Thanks to a local large dump truck company for chipping my windshield. I was behind them on the 107 bypass Tuesday, and when the truck went over the bumps going over the overpass (over the 118), two rocks came flying back at me from the back of the dump truck. One hit the roof of my car and the other hit the windshield and took a big chip out of it. I stopped on the shoulder further up, and got out to check my roof and the windshield. I also took a picture of the chip out of the windshield. I called the company and advised them of what happened, hoping they woudl do the right thing. Well, here it is Friday and no one has phoned me back. When I called on Tuesday the receptionist advised the owner wasn’t in and that he would call me back that day. Tuesday came and went, no phone call. He phoned at 10 to six the next morning, but as everyone was asleep at our house we didn’t get to talk to him. I called again later in the morning on Wednesday, again on Thursday and again just now. Each time the receptionist says he’s not in. I got very irritated this morning and suggested someone better call me today as I’m not putting up with this. He is giving me the run around. Seriously, calling at 5:50 in the morning? What better way to ensure you don’t get to speak to someone. Shame on them. I’d love to know if anyone else in HRM has had a similar experience. —Irritated with Big Dump Truck Company
This article appears in Nov 8-14, 2012.
Reallyyyy?
Calling at 5:50 am is a dick move, I will give you that.
The right thing would have been the receptionist saying “I’m sorry, we can’t help you.”
There is no way you can prove they are responsible, vehicless kick up rocks all the time yours probably has too. Even if the truck was carrying a load of rocks and a couple flew out at you there is no way to prove this, perhaps you were driving too close? I don’t drive but I know larger vehicles take longer to stop so you’re supposed to stay further back from them.
Anyway stop wasting your time calling and suck it up, seems like this is just some of the “shit happens” that goes with having a car.
Why don’t you just call the police and file an accident report?
Nukka says, contact the Better Business Bureau. They may not get you the money to cover costs, but they will point you in the right direction and provide you with the help and support needed. If its the same dump truck company I’m thinking of, then they are an accredited member of the Bureau. I point you towards them for help, hope it works out for you. http://www.bbb.org/canada/bbb-accredited-b…
nukka, it was a different large dump truck/excavating company based in Dartmouth, but thanks for the tip, I have contacted the BBB.
Companies with company vehicles will have insurance to cover this sort of thing. Nothing needs to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Keep on keepin’ on.
Doesn’t HRM require all loads to be tarped?
that shit happens all the time, and no one wants to fess up to it. i had that happen to me, more than i cre to remember.
Lucky you’re not in BC. Guy out here just got killed my a rock through his windshield off a truck.
GV i have never seen anything that looks like a tarp on the back of a dump truck, seems like a good idea unless they blow off. blind the following drivers..i just wish they would stay on their own side of the yellow. the dumpers that go up and down terence bay road just scream down the middle. friend ended up in the ditch.
Don’t tail people and rocks won’t break your windshield
molly, actually there is a law against having an open lod of gravel or rocks and has to be covered and tied down. that;s how i got mine whacked 3 times in 6 months. and no, i was over 50 feet behind. the rocks fell off, and bounced off the road. farther, the second and third time.
i don’t sniff any vehicle’s butt, those rocks bounce, you’d have to be 100 feet behind.
Ah yes the gravel truck. Not a vehicle on the road that I give more leeway to.
Actually Molly I do see trucks with tarps on the top to keep debris from flying all over the place. Some always escapes though, that’s why give them lots of room.
Good luck with your battle OP.
You were following too close. This happens all the time, and it’s a civil matter. Small claims court is you only avenue for compensation, only if you can prove the rocks didn’t come from the tires. Good luck with that!
steven, the first time it happened to me, there were 5 others that got dinged and also cracked windows. it even put the guy next to me off the fucking road. i saw the boulder, about 5 inches across, come flying off the top, and tried to swerve, buddy wasn’t so lucky. it nailed him right in the middle of his windshield. this i saw just before he went off the road.
i pulled over and backed up to see if he was okay, this guy was fucking scared shitless. and his car, a new at the time buick regal, was all full of glass. there was a hole bigger than my fist in his window. the others that got hit were lucky enough to get plate number, and name of company off truck. they settled in less than 48 hours.
I get a kick out of everyone who assumes I was up this guys’ butt. I was not tailgating the dump truck, I was back further than I would normally be from say a car. If I was dumb enough to tailgate a dump truck then the chipped windshield would be my own damn fault for being too close. I wasn’t so therefore the company should pay.