The bin men have hit and damaged my car!!

Aquamania

More advice here:

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/consumer_e/consumer_cars_and_other_vehicles_e/consumer_driving_and_parking_e/consumer_driving_e/traffic_accidents.htm

[Deleted User]

They will probably deny it unless you can prove it. An Eddie Stobart lorry hit someone's car at work and flat out denied it even when the damage on both vehicles was clear as day.

They are not as caring and sharing as they make out to be on that Channel 5 programme.

Joe_Horner

The first thing to do is to contact them (via the council's refuse service). You may well be pleasantly surprised.

It's not uncommon for them to have claims against them because they have big lorries and have to get into lots of places where any sensible lorry driver wouldn't. So they'll be well prepared to help you through the process of reporting it and getting it sorted (assuming it wasn't some kid the night before with a set of keys of course!)

If it was definitely done by them then there's a fairly good chance that they weren't even aware of catching your car - in a fully loaded bin lorry they're unlikely to hear or feel a collision that causes a "scratch"!

So don't go running in aggressively expecting to be blocked - be polite but firm and only worry about denials if they happen.

Aquamania

Deleted_User wrote: »

They will probably deny it unless you can prove it. An Eddie Stobart lorry hit someone's car at work and flat out denied it even when the damage on both vehicles was clear as day.

They are not as caring and sharing as they make out to be on that Channel 5 programme.

Was there an independent witness as in the OP's case?

Presumably, else how else did you know that there was matching damage to both the truck & the car?

I'm sure any professional driver (like most private drivers I would hope) would never accept liability for an accident at the scene as that could seriously jeopardise their insurance cover.

Quentin

Aquamania wrote: »

Was there an independent witness as in the OP's case?.....

The OP's witness is her flat mate. How do you see that as being "independent"?

[Deleted User]

Aquamania wrote: »

Was there an independent witness as in the OP's case?

Presumably, else how else did you know that there was matching damage to both the truck & the car?

I'm sure any professional driver (like most private drivers I would hope) would never accept liability for an accident at the scene as that could seriously jeopardise their insurance cover.

When the lorry turned around in the car park the cab hit the corner of the car. They were the only lorry in the car park that morning and all staff cars are parked in the corner of the car park where nothing else goes.

Unlucky for the car owner that the CCTV didn't cover it.

londonTiger

harveybobbles wrote: »

Ask them for s copy of the CCTV from the back of the bin lorry.

Mosdt buisnesses will only do that if they are forced to by law. Retrieveing cctv footage is expensive. Takes a lot of staff time.

Add to that the fact that you're requesting footage to incriminate them - and you have no hope in hell they will retrieve and send the footage to you.

Whiner

harveybobbles wrote: »

Ask them for s copy of the CCTV from the back of the bin lorry.

If you are trying to claim from them, they aren't going to give you the evidence needed to do it, are they!!!!!!

Quentin

CalumHeath wrote: »

Because you aren't at fault, you have nothing to lose. Forget all this dealing with them direct......

No.

Only consider making a claim against your own insurance if liability is disputed (and only then if it's cost effective)

When you make a claim you have to pay your excess which you still then need to pursue the third party for.

Additionally unless protected your ncd will be reduced until your insurer is reimbursed in full by the third party which can cause problems should your renewal come before the matter is concluded.

(You are assuming the op has comprehensive cover and ignoring the witness needs to be independent, and a witness who is your flatmate isn't!)

alleycat`

Deleted_User wrote: »

They will probably deny it unless you can prove it. An Eddie Stobart lorry hit someone's car at work and flat out denied it even when the damage on both vehicles was clear as day.

They are not as caring and sharing as they make out to be on that Channel 5 programme.

My Old man was a truck driver for many years before retirement, although he didn't work for him he did suggest that Mister S wasn't exactly a decent person to work for and that drivers would get fired for a lot less than bending someones car.

On that basis i'm not surprised it wasn't admitted to.