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Sheep crash biker billed for damaging road
Ben Bailey24 Sep 2009
A motorcyclist who was left fighting for his life after hitting a stray sheep has been billed by his local council for damaging its road.
Biker Moray Ferguson was sent a bill for £200 by Aberdeenshire council after colliding with the sheep on the unclassified Cuminestown to Fyvie Road.
The 47-year-old's motorbike burst into flames, and he suffered a broken hip socket, pelvis and collar bone, seven cracked ribs and a collapsed lung.
After five weeks of hospital treatment, the father-of-two returned home, but was shocked when the council sent him an invoice.
Mr Ferguson, a construction engineer, from Cuminestown, Turiff, told the BBC he was "completely shocked" by the bill.
"I didn't know there was going to be a stray sheep on the road," he said. "The accident wasn't my fault."
Mr Ferguson's wife, Susan added that the road was "really bad for stray animals wandering about".
But a council spokesman tonight defended the decision to try and claw back the money.
She said: "When damage is sustained by the public road network as a result of an accident it is the council's duty to reclaim the cost of the required repair work from the relevant party involved.
"We regret that the motorcyclist was injured but we contact individuals involved in accidents which cause damage to our property directly because it gives them the option of putting it to their insurers, or paying for it themselves if it's a minor claim and they don't want to affect their no claims bonus.
"This is standard procedure, except in the case of fatal accidents, where requests for payment are sent directly to insurers.
"It may be that his insurers will be able to reclaim costs from the owner of the sheep if they were negligent in some way, for example, if there was a hole in fence or a gate was left open."
Reader views (11)
what else would you expect from a council; after all somebody somewhere has to fund their personal expense claims and outrageous salaries and ring fenced pensions.
- M.O'Brien, london.uk, 24/09/2009 18:11
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Doesn't Gordon Brown come from someplace near Fyvie?
- Warren, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, 24/09/2009 15:47
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The Council´s action is legally quite correct, but I would I should think the motor cyclist will be able to claim off his insurance. I would be interested to hear what the speed limit is on this road and what speed the motor cyclist was travelling at.
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands, 24/09/2009 15:41
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Is there any reason why the council should have known the consequences of the accident? If so, they should have been more sensitive with the wording of the letter and owe him an apology.
But regardless of that, the man should simply forward the lettter to his insurer and forget about it. Damage to third parties and their property is the reason that motoring insurance is compulsory. I should think that such letters are opened by someone's widow or executor more often than we realize. This chap should celebrate the fact he's not dead!
- Nigel, London, 24/09/2009 14:45
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Abeerdeenshire Council website, jobs section, provide excellent customer service - I think they forgot about compassion, and they even have a link to better care - oh and then you woke up yes!!!! What is the problem, sulking because you all got caught dodgying the system with your expenses, guess you have to get the cash back some way, ENGLAND/SCOTLAND, get rid of these jokers,and do all yourselves a favour, they are an embarrassment. Would you fine your partner/husband/wife/sister etc for the same offence!!!! DISGUSTING THE LOT OF YOU
- Jayne, London, 24/09/2009 13:21
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What is the perceived problem here? This is a legally correct action by the Council as they are a third party having suffered financial loss (cost of a road repair) from a motoring accident. To cover this scenario is exactly why third party insurance is compulsory for motorists in the UK.
- John New, Dorst England, 24/09/2009 11:49
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Rider says "I didn't know there was going to be a stray sheep on the road," he said. "The accident wasn't my fault."
His wife said "the road was "really bad for stray animals wandering about".
Nice to see his own wife backs him up, not !!!!
- Jl, London, 24/09/2009 11:40
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The coward from the council said; "which cause damage to our property"
Ahem. Whose property?
- Escobar Alop-Lop, Camden County, 24/09/2009 11:23
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When I learned to drive, we were taught to drive so that we could stop if there was an obstruction! If it had been a tree or a person lying on the road, not a sheep ...?
- Charles, Oxford, England, 24/09/2009 11:08
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When asked to comment the sheep said "Vote Labour".
- Threaded, Roskilde, Denmark, 24/09/2009 10:44
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Scotch Skinflints. what a shock!
- Steve, Brentford, 24/09/2009 10:15
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