A County Durham homeowner has been left reeling after Go North East refused to cover the £15,000 cost of damages caused when one of their buses crashed into her front garden four months ago.
Claire Read, 41, remains in a state of limbo after the single-decker bus plowed through the front of her Stanley property in July. The collision destroyed six 10-foot conifer trees, several pillars, the front gates, and a football goal used by her children. While Ms. Read expressed relief at the time that no one was killed, stating “property can be replaced but lives can’t,” she now feels abandoned by the transport company.
The crash, which occurred after the driver reportedly suffered a sudden, unforeseen medical episode, has left the family’s garden in what Ms. Read describes as a “building site.” Despite the passage of four months, the site remains exposed, with the family forced to rely on flimsy temporary fencing that has failed to withstand the weather.
“We’re now into November and it’s freezing cold and I’ve still got no wall, no fence, no gates,” Ms. Read said. “The property is on a main road, so it’s far from ideal having it wide open. It’s caused a lot of anguish.”
The situation took a turn for the worse last week when Go North East’s claims handling agents, Gallagher Bassett, officially informed the family that the company would not be accepting liability. In a letter to the homeowners, the agents cited an “automatism defence,” explaining that because the driver’s medical episode was “involuntary, sudden and unforeseen,” the company is not legally responsible for the damages.
This refusal leaves the family facing a significant financial shortfall. Ms. Read has been quoted between £14,500 and £15,000 for repairs, yet her own home insurance provider has estimated a payout that is several thousand pounds lower. To bridge the gap, the family may be forced to carry out some of the labour themselves, with Ms. Read’s husband potentially needing to take time off work to complete the work.
“I can’t understand how a big company would go down that route,” said Ms. Read, who has also struggled with ongoing health issues since the incident. “We’re not millionaires; we both work and we’ve got two kids.”
A spokesperson for Go North East confirmed they supported authorities with enquiries following the July incident but declined to comment on the specific outcome of the claim. Ms. Read has now been advised to seek independent legal counsel, a prospect she finds daunting given the additional costs involved. For now, the family remains in a state of disarray, caught in the middle of a legal deadlock that has turned their home into a permanent reminder of the summer crash.
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