My Girlfriends new car was damaged by road stone chippings pouring from a tipper lorry on the A24 Northbound in Sussex last Monday. Whilst overtaking she was pelted with a barrage of stones causing dozens of chips and dings to the front of her car. Other cars nearby suffered the same fate!
The driver had obviously just tipped, but never bothered to fasten his rear tailgate, which allowed the remainder of the last load to spill onto the road and spray vehicles travelling behind. Result, hundreds of pounds of damage to following cars, all for the sake of a quick sweep out or (even easier) just fasten the bloody tailgate!
Efforts to alert the driver were fruitless, and having called the company transport manager, he was evasive and basically just shrugged it off. He said he’d talk to the driver and let us know what next, but needless to say, we’re still waiting.
We should have reported it to the police, but didn’t at the time. So is it to late now, or can I deal with it some other way.
Lennoxtown:
My Girlfriends new car was damaged by road stone chippings pouring from a tipper lorry on the A24 Northbound in Sussex last Monday. Whilst overtaking she was pelted with a barrage of stones causing dozens of chips and dings to the front of her car. Other cars nearby suffered the same fate!
The driver had obviously just tipped, but never bothered to fasten his rear tailgate, which allowed the remainder of the last load to spill onto the road and spray vehicles travelling behind. Result, hundreds of pounds of damage to following cars, all for the sake of a quick sweep out or (even easier) just fasten the bloody tailgate!
Efforts to alert the driver were fruitless, and having called the company transport manager, he was evasive and basically just shrugged it off. He said he’d talk to the driver and let us know what next, but needless to say, we’re still waiting.
We should have reported it to the police, but didn’t at the time. So is it to late now, or can I deal with it some other way.
Thanks.
It mite be a civil matter? There mite not be anything you can do unless you have proof it was them.
Proby shrugged it off because people try it on with tipper firms all time saying they’ve chipped there windscreen etc you should of reported it to the police asap
I knocked a tree branch off with a decker once and apprently it hit the car behind, i always did think it was ■■■■■■■■ but my firm paid up straight away… Then paid to have the trailer repaired lol.
Get the repairs done and send them the bill. You don’t need to make the grovel and they won’t, but there is a good chance they will pay if it is reasonable.
Chewyboy:
Proby shrugged it off because people try it on with tipper firms all time saying they’ve chipped there windscreen etc you should of reported it to the police asap
I doubt the police can do much without evidence. I’ve had the “your lorry threw a stone up off the road”…Well? Not a lot I can do if it didn’t come from me. Always love the “stone came off the lorry” when I was empty at the time or carrying sand or compost.
Going back to the op, I can’t understand why anyone runs around with tailgate opened (unless they’ve forgotten or the pin’s broken) as the banging is rather noisy…
Sounds like the op has never done bulk work.The tailgate may well have been shut and the chippings could have come from anywhere off his trailer.If his sheet was on they would fall onto the floor and not be blown out.Are you sure the tyres on his trailer havent picked any up off the road?Chippings dont usually stick in bcause when you pull forward the back door as a rule slams against the body and if any were left in they would come out as the trailer is still in the air.
You obviously have his registration number, why not put a claim through your insurers, let them identify the operator & sort out the claim for you. If it wasn’t him or he can prove he wasn’t carrying that grade of stone at the time he’ll soon reject the claim.
Chewyboy:
Proby shrugged it off because people try it on with tipper firms all time saying they’ve chipped there windscreen etc you should of reported it to the police asap
Last year I had a call from the office that went like this…
Office…“Check your tailboard you are ■■■■■■■ stone and have cracked somebodys windscreen, the drivers puting a claim in”
Me…“errrrrrrm not me im empty”
Office…“Well it must have been the last load…you are on the A38 arnt you?”
Me…“Yup im on the A38 but my last load was sand…hang on ill check paperwork…yep my last 12 loads over 3 days have all been sand so bollox to that”
Office…“The ■■■■■■■ is trying it on then!!”
d4c24a:
typical tipper driver , as bad as those bloody farmers
The quarries and hauliers this way pay out if the lorry is seen and reported.
That really annoys me; It’s like someone else admitting your guilt on your behalf.
Not if you know the lorry,the driver and the owner like I did. To be fair there was no argument,they paid my excess for a new windscreen.Would have paid for the complete windscreen,only I had got it replaced by the time they were notified by the quarry.
In my case,the lorry was five minutes from the quarry and it was a scalping that hit my screen,it could have happened to any driver.Just happened to be on top of the sheeted load and hit my screen as it came around the corner.
Cheers Dave.
Always love the “stone came off the lorry” when I was empty at the time or carrying sand or compost.
Even an empty tipper will have some residue from it’s last load, and it’s a pity to cause so much chaos for following vehicles when all it takes is a quick sweep out by the driver after he’s tipped his load.
Perhaps sand or compost is not such a problem (unless your following said tipper on a motorbike), but chippings and small rocks spraying the following traffic is just a sign of a lazy careless driver. Certainly NOT a professional!
