still be on the vast majority of cards.
And even if it isn’t, there’ll be info on the analysis software from the tacho download.
But neither of those will tell you if you were in Scotland or England 8 weeks ago. I imagine a high percentage of us on here were actively driving their lorry 8 weeks ago, but almost none were in the vicinity of the accident.
We’ve got one of these claims going on at the moment. Got a phone call at 2pm to say one of our trucks had damaged a parked car allegedly at 8am that morning in Bingham. Apparantly he had damaged the rear quarter of a Kangoo van with his tail swing. Though it was a bit fishy when the chap was on the phone, because where he said his van was parked it would have been impossible to have hit him, and got quite shirty when I ‘explained’ to him this, knowing the estate we load out of almost daily. Then he starts threatening to call plod and getting the driver breathalysed Go for it I said…
At the time incident was supposed to have happened, the tracker showed vehicle on A1 north of Newark. We rang the driver who knew nothing about it (well he wouldn’t because he hadn’t). driver came straight back to yard, no sign of damage. Our insurers were straight on it and sent an assessor out who compared photos of the damage to the car (height, position direction etc) and reported that in no way was it possible that the rear end of the trailer could have inflicted such damage. Insurers rejected claim.
Case closed we thought, but no, they’re trying to still claim. They must have a no win no fee solicitor on the job who’ve got nothing to lose to keep trying, so now it going to Court!
A couple of years ago we had a claim stating the reg number and driver’s name. The driver had left about 6 months before. Also had one try and claim that we had rolled back into his car at temporary lights and claiming for whiplash!! . Again total ■■■■■■■■ and despite 3rd party threatening court action, they mysteriously withdrew the claim a week before the court date
Franglais:
8 weeks will still be on the vast majority of cards.
And even if it isn’t, there’ll be info on the analysis software from the tacho download.
But neither of those will tell you if you were in Scotland or England 8 weeks ago. I imagine a high percentage of us on here were actively driving their lorry 8 weeks ago, but almost none were in the vicinity of the accident.
True, but no-one is saying that a tacho record or diary is as good as tracking device are they?
If you have no tracker records then they might be an aid. They arent a silver bullet. Combined with Windrushs suggestion:
windrush:
I was reported for ripping the door off of a mail van in Barton Under Needwood back in the eighties, the fact that I was actually tipping tarmac in Sheffield at the stated time of the ‘mishap’ as my delivery note proved did have some influence on the outcome!
Go for it I said…