Michal Dohnal was travelling home with his wife and toddler on Monday, December 9, when the frightening incident occurred at around 6.30pm.
A West Lothian family were left shaken after a huge branch fell onto their car while driving during high winds from Storm Bram.
Michal Dohnal was travelling home with his wife and toddler on Monday, December 9, when the frightening incident occurred at around 6.30pm.
The 33-year-old’s partner, a learner, was driving them towards Livingston, and was stopped at temporary traffic lights near Kirknewton at the time. The impact left the rear window shattered and a large crack in the front windscreen.
However, the couple have reportedly since been hit with a bill of £925, after their insurance company told them their claim was “non-recoverable”.
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Michal told Edinburgh Live: “We were just stationary on the road, chatting and listening to some kids’ songs with our three-year-old daughter. It was obviously very windy, then suddenly there was this big crash on top of the roof.
“It smashed the window with the glass completely shattered. Luckily none of the pieces went past the boot tray.
“We were just in shock, I remember saying ‘what the f***?’ and went out to have a look at what happened. I could see a big dry branch which broke off on impact.
“The large branch was partly on the road and partly still on the roof.”
Pictures show the car at the side of the road and later outside the family’s home. The damage is obvious, with almost all of the glass gone from the rear windscreen and scratches around it.
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Pieces of the large branch can be seen lying on top of the car and in the middle of the road, with debris scattered around it.
Michal said his partner was visibly shaking following the incident, but managed to get the car home. Neither them nor their daughter were injured.
However, despite being provided with a courtesy car, the subsequent insurance costs have left the couple reeling.
He added: “The insurance company have since told us we will have to pay all the possible excesses there is, a total of £925 which is just crazy for us as a family with a little kid at this time of year.
“That payment for just standing still on the road is ridiculous and a big hit to our family budget.”
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