Bus drivers - Gotta Love' Em....
Discussion
Knock on the door last night from a neighbour...
"Somebody has smashed your car (parked across the road from my property as the other half got in late from work - usually it is parked directly outsdie my house), but there is note under the windscreen.
Is the note from the perpatrator of the accident? Is it f8ck as like. A member of the general public has had the presence of mind to write everything down, he witnessed the bus hit my car as it has stopped to pick up passengers on our road (A bus route) and just drive off! He has got the time, Bus No. and reg detail - top man. After sitting for three quarters of an hour at my local nick while waiting for a Donut munching example of our finest, I've reported it as a drive off - I don't give a sh!t if the oxygen theiving moron driving the bus loses his job. He has t
tted my car hard enough to put the wing onto the front tyre - it was only drivable to the local police station after using a jimmy bar to pull it out/off. I took photos beforehand 
. How is this for irony - Police control centre staff have said to get down tonight, if the car isn't drivable use the bus (nearly had total sense of humour failure at this point - 
fking YTS retard)! Obviously extending the bus drivers career as PSV driver I am keen to avoid, and I do know it is Christmas coming up. Bah humbug you clumsy less than spacially aware amoeba.
Eventually left the police station at about midnight, coppers had reviewed vehicle and taken written statement. Not sure if I wasted my F*cking time TBH.
Only question I have and any kind of doubt - the car was parked close but not on the bus stop (standard stop - not a designated pull in bay). What in the eyes of the law is reasonable distance, as the vehicle was parked over 7m away!
Time to do battle with the insurance companies and bus company. Arggggggggghhh Bastids.
"Somebody has smashed your car (parked across the road from my property as the other half got in late from work - usually it is parked directly outsdie my house), but there is note under the windscreen.
Is the note from the perpatrator of the accident? Is it f8ck as like. A member of the general public has had the presence of mind to write everything down, he witnessed the bus hit my car as it has stopped to pick up passengers on our road (A bus route) and just drive off! He has got the time, Bus No. and reg detail - top man. After sitting for three quarters of an hour at my local nick while waiting for a Donut munching example of our finest, I've reported it as a drive off - I don't give a sh!t if the oxygen theiving moron driving the bus loses his job. He has t
tted my car hard enough to put the wing onto the front tyre - it was only drivable to the local police station after using a jimmy bar to pull it out/off. I took photos beforehand . How is this for irony - Police control centre staff have said to get down tonight, if the car isn't drivable use the bus (nearly had total sense of humour failure at this point - fking YTS retard)! Obviously extending the bus drivers career as PSV driver I am keen to avoid, and I do know it is Christmas coming up. Bah humbug you clumsy less than spacially aware amoeba.Eventually left the police station at about midnight, coppers had reviewed vehicle and taken written statement. Not sure if I wasted my F*cking time TBH.
Only question I have and any kind of doubt - the car was parked close but not on the bus stop (standard stop - not a designated pull in bay). What in the eyes of the law is reasonable distance, as the vehicle was parked over 7m away!
Time to do battle with the insurance companies and bus company. Arggggggggghhh Bastids.
A local bus company for me managed to hire a banned drink driver who then managed to kill a new driver whilst driving a bus. Not only was he drunk at the time, he fell asleep and broadsided the young driver, killing him instantly.
Nice to know that bus companies take their responsibilities seriously and protect the public.
Nice to know that bus companies take their responsibilities seriously and protect the public.
If its anything like our force, we complete a collisions booklet and the collisions dept will speak to the bus company who will Id the driver and normally admit responsibility. The ones i have dealt with have paid up.
I had a foreign lorry driver reverse into a garden wall and drive off. It was seen by a bus driver who told the owner. the company paid the owner once police spoke with them
I had a foreign lorry driver reverse into a garden wall and drive off. It was seen by a bus driver who told the owner. the company paid the owner once police spoke with them
off_again said:
A local bus company for me managed to hire a banned drink driver who then managed to kill a new driver whilst driving a bus. Not only was he drunk at the time, he fell asleep and broadsided the young driver, killing him instantly.
Nice to know that bus companies take their responsibilities seriously and protect the public.
And to think we're supposed to leave our cars and let people like them drive us round.Nice to know that bus companies take their responsibilities seriously and protect the public.
Geronimo said:
Did the witness leave their contact details?
Yes - Name and address, he lives further down the same road conveniently. Couldn't speak with him last night but will try and flesh out what happened later tonight.Some of this is positive (Witness - contact address etc), but the general tone of people on the thread and their experiences with Bus accidents leaves me feeling pessimistic. If we have to claim using my Wifes insurance (its her car) I will be raging
Contact the bus company giving details of the time and bus reg number they can then inspect it for damage and give you their insurance details
Some buses have CCTV cameras which are set up to show the sides of the bus, if this one has it, the accident could have been recorded but get on to them quickly because the recordings get overwritten
Some buses have CCTV cameras which are set up to show the sides of the bus, if this one has it, the accident could have been recorded but get on to them quickly because the recordings get overwritten
Edited by StevenB on Tuesday 2nd December 11:20
FWDRacer said:
Geronimo said:
Did the witness leave their contact details?
Yes - Name and address, he lives further down the same road conveniently. Couldn't speak with him last night but will try and flesh out what happened later tonight.Some of this is positive (Witness - contact address etc), but the general tone of people on the thread and their experiences with Bus accidents leaves me feeling pessimistic. If we have to claim using my Wifes insurance (its her car) I will be raging
benoli said:
surely the Police should be chasing this by speaking to the Bus Co. & interviewing the driver and then charging him with Leaving the Scene of an Accident
- also what about the passengers on the bus ? didn't they complain to the driver, or are they now seeking counselling for shock ?
I should think the OP wants this sorted ASAP so no harm in getting the ball rolling - also what about the passengers on the bus ? didn't they complain to the driver, or are they now seeking counselling for shock ?
It is possible to hit something in a bus and the driver not realsie, though he should know that he was close passengers would only feel a light bump if anything.
StevenB said:
Contact the bus company giving details of the time and bus reg number they can then inspect it for damage and give you their insurance details
Some buses have CCTV cameras which are set up to show the sides of the bus, if this one has it, the accident could have been recorded but get on to them quickly because the recordings get overwritten
Do it, and do it now. Some buses have CCTV cameras which are set up to show the sides of the bus, if this one has it, the accident could have been recorded but get on to them quickly because the recordings get overwritten
Edited by StevenB on Tuesday 2nd December 11:20
Depending on the age of the CCTV system, you will only have a couple of days at worst case. Newer systems have the ability to record and retain info for weeks.
But if it is a local small operator, there is a chance they don't have CCTV.
Good luck.
Similar thing happened to my wife, but scarier I suppose. She was in the outside lane on a NSL dual carriageway passing a slip road (letting a lorry merge) when the driver decided to move straight into the outside lane, forcing her onto the grass verge!
Luckily she slowed down enough not to get squashed into the barrier but the truck managed to take off the wing mirror and smash the passenger door. Of course he drove off and saw nothing, she had to give chase and make him pull over to get his details.
They obviously disputed what happened but she has free legal advice with her insurace and it turned out the driver of the lorry wasn't insured and was temping for the company. Anyway after about six months they eventually paid up and she got it repaired.
Luckily she slowed down enough not to get squashed into the barrier but the truck managed to take off the wing mirror and smash the passenger door. Of course he drove off and saw nothing, she had to give chase and make him pull over to get his details.
They obviously disputed what happened but she has free legal advice with her insurace and it turned out the driver of the lorry wasn't insured and was temping for the company. Anyway after about six months they eventually paid up and she got it repaired.
- Update**
to date:
I've faxed the insurer a copy of the original witness statement.
Faxed them in situ photos of damage to my car.
Last week supplied them with witness telephone no. Apparently he hasn't replied to correspondance sent?
They are still saying they cannot proceed without prejudice.
Where do I stand legally - I would like to get the car fixed ASAP - it won't pass its MOT in current disrepair and that is due in two weeks. I'm thinking a solicitor is the only way out.
Any advice greatly appreciated. An PH legal eagles in today?
WHen I had an insurance claim a while back my insurance company (Tesco I believe) said the witness didnt respond to phone calls or written requests for information so they were assuming I was at fault and paying out minus my excess...I called the witness who said no one had ever bothered trying to contact him. I think sometimes they see it as too muich effort and just pay out, which is a shame.
[quote=FWDRacer]**Update**
Car still isn't fixed and the insurance company representing travel West Midlands will not authorise repair until they've fully completed veryifying the witness statement.
to date:
I've faxed the insurer a copy of the original witness statement.
Faxed them in situ photos of damage to my car.
Last week supplied them with witness telephone no. Apparently he hasn't replied to correspondance sent?
They are still saying they cannot proceed without prejudice.
They will drag their feet in the hope that you jack it in. They have thousands of vehicles and hundreds of actual and falsified claims each year. What's more, they probably have an excess of several hundred thousands of pounds, maybe even a million, due to the claims nature of passengers for slips/trips/falls etc and the high liklihood of both personal and vehicle claims.
Self insured effectively, so all payouts come out of profit. They have no reason to progress quickly.
Get some legal assistance.
Car still isn't fixed and the insurance company representing travel West Midlands will not authorise repair until they've fully completed veryifying the witness statement.
to date:
I've faxed the insurer a copy of the original witness statement.
Faxed them in situ photos of damage to my car.
Last week supplied them with witness telephone no. Apparently he hasn't replied to correspondance sent?
They are still saying they cannot proceed without prejudice.
They will drag their feet in the hope that you jack it in. They have thousands of vehicles and hundreds of actual and falsified claims each year. What's more, they probably have an excess of several hundred thousands of pounds, maybe even a million, due to the claims nature of passengers for slips/trips/falls etc and the high liklihood of both personal and vehicle claims.
Self insured effectively, so all payouts come out of profit. They have no reason to progress quickly.
Get some legal assistance.
Edited by Hitch78 on Thursday 12th February 17:58
Don't forget to bill them for use of a hire car whilst yours was off the road.
I believe PH'er Anniesdad is the one to talk to? http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?mem...
I believe PH'er Anniesdad is the one to talk to? http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?mem...
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