Chap Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 I dropped a better description into the safe driving thread, but by all rights I have just been incredibly lucky. In essence: I span 360 degrees, on rh side of an m.way, in rush hour. Missed every other car and ended up smashing into the concrete central reservation (lucky it wasn't armcote). I bruised my leg. Not sure exactly what happened now, all I know was I was starting to move into the central lane when I noticed a car coming up fast on my LH side - I had a wtf!?! moment and I react by moving back to the right, look forward and the car in front is braking... hard. 'Oh no' says I. Guess the combination of the change of direction, and the braking to avoid car in front was too much for the tyres. Next thing I hear is the tyres screech, and I'm spinning. So having bounced off the huge concrete blocks, I'm facing the right way on the M.way but in RH lane. Restart car and limp onto RH hard shoulder. Call the police and chill out. Some minutes later the highways agency come along and escort me to the right side of the road. Recovery vehicle called out and they are on their way. Unmarked police car called by, but no statements taken, no breathalyser no photos, nothing. Some paint left on the huge eff off reservation. Car will be scrapped by the recovery bods and that's about it - front suspension died, bumper and wings shunted back by a good inch all over, but the huge engine bay was an awesome 'crumple zone'. The air bags didn't even fire. So what happens next? No one else stopped, and I can't see any other impact marks on the car. Should I expect a call from the police for a statement? A bill from the highways guys for removing the paint for the barrier and some spillsorb for the spilt water (I leaked a bit of washer fluid, maybe coolant too)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 Bloody hell mate, glad to hear you're okay! I'd expect a bill. Friend of mine did almost the same thing as you on the A1, got a bill through the post for Armco replacement. I doubt the police will want any further involvement. What car were you in btw? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chap Posted July 23, 2011 Author Share Posted July 23, 2011 Wasn't Armcote but the new concrete stuff they've been rolling out like the following, but it looks even thicker where I hit. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Concr ... ection.jpg, could hardly tell there anything had hit it and it wasn't mentioned at the scene. It does an awesome job. Car was an awesome Ford Cougar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maccaman Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 Glad to hear you came out of that ok. Must have been a very scary moment. Just shows how alert you have to be to the traffic all around you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexx Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 Glad you are ok! Scary sh!t which I have had the misfortune of also been involved in. When I span the R8 back in December, I missed the front of another car by maybe half a foot, and he still didn't stop. People seem to think that if it didnt happen to them, then they can ignore it and not stop. My accident shattered a curb, so far the council have not came knocking for cash to fix it. Police didnt take statements or anything, so as far as I am aware, that will be the end of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vik54 Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 glad you're ok ... just have to wait and see if you'll be asked for any repair costs - but I doubt you would be Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chap Posted July 23, 2011 Author Share Posted July 23, 2011 Yeah its pretty unbelievable really, but it certainly happened. Got recovery bloke on his way over with £70 for it, AA charged me £108 so £30 and loss of the car which was only worth a few hundred on trade in\scrap anyway. I got very lucky. Wondering about how I should handle the insurance side of things - nothing to claim for as far as I can tell and a record on their system would mean higher premiums later? 99% sure I should be calling them anyway in case highways get in touch. Heh my vision of Zed ownership may go back a few years thanks to my new risk category. I'm alive though, and you couldn't tell what happened by looking at me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 Yeah its pretty unbelievable really, but it certainly happened. Got recovery bloke on his way over with £70 for it, AA charged me £108 so £30 and loss of the car which was only worth a few hundred on trade in\scrap anyway. I got very lucky. Wondering about how I should handle the insurance side of things - nothing to claim for as far as I can tell and a record on their system would mean higher premiums later? 99% sure I should be calling them anyway in case highways get in touch. Heh my vision of Zed ownership may go back a few years thanks to my new risk category. I'm alive though, and you couldn't tell what happened by looking at me. No one else involved no statements taken therefore no third party , breakdown has taken it for scrap you have accepted the loss - just ring the insurance and cancel the policy and get the balance of your premium back (less admin fee) as you are not making a claim and move on. I would. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricey Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 Not wanting to worry you but I have heard of large bills being presented for this kind of thing.......hopefully highways will cut you a break though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chap Posted July 23, 2011 Author Share Posted July 23, 2011 Th only mark of my spin: One for the memories though Engine mounting is twisted around, and there used to be a bit of a gap before you got to the battery. The acid splash is a nice touch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisjones6699 Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 When and where did this happen? Glad you're ok!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andlid Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 glad to hear you're ok! Had a close call by sounds of things. The coppers won't care if nobody else was hurt IMO. Unless you where on drugs or intoxicated, weird they didnt check you out though, are you sore from this incident at all? Must have been some wack into the wall! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chap Posted July 23, 2011 Author Share Posted July 23, 2011 I've got something like grade 1 whiplash - basic soreness in lower neck, like if you've been hunched at a computer for too long. Bruised my leg too. Not bothered to see a doc, will just keep it moving and stretching it out. I probably made impact at circa 50, having slowed from 60\70. Can see the mark is quite high up the barrier but it did its job well - the step out channels the force into the wheels then the body hits the wall. Still can't piece it together perfectly, doubt I ever will. Trying to work out what vehicle I want to be in next, had been looking at Zeds, but don't strictly need wheels right now. Might be worth getting some track tuition or IAM courses mind... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronzee Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 Main thing is you are ok, and don't think any type of advanced driver training ever goes amiss for anyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vik54 Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 You do need to inform your insurance even though no third party involved etc - remember the question they ask you when renewing or taking out a policy is along the lines of "Have you had any accidents or claims regardless of fault or injury in the last x years?" - this is why protecting your no claims isn't worth the paper its written on unless you're going to say with the same company for ever Doesn't matter that your claims are protected and you take them with you they've already asked you the question and if the answer is yes your policy is front loaded from the outset. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted July 24, 2011 Share Posted July 24, 2011 You do need to inform your insurance even though no third party involved etc - remember the question they ask you when renewing or taking out a policy is along the lines of "Have you had any accidents or claims regardless of fault or injury in the last x years?" - this is why protecting your no claims isn't worth the paper its written on unless you're going to say with the same company for ever Doesn't matter that your claims are protected and you take them with you they've already asked you the question and if the answer is yes your policy is front loaded from the outset. I think a sense of pproportion is required in terms of notifying insurance companies about minor incidents that results in no loss for anyone - i.e. how many times have you seen lorries create ruts in a grass verge - do the drivers ever notify the Council or Highway Authority what they have done - do they ever and if they did the department concerned would have to treble its staff etc! Thousands of minor vehicle related 'accidents' must happen every day but either the collision is so minor that the parties sort it out with resort to the insurance companies, or I suspect when a wall is hit or whatever nobody worries about it - just one of those things with no harm done. No point in giving insurance companies any excuse to hike your premiums Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.