Property Damage

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I live on a dead end street (clearly marked) and Friday night a little after midnight I get a call from a neighbor and he asks me if I saw the semi with tandem trailers doing a U-turn in my front yard. I said no because we were in the basement watching TV and the woodburner fan kind of cancels out the occasional outside noise.

He said he saw the whole thing and the truck came down the street stopped for awhile and obviously decided he was screwed and did his damage.

He took out 2 small trees and left some pretty good ruts.

My neighbor gave chase and got the rear trailer number and the plate number. He called the local Marshal (barney) and we have a "incident" report. Whoopie !!!

I got a little miffed at "barney" the cop and started my own report with the trucking company.

I have been told my email was sent to their Safety Department and I am now waiting for them to toss the ball back to my end of the court.

The trucker knew he was screwed when he turned down this dead end street but what really makes me mad is he made the decision to destroy my property knowing very well he was going to leave the scene.

If he had rang the doorbell we would have helped him.

Tom

 

[PineRidge]

I hope that it works out well with the trucking company. I am sure that they will most likely make it right by you. These kinds of incidents leave a bad name for the drivers, especially knowing that they did the deed and then split. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

By the way do they let this "Barney" have any bullets for his gun?
/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Taylortractornut]

Tom I hate to here about your yard, Im finishing up this week on my CDL's. I hate drivers like that Ive had to turn in folks yard with my dump truck but i get permission and a person to help me make it to the drive way. I had a Roadway driver call me one day at my shop he had 2 trailers and I told him to park in the main road and Id run down there with my fork lift. He refused and headed down this little one lane road I live on where my shop is. He then saw my dump truck out in my side yard and drove out to circle it not thinking it was parked there before the rain. It took my backhoe and a friends wrecker to pull him out.
Just be glad you have your barney We have the real thing One shot his self in the leg one night in the police station practicing his quickdraw in the mirror with a loaded gun. The bad part about it he was teaching a 15 year old how to quick draw and forgot on was in the chamber.

 

[higgy]

This happens more often than people realize. I scares me that a law enforcement "professional" would be doing such a thing with a gun, loaded or not. What the heck are they thinking, it seems to go back to the little guy with a gun syndrome.

Last year there were 2 officers that shot each other. One was on duty the other was off duty, but has a scanner. They both went to the warehouse (full of potatoes, man ya gotta protect the taters) and shot each other. Both of them lived, but we are paying the bills for both of the officers and for fill in staff.

Now lets keep in mind that this is a very small town and this was a spud cellar. Man /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

If the Mrs. had been able to get a hold on this driver he would have been missing a few parts I am sure he still uses. She and the Grand kids and the neighbor kids planted the one tree that he completely broke off and shredded the base of it

And the other tree he ran over was a memorial tree planted in honor of my Father who passed away last year. It was planted by all my neighbors on the afternoon of Dad's Funeral. They call it Melvin.

Last Sunday Afternoon they were discussing Melvin being run over. My unstable neighbors were not too happy about the whole situation.

 

[higgy]

When you talk to the trucking company you should tell them what you just said. Ask them to have the driver send a letter of apolgy to your family, they deserve it. The driver needs to know that his actions have caused others pain. If he refuses you then have an idication of the type of person that you are dealing with.

If the trucking co wants to replace the tree it was a very rare variety I'm sure that you must have had imported from Norway at great expense?? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Junkman]

If you get any hassle from the trucking company, then go to "Barney's" office and file a complaint of leaving the scene of a property damage accident. I don't know the value of the trees, but the damage to the lawn can itself be very expensive and trees are not cheap. Can you bypass the local and contact the state police?

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Don't know about contacting the State Police other than to complain about barney.

He has a laptop computer in his car and as soon as he arrived the neighbor gave him the plate number. 10 minutes later he says he has the owner figured out. It is a CA Plate and the trailer belongs to roadway.

No Sheet Dick Tracy. We told you that. So where the HE!! is he now? He has only been from the scene 1/2 hour and he is driving a old yeller with 2 grays behind him. Geeez...

I will give this some reasonable time to be resolved but then if it isn't I will be hissed enough that I am going to raise some holly H.

As far as barney..Guess I expected more from the town idiot.

Guess I will have to buy a XXXL shirt with a pocket for his bullet.

 

[JDGREEN4ME]

I hope things work out for you. We also live on a "No Outlet" street that is clearly marked. We have people turning around in the front lawn, backed over lamp post several times, took out sections of our split rail fence numerous times and not once did anyone leave as much as a note. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[fivestring]

I don't know the law there, but here in NC, that was a hit-and-run; misdemeanor.
Here, for misdemeanors, the victims/witnesses go to the magistrate's office with their facts and attempt to obtain warrants on suspects. The vast majority succeed.
Check with your clerk of court and see what the procedure is there. If your witness will testify that he/she saw the truck driven by d..a.. damage your yard and drive away without leaving information required by law, sounds like you have it made! Then I would let the truck owner know and give them the opportunity to fix the damage. If not.... bingo, sign warrants on the driver of the truck and/or sue the truck owner in a civil action.