Thurrock Council broke my windscreen strimming and refuse to pay!!

[ukminch]

I can't believe they're not paying it. The vast majority of my work is grounds maintenance with ride on mowers and strimmers. It normally costs me 2 windows a year. Yes you can check the area for stones but you can't see all the little ones. We can't physically be far enough away from the windows to do the job but we do stop for pedestrian safety distance. But if I or one of the guys working for me breaks something, we fix it - simples.

 

I'd be a nice letter, a LBA, the a small courts claim for the full amount plus time etc.

 

R

[geoff]

The "muppet" was only doing his job.

 

We all know this stuff happens, even with the best operater,only takes an overgrown area of grass,and maybe a molehill,it happens,it has,and it should be sorted without contest beyond the unreasonable.

[Dean Lofthouse]

We all know this stuff happens, even with the best operater,only takes an overgrown area of grass,and maybe a molehill,it happens,it has,and it should be sorted without contest beyond the unreasonable.

 

Totally agree, this stuff happens even if all precautions are in place.

 

I just hate people banding the word neglegence about.

 

Insurance is there for genuine accidents of which this is, the problem is with the "muppets" in the claim dept.

[felixthelogchopper]

Dean, I think in this scenario you should read 'negligent' as 'responsible for'

[Dean Lofthouse]

So if I was driving down a muck track and a stone flicked out sideways as I drove over it and smashed a window would i be negligent or responsible ? (-:

 

 

Sent from my iPhone cos it was

[ukminch]

Depends how fast you were going:001_tt2:

[skyhuck]

So if I was driving down a muck track and a stone flicked out sideways as I drove over it and smashed a window would i be negligent or responsible ? (-:

 

 

Sent from my iPhone cos it was

 

Responsible, yes.

[WorcsWuss]

So if I was driving down a muck track and a stone flicked out sideways as I drove over it and smashed a window would i be negligent or responsible ? (-:

 

 

Sent from my iPhone cos it was

 

OK, that is an excellent point. Although a bit far fetched...

 

However, I think that operating power tools in the vicinity of private property is a different proposition to a stone flicking off the wheels of your car.

 

Who did the track belong to? I would say the council must be responible for their stone flicking off your wheel....!

[scbk]

I used to work on a council strimming squad, there was no training apart from how to start the machine, no risk assesments, or checking the area over before starting

 

There was a set amount that HAD to be done per day, you had to keep a fair pace.

People often park right up (and overhanging) the grass to be cut. If you leave a bit uncut it won't get touched until you're back in a months time and some old biddy will phone in to complain you haven't done the job.

We weren't told what safe distance to keep from parked cars, and some even got sprayed with cut grass lol

 

The plastic visors get covered in scratches quickly, if it's a wet day your visor will be steamed up on the inside, bits of grass/dog poo stuck to the outside, and the strimmer head will be giving off clouds of water. It can be very hard to spot pedestrians, they can see you but keep walking towards you

 

 

Also once hit a pedestrian with a stone

[john k]

Phoned Thurrock councils insurance department again today, explained about the safe working area for strimmers, and they still totally deny liability (I was on the phone for about 15 minutes

Stop talking to the insurance department, and definitely don't waste your time talking to their insurers. It's completely irrelevant and will only raise your blood pressure. Their insurance arrangements are of absolutely no interest to you whatsoever.

 

I would also stop arguing the toss about their risk assessments and procedures. It's just a distraction.

 

They have damaged your property and you hold them liable. You don't want a debate, you want your windscreen excess back.

 

Put in writing and don't be fobbed off.