Discussion
He was mercifully unscathed, thanks to the airbags.
The way he tells it, he was attacked by a lamp-post at 3am on Saturday morning and the police were kind enough to offer him a bunk for the night to aid his recovery.
Unfortunately he will lose his licence - but at least that will safeguard the Jag.
The police think he crunched the wheel on a high kerb.
Repair estimate was £18k - a big chunk of which is the replacement of the airbags and associated electronics. So it has been written off.
The way he tells it, he was attacked by a lamp-post at 3am on Saturday morning and the police were kind enough to offer him a bunk for the night to aid his recovery.
Unfortunately he will lose his licence - but at least that will safeguard the Jag.
The police think he crunched the wheel on a high kerb.
Repair estimate was £18k - a big chunk of which is the replacement of the airbags and associated electronics. So it has been written off.
We're waiting for the results of the police blood test (they weren't able to breathalyse him) but it will probably be a charge of driving under the influence. I don't think they can do him for dangerous driving as there were no witnesses to the incident and the police arrived late on the scene. Unless drunken driving is by legal definition dangerous driving.
Sorry to hear about the car.
Also be aware that if he has damaged the lamp post the council can claim off your insurance company for a replacement. So what was just a right-off of the car for £18000 could jump several thousand more.
pr100 said:
We're waiting for the results of the police blood test (they weren't able to breathalyse him) but it will probably be a charge of driving under the influence. I don't think they can do him for dangerous driving as there were no witnesses to the incident and the police arrived late on the scene. Unless drunken driving is by legal definition dangerous driving.
They could do him for due care as well as the drink driving but I doubt it. Chances are the fact he crashed the car whilst drunk will just mean a slightly higher sentence for him.Also be aware that if he has damaged the lamp post the council can claim off your insurance company for a replacement. So what was just a right-off of the car for £18000 could jump several thousand more.
At least the insurers (RSA) have now settled my claim but it will take another week to get their cheque plus most of a further week for it to clear so that's a 4-week wait in total. Better to have had repairable damage - at least then you get a courtesy car while you wait.
Brera has been designated Cat C so insurers will get something for it.
Son has to wait another month to hear his fate.
Brera has been designated Cat C so insurers will get something for it.
Son has to wait another month to hear his fate.
Son had to present himself at the police station yesterday for formal charge but when he got there the police told him they still hadn't received his blood test results so they bailed him for a further month.
How crazy is this? The incident occurred on May 15 and it will be July 24 before the police have the blood test data and can formally charge him. When my GP does a blood test, the results are back in less than a week. I'm beginning to wonder if the police did receive the results back but couldn't believe them so sent the sample back for further analysis. In any event, a delay of over two months is chronically inefficient and the suspect should have some rights, eg to have the case dropped.
At least the insurer has paid out on a total write-off and the money is now banked. They paid out after speaking to the police so presumably the delay was beneficial in this regard since they couldn't withhold payment if there is no evidence and no formal charge...
Although the son is free to drive until or unless convicted, he no longer has use of a car and has not driven anyone else's car. I'm wondering if, in the event that he eventually does get a mandatory 12 month ban, this pre-charge period (which will doubtless be over three months by the time he gets to court) could be deducted from the sentence... Even though we could legally get him a new car until/unless he gets banned, it would obviously not be a sensible investment.
How crazy is this? The incident occurred on May 15 and it will be July 24 before the police have the blood test data and can formally charge him. When my GP does a blood test, the results are back in less than a week. I'm beginning to wonder if the police did receive the results back but couldn't believe them so sent the sample back for further analysis. In any event, a delay of over two months is chronically inefficient and the suspect should have some rights, eg to have the case dropped.
At least the insurer has paid out on a total write-off and the money is now banked. They paid out after speaking to the police so presumably the delay was beneficial in this regard since they couldn't withhold payment if there is no evidence and no formal charge...
Although the son is free to drive until or unless convicted, he no longer has use of a car and has not driven anyone else's car. I'm wondering if, in the event that he eventually does get a mandatory 12 month ban, this pre-charge period (which will doubtless be over three months by the time he gets to court) could be deducted from the sentence... Even though we could legally get him a new car until/unless he gets banned, it would obviously not be a sensible investment.
pr100 said:
Son had to present himself at the police station yesterday for formal charge but when he got there the police told him they still hadn't received his blood test results so they bailed him for a further month.
How crazy is this? The incident occurred on May 15 and it will be July 24 before the police have the blood test data and can formally charge him. When my GP does a blood test, the results are back in less than a week. I'm beginning to wonder if the police did receive the results back but couldn't believe them so sent the sample back for further analysis. In any event, a delay of over two months is chronically inefficient and the suspect should have some rights, eg to have the case dropped.
At least the insurer has paid out on a total write-off and the money is now banked. They paid out after speaking to the police so presumably the delay was beneficial in this regard since they couldn't withhold payment if there is no evidence and no formal charge...
Although the son is free to drive until or unless convicted, he no longer has use of a car and has not driven anyone else's car. I'm wondering if, in the event that he eventually does get a mandatory 12 month ban, this pre-charge period (which will doubtless be over three months by the time he gets to court) could be deducted from the sentence... Even though we could legally get him a new car until/unless he gets banned, it would obviously not be a sensible investment.
If he is done for DD then the ban will depend on the blood reading (roughly 12 months for up to 2 times over, 20 months for up to 2.5 up to max of 3 yearsI believe)How crazy is this? The incident occurred on May 15 and it will be July 24 before the police have the blood test data and can formally charge him. When my GP does a blood test, the results are back in less than a week. I'm beginning to wonder if the police did receive the results back but couldn't believe them so sent the sample back for further analysis. In any event, a delay of over two months is chronically inefficient and the suspect should have some rights, eg to have the case dropped.
At least the insurer has paid out on a total write-off and the money is now banked. They paid out after speaking to the police so presumably the delay was beneficial in this regard since they couldn't withhold payment if there is no evidence and no formal charge...
Although the son is free to drive until or unless convicted, he no longer has use of a car and has not driven anyone else's car. I'm wondering if, in the event that he eventually does get a mandatory 12 month ban, this pre-charge period (which will doubtless be over three months by the time he gets to court) could be deducted from the sentence... Even though we could legally get him a new car until/unless he gets banned, it would obviously not be a sensible investment.
Unfortunately any ban will commence from the date of the court hearing
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