Car Hit By Toll Barrier M7/M8 Portlaoise Express Lane

thierry14

Hi All
Today my car was hit by the toll barrier in the express lane of the M7/M8 Portlaoise Express Lane.

I use the express lane here quiet a bit and never had any issues, but today I could have been seriously hurt.

Was driving in the express lane at 50kmh or so with baby and wife in the back seats and wife's niece in the front seat, camera picked up my toll tag ( made a beep sound in the car as it always does ) and barrier opened with tag read sign flashing on the entry sign, all good we thought

To my shock the toll barrier came down, smashed off my car, windscreen almost came in, huge marks all over it ( how it didn't shatter I don't know )

Was travelling 50kmh or more when the barrier had lifted and the toll barrier smashed off my car, braked as hard as I could but didn't help.

Wife neck muscles are a bit sore from the sudden braking, will get doctor to check her out tomorrow, but thankfully no one was badly hurt, just the windscreen that needs changing

I am usually not a man for getting solictiors involved, but how they treated me afterwards I didn't like.
They didn't want to know and just tried to blame me for it.

There IT guys will ring me back in a few days ( off on holidays for christmas ) to why the barrier lifted and closed again.

But nothing from them for getting my car windscreen and a courtesy car or something setup for me.

I need the car for work and will be out of pocket for having to get a rental car while car is being repaired and out of pocket for fixing windscreen ( don't have windscreen cover on my policy)

My question is what do I do now?

Do I wait for them to get back to me or do I get a solicitor involved.

I have screenshots of the damage to my car and my eflow online statement shows me being charged, 1.90 for going through the barrier and being charged at the M50 barrier later that day.

So the tag works fine.

sidcon

thierry14 wrote: »

Hi All
Today my car was hit by the toll barrier in the express lane of the M7/M8 Portlaoise Express Lane.

I use the express lane here quiet a bit and never had any issues, but today I could have been seriously hurt.

Was driving in the express lane at 50kmh or so with baby and wife in the back seats and wife's niece in the front seat, camera picked up my toll tag ( made a beep sound in the car as it always does ) and barrier opened with tag read sign flashing on the entry sign, all good we thought

To my shock the toll barrier came down, smashed off my car, windscreen almost came in, huge marks all over it ( how it didn't shatter I don't know )

Was travelling 50kmh or more when the barrier had lifted and the toll barrier smashed off my car, braked as hard as I could but didn't help.

Wife neck muscles are a bit sore from the sudden braking, will get doctor to check her out tomorrow, but thankfully no one was badly hurt, just the windscreen that needs changing

I am usually not a man for getting solictiors involved, but how they treated me afterwards I didn't like.
They didn't want to know and just tried to blame me for it.

There IT guys will ring me back in a few days ( off on holidays for christmas ) to why the barrier lifted and closed again.

But nothing from them for getting my car windscreen and a courtesy car or something setup for me.

I need the car for work and will be out of pocket for having to get a rental car while car is being repaired and out of pocket for fixing windscreen ( don't have windscreen cover on my policy)

My question is what do I do now?

Do I wait for them to get back to me or do I get a solicitor involved.

I have screenshots of the damage to my car and my eflow online statement shows me being charged, 1.90 for going through the barrier and being charged at the M50 barrier later that day.

So the tag works fine.

Ring your insurance they will give you the rental car and deal with claim no need to be out of pocket.

thierry14

sidcon wrote: »

thierry14 wrote: »

Hi All
Today my car was hit by the toll barrier in the express lane of the M7/M8 Portlaoise Express Lane.

I use the express lane here quiet a bit and never had any issues, but today I could have been seriously hurt.

Was driving in the express lane at 50kmh or so with baby and wife in the back seats and wife's niece in the front seat, camera picked up my toll tag ( made a beep sound in the car as it always does ) and barrier opened with tag read sign flashing on the entry sign, all good we thought

To my shock the toll barrier came down, smashed off my car, windscreen almost came in, huge marks all over it ( how it didn't shatter I don't know )

Was travelling 50kmh or more when the barrier had lifted and the toll barrier smashed off my car, braked as hard as I could but didn't help.

Wife neck muscles are a bit sore from the sudden braking, will get doctor to check her out tomorrow, but thankfully no one was badly hurt, just the windscreen that needs changing

I am usually not a man for getting solictiors involved, but how they treated me afterwards I didn't like.
They didn't want to know and just tried to blame me for it.

There IT guys will ring me back in a few days ( off on holidays for christmas ) to why the barrier lifted and closed again.

But nothing from them for getting my car windscreen and a courtesy car or something setup for me.

I need the car for work and will be out of pocket for having to get a rental car while car is being repaired and out of pocket for fixing windscreen ( don't have windscreen cover on my policy)

My question is what do I do now?

Do I wait for them to get back to me or do I get a solicitor involved.

I have screenshots of the damage to my car and my eflow online statement shows me being charged, 1.90 for going through the barrier and being charged at the M50 barrier later that day.

So the tag works fine.

Ring your insurance they will give you the rental car and deal with claim no need to be out of pocket.

Thanks 
Will that affect my no claims bonus though?
Hadn't thought about ringing my insurance company, that probably should have been the first thing I should have done.
Back to work Thursday so need to sort a car quick.

Kristopherus

Also ring the Guards. They will be able to get hold of the cctv tape/disk. That will be vital to your case.

brightspark

Might be better not to admit doing over 50? But they can probably tell by the video evidence anyway.

AlfaZen

Firstly hope you and the family are alright.

The same thing happened to me on the M8 and it is frightening. However, I am surprised the barrier did that damage. They are mostly foam and are designed to break away when hit. Are you sure you were going the 50kph limit. The cctv should show this.

thierry14

AlfaZen wrote: »

Firstly hope you and the family are alright.

The same thing happened to me on the M8 and it is frightening. However, I am surprised the barrier did that damage. They are mostly foam and are designed to break away when hit. Are you sure you were going the 50kph limit. The cctv should show this.

Can't say for certain, but it was around 50kph, wasn't drivng quick
Yeah the cctv should answer that.
What happened in your case?
Was suprised with the force of the thump too, car I am driving Fabia has a quiet a high/angled windscreen.

nuac

Mod
Sorry to hear of your experience, but you cannot get legal advice on this forum
Thread closed