Broken Shock Absorber over a drain. Can I claim?

OpolE · 23 January at 1:46PM

Not sure how to go about this one.

I have broken my rear left shock absorber and its booked in the garage for first week of Feb. So currently have no evidence to make a claim yet. But If I mark the issue on the map then is it considered "known to the council" then I can't claim.

I'm confused whether to email or do a form for an "A road" in Surrey and whether its worthless currently as I don't have an invoice of repairs yet. The incident happened a few days ago now while on my way to an appointment from my home which would take that exact route. So I'm covered for using that road at the specific time in question.

A wide lorry was coming the other way typically with cars parked on their side forcing people in the free lane right over and that was the reason for my left side having to be in that area

The drain slump appears to be much lower than the picture from September 2024.

Image: https://us-noi.v-cdn.net/6031891/uploads/editor/t9/53wgmn1yye22.png

MyRealNameToo · 23 January at 1:51PM

To hold them liable you have to prove they knew about it and did not comply with their own procedures in terms of the timescales to fix it or prove that they have failed to inspect the road in line with their own procedures. Procedures often vary depending on the nature of the road and location of the defect. Middle of a busy A road needing more inspections and faster repairs than the verge of a trunk road.

See https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/reclaim/pothole-claims/ for further guidance but many claims are unsuccessful because the council hadn't been told and had met their once every 12 month inspections and/or by their processes they did know about it and were within the months they had to fix it.

I would question either the speed you were travelling at or the condition of the shock absorber before the incident as if your slowed and that close to the kerb to allow a wide load to pass it shouldn't break a shock absorber.