Flippin' car accident

[Steve Maskery]

Grrr!
I went over to Stoke this afternoon to pick up my mum and take her to an RAF reunion thingy in Derby.

Torrential rain, so, fortunately, not driving very fast. I happened to be in the wake of a JCB lorry which decided it was carrying too many large pieces of metal, so it dropped one. 3 of us ran over it bang, bang, bang. It's taken out both offside tyres and reshaped one wheel.

The recovery vehicle was late because the police had made her pick up another car first, further behind me. The police guy was fine, breathalysed me, I've got to present my docs within 7 days. Isn't it strange how they can make you feel guilty even when you have nothing to fear?

So I've got one new tyre, and tomorrow got to try to get a new wheel and tyre, and get my car inspected underneath for damage. The hassle!

At least the police have the number of the lorry, so I'm hoping I can get my money back. What about my time though?

At least it happened before I picked mum up, it would have been worse if she had been in the car too.

Then when we finally get to Derby she finds she has left her walking stick at home. I nearly had to go back to get it, but one of the RAF guys says he'll sort her out.

I can well do without this.

 

[SketchUp Guru]

Glad you weren't hurt Steve. I knew a fellow who was killed when a truck's load shifted while going over a bridge. The load knocked over a tall lamp post which fell on my friend's car as he was passing below.

 

[CHJ]

Bad Luck Steve,

Assuming your insurance route is not cost effective;

First a letter to lorry company requesting settlement of damages including lost work time, if no joy then try small claims court for replacement of damaged items and your time.

Mention of not wanting to resort to small claims court in first contact might work wonders.
Quoting Police incident number usually concentrates minds.

 

[Paul Chapman]

Very sorry to hear of your bad luck, Steve

My wife had a similar situation where the lorry did not stop. But she hunted and found it (with police officer). Lorry company ignored all approaches from insurance company so we issued them with papers from the Small Claims Court (our insurance company did all the work for us) and they paid up straight away :wink:

Paul

 

[Steve Maskery]

Thanks guys. Actually I'm pretty impressed with my car, double blowout and I experienced absolutely no loss of control. In fact, it was only when I slowed down I realized that something was wrong.

I'll keep you posted on any (non-)progress.

 

[Colin C]

Glad no one was hurt and you get all you should from them.

 

[gwaithcoed]

Bad luck Steve, Glad you're Ok

Alan.

 

[Anonymous]

Blimey Steve, that's scary. Glad all are OK and little damage done.

I often get really uneasy following overloaded lorries and get nasty images floating through my mind since I saw a lorry stop quickly for a red light and about a ton of 5-6m long pieces of steel flew over the cab onto the road in front of it. About 10 years ago but I see it as clear as day <shudders>

 

[RogerS]

Ouch! Glad you're OK Steve and hope you get your due redress from the lorry company as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Roger

 

[woodbloke]

Steve - glad you're fit and well - Rob

 

[Chris Knight]

Steve,
Sounds nasty - I am very glad to hear you are alive and well.

 

[Alf]

Wot they said, Steve. :shock:

 

[Noel]

Glad you're ok Steve. Hope you get sorted with the lorry people.
Some years ago I was on the outside lane of a roundabout and there was a flat bed scrap metal lorry on the inside. Suddenly a washing machine (although it could've been a cooker) flew across my windscreen, bird like fashion. If I'd been another foot or so ahead things might've been different. As Tony mentions one does tend to steer clear of such vehicles for many years after.

Noel, who says white goods belong in the kitchen....

 

[sliver]

Phew!! Very lucky Steve. Just happy that all is well. Used to love driving but having done it for a living & seen all the stupid things....bad manners & suchlike it is no longer a pleasure for me. In fact I think most 'drivers' are a joke these days. Good luck mate.

Sliver.

 

[tim]

Glad to hear you are okay.

My dad had a similar experience with an espace dropping its spare in front of him on the M6 (fast lane). He decided to drive straight over it (with it under the middle of his car) rather than risk flipping by using one set of wheels over it. Obviously it knackered the underneath of the car but the police said he'd done the right thing since the other option would have almost certainly put him into the other carriageway!

As you say - its the hassle of it all.

Cheers

T

 

[Steve Maskery]

Thanks all, your support is much appreciated.

I rang the Police this morning for info on the lorry. They wouldn't tell me "for Data Protection reasons"! I think I will get it though, I'll just have to ask in writing.

The hassle is only just starting, I fear...

 

[dedee]

Sounds scary and could easily have been much worse. Glad all OK.

Are the police going to charge the lorry with littering the carriage way? If so I reckon you will have a good case.

Andy

 

[mel]

bad luck steve
dont give up, thinking, "its too much hassle"
the lorry driver will or should be prosecuted for " insecure load"

steve i saw a simular thing 6 or 8 months ago on the M1 southbound around northampton {iirc}
about 40 cars , trailers, and caravans and vehicles snaking to avoid a steel "h" section beam , to add to the danger it was painted and matched the colour of the road , so those who ran over it didnt know it was their .
it was laid across two lanes of the motorway . needless to say their was nowhere for people to stop on the hard shoulder
the police had stopped the lorry about 3 miles further down the road
most people had two tyres busted at least , those with trailers and caravans had up to 4

hope you get it sorted soon with the polices help
regards
mel

 

[Steve Maskery]

Assessment at the garage today. I wish I hadn't.

Basically two whole wheels knackered. Brake system damaged. £1100 and counting, not including my time.

The cop hasn't filed his report yet, so I can't get the lorry details.

Plus I've just had feedback from a job interview. 73 applicants and I came....second.

<frankie_howerd>
Oh woe is me. Woe, woe and thrice woe.
</frankie_howerd>

 

[Paul Chapman]

Hi Steve,

Sorry to hear that your luck doesn't seem to be getting much better

Just a thought, based on the experience of a similar accident my son had. As it seems that your car sustained quite a bit of damage, has the garage checked that none of the suspension/steering components were damaged as well? In my son's accident (which also involved a wrecked front wheel) a steering component was slightly bent but not noticed in the original check, so the car continued to give trouble after it had been repaired, which caused us quite a bit of aggro with the garage and insurance company. Might be a good precaution to get on record that you have asked them to check this :wink:

Hope your luck takes a turn for the better very soon :wink:

Paul