Motor insurance quote news

Woman faces fine after leaving her tree-crushed car at accident site

A female driver whose car was destroyed by a falling tree was disturbed to find that an unsympathetic traffic warden had placed a parking ticket on her crushed car.

Nicky Clegg, from Worcestershire, knew she was already facing the possibility of increased motor insurance quotes when the accident happened. However, she was not expecting to be hit with a fine for leaving her car in an unsuitable place.

The tree had fallen on her car while she was driving during high winds on Thursday 18th January. Fortunately, Ms Clegg, her 82-year-old mother and 11-year-old son were all unhurt in the accident, although her Ford Fiesta did not fare so well.

The car had sustained major damage, with a smashed windscreen, broken wing mirrors and squashed bonnet. Ms Clegg was unable to move it after the accident but did not worry about it any further as the police confirmed that it was fine to leave it there until a more convenient time.

However, when she came back the next day, she found a note on her windscreen.

She said: "I thought it was a notice saying it was okay it was there, but it was a parking ticket. I couldn't believe it."

When asked about the ticket, a spokesman for Worcester City Council said: "If this case is as reported then I have no doubt once the full facts are known the appeals team will treat the case sympathetically.

"We do urge our attendants to take a common sense approach to parking enforcement and I am sure we can sort out this issue amicably when the vehicle owner contacts us."

Lee-Anne Bass, of women's car insurance company CoverGirl Car Insurance Services, said: "Although this parking ticket was a bit of a shock for Ms Clegg, it looks like she has a good chance of being able to appeal against it.

"However, if she decides to claim on her ladies' car insurance for the damage the tree caused, the impact on her motor insurance quotes won't be so easy to undo."