Has anyone been invoiced for repairs to road because they were in a crash?

itno

itno

itno

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I was in a crash a couple of months ago which I written about in another thread as was having problems with insurance company. The problems have been resolved but I've received a letter from the council's subcontractor responsible for maintaining the highway. They've been given my details and want to know more about the crash in order to work out who is liable for the crash and if it turns out I am liable then they are going to invoice me for the cost of the repairs. The subcontractor is using the Road Traffic Act 1988 as the reason where it says drivers are required to inform third parties of any damage caused to their property.

Whilst the crash was not my fault as I was driving down a main road and the other driver pulled out of a side road and crashed into the side of my car I suspect the subcontractor will try it on and say that I'm liable in someway. Unfortunately the other driver fled the scene without leaving details plus their car had no insurance and the registration plates it had were for a different car. The thing I've learnt from this event is not to have a car as can't be in a crash.

Has anyone else been contacted about liability for repairs to the highway and did you end up paying for the repairs? One thing I would suggest to anyone in a crash is to not only get pictures of the damage to your vehicle but also pictures of the road just in case the council do repairs to the road they should be doing (potholes anyone?) and get you to pay for them.
 
It's fairly common now for drivers to be charged for repairs to things like crash barriers and lamp posts if they get damaged in crashes. What has actually been damaged?

What was the outcome of the crash, were police involved, what did your insurance company say?
 
Jokester said:
It's fairly common now for drivers to be charged for repairs to things like crash barriers and lamp posts if they get damaged in crashes. What has actually been damaged?

What was the outcome of the crash, were police involved, what did your insurance company say?
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Many thanks for the reply.

The letter doesn't say what the damage was specifically just that emergency repairs were needed to make the area safe. The police were involved but I've heard nothing since the crash. The officers at the scene said after I gave my version of events and talked to people at the scene that it wasn't my fault but I've received no follow up call or correspondence about the incident from the police even though the officers at the scene said I would be contacted by the RTC? team in a couple days time. I'm trying to get in contact with the insurance company but they are not too quick at answering the phone despite being a large company. Phoned them this morning but after 25 minutes of waiting I had to give up as had meetings to go to.
 
Friend got a bill for a lamp post he sideswiped, passed onto his insurance and they paid, iirc it was close to £20k for the work and lamp post to be replaced :eek:
 
Probably contractors trying it on for some extra cash. You could just refuse unless they can provide proof of the damage.

The problem with just sending it to your insurer is they will most likely just pay up if it's something trivial. But it will go on your record as causing damage.
 
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Nasher said:
Probably contractors trying it on for some extra cash. You could just refuse unless they can provide proof of the damage.

The problem with just sending it to your insurer is they will most likely just pay up if it's something trivial. But it will go on your record as causing damage.
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If he's already made a claim from his insurance for the crash, then that's not really going to make much difference.
 
I suppose it would be pretty hard to get money out of someone who just ignores it. Just because it was their fault according to the insurance doesn't mean the council can help themselves. They would have to prove their own case.
 
Managed to get through to the insurance company for advice. The person I spoke to hadn't heard of this situation before and went to speak to a colleague. The colleague had heard of this before and said it would be £90 but not clear for what. I asked if they had received the police report of the incident but they hadn't and were going to chase it up. I've asked if they can send me a copy but I may try to get a copy directly.

Problem is I don't have insurance any more because the policy expired shortly after the crash and was not able to renew the policy because the car was a write off. In addition, I've handed the documents over to the insurance company and I'm not the registered keeper anymore. Have checked with the insurance company about the policy expiring and they said the claim for the car would be honoured because the crash was before the policy expiring. However, the person I spoke to today wasn't sure whether they would cover any further claim because as far as they are concerned the claim has been closed.
 
itno said:
Managed to get through to the insurance company for advice. The person I spoke to hadn't heard of this situation before and went to speak to a colleague. The colleague had heard of this before and said it would be £90 but not clear for what. I asked if they had received the police report of the incident but they hadn't and were going to chase it up. I've asked if they can send me a copy but I may try to get a copy directly.

Problem is I don't have insurance any more because the policy expired shortly after the crash and was not able to renew the policy because the car was a write off. In addition, I've handed the documents over to the insurance company and I'm not the registered keeper anymore. Have checked with the insurance company about the policy expiring and they said the claim for the car would be honoured because the crash was before the policy expiring. However, the person I spoke to today wasn't sure whether they would cover any further claim because as far as they are concerned the claim has been closed.
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Insurance are trying to fob you off, you were insured at the time of the accident it doesnt matter how long it takes a claim to come in.
 
andybird123 said:
Insurance are trying to fob you off, you were insured at the time of the accident it doesnt matter how long it takes a claim to come in.
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I hope they're not trying to fob me off. Did get the impression the person I was speaking to may have been new to the job as they kept referring to their colleague and put me on hold. Will see what happens next, hopefully the police report will help when it comes through. I think the insurance company may press for the report as they wouldn't want to foot the bill if they can prove the blame is on the other driver.
 
Why are you doing all the leg work for? Id just give the contractors my insurance details ans let them take it on direct with the insurance company.
Road repairs are a seriously dodgey bloated charges. Id say they are scammers
 
You can try ignoring this letter, if they are serious they will send others, as long as your insured and it ends up you ow for a lamp post then its the insurance who foots the bill so don't worry.
 
Glanza said:
Friend got a bill for a lamp post he sideswiped, passed onto his insurance and they paid, iirc it was close to £20k for the work and lamp post to be replaced :eek:
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Probably cost nowhere near that either. I know a bodyshop owner who does insurance repairs and they're given a budget to fix the car (insurance assesors valuation), that will be based on all new parts etc but the bodyshops can go and source second hand parts etc to make it cheaper to repair but they still get the full budget from the insurer
 
LeMson said:
You can try ignoring this letter, if they are serious they will send others, as long as your insured and it ends up you ow for a lamp post then its the insurance who foots the bill so don't worry.
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Yea, as always with these sort things start by ignoring it and see how far they are willing to take it.

It's not like councils are actually organised so it may just get forgotten. If your lucky it's a labour council and they are even less competent :D
 
None of this is any of your problem. Point the contractors in the direction of who you were with at the time. Literally end of story.
 
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