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January 9, 2008 Wednesday
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Jan 9, 2008
Who pays for damage caused by fallen branch?
I AM writing to seek recourse in an incident that occurred last year.

I would also like to make people aware of dangers that lurk on our expressways.

On Oct 30 last year, I had an unpleasant experience when large tree branches fell on my car as I was driving at high speed along the Ayer Rajah Expressway.

On the advice of a National Parks Board (NParks) officer, I got my car repaired and claimed damages from NParks.

Based on its investigations, NParks responded to my claim by stating that pruning of trees was done four months before the incident and evidence of fallen branches could not be located.

I don't understand how NParks could expect to find evidence on an expressway which thousands of heavy vehicles ply every hour.

There were heavy showers the day before my accident. Doesn't this mean NParks should have checked the trees on the expressway either on the night of the heavy showers or the morning after?

The key point of my claim is that I was very lucky to escape with such minor damage.

At such high speed, anything could have happened.

Does NParks or First Capital Insurance (the insurer for NParks) realise that?

C.S. Mahadevan

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