Who is to blame?

[R32UK]

Driving home last night along a unlit single carriageway around 11pm. The road starts off at 40mph then changes to NSL after a short while. I had passed the 40mph section and was slowly increasing my speed to around 55mph.

As I approach the first slight bend I notice in the distance that the car coming in the opposite direction has what appears to be spray in front of its headlights. Approximately half a second later I hit standing water... LOTS OF IT!!! the car aquaplanes and before I can do anything I have spun about 30 degrees and smacked straight into the kerb. At this point I have water gushing over my bonnet, so I am assuming a burst water pipe.

I manage to get the car back onto the road, straightened up and drive home (with a horrible scraping noise). The rest of the road is a gradual down hill, and no one is managing to drive over 20mph as water is still spraying up and over the bonnet and virtually flooded by the time I got to the bottom of the hill.


Now looking at the car the front left side wheel is fcuked. the front bumper is bent i.e. hanging off. So my question is 'who is to blame?' will i be able to claim money for the damage back from the council/water company or will I have to foot the bill myself?? 

[_Adam_]

ive been googling this and cant find any info, it's a tough one because it's 'act of god' so should be insurance but at the same time you had no flood warning signs so the council f'd up too 

[Mini Mark]

I have a horrible feeling you may have to foot the bill yourself or go through insurance a few years ago my friend hit standing water in a slight dip that couldn't be seen (after heavy rain) cuasing water to flood in the the engine (it was a MINI ONE D) it completely killed the engine she ended up going through the insurance who pulled a face at using MINI but when she asked about warrenty etc as the car had the TLC pack they relucently sent the car to MINI for the repairs.  When she rang the police they said it was not the problem it was down the highways department 

[VeeDubGTI16v]

take it on the chin and stop looking for peole to blame. this isn't america ffs

[Jimble]

take it on the chin and stop looking for peole to blame. this isn't america ffs

So you wouldn't be looking to claim from the council if you hit a massive pothole that destroyed your wheels or suspension?? I know i would!

[luke]

take it on the chin and stop looking for peole to blame. this isn't america ffs

So you wouldn't be looking to claim from the council if you hit a massive pothole that destroyed your wheels or suspension?? I know i would!

you should be reading the road when driving

[VeeDubGTI16v]

i scrapped a bbs rm basket because I hit a pothole 3 yrs ago. It was my fault for not seeing the pothole.

[VeeDubGTI16v]

well i disagree and i think it reflects on the sh!tty attitude this country is inheriting from america with regards to the 'its not my fault, give me money' claimers.

End of the day if r32uk was a better driver he wouldnt have a f**ked car.

[barrym381]

well i disagree and i think it reflects on the sh!tty attitude this country is inheriting from america with regards to the 'its not my fault, give me money' claimers.

End of the day if r32uk was a better driver he wouldnt have a f**ked car.

could be the best driver in the world an still have a bump but i kinda agree if he was driving at a suitable speed for the road conditions maybe this wouldnt have happend i.e u wouldnt tear down a motorway at 70 if it was covered in snow

[R32UK]

i scrapped a bbs rm basket because I hit a pothole 3 yrs ago. It was my fault for not seeing the pothole.

Was it also your fault for the pothole being there??


A damaged wheel is the least of my problems I have possible over £1000 worth of work to pay for through no fault of my own. The road was unlit despite having new lighting every 40yrds or so. I also have xenons which light up the road better... but as it was on a bend and water was to such an extent the road looked wet... not flooded like it was.

Once a car aquaplanes there isnt much you can do... what would you have done smart a$$