Damaged Windscreen from Falling branch

10shinhan

Hi People

Last week the wife came back to her car, which was parked on the road side, when she saw the windscreen being completely smashed, with dents to the bonnet AND roof.

A note was left, from a council tree surgeon, explaining that a branch from an adjacent tree has fallen on to my car and that I can claim via the insurance council.

I contacted the insurance department at the council, they told me to submit all the details (which I did), and they will investigate. I was also told that it would be better to get the windscreen replaced through my insurance (which I did) as it would be quicker, as it could take a month or so to make the decision (I cannot drive the car with the windscreen like that).

I contacted them again thinking that I would be able to get the windscreen insurance excess back and all the damaged covered, but they explained that the decision has not been made, and the insurance department had contacted the tree surgeon, basically saying, that the story was, it isn't the tree surgeons fault and I may not get anything from the insurance. I am waiting for the decision from the insurance.

Not sure what any of you would make of this?

Any advice?

Thanks in advance.

facade

If the tree surgeon dropped the branch on your car he is liable, and the Council pick up the tab.
If the tree surgeon was out there because of dangerously loose/broken branches, and this one fell before he could sort it, I'm not sure, as they knew it was about to fall, which is why they sent the tree surgeon, but they were in the process of taking action.
If the branch fell off onto your car, then someone called the tree surgeon, who actually turned up on the same day, they are not liable as they didn't know the branch was dangerous.

Keep at it, but I wouldn't hold your breath on getting your money, you don't know what the tree surgeon reported.

10shinhan

facade wrote: »

If the tree surgeon dropped the branch on your car he is liable, and the Council pick up the tab.
If the tree surgeon was out there because of dangerously loose/broken branches, and this one fell before he could sort it, I'm not sure, as they knew it was about to fall, which is why they sent the tree surgeon, but they were in the process of taking action.
If the branch fell off onto your car, then someone called the tree surgeon, who actually turned up on the same day, they are not liable as they didn't know the branch was dangerous.

Keep at it, but I wouldn't hold your breath on getting your money, you don't know what the tree surgeon reported.

Yeah this is the problem I think, I can't be sure what happened, no witnesses (as far as I know). And of course the possibility of no fault.