Thread: Defender - 1 Bus- 0

Originally Posted by MickS

As indicated mate, get the truck checked out from front to rear. You never know what may have happened to chassis etc etc as a result of a hit by the bus.

Did the cops turn up? Doesn't really matter. Neg drive on his part, just exchange particulars and pleasantries, get yourself and ALL of your passengers checked out by a quack and inform your insurance company asap and let them deal with the paper warfare. If he is on his last warning, it's for a reason - but that ain't your concern. Lodge your claim and look after number 1.

Add in a half decent compo lawyer and you would be talking a reasonable payout I think. Not a course I would advocate normally but with a neck brace, a banged head and already damaged foot and poor record for that driver any compo lawyer would be happy to help you lighten the BCC kitty a bit.

George.

Good call guys, lodged a claim with RACQ this afternoon, the PITA bit is having it quoted than assessed.

Originally Posted by justinc

Your kiddding! What happened if a mother and pram with baby was where your towball was!!!!

Definately shouldn't be driving IMO.

Do the legal stuff right, let him take the consequences of his actions.

JC

Awww, cut the bus driver some slack, after all, it's hard driving a bus when you are in a wheelchair..

Probably a wheelchair bound driver would be a lot more competant, as I know some very good wheelie drivers some with a perfectly neat vehicles and a clean insurance/license record

Interesting thing is, in NSW at least, and I can't imagine things have changed too much...but when a heavy vehicle, especially a bus, is involved in an MVA, the RTA inspectors attend.

I can see him skulking back to the depot, writing up his diary or whatever they do at the end of the shift, hanging up the keys then getting the hell out of Dodge before anyone notices..."Me boss?? Naaah, someone must have backed into it..."

The bus needed to be towed - so how did he explain that to the BCC?!

Exactly!

If the bus needed towing, the "company" knows that something bad happened.

If BCC is anything at all like the bus company I drove for, the starters, mechanics, fuelers and next driver would not hesitate for a nanosecond to point out damage to a bus that they might be blamed for!

Furthermore, it is genuinely possible that a bus driver may sometimes be unaware of a minor dingle that causes no damage to the bus, eg, a clipped mirror or bit of paint smearing with the backswing on the blindside etc.

Not surprisingly, the bus company generaly knows who was driving what bus on what route at what time, and don't hesitate to call a driver in for a little bit of explaining, sometimes months after the "incident".

And lastly, the company should have an accident officer who is the go between amongst bus driver, other driver, police and insurance.

In my experience, bus driver is not usually the at fault driver. I heard a few times "I just didn't see the bus...." They are 12.5 or 19 metres long, 2.5 metres wide, 3 metres high, and orange with retro reflective tapes!!!!

So, in short, when the bus driver is at fault, there is due process to be followed, thus hopefully contibuting to driving standards.

Cheers,

Andy

The bus driver mentioned in one of his phone calls yesterday that he decided to drive the bus back to the depot.......

My major issue now are getting al the details as BBC and translink are making go through there legal mobs i.e. Letters of demand to get basic info I need for my claim

Drivers full name
Depot where the bus is garaged
Make model of the bus

Two hours on the phone not much luck