Had a bump, thought I'd share.
Discussion
Was travelling down a 2 lane 30mph road (2 lanes both directions with a lane width central hash markings along the middle to separate oncoming traffic) when I saw a car edging out of a McDonald's car park on my left trying to turn right across 4 lanes. Noticing the car I covered my brake in anticipation she might pull out in front me. Sure enough she stopped half way in lane 1 so thought she had seen me, all of sudden she goes for it, straight in front of my car leaving me no where to go and not enough time to stop in the greasy conditions.
As soon as I had hit her she reverses that car back into the entrance to McDonald's.
I get out take some pictures in case she try to dispute anything. I then try to move the car but when I try and set off, the dashboard comes up with "STOP Brake Failure, Esp Failure, ABS Failure and Handbrake Failure" and will not release the handbrake. Along with the front nearside tyre being punctured the car is impossible to move.
So I write my details on some paper and then walk over to get hers . The first says she says to me is "how bloody fast you were you going because you weren't there when I looked", I replied with "I wasn't speeding and in any case my speed is irrelevant as you failed to give way". Just to point out, I wasn't speeding and I rarely do, as I drive for a living. She then proceeds to talk on the phone for 15 minutes blanking me, so I have no choice but to just stand there whilst I wait to get her details. When she finally gets off the phone she immediately tells me that the police are on there way in a way that implies I was at fault. Not wanting to make the situation worse, I just politely ask for her details and give her the paper with mine on. She quickly gives me them and then goes straight back on her phone blanking me again. Fair enough I have her details, so now I can get sorted and try to get my car recovered by the insurance.
Then her husband turns up and the police turn up and then this is where it gets interesting.
The police quickly ask me what happened and then go over to talk to the third party and her husband. As there doing that, I'm on the phone to the insurance company trying to get the car recovered before the police want to.
One of the officers comes back over several times to first ask for my story of events again, then to ask if I had moved the car, which I replied with no because it's got an electronic handbrake and won't release, and then again to check if I had moved it, again I told him that no it's impossible to move and although I had tried to move it off the road away from danger it hadn't moved an inch. By this point I'm starting to wonder just what the third party and her husband are saying.
So I get out of the car and stand outside to see if I can overhear the conversation. It turns out they're trying to imply that she had only slightly edged out into lane 1 to get a better view of the traffic and that I had collided with her on purpose, and then moved my car into lane 2 after the accident to make it look like she had pulled out completely.
The husband then starts shouting over to me saying "come on then, let's see a picture of her in lane 2". I just ignore him, by this time I'd had enough and just wanted to get out of the cold and back home.
The police then go over to the drive thru windows of McDonald's and talk to some of the staff.
Eventually what must have been more than 45 minutes they send the couple on their way and come back to talk to me. They tell me not to worry as you're not at fault and that they don't know what her driving skills are like for her to pull across 2 lanes when there is oncoming traffic. They tell me that they found a witness in McDonald's but she's reluctant to get involved but they tell me that if the insurance company need a witness, then they can get in touch with the log number and they can pass the details on.
I tell them the insurance company are coming to recover the car but that they said it would be at least an hour. So they tow my car with there big X5, across to a side street out of the way. They've bent the tow hook in the process but I suppose that can be replaced. Finally the recovery truck arrives but due to the punctured tyre, handbrake not releasing and bent tow hook, it proves extremely difficult to get onto the back of the truck.
It was only when I got home that I realised there is a tool in the tool set of the car, to manually release the handbrake.
Anyway, cool story bro and all that and sorry for any spelling or grammar mistakes but I'm typing on my phone. I just hope her insurance admits fault and it's an easy process. By how much her husband was arguing the toss at the scene I am worried that her insurance might dispute things, but we'll soon see.
As soon as I had hit her she reverses that car back into the entrance to McDonald's.
I get out take some pictures in case she try to dispute anything. I then try to move the car but when I try and set off, the dashboard comes up with "STOP Brake Failure, Esp Failure, ABS Failure and Handbrake Failure" and will not release the handbrake. Along with the front nearside tyre being punctured the car is impossible to move.
So I write my details on some paper and then walk over to get hers . The first says she says to me is "how bloody fast you were you going because you weren't there when I looked", I replied with "I wasn't speeding and in any case my speed is irrelevant as you failed to give way". Just to point out, I wasn't speeding and I rarely do, as I drive for a living. She then proceeds to talk on the phone for 15 minutes blanking me, so I have no choice but to just stand there whilst I wait to get her details. When she finally gets off the phone she immediately tells me that the police are on there way in a way that implies I was at fault. Not wanting to make the situation worse, I just politely ask for her details and give her the paper with mine on. She quickly gives me them and then goes straight back on her phone blanking me again. Fair enough I have her details, so now I can get sorted and try to get my car recovered by the insurance.
Then her husband turns up and the police turn up and then this is where it gets interesting.
The police quickly ask me what happened and then go over to talk to the third party and her husband. As there doing that, I'm on the phone to the insurance company trying to get the car recovered before the police want to.
One of the officers comes back over several times to first ask for my story of events again, then to ask if I had moved the car, which I replied with no because it's got an electronic handbrake and won't release, and then again to check if I had moved it, again I told him that no it's impossible to move and although I had tried to move it off the road away from danger it hadn't moved an inch. By this point I'm starting to wonder just what the third party and her husband are saying.
So I get out of the car and stand outside to see if I can overhear the conversation. It turns out they're trying to imply that she had only slightly edged out into lane 1 to get a better view of the traffic and that I had collided with her on purpose, and then moved my car into lane 2 after the accident to make it look like she had pulled out completely.
The husband then starts shouting over to me saying "come on then, let's see a picture of her in lane 2". I just ignore him, by this time I'd had enough and just wanted to get out of the cold and back home.
The police then go over to the drive thru windows of McDonald's and talk to some of the staff.
Eventually what must have been more than 45 minutes they send the couple on their way and come back to talk to me. They tell me not to worry as you're not at fault and that they don't know what her driving skills are like for her to pull across 2 lanes when there is oncoming traffic. They tell me that they found a witness in McDonald's but she's reluctant to get involved but they tell me that if the insurance company need a witness, then they can get in touch with the log number and they can pass the details on.
I tell them the insurance company are coming to recover the car but that they said it would be at least an hour. So they tow my car with there big X5, across to a side street out of the way. They've bent the tow hook in the process but I suppose that can be replaced. Finally the recovery truck arrives but due to the punctured tyre, handbrake not releasing and bent tow hook, it proves extremely difficult to get onto the back of the truck.
It was only when I got home that I realised there is a tool in the tool set of the car, to manually release the handbrake.
Anyway, cool story bro and all that and sorry for any spelling or grammar mistakes but I'm typing on my phone. I just hope her insurance admits fault and it's an easy process. By how much her husband was arguing the toss at the scene I am worried that her insurance might dispute things, but we'll soon see.
Edited by The Turbonator on Tuesday 30th December 09:49
Typical spineless reaction by someone that has made a mistake but does not have the morals to admit they cocked up.
Shot themselves in the foot by ringing the police,did they think the police are stupid.Good luck,it could be a load of hassle if they play silly buggers with their insurance.
Shot themselves in the foot by ringing the police,did they think the police are stupid.Good luck,it could be a load of hassle if they play silly buggers with their insurance. Sounds like an absolute nightmare. Yet another scenario where a dash cam would make things much easier.
I wonder why the witness was reluctant to help? It can't be that much hassle for them to give a statement etc, pretty s
tty if you ask me as I'm sure they'd expect help if it was the other way round.
I wonder why the witness was reluctant to help? It can't be that much hassle for them to give a statement etc, pretty s
tty if you ask me as I'm sure they'd expect help if it was the other way round. Dash cam.
I get all sorts of stick from friends and on threads on here for being a 'dash cam wker'. But situations like this is why I have one.
Would be great to let all that play out, let them lie to the police, then just show the officer the footage.
I had a similar scenario years ago, before dash cams were affordable. I edged out to see around parked cars and a fiesta drove into the side of my car. In this case I was at fault as I crossed the five way. Within minutes the boyfriend has rocked up and is threatening me. The police were called. She completely blanked me and would not give details. Her car was stranded in the road.
Within weeks I received notification that she was claiming for whiplash, as was her 5 year old in the back. Along with the passenger and unknown damage to her unborn child! They took about 20k from the insurance in the end.
I get all sorts of stick from friends and on threads on here for being a 'dash cam w
ker'. But situations like this is why I have one. Would be great to let all that play out, let them lie to the police, then just show the officer the footage.
I had a similar scenario years ago, before dash cams were affordable. I edged out to see around parked cars and a fiesta drove into the side of my car. In this case I was at fault as I crossed the five way. Within minutes the boyfriend has rocked up and is threatening me. The police were called. She completely blanked me and would not give details. Her car was stranded in the road.
Within weeks I received notification that she was claiming for whiplash, as was her 5 year old in the back. Along with the passenger and unknown damage to her unborn child! They took about 20k from the insurance in the end.
It never fails to amaze me how people try to shift the blame, when it's clearly their fault.
Although she didn't know it, calling the Police did you a massive favour, as they can attest that your car had not moved after the accident.
Good luck, but be prepared for a protracted argument with her Insurer, unless she sees sense.
Tim
Although she didn't know it, calling the Police did you a massive favour, as they can attest that your car had not moved after the accident.
Good luck, but be prepared for a protracted argument with her Insurer, unless she sees sense.
Tim
I've come up against a lier in the past and in similar circumstacnes to yourself. As an honest person there's not much which angers me more than spineless dishonesty.
There were no witnesses in my case but thankfully the legal team assigned were brilliant and got the right result. I hope you are OK too.
There were no witnesses in my case but thankfully the legal team assigned were brilliant and got the right result. I hope you are OK too.
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