Bills You Can Expect If You Accidentally Damage ´Street Furniture´

When you´re involved in an accident, or just park a bit clumsily and ´street furniture´ is damaged in the process, you can expect a bill from the relevant authorities to be sent to your home address, demanding payment of the repair or replacement of the damaged objects. Non payment can lead to embargo of your bank account!

Fortunately, most insurance policies, both all risk and third parties, will cover the costs, unless the damage was caused by violent driving or vandalism. Mind you, in those cases, you can expect a fine of up to 3.000 euros on top of the repair costs.

Costs involved if you damage or destroy beyond repair:

– a radar unit – up to 40.000 euros plus 15.000 for the booth

– variable road information displays – up to 43.000 euros including the pole that carries the display unit

– streetlight – from 500 euros for a regular one, to 1.500 for one with LED lights

– bollards – from 60 to 180 euros, depending on what they are made of. Most billed item by local authorities.

– the barrier at exit of parkings – between 150 and 300 euros if you accidentally break it. If caused by consumption of too much alcohol, your insurance won´t cover the cost!

– kilometer indicators at side of road – 10 euros for plastic one to 60 for one made of metal

– orange senalization cones – if you nick one and get caught – 33 euros a piece

– fences that seperate the sidewalk from the road – 300 to 600 euros per segment

Busstops:

– if you break the glass – 200 to 800 euros if it´s the part that contains publicity posters. If you get caught damaging it with paint, 75 euros for cleaning. If you destroy the entire structure – 12.000 euros. If it´s ´just´ a pole that indicates a bus stop, costs around 1.900 euros.

If you need assistance from:

– fire brigade – for example you need to be freed from your vehicle and a 4-man team comes out to assist you, the cost will amount to 150 to 300 euros.

– ambulance – medical team around 700 euros/day and the vehicle itself 3.000 euros/day. Helicopter unit 6.800 euros per incident.

On the highway:

– clean up of broken glass, oil on road, removal of car parts to recycling depot. Costs vary per region and administration. For example in Madrid you get billed around 600 euros for this.

– damage of sound barrier panels – panel of 3 m. around 300 euros. If you get caught spray painting a stretch of them – realise that you will be charged 200.000 euros for every 250 meters.

Please note: The information provided is based upon our understanding of current legislation. It is not legal advice but is provided freely to enable you to be properly informed. We recommend that if you are considering taking action, you should seek professional advice.