[GWhunter]

Yesterday I had 80 yards of topsoil delivered. The tri axle need to get turned around to be the correct angle to back up the drive. Three heavy loads were delivered without incident or so I thought. Today I'm harley raking the site and a guy walks up and stands about 50' away. I hop off the machine and he ask me what the name of the company who delivered the material. So I ask "who are you" he tells me he got a business across the street and that the guy who delivered fell through their septic system. So I kind of chuckle and ask how he knows it was them. He says he saw them(total BS since he claime only two loads were deliver and it was three). This parking lot is in between two roads and everyone cuts across it including the town dpw and school buses. So I take a walk over to the property and the entire septic cover is caved in. The hole is at least the size of both rears of the truck. There's no way that he fell through since it woul have tipped the truck right over with all the weight he had on. This driver was also extremely careful with his truck. So I called the owner and explained the situation. He said they'd look into it on Monday. Now I know it isn't my problem but I feel bad since it's my job but there's no proof that my sub did this damage. Since there's no proof that this truck was the culprit is there any liability?
Sorry for the longwinded post. I'll snap a pic in the am.

Matt

 

[ksss]

Can you match tire tread? Also if the septic is in an area traveled by vehicles it should be traffic rated. As long as its a two piece tank its not a big deal really. Pump the pooh, pull top lid off and replace. If its a one piece tank or the bottom is damaged that sucks. Either way sh!t happens.

 

[GWhunter]

The tire marks do look similar but there's no way he fell through since he never would have gotten out fully loaded. The tank looks like 8' round deal. It looks like just the cover needs to be replaced. I'll get a few pics tomorrow.

Matt

 

[Gravel Rat]

If a gravel truck falls into a septic tank it is stuck there because the truck axles would bottom out. Is this septic tank covered with grass or is it covered with dirt. I think this A hole guy is trying to blame you for something that somebody else did.

 

[RockSet N' Grade]

I tend to agree with the Rat on this one. Free lunch anyone?

 

[GWhunter]

Me too but I was too afraid to post it first.

Matt

 

[Danny Boy]

That means our both doomed for failure, even if what he says is true:hammerhead::laugh:

 

[Gravel Rat]

If it is a fiberglass or plastic tank and a dump truck falls in the tank is done you have to dig it out the whole top caves in and your calling in a tow truck or a excavator pull the truck out. Lots of the older houses have old wood septic tanks nobody knows where they are untill your drive a truck over the lawn and fall in.

People that work in cities don't know what septic tanks are about get into rural areas where there is no sewer systems so dealing with septic tanks is common practice.

 

[GWhunter]

The concrete cover of the tank was covered with asphalt.

Matt

 

[JB1]

sorry about your luck but it wasn't my truck.

 

[ConstSvcs]

The concrete cover of the tank was covered with asphalt.

Matt

Guess it wasn't a HD tank approved for use under drives and parking areas.........

 

[PonyExpress94]

So.....the damaged septic lid was covered by asphalt in a parking lot. Now the question is who owns this parking lot and who has right of use? If the lot is private for the business owner claiming the damage then technically he might be able to seek damages from one or both of you IF AND ONLY IF the lot was posted that it was only for the use of his business. If it is not posted as private then I tend to think it will be a hard lesson learned and he should probably prevent heavy traffic use and try to relocate the tank to a less vulnerable area.

 

[Dirtman2007]

Something sounds fishy. How are you suppose to pump a tank out thats covered under asphalt to begin with? I'd like to see some pictures when you get a chance.

 

[Stonewellmark]

A public parking lot (pavement) is fair game unless it is gated ( I dont think so in this case ) tell the guy the companies name and info. and rid yourself of the siuation. Besides the co. that delivered the soil will tell him to pound salt because they could say his faulty tank was unsafe and damaged their truck ......remember lawsuits go both ways, and the septic shouldnt be under a parking lot unless its hd enough and approved by the town. Good luck.

 

[GWhunter]

There's a small manhole cover in the center. It was covered by sand, the lot is private but isn't posted. I know I'm not liable for it but it just sucks for my sub. There's no way the truck fell in when he drove on it because he'd never have gotten out. I'll snap a few pics today. Everyone cuts throught this lot. The driver really only swung in to spin the truck around. I really think the landlord is trying to screw some over.

Matt

 

[PonyExpress94]

Matt, I'd have to agree with you at this point that the owner is just trying to have his repairs subsidized. Since you say the lot isn't posted or even gated and that a fair amount of public traffic uses the lot, the owner won't have much ground for a complaint. Best thing at this point is to warn your sub about being contacted about the issue, give them all the info you can regarding the use of the area so they have some ammunition against the owner's claims and step back. Hopefully the owner will see the writing on the wall that this is a bum argument to pursue, he'll make the necessary repairs, and then install some sort of gate to stop people from cutting through or security cameras to monitor his property for future issues.

Good luck and hope this helps.

 

[topsites]

I hate these kind of calls, and I'm not saying this is the case but twice in 8 years have I ended up eating
some repair that wasn't my fault, the first one was so long ago I'm just about to the point where I had forgotten
and probably about ready to forgive the other party for that, but the last one just happened (like yesterday, literally).

And I wasn't happy about it but all in all it wasn't that bad, I figured just get it
over with and be done, everyone's happy etc, etc...
Not that I was particularly amused at the message this was sending out, but dangit I just figured take care of it and be done.

Which was all good, until...
Hell I was almost done, finishing up and getting ready to leave.
The bastard who come around all intimidating and using threat of force and coercion and legal threats
to finally get his way out of me said "thank you" and "I really appreciate you taking care of that"
in a tone of voice like he really meant it...

And he may have (really meant it)...

But SOB I was about ready to pound this guy to where I was looking at 20 to life I swear I ain't
been this angry in a bit of a while lol, if he'd a just let me go on about my business I would've been fine,
damn I dealt with these folks three times and EVERY single time I got so pissed off, I didn't get to sleep
until 4am and 1/2 hour ago finished unloading the trailer, even now I'm still a bit steamed up over that.

Now then...
I hope it all works out for you some kind of way, man, hopefully y'all come
out smelling a little bit better and all of that, good luck!

 

[SullivanSeptic]

This is something that I deal with all the time. So a couple things. The truck most likely ran over the tank but the cover didn't collapse until after the truck drove off of it. This happens all the time. The weight of the truck just craked the lid and it will give way at any time after that. The big issue is that the tank was in a parking lot under asphalt. I know Illinois code states tanks must be 10 feet away from all roadways. Not sure what your code states. Also, how old was the tank? The tank could have been caved in already and the asphalt may have stayed looking okay on top. This guy may have known that and was just looking for someone to blame.

I say everyone splits the cost of the repair and chalk it up as lesson learned. Probably looking at $300 in material and about 2 hours of work.

 

[Gravel Rat]

The business owner is sh*t out of luck for one why is a septic tank under pavement in a parking lot. I wouldn't worry about it he has no proof it was your hauler that caused the damage.

 

[AWJ Services]

Lesson learned. Never use anyones property without the owners permission.

I have in several instances had to give the delivery trucks a rash of **** for using others driveways, property etc for my deliveries.

I agree with Sullivan Septic. It very well could have collapsed after the truck left.

Here in Ga we can install tanks under parking lots but they have to be traffic rated tanks with traffic rated lids, risers and covers.