Tyre damaged caused on motorway - can I claim?

[Naresh]

Hi everyone, luckily enough I am here today to say what happened yesterday morning on the way to Birmingham!

I was travelling northbound on the M6 approaching junction 4 where is a alot of roadworks and the lane markings have been moved temporarily (using those yellow cats eye-like markings).
I was travelling at around 70mph and was moving from the 3rd lane into the middle one when I went over a nasty bump in between the lanes! It was definately a part of the road because it was a clear sunny day and I could see everything ahead and always look for any debri on the road! But this bump was very hard, like hitting a sharp kerb so I slowed right down because something didn't feel right. My steering then started vibrating alot and immediately I pulled over onto the hard shoulder and parked up! When I got out of the car I noticed a completely flat front driver's side tyre and the car was resting on the rim!!

For the life of me I don't know how the car stayed in control but I guess its because I slowed down so quickly after the initial impact because I had a feeling something wasn't right? Anyway, I changed the wheel over - luckily I had my locking nut adaptor with me, but the damage to the tyre was severe! There was a huge 6 inch gash along the sidewall exposing the internal steel reinforcement!! I though WTF!!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I was so fcked off because it was obviously something on the motorway that did this, which I later suspected to be a loose cats eye unit! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burningmad.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/burningmad.gif

Does anyone know if I can make a claim against this, as its going to cost me about £90 to get a new tyre now!! Couldn't get a new like-for-like in Birmingham yesterday so had to drive home without a spare!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif I mean its the highways responsibility that the road is in such a bad condition and it could have been alot worse for me!!

Any help appreciated guys!
Naresh

 

[Crafty]

Don't know who you claim off, if its a normal road you claim from the local council but motorways are not the property of the local council, so I guess its the highways agency ?

Good luck with your claim. KEEP THE TYRE, don't throw it away. If at all possible go backand get some pics of this bump, even if you have to pull on to the hard shoulder and take pics from the safety of your car.

 

[audi_girl]

You should claim from them - I know a couple of people who have claimed for damage (although not on a motorway).

One for damaged caused by a speedbump (they came out and measured his car to make sure it was standard height!)

One for a written off Italian sports car (forget which one, but expensive one!) Came over a hill, bottomed out the suspension onto a really nasty cats eye and ripped the sump off, locked up the back wheels and *nearly* caused a fatal accident!

 

[Naresh]

Thanks for that, I've since spoken to the highways Agency and they said thet would send out a claim for to me - heard nothing yet so fingers crossed hey!! Either way, still hard to fork out £90 for a new tyre!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[mramage]

I had to claim once for a new wheel/tyre and suspension damage for a huge pot-hole.

Armed with pictures and such like they paid up, though it took months IIRC. Also probably a good idea to keep receipts for anything.

 

[Matthewbaldry]

I know that area of M6 really well, were you north or southbound, before or after the natural speedhumps, was it just before the contraflow section (northbound).

 

[Naresh]

Hi Matt, I was travelling northbound just before junction 4 where the A446 joins the M6. I was just past the large overhead gantry which holds separate large M6 sign and A446 sign. Can't remember what natural speed bumps you mean though - do you mean the ones on the approach to the contraflow??

Anyway, there was a change in lane markings where it happened and the old ones had been rubbed off and replaced with temporary ones. What I hit was a part of the road though, quite possibly a damaged cats eye. It just felt like hitting a kerb at high speed! I will post pics as soon as my mate sends me the digicam images!

Naresh

 

[Matthewbaldry]

The humps are on the downhill section (within the 50 limit) before lane 3 goes on the otherside.
As you approach the contraflow section there are plastic bollards in between lane 2 and 3. It seems that earlier on that day (as happens most days) somebody had knocked down some of the first bollards which leave black plastic base where the cats eye would have been. The base is about kerb height which could explain your problem.

Just a suggestion, but quite a plasuable one id think.

 

[Naresh]

Hi Matt I had actually passed the contraflow section as far as I can remember and this happened further down because I didn't get far before I got stuck in major traffic on the approach to junctions 5 and 6 - must be normal for a weekday morning!!

Anyway, I'm still waiting for them to send me a claim form. Meanwhile I'm holding on to my torn tyre for evidence! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[audi_girl]

Hmmm. Not sure if you remember but ages ago I came round a corner and hit a raised manhole cover, which resulted in a buckled wheel (only doing 40mph!)

It's never quite been right and after getting the wheel balanced again and still getting shake I took it to a dealer, who have had to replace part of the front suspension!

Not impressed, but too late after the event to prove it etc.

Moral of the story - if you do hit anything, check the car over thoroughly !!!!

 

[Gambba]

Good stuff /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/beerchug.gif

Payment is an admitance of guilt....IMO /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif ....having said that I do give stuff away as well even though it's not our fault! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[chinnyhill10]

Moral of the story - if you do hit anything, check the car over thoroughly !!!!

Hit a pole hole after Xmas. Checked wheel, all was OK. But an hour and 40 miles later a bulge had appeared in the tyre.

So no hope of a claim and had to find a replacement front pair of tyres during the Xmas break (given how quickly the bulge appeared I was worried it might blow on the 200 mile journey home). Ended up with a pair of Nexens which to be fair aren't as bad as I had feared (it was them or nothing as no other garage for miles and it was 4pm and I was miles from home).