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Car badly damaged due to road works.. Compensation??

  • 20-06-2013 6:26pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 895 ✭✭✭


    Hi folks,

    I was driving home last night through my local area where road works have been going on for the past few weeks. There was machinery and such cordoned off at the side of the road but on the outside of the bollards there was a large rock close to the roadside. I did not see this rock at the time and drove straight into it with my driver side wheel. Then, when driving home my car was making a loud groaning noise.

    I brought it to the mechanic this morning and he was able to tell me that the drivers side wheel suspension has shattered and will need to be replaced. So now my car is off the road for a week whilst it is in the garage and I have also had to rent a car for the week, costing me more money.

    So my question is, I am entitled to be compensated for this damage from my county council considering there was a rock on the road which caused this damage to my car. Surely my annual road tax should prevent situations like this happening and I should expect to be able to drive on the road without danger of hitting excess debris from road works.

    Many Thanks


Comments

  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 32,865 ✭✭✭✭MagicMarker


    Sounds like your own fault.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,786 ✭✭✭slimjimmc


    How did the rock get into the carriageway.
    If it was as a result of the roadworks then yes you can claim compensation from the Local Authority or whoever the roads authority is there.
    If the rock was there as a result of a 3rd party unrelated to the road works, e.g. fell off the back of a quarry truck that just happened to pas by earlier, then you would have to claim against that other party not the council.

    As for (*cough*) Motor (*cough*) Tax, it's not ring-fenced for roads just like any other tax.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 17,733 ✭✭✭✭corktina


    unless you can prove there was a rock, i'd say you wont get anythng....should have taken photos and got witnesses I guess


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,295 ✭✭✭n97 mini


    Take a photograph of the rock.

    As with potholes it's the local authority's responsibility to keep the road clear.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,258 ✭✭✭✭Losty Dublin


    OP, you are better off going to a solicitor and obtaining professional legal advice from them than from posts on here.


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 8,224 ✭✭✭Going Forward


    The rock must have been the size of a concrete block!

    Your mechanic is being a little vague going on the info given here.

    The suspension system is made of a number of components, get him to narrow it down a bit.

    How much are you being charged for the work BTW?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 895 ✭✭✭subscriber


    Just thought I would update this thread to let everyone know that today I received a check from the council for the sum of 250.21 euros, which compensated me for not only the damage to my car but also the cost of a car rental for the week mine was in the garage getting repaired.

    6 weeks in total to get them to refer my claim to their insurance company and for the insurers to compensate me.. Not bad going..

    Regards


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,310 ✭✭✭✭Grandeeod


    Completely missed this thread and delighted the OP got sorted. I had a similar case in 1999. I hit a pothole and damaged a tyre beyond repair. No damage to the car itself. But I was advised to photograph the pot hole and tyre damage. I did and sent it to the local council with the bill and got a cheque for the replacement tyre.


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