Help! Dump truck, loose tailgate = Frustration
02-08-2013, 11:26 AM
#1
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Help! Dump truck, loose tailgate = Frustration
I was on the highway when I came up to a truck and what I didn't know as I approached the truck is that it's tailgate was loose, the truck hit a bump in the road and golf ball size rocks fell out hitting my G in all over the front end.
I tried to flag the drive but to no avail! Now I don't know where to start or if I can even convince the company that this was their fault. I was able to get the plate number and name of the company but there was no phone number to call. Has anyone else here had to deal with this??
I tried to flag the drive but to no avail! Now I don't know where to start or if I can even convince the company that this was their fault. I was able to get the plate number and name of the company but there was no phone number to call. Has anyone else here had to deal with this??
02-08-2013, 12:53 PM
#3
What company was it? What kind of damage and how much? Did this happen today?
Honestly you are unlikely to get them to take responsibility, but it's not impossible. Many dump truck companies in our area are one man operations or small operators or not operating completely within the law. If you want to give it a shot here's what you should do.
Note the exact time, exact location, direction of travel, what lane you were in. Start by finding the number of the company (ever heard of Google?) and calling. Ask to speak to an operations manager, or safety manager, or DOT compliance manager. Tell them your story without being a jerk. That is very important. If you are a demanding a-hole and try to tell them they are responsible and you'll get a lawyer/call the cops/ etc, you will get absolutely nowhere. Trust me. Explain politely what happened (i.e., that you were not tailgaiting and that some debris from the unsecured load (use those words) fell from the rear of the truck and damaged your car. Describe the damage. If you are certain the driver saw you trying to flag him down, mention that you tried to get his attention but he didn't stop (he's not supposed to stop for someone flagging him down but he may remember you and corroborate your story) Ask them what they can do to make the situation right.
If you get "road hazards are not our fault and we aren't liable" answer, politely tell them this wasn't a road hazard, but an unsecured part of the truck's load that fell onto your car causing the damage. Not from a rock kicked up by the tires, but from the load coming out of the truck traveling down the road. If they still refuse to help, call Texas DPS Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division and report it exactly as you just did to the company. Tell them you wish to initiate a complaint.
Then call your insurance company and deal with them to get it fixed.
This is a small part of what I do professionally and I usually tend to be less helpful if someone calls and is demanding or yells at me on the phone. If they are composed and sound credible I tend to take their concern much more seriously. At times I've even paid for windshield replacement when we didn't have to (road hazards like rocks kicked up by the tires) if the people were nice about it.
Sorry your car got damaged. Best of luck, I hope it works out.
Honestly you are unlikely to get them to take responsibility, but it's not impossible. Many dump truck companies in our area are one man operations or small operators or not operating completely within the law. If you want to give it a shot here's what you should do.
Note the exact time, exact location, direction of travel, what lane you were in. Start by finding the number of the company (ever heard of Google?) and calling. Ask to speak to an operations manager, or safety manager, or DOT compliance manager. Tell them your story without being a jerk. That is very important. If you are a demanding a-hole and try to tell them they are responsible and you'll get a lawyer/call the cops/ etc, you will get absolutely nowhere. Trust me. Explain politely what happened (i.e., that you were not tailgaiting and that some debris from the unsecured load (use those words) fell from the rear of the truck and damaged your car. Describe the damage. If you are certain the driver saw you trying to flag him down, mention that you tried to get his attention but he didn't stop (he's not supposed to stop for someone flagging him down but he may remember you and corroborate your story) Ask them what they can do to make the situation right.
If you get "road hazards are not our fault and we aren't liable" answer, politely tell them this wasn't a road hazard, but an unsecured part of the truck's load that fell onto your car causing the damage. Not from a rock kicked up by the tires, but from the load coming out of the truck traveling down the road. If they still refuse to help, call Texas DPS Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division and report it exactly as you just did to the company. Tell them you wish to initiate a complaint.
Then call your insurance company and deal with them to get it fixed.
This is a small part of what I do professionally and I usually tend to be less helpful if someone calls and is demanding or yells at me on the phone. If they are composed and sound credible I tend to take their concern much more seriously. At times I've even paid for windshield replacement when we didn't have to (road hazards like rocks kicked up by the tires) if the people were nice about it.
Sorry your car got damaged. Best of luck, I hope it works out.
02-08-2013, 01:43 PM
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This is a really helpful thread. I had something similar happen to in my Titan a couple months ago up here in Colorado. Insurance company took care of it, but I think they had a hell of a time getting the construction company to pay up.
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02-08-2013, 01:49 PM
#8
As a rule of thumb in most states, road hazards like a rock kicked up into your windshield are not the responsibility of anyone. Damage from unsecured loads or parts or chemicals falling from the trucks are the responsibility of the company. But it's very hard to prove and shady companies will try to get out of paying even if they know they are at fault..
We should all drive around with dash cameras like they do in Russia and China.
We should all drive around with dash cameras like they do in Russia and China.
02-08-2013, 02:17 PM
#10
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Thread Starter
What company was it? What kind of damage and how much? Did this happen today?
Honestly you are unlikely to get them to take responsibility, but it's not impossible. Many dump truck companies in our area are one man operations or small operators or not operating completely within the law. If you want to give it a shot here's what you should do.
Note the exact time, exact location, direction of travel, what lane you were in. Start by finding the number of the company (ever heard of Google?) and calling. Ask to speak to an operations manager, or safety manager, or DOT compliance manager. Tell them your story without being a jerk. That is very important. If you are a demanding a-hole and try to tell them they are responsible and you'll get a lawyer/call the cops/ etc, you will get absolutely nowhere. Trust me. Explain politely what happened (i.e., that you were not tailgaiting and that some debris from the unsecured load (use those words) fell from the rear of the truck and damaged your car. Describe the damage. If you are certain the driver saw you trying to flag him down, mention that you tried to get his attention but he didn't stop (he's not supposed to stop for someone flagging him down but he may remember you and corroborate your story) Ask them what they can do to make the situation right.
If you get "road hazards are not our fault and we aren't liable" answer, politely tell them this wasn't a road hazard, but an unsecured part of the truck's load that fell onto your car causing the damage. Not from a rock kicked up by the tires, but from the load coming out of the truck traveling down the road. If they still refuse to help, call Texas DPS Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division and report it exactly as you just did to the company. Tell them you wish to initiate a complaint.
Then call your insurance company and deal with them to get it fixed.
This is a small part of what I do professionally and I usually tend to be less helpful if someone calls and is demanding or yells at me on the phone. If they are composed and sound credible I tend to take their concern much more seriously. At times I've even paid for windshield replacement when we didn't have to (road hazards like rocks kicked up by the tires) if the people were nice about it.
Sorry your car got damaged. Best of luck, I hope it works out.
Honestly you are unlikely to get them to take responsibility, but it's not impossible. Many dump truck companies in our area are one man operations or small operators or not operating completely within the law. If you want to give it a shot here's what you should do.
Note the exact time, exact location, direction of travel, what lane you were in. Start by finding the number of the company (ever heard of Google?) and calling. Ask to speak to an operations manager, or safety manager, or DOT compliance manager. Tell them your story without being a jerk. That is very important. If you are a demanding a-hole and try to tell them they are responsible and you'll get a lawyer/call the cops/ etc, you will get absolutely nowhere. Trust me. Explain politely what happened (i.e., that you were not tailgaiting and that some debris from the unsecured load (use those words) fell from the rear of the truck and damaged your car. Describe the damage. If you are certain the driver saw you trying to flag him down, mention that you tried to get his attention but he didn't stop (he's not supposed to stop for someone flagging him down but he may remember you and corroborate your story) Ask them what they can do to make the situation right.
If you get "road hazards are not our fault and we aren't liable" answer, politely tell them this wasn't a road hazard, but an unsecured part of the truck's load that fell onto your car causing the damage. Not from a rock kicked up by the tires, but from the load coming out of the truck traveling down the road. If they still refuse to help, call Texas DPS Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division and report it exactly as you just did to the company. Tell them you wish to initiate a complaint.
Then call your insurance company and deal with them to get it fixed.
This is a small part of what I do professionally and I usually tend to be less helpful if someone calls and is demanding or yells at me on the phone. If they are composed and sound credible I tend to take their concern much more seriously. At times I've even paid for windshield replacement when we didn't have to (road hazards like rocks kicked up by the tires) if the people were nice about it.
Sorry your car got damaged. Best of luck, I hope it works out.
It did happen today around 8:30 and the truck had a logo called Sanchez but when I do a google search I only find a company that does not operate in Texas. I called and just asking where they opperate and they confirmed they did not do business in Texas. So maybe like you mentioned this is a one man operation but I'm not sure. I just filed a report with a county Sheriff and he confirmed the tag/plate number I remember from the trailer was a valid Texas plate. The damage mainly consist of about a half dozen large chips from pea to dime size and a nicked headlight. Not sure what my next step is if I can't pin point the company. I want to say I saw a city name on the side of the truck, it started with an A so maybe Addison,Tx? Who knows. Just hoping to get my baby fixed with little to no cost to me since this idiot didn't secure his load properly.
02-09-2013, 12:05 PM
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02-10-2013, 10:48 AM
#14
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I found this through some google searching. Looks like there is a Sanchez Land Development Group that operates out of an Addison, TX office.
http://companies.findthecompany.com/...-in-Addison-TX
It appears to be a small company run by a J. Martin, and Kim Sanchez. This may entirely be the wrong company, but at least contact info is available. I'd look around the Internet to see if you can find a logo and determine if it matches the one you saw on the truck.
Best of luck.
http://companies.findthecompany.com/...-in-Addison-TX
It appears to be a small company run by a J. Martin, and Kim Sanchez. This may entirely be the wrong company, but at least contact info is available. I'd look around the Internet to see if you can find a logo and determine if it matches the one you saw on the truck.
Best of luck.
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