Road debris has damaged my van - who is liable?
Road debris has caused over £900 worth of damage to my Renault Trafic. It happened on the A48, close to junction 49 on the M4 motorway in Wales. A tree and its branches were on the road and I could not avoid the debris (driving over it).
Later that day I decided to go to my local mechanic for him to have a look for any damage, just in case. On the way there the alarm for low fuel came on, where there should have been over 3/4 of a tank of fuel there after filling up the evening before. The mechanic on looking had found that the fuel tank bolt holders had been ripped off.
I have dash cam footage of the incident. Do you think I could claim against the agency that's responsible for the
Later that day I decided to go to my local mechanic for him to have a look for any damage, just in case. On the way there the alarm for low fuel came on, where there should have been over 3/4 of a tank of fuel there after filling up the evening before. The mechanic on looking had found that the fuel tank bolt holders had been ripped off.
I have dash cam footage of the incident. Do you think I could claim against the agency that's responsible for the
Asked on 18 January 2023 by Richard
Answered by
Dan Powell
For the claim to be successful you'll need to show that the damage was caused by the negligence of the agency that is responsible for the upkeep of the motorway.
South Wales Trunk Road Agent (SWTRA) is probably responsible for managing this section of road but they can't be held automatically liable for every problem that occurs. That said, the agency is legally required to have a system in place to ensure the road is inspected on a regular basis and that all practical steps are taken to maintain the safety of the road.
Given the level of damage to your van, I think it would be worth contacting the agency and demanding an explanation.
South Wales Trunk Road Agent (SWTRA) is probably responsible for managing this section of road but they can't be held automatically liable for every problem that occurs. That said, the agency is legally required to have a system in place to ensure the road is inspected on a regular basis and that all practical steps are taken to maintain the safety of the road.
Given the level of damage to your van, I think it would be worth contacting the agency and demanding an explanation.
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