Insurance claiming - buckled wheels

[Dubious]

Just wondering if anyone has had any experience claiming on insurance for wheel damage. I was driving in suburban Sydney on the weekend and for some reason, the street I was on had what looked like a shallow trench dug out of it about a foot and a half wide stretching right across the road. There were no signs or anything around and by the time I saw it it was too late to stop.

The wheels slammed into the trench and the bang was so loud that pedestrians about 50m down the road spun around to see what happened. At least one of the rims is buckled and the car now pulls to the left a lot more than before. The steering wheel was shuddering the whole way back to Canberra.

Is there any point writing to the council for compensation? I've heard that legally they can't be held responsible for poor roads damaging vehicles that drive on them.

[schoona]

I have thought about this too, have had 3 wheels damaged before ad had them repaired at my own cost.

I honestly don't think that you will get anywhere on it, unfortunately.

[Transporter]

If they're not responsible for the roads condition, who is? I would take all the evidence and chase them. If you dig the trench on your property and someone breaks a neck by falling onto it, you get sued.

[schoona]

If they're not responsible for the roads condition, who is? I would take all the evidence and chase them. If you dig the trench on your property and someone breaks a neck by falling onto it, you get sued.

Thats a good point too...

[dylan8]

Manaz had a incident similar some time back. From memory his all got sorted and paid for

[blutopless2]

yes... chase the council for compensation... go take photos etc for evidence of the roads condition and approach them about it.
they should cover the cost.

[dru]

I've heard that legally they can't be held responsible for poor roads damaging vehicles that drive on them.

I can understand this if it was in the case of a pot hole forming in which council hadn't been informed about or another issue which was caused by wear/tear/nature. From what you explain, it sounds like the council had completed some works on the road and left it in a unsafe manner, which is definitly their fault or whoever the company was that completed the works there. As others have said, go back - take lots of photos (speed limit, up close, street signs etc) and then maybe get a report done on your car and the damage caused.

[gareth_oau]

I know a few people in WA who have successfully claimed from local councils. cant see why eastern states would be any different. You just need to establish if that particular road is the resonsibility of the local council or the state government (main roads) dept, to work out who to pursue

[golfgti101]

you can claim through the local council. I had to do this once as there was a huge pothole in the middle of the road and it actually bent a the rim on my xr8 ute at the time. council paid full cost for a repair - I found a second hand wheel for cheaper, ran it through them and they were happy to pay.