Car damaged by car park speed hump, what action to take?

[BenRichards89]

Hi Guys,

I have been out this evening for a meal with my parents, on driving through the car park (slowly I might add), I drove over a bump, and there was an almighty bang and scraping noise. I had already gone over 2 bumps with no problem.

On getting out of the car I discovered that the bump has torn a hole in one of the under trays on my car, and what remains in loose.

I look after my car, and I am not impressed that this has happened. I want the car inspected in case there is any further damage to the underside, the under tray replaced, and I want the company in charge of the shopping centre/car park to pay for this. I understand the need for the bumps, but I was going slowly, my car is not slammed or stanced, and IMO the bump is too high.

What is the best way to go about this, I have taken photos (attached), should I :-

- Write to them first with images, then take it to the garage
- Take it to the garage, get more photos, and a report/quote for repair, and then write to the shopping centre.

Thanks in Advance,

Ben

[Burrito]

Any pics showing the height of the bumps relative to something known, like a phone?

Given the number of scrapes on those bumps though, I'd guess lots of people have hit them, suggesting they're too high.

[smiffy180]

They're worse than that at a recycling centre in ravensthorpe. Used to scrape on a bog standard focus.

I'm sure I read somewhere (so take this with a pinch of salt) that by entering the car park you take responsibility for thw damage occurred from speed bumps. As I said take with a pinch of salt as I think I've made that up

[BenRichards89]

Burrito said:

Any pics showing the height of the bumps relative to something known, like a phone?

Given the number of scrapes on those bumps though, I'd guess lots of people have hit them, suggesting they're too high.

No I should of thought of that

I only thought at the last minute I better take some pictures, so thats all I took quickly.

God knows what it would have done to my Dads TF!

If it was something I had done, like driving too fast or something, I'd just suck it up and pay myself, but I wasn't. I drove over the two bumps prior to that one just fine.

[Road2Ruin]

There are prescribed heights and widths for speed bumps if they meet this there is nothing you can do. My old tvr scraped every bump it ever went over.
Google the recommended bump limits and see what they say. To me though they look fine and similar to loads I have been over before. Sorry but I think you may have to swallow it!

[BenRichards89]

It's probably worth me mentioning the car park is privately owned, not by an authority.

[anonymous-user]

They look like loads I've seen also, but that one appears to be on top of already raised ground. Your car isnt low at all, so for it to scrape there is clearly a issue. Worth contacting them and seeing what they say for sure.

[Davie]

Must be bloody high if a standard Audi on the base spec wheel / tyre combo catches? You sure the undertray wasn't maybe hanging down already and this just finished the job off?

I once beached my old car on the speed bumps under the Omni Centre in Edinburgh, was fine once I requested the three 18st a piece mates got out.

[BenRichards89]

Davie said:

Must be bloody high if a standard Audi on the base spec wheel / tyre combo catches? You sure the undertray wasn't maybe hanging down already and this just finished the job off?

I once beached my old car on the speed bumps under the Omni Centre in Edinburgh, was fine once I requested the three 18st a piece mates got out.

I don't think it was (the under tray). I'm a bit anal about cleaning it and stuff so I'm sure I would have noticed, but I guess it's not impossible. As I say I did go over 2 bumps fine prior to that one.

I'm trying to think of a way of describing it, but the hump was very sudden, like compared to the other two is was perhaps steeper or the gradient was more aggressive, almost as if you drove head on at a kerb.

Car was full with people, and the SE springs are quite soft, but it still shouldn't happen, although it's clear I'm not the first one, it made a hell of a noise.

[SpeckledJim]

Going slow can cause more bounce than going briskly, depending on the frequency of the suspension and the speed you go over the bump.

The bump looks fine to me, and if you're fully laden, walking speed or slower can lift the whole car and drop it onto the top of the bump.

It's unlucky, but I don't think anyone else is liable for the damage.

[CAPP0]

The hump is clearly not new, so either it damages every car and the owners don't give a toss and you won't get anywhere, or you were somehow otherwise affected due to some anomaly or other, in which case you probably won't get anywhere either. I would imagine that unless the hump was both brand new and outside the relevant spec, you're on a hiding to nothing. For example, can you PROVE that you didn't hit it at 30mph, any more than they can prove that you DID?

<Car Park Owner>

- prove you did it here
- prove you didn't have a boot full of concrete slabs
- prove you weren't carrying three 25-tone mates
etc etc

</Car Park Owner>

You may have to suck this up.

[BenRichards89]

Ok guys. I send them a letter with the photos tomorrow, and see what the response is.

If they're not interested then I'll just suck it up. I don't think its unreasonable to at least try first.

[carreauchompeur]

I hate the bumps in the local recycling centre/Lidl, they have those bloody Alligator Teeth on them to stop people droning the wrong way. I wince as they bang along the bottom of the car.

[Burrito]

CAPP0 said:

The hump is clearly not new, so either it damages every car and the owners don't give a toss and you won't get anywhere, or you were somehow otherwise affected due to some anomaly or other, in which case you probably won't get anywhere either. I would imagine that unless the hump was both brand new and outside the relevant spec, you're on a hiding to nothing. For example, can you PROVE that you didn't hit it at 30mph, any more than they can prove that you DID?

<Car Park Owner>

- prove you did it here
- prove you didn't have a boot full of concrete slabs
- prove you weren't carrying three 25-tone mates
etc etc

</Car Park Owner>

You may have to suck this up.

AIUI if the OP goes down the money claim route then he doesn't have to prove all of those things, he just has to be judged on the balance of probabilities that the car park owner was negligent.

[XJR500bhp]

Don't suppose you're all very fat?

Looks to me as if the plate on the bump lifted as your wheel came off of it as it tilted and dug up into the undertray

[BenRichards89]

XJR500bhp said:

Don't suppose you're all very fat?

Looks to me as if the plate on the bump lifted as your wheel came off of it as it tilted and dug up into the undertray

Haha, no, quite the opposite!

[MR Kirbyz]

I feel your pain! Try to avoid parking in that car park all the time!. Not sure who runs the car parks in Cwmbran. I can vouch how bad these speed bumps are.

[MR Kirbyz]

I feel your pain! Try to avoid parking in that car park all the time!. Not sure who runs the car parks in Cwmbran. I can vouch how bad these speed bumps are.

[BenRichards89]

MR Kirbyz said:

I feel your pain! Try to avoid parking in that car park all the time!. Not sure who runs the car parks in Cwmbran. I can vouch how bad these speed bumps are.

I don't normally go across that section, I tend to park in the multi-storey above it, but as it was a Sunday the gate was closed so I took the entrance further down to go underneath.

The whole site is owned by Prudential.

[eldar]

It does rather look like they've stuck a rubbber speedbump on top of a tarmac one. That one looks a little high, judging by the fairly deep scars on it, Should be no more than 10cm high, so measure it.