Trailer wheel fell off - who's to blame?
Discussion
rxe said:
Yes, I meant get the hub over the nut. The only vehicles I have with taper bearings are an Alfetta GTV and a couple of land-rovers, none of these could fit the hub over an installed nut and washer.
That was my first thought. But looking at various bearing and assembly diagrams, with some TR bearings at least, it seems the inner race will fit through the outer without the rollers. If the thrust washer and nut are about the size of the inner race then perhaps it could happen?
Unlikely, I agree and maybe points to some other flaw in the fitment?
OP. out of interest what type of twin axel trailer was it?
Hopefully, it was some form of Ifor Williams or Brian James-type chassis, with a set weight limit and a design parameter that includes a tolerance for overloading. In such a situation, there would be an option to pursue the 'sub-standard component route'.
However, if it was a converted caravan chassis, then its originally intended carrying limit will be a lot less than the average saloon car and your friend would need to tread very carefully.
Hopefully, it was some form of Ifor Williams or Brian James-type chassis, with a set weight limit and a design parameter that includes a tolerance for overloading. In such a situation, there would be an option to pursue the 'sub-standard component route'.
However, if it was a converted caravan chassis, then its originally intended carrying limit will be a lot less than the average saloon car and your friend would need to tread very carefully.
I did 45 years in the bearing trade - tapered roller and ball and cylindrical roller bearings...bearings do not commit suicide - they are generaly found to have been murdered.
Incorrect fitting is most often the cause..the chances of faulty rings or components is very very remote...the Chinese quality referred to above is now as good as European products and in fact all of the European and American bearing companies have factories in China or Romania.
Best place I found if a dispute arose was Leeds University - Dept of Tribology...no idea of the cost these days .
BOF
Incorrect fitting is most often the cause..the chances of faulty rings or components is very very remote...the Chinese quality referred to above is now as good as European products and in fact all of the European and American bearing companies have factories in China or Romania.
Best place I found if a dispute arose was Leeds University - Dept of Tribology...no idea of the cost these days .
BOF
BullyB said:
I very often rent a trailer for going to track days. I always assume it is my responsibility as soon as it is hitched on to the car.
It would be interesting however to know if the hire company have liability for failures.
Me too, when I hire a trailer if anything goes wrong its down to me, nothing to do with the people who own the trailer.It would be interesting however to know if the hire company have liability for failures.
Why do people always think its someone else's fault?
OddCat said:
There doesn't seem to be too much sympathy on here for the poor sod whose car took a hit from the wayward wheel. If that had been me, I'd be expecting the driver of the car pulling the trailer to make good regardless of the whys and wherefores of the wheel becoming detached.....
You can expect it all you like, but if there's no legal compulsion on them to make good, then why should they? Would you pay someone for something that you have no need to?OddCat said:
Gavia said:
You can expect it all you like, but if there's no legal compulsion on them to make good, then why should they?
And there we have it. In one sentence - all that is wrong with the world......Why do younsee it as wrong not to pay for something that you shouldn't be paying for? 90% of the threads in this forum are people asking how to get out of paying for x, y or z.
OddCat said:
Gavia said:
You can expect it all you like, but if there's no legal compulsion on them to make good, then why should they?
And there we have it. In one sentence - all that is wrong with the world......cmaguire said:
I have a trailer. Should anything I am carrying or any part of the trailer detach and cause any subsequent damage to property or third party vehicle then I would have every expectation that the third party should be compensated for the damage. Irrespective of any counter-claim I might have against a supplier of parts on my trailer, this is not relevant to the third party in my opinion.
Who would you expect to compensate them?How would you expect to win a case where you've already accepted liability by compensating the other person?
Gavia said:
OddCat said:
Gavia said:
You can expect it all you like, but if there's no legal compulsion on them to make good, then why should they?
And there we have it. In one sentence - all that is wrong with the world......Why do younsee it as wrong not to pay for something that you shouldn't be paying for? 90% of the threads in this forum are people asking how to get out of paying for x, y or z.
Gavia said:
Who would you expect to compensate them?
How would you expect to win a case where you've already accepted liability by compensating the other person?
I'm insured. In the case presented by the OP I would be gobsmacked if my insurance company even entertained the idea of denying liability because I claimed a bearing was faulty. This isn't CSI.How would you expect to win a case where you've already accepted liability by compensating the other person?
Gavia said:
Who would you expect to compensate them?
How would you expect to win a case where you've already accepted liability by compensating the other person?
It would be a hell of a coincidence if the bearing manufacturer just happened to be driving in the car that was hit by the wheel!How would you expect to win a case where you've already accepted liability by compensating the other person?
It's his trailer, he's responsible for the damage to the other car, the cause of the failure is an entirely separate issue.
OddCat said:
Okay. Imagine you are the driver of the car pulling the trailer - and the car coming the other way (that gets damaged) is being driven by the mother of your best friend. What are you going to do then ?
Nothing. See belowcmaguire said:
I'm insured. In the case presented by the OP I would be gobsmacked if my insurance company even entertained the idea of denying liability because I claimed a bearing was faulty. This isn't CSI.
Your insurance will only pay out if you were negligent. If you've done nothing wrong then they won't pay out. If you were negligent then they'll pay out, but it's up to them to make that decision, not you. Gavia said:
Your insurance will only pay out if you were negligent. If you've done nothing wrong then they won't pay out. If you were negligent then they'll pay out, but it's up to them to make that decision, not you.
How about a £20 bet?On the basis everybody is insured, then the insurance of the guy with the trailer WILL pay out on this.
cmaguire said:
How about a £20 bet?
On the basis everybody is insured, then the insurance of the guy with the trailer WILL pay out on this.
I've no idea whether his insurance will pay out, as I don't know if he was negligent or not. What I will bet on is that he won't have any comeback on the manufacture / supplie rof the bearings. On the basis everybody is insured, then the insurance of the guy with the trailer WILL pay out on this.
Everybody isn't insured, he could quite easily not be insured as he might not have covered himself for towing.
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