Hi, my name is Dee. My family and I have had a Bailey Pageant Bretagne for just a year (caravan is now 2 yrs old) and love camping. On July 26th we had an accident on the way back from Devon where the wheel of the caravan fell off causing extensive damage. No-one was hurt thankfully. We were not insured which we know was a stupid thing not to do. We feel the fault of the wheel coming off is due to the wheels not be torqued correctly as all 5 bolts came out. 3 retrieved at the scene. The dealers are saying that this happened because someone has tampered with the wheels as they are alloys. We have a 120ft drive, a towbar lock and the wheel in question had a wheel clamp on. The caravan has been on local sites but this wheel is on the awning side which is always up as we use bedroom extensions. When we looked at the bolts you could see they had been running in the middle. Does anyone know if a caravan could be towed gently approx 140 miles in total on bolts hand tightened. We are wanting to take the dealer to court. Many thanks.
New to caravanning - need urgent help
- Thread starter Barry298
- Start date
Parksy
Moderator
Hello Dee
I'm sorry to hear about the accident with the caravan. Had it been serviced immediately prior to the accident?
You might have difficulty proving that the dealer was at fault but a similar thing has happened before.
Copy and paste the text below into your web browser and you can read about a similar situation.
http://www.practicalcaravan.com/newforums/fm_messages.asp?fo=5&fm=453668
Submit your post again into the general section of the forum where you will be able to get the views of other forum members but DON'T name the dealership who you are in dispute with, especially if you are considering legal proceedings.
I'm sorry to hear about the accident with the caravan. Had it been serviced immediately prior to the accident?
You might have difficulty proving that the dealer was at fault but a similar thing has happened before.
Copy and paste the text below into your web browser and you can read about a similar situation.
http://www.practicalcaravan.com/newforums/fm_messages.asp?fo=5&fm=453668
Submit your post again into the general section of the forum where you will be able to get the views of other forum members but DON'T name the dealership who you are in dispute with, especially if you are considering legal proceedings.
Hi Parksy, thank you for replying. The caravan was serviced 16th March. I will look at the posting you talk about. Many thanks.
Parksy
Moderator
I'm sure that there will be varied opinions on this but after a four month gap between the service and your accident I think that you might have a hard time in proving that the dealership are at fault.
I strongly advise you to seek professional legal advice before pursuing any claim against the dealers but post in the general section to see what others think.
It's a fact that other caravanners have had nearside wheels come off but the dealers will say that you should have checked your wheel nuts before going on holiday.
Good Luck
I strongly advise you to seek professional legal advice before pursuing any claim against the dealers but post in the general section to see what others think.
It's a fact that other caravanners have had nearside wheels come off but the dealers will say that you should have checked your wheel nuts before going on holiday.
Good Luck
Hi there Dee. You cant with sincerity take the dealer to court because you don't know it was there fault, you have no proof or evidence, it could easily have been a disturbed theft or pesky kids having a laugh or a mechanical failure, however, I was in the motor trade as a vehicle inspector for 35 years and what it this tell me is that you have not been checking your wheel nuts and this raises a legal point,....BY LAW....
"ITS THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE TO ENSURE THE WHEEL NUTS ARE TIGHT AND PRESSURES CORRECT AT ALL TIMES...not some mechanic from four months ago, your lucky a police officer has'nt charged you for having a vehicle on the road in a dangerous condition, a charge that many a driver has faced in the past especially HGV drivers even though he / she is not responsible for the vehicles maintenance. I would thank my lucky stars that you got away with it and no one was hurt and absorb the financial loss.
"ITS THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WHO IS RESPONSIBLE TO ENSURE THE WHEEL NUTS ARE TIGHT AND PRESSURES CORRECT AT ALL TIMES...not some mechanic from four months ago, your lucky a police officer has'nt charged you for having a vehicle on the road in a dangerous condition, a charge that many a driver has faced in the past especially HGV drivers even though he / she is not responsible for the vehicles maintenance. I would thank my lucky stars that you got away with it and no one was hurt and absorb the financial loss.
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