Oh Bollards!

[Vini]

I had a slight accident 23:30 on 30/11.

I somehow managed to get poled by the security bollard into the carpark of our flat(s). When returning last night, the bollard didn't seem to be itself, and took a long while to fully lower. It appears to have started to come up whilst I was driving over, or at least that is the conclusion Mr RAC came up with. Seems plausible considering there's no damage to the front of my vehicle.

Damage is a sheared gearbox, severely bent subframe and a torn engine mount, so a relatively expensive Christmas and Birthday this year!!

The bollard appears to be working fine today - typically!



I've been onto my insurance, and the company who own the listed building/are responsible for the security pole; both have been pretty poor so far and I've not heard back from either today, despite calling first thing.

I've been denied a courtesy car, as there's no third party to claim from; yet, if at all. (Bollard provider/Building maintenance)

Has anyone else had anything similar happen? We have a forum for our 'community' and I'm about the 4th person this has happened to in 24 months.

My insurance company said that from the damage description it could be a write off, and advised I removed all my belongings and prepare my documents (v5, mot certificate and copy of license), I have a question regarding this... My car has a lovely ICE setup, that I'm obviously going to want to keep. But I can't see me finding time to remove this prior to them carting it off. Obviously, the car's still mine so I guess I'll be able to go and get the leftovers of my ICE from it's location without much hassle?

I'll be able to remove the AMP's but the speakers and wiring will have to wait till I have time, which won't be until after it's been towed I guess..

[Andeh13]

Where there are bollards there is usually CCTV, try and track this down & use it as proof that you didnt try and skip through the bollads by tail gateing another car etc.

if you can prove the bollards are faulty & the damage happened through no fualt of your own surely the company that maintains them is liable?

[Vini]

Where there are bollards there is usually CCTV, try and track this down & use it as proof that you didnt try and skip through the bollads by tail gateing another car etc.

It's a security bollard for entry into the carpark to my flat. No CCTV

[dave87]

Remove the ICE before it goes into Storage would be my advice, even if that means delaying sending it away. Insurers use the repairers they want rather than the ones closest, so you may have a rather long drive if it does get written off, with no guarantee that the contents will still be there

[Vini]

Remove the ICE before it goes into Storage would be my advice, even if that means delaying sending it away. Insurers use the repairers they want rather than the ones closest, so you may have a rather long drive if it does get written off, with no guarantee that the contents will still be there

That was my worry, and that sucks.

[Rave]

Pretty obviously a faulty bollard assuming those are pics you took of your own car? Unless they can prove you were somehow negligent in your use of the entry system I don't see how they can claim that it was your fault.

It wasn't this sort of action I take it?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKVBK...eature=related

(Herb Alpert FTW!)

[GoNz0]

if your insurance and theres wont help contact a 3rd party claims company, if they take you on you will get a loaner while the claims being processes, just make sure its a no win no fee basis b4 u start.

get your ice out asap m8

[dave87]

If you're on Pistonheads, one of the members on there is highly regarded and does a similar job to Helphire.

Worth a shout, think it's Anniesdad and Europa Consultants iirc.

[Vini]

If you're on Pistonheads, one of the members on there is highly regarded and does a similar job to Helphire.

Worth a shout, think it's Anniesdad and Europa Consultants iirc.

Can't remember if I am, but I soon can be, cheers guys.

Only just upgraded the ice in about 3 months ago, went top to toe with Dynamat too. Gutted

[Andeh13]

Please keep us updated! Would like to see how it ends, good luck with it mate!

[Vini]

Please keep us updated! Would like to see how it ends, good luck with it mate!

Looking likely to be written off by insurance, got Europa Consultants on the case too. I've had to delay collection until w/c 8th as I simply haven't got the time to return it to stock.

[Vini]

So no news on my part, plan is to have the salvage yard collect my car Tuesday/Wednesday of Next week, when I should receive confirmation of a write off.

One thing thats been nagging me, if this goes through the Third Parties insurance, can I sue them for things like my six month old, £300 stainless exhaust? the sound proofing (dynamat) I installed from top to toe (4 months ago)?

I've gone from having a working car, to nothing, and am going to end up out of pocket as it's likely I'll get a grand at best... Hardly enough to get me a car of a similar spec...

And... To bring you upto speed. There's been two more cars eaten by the bollard since mine...

So, some more pics....

This is the wreck from Friday 05/12/2008 - No idea who this belongs to


Another victim! 07/12/2008 @ 3:30am - Dark VW - 56 plate.

[Funkstar]

Three victims?

I'd say a class action suit was in order... or whatever the equivelant UK law is.

[Vini]

I'm crap at writing letters etc, but what's people's take on this?

I am writing to inform you of an incident that occurred on the 30th November 2008 at 23:30, upon returning to Cornish Place (top arch) the security bollard in the archway failed and severely damaged my vehicle and has left me without transport.

I called the RAC after the incident as my car was stuck on the bollard, they sent two agents who were able to jack my car and free me. I was then pushed into the car park and advised not to drive the vehicle as it is unsafe to do so.

I notified my insurers -Highway Insurance- on the 1st of December and they have said that my claim is likely to be a total loss due to the damage caused. The damage as described by the RAC agent is all underneath the vehicle. The damage was documented as a sheared gearbox, bent subframe and a broken engine mount.

Whilst being pushed by the RAC there was problems with the steering, which is apparently due to the damage of the subframe.

My insurers believe damage of this kind to my vehicle (W Reg, 2000, Ford Focus) will result in a total loss.

My car was well looked after and I am an active member of a Ford Owners club, I take pride in my vehicle and had made many modifications to it, some of which at great expense with most modifications being made less than 12 months ago.
With a total loss claim I am at risk of losing out financially and will be looking for compensation to cover my losses.

Further to my problems, I would like to bring to your attention, 2 other incidents which have happened in the past week.

On the 5th of December upon returning from work, I noticed that there was more wreckage around the bollard.

And on the morning of December 7th, I was woken at 3:30am by a large bang and found that the bollard had claimed another victim, causing huge damage and leaving a terrible mess. I have not spoken to the owner of this vehicle but have been able to get photos of the aftermath.

It is obvious that this bollard has problems and I have lost all faith in it. Other residents have also shown their concerns.

It has been mentioned that the bollards have never been properly serviced and there are at least three other cases that I know of, that have been documented on the internet forum for the community.

Photos of all 3 incidents are included as is a forum post describing similar issue from January 2007.

I appreciate the time required to look into such incidents, but ask that you make this incident a priority as I am without a vehicle that I require for work.

I have been keeping receipts for all costs incurred whilst my vehicle is off the road and I will be looking to claim these costs back, as well as further compensation for the modifications described above.

Yours sincerely,

[GoNz0]

if you didn't inform the insurance company of the mods keep quiet or they will get away with not paying you a penny as my next door neighbour found out when his car was hit when parked.

you can always remove the exhaust and may have to bite the bullet on the dynamat, but be warned there insurance will use any get out clause possible,.

[Barakka]

Most insurance policies will cover OEM entertainment systems upto a pre-set value (typically about £300) but usually exclude any after-market equipment unless specified on the policy as an extra, spo unless you've listed it you would lose the ICE and the dynamatt money.

Also you need to watch with some companies if you haven't informed them about the s/steel exhuast as they could invalidate the policy, but that depends on the insurer, e.g. Churchill would.

With regards to the write-off status, if the insurer decides the car is a write-off and offers you a settlement for it, t becomes their property so removing anything is theft. When my wife crashed her old car we had to talk very nicely to the guy at the recovery firm to let me take the stereo out.

Hope you get it sorted as it's blatently something wrong with the bollard if other cars are being damaged.