A DRIVER said he was left with a $3,000 car bill over cut grass, even a police report couldn’t get the money back.
This was a maintenance crew in the county allegedly damaged his vehicle.
Jordan Duque says he was left with a lot of damage to his car thanks to a lawn mower[/caption]
A lawn mower left him with $3,000 after debris hit his passenger door[/caption]
Jordan Duque comes from Houston and was driving along Old Greenhouse Road in Harris County with his girlfriend.
Suddenly, he heard an alarming sound which sounded like a “huge thud” on his door.
He told ABC13 Eyewitness News: “I already knew it was bad as soon as I heard it.”
A county-operated lawn mower then ejected debris which caused a dent in the passenger door.
The resident and his mother provided supporting documentation to try and help their case.
A county maintenance lawn mower was operating off the roadway in a ditch, according to a report by the According to a report by the Constable’s Office in Harris County Precinct four.
He provided the report to the television station and his mother Vivian helped him out with the documentation. a
She told the outlet that she submitted the required pictures alongside the police report for the repair bill.
However, their claim for reimbursement was shockingly denied after it was submitted.
Jordan admitted: “They both went over the claim process with me. Just told me all the things I need to do, and that they would have everything covered with the pictures.”
Local attorneys view
A local attorney confirmed to the station that it is common practice for government agencies to claim immunity in cases like these.
The lawyer said that unless a case fits into an exception, it is rare for institutions to pay for damage.
This is mostly for private property that is damaged in the course of normal duties that is carried out by government workers in the county.
Insurance
The attorney also told the news outlet that residents would usually have to file a claim under their own insurance policies.
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However, Vivian Duque revealed that the family‘s insurance agent said the rate would likely go up if they did submit a claim.
This means the residents are now simply left with the damage to their vehicle, as it would cost them more in the long-run to get fixed.
She fumed: “We don’t have $3,000 sitting around to go fix it. We shouldn’t have to because it wasn’t our fault.”
A local attorney claims that government agencies often claim immunity[/caption]
The family claimed their insurance agent said their rates would go up if they did claim[/caption]
