Horsebox damage claim

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bounce

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If someone's horse damages your horsebox when you are taking them to a show, how do you go about claiming the repair bill from them? Has anyone had any experience of this?

Horsebox was not being used as hire and reward, just sharing transport and small amount of money was offered for diesel which I understand is acceptable these days as it was not for profit.
 
bounce said:
If someone's horse damages your horsebox when you are taking them to a show, how do you go about claiming the repair bill from them? Has anyone had any experience of this?

Horsebox was not being used as hire and reward, just sharing transport and small amount of money was offered for diesel which I understand is acceptable these days as it was not for profit.
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Thank goodness for a straight forward problem.
Ask her to pay for damage.
 
I imagine the other person would feel obliged to offer to pay for damage, I know I would in those circumstances
 
Yes, I have asked her to pay. Was wondering more on claiming against horse or BHS insurance and any pitfalls or problems as its not exactly a small amount and she is unlikely to have that amount of money sitting around.
 
If you are (or she is) a gold member give them a call and see but I suspect as she was a friend and you had an agreement to share transport she won't be classed as a 'third party'. There was a debate a while ago regarding YO's potentially claiming on their liveries third party insurance for damage to fencing - the conclusion was that if the BHS paid out on small but common claims like that the premiums would be much much higher.

Perhaps she could pay in installments, or would the damage be covered under your own box insurance (or do you not have comprehensive cover?), if a passenger in my car slams the door open onto a post and damages the door and wingmirror it would be my car insurance that I'd have to claim on - not my passenger (replaing an electric heated wing mirror can be many £hundreds as would panel beating and re spraying a door)
 
Have you got fully comp insurance on your horsebox ? If so does it cover internal damage caused by travelling horses ?

If the answer to this is yes then pass it over to them and let them deal with it. If the answer is no then I suggest giving your friend a quote / invoice for the damage and suggest that if she has 3rd Party insurance she contacts her insurers to find out how they want to proceed. Ultimately it is your friends responsibility to sort out the bill, if she has insurance all well and good but if not then she would be liable personally.

If things start to loook not too rosy then you might need to contact your household insurance as you might be insured under the legal section for pursuing the claim.
 
Think you will find that her insurance won't cover it. I had a lady using my horsebox to practice loading her horse, with my permission. During the loading, she was putting the ramp up and the horse decided to come out so she dropped the ramp and the horse jumped on it. It slightly damaged the ramp.
She tried to use her BHS insurance to pay for it but they wouldn't go for it as normal horse behaviour - or something like that. So she just had to pay. THough it was only a couple of hundred.
 
I would suggest that you get a written quotation for the repair and give it to your friend. Unless you had a written contract with her regarding the transport of her horse it is unlikely that you can claim from her. However as a good friend she may pay for it or fail to pay for it in which case you will have to either put it down to experience or loose a friendship and make a claim through the small claims court.
 
Thanks for your advice. I have now spoken with my horsebox insurance and they will cover it. Obviously there will be £100 excess to pay and my insurance will go up next year and I also have to inform my car insurance as it is still a motor claim. I'm guessing my car insurance will also go up next year as well then. I wonder if I would lose all my no claims bonus from my car insurance. I guess said friend could pay the excess and a sum towards the insurance rise.
 
Polos Mum said:
If you are (or she is) a gold member give them a call and see but I suspect as she was a friend and you had an agreement to share transport she won't be classed as a 'third party'. There was a debate a while ago regarding YO's potentially claiming on their liveries third party insurance for damage to fencing - the conclusion was that if the BHS paid out on small but common claims like that the premiums would be much much higher.

Perhaps she could pay in installments, or would the damage be covered under your own box insurance (or do you not have comprehensive cover?), if a passenger in my car slams the door open onto a post and damages the door and wingmirror it would be my car insurance that I'd have to claim on - not my passenger (replaing an electric heated wing mirror can be many £hundreds as would panel beating and re spraying a door)
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Doesn't making a claim on your insurance then increase your premium when you come to renew?
 
What are the quotes for the repair? Claiming on your insurance is always a hassle and your renewals will rise.

I've given lifts to friends, I would hope that the friend would pay for any damage. Unfortunately I've been taken for a mug too many times and don't give lifts or lend any of my stuff out any more. It's nowt but hassle :(.
 
B - just check to see if you have protected on claims, my policy allows me to claim once in a year without impacting my no claims bonus.
Personally I would still get a separate cost for repair just to see the most cost effective solution - I doubt you will be able to enforce your friend to pay if they dispute or are unable to pay.
Good Luck...............I learnt my lesson an expensive way too and was told because I took money even for fuel that I was in breach of some transporting regulations and don't waste further money by opening a 'can of worms'.
 
It's one of the reasons I don't take people places anymore, then can only blame my own horses for damage done. Seen too many instances of this, friends falling out because of damage done.....

:(
 
This is exactly why I will not give lifts or loan my trailer....I would ask her to pay for the damage, but don't get your hopes up of money being paid, don't give lifts again either it's not worth the stress.
 
The only damage that's ever been done to my lorry has been by somebody else's horse when I have given them a lift and I have never had an offer to pay for any of it!
 
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