Damaged car on manhole cover - any advice?

[ally_f]

Hi all, I'm hoping someone might have had a similar experience and perhaps has some advice for me please!

I was visiting my sister last night at her new house. It's a new development so despite there being no warning signs about raised ironworks I was going slowly and carefully. This isn't a hall road, it's the main drag into a large development but hasn't had its final layer of tarmac. There was a manhole I couldn't avoid because of parked cars and had to straddle it. I thought I would clear it (the car's not lowered and it didn't look that high), but unfortunately not. It was decelptively high and caught the underside of the car.

The car's now making a horrible grinding and creaking noise and is being receoved to a garage for inspection.

I am being unreasonable in thinking the builder should have put something on this manhole to highlight the obstacle? Or at least signs in the general area? It was right in the middle of the main road so very hard to avoid, especially in the dark and with parked cars and high kerbs either side.

Should I expect the builder to contribute towards the repair or is it ok for them to leave roads in this state because it was my decision to drive down it?

Thanks in advance!

Ally