Home / Disasters and Accidents / Driver Left £13K Debt After Tree Branch Falls on Car
Driver Left £13K Debt After Tree Branch Falls on Car
3 Apr
Summary
- A driving instructor incurred £13,000 debt after a tree branch damaged her car.
- The City of London Corporation denied responsibility for the incident.
- The damaged car was a dual-control vehicle essential for her profession.
A driving instructor, Louisa Judge, 64, has been left with a debt of £13,000 following a severe incident in December 2024. A large branch from a tree managed by the City of London Corporation fell onto her Ford Fiesta while she was conducting a driving lesson near Epping Forest. The incident has significantly impacted her financial situation, as the authority has refused to accept liability.
Judge stated that the City of London Corporation's insurers assessed the incident and found the authority not liable. Despite a report indicating the tree required surgery within a year of its inspection, the corporation has denied responsibility. This has left Judge struggling to cover the costs of a replacement vehicle, which she needs for her work. She highlighted the challenges in communicating with the corporation and expressed her disappointment that she alone has borne the financial burden.
The incident occurred in Epping Forest, Essex. The branch was so large it required five men to remove it from the car. Fortunately, the learner's triangular sign on the roof may have mitigated more serious damage to the vehicle. Judge's son expressed concern over her dire financial state, noting she had to use her savings and may be unable to retire as planned.
