Grrr.... someone just killed my Mk1

[jrleech]

Really annoyed now, drove to Lancaster for an early morning walk, on the way back crashed my car (the White Mk1)

I was driving down the road, moved into the middle 'right hand turn lane' to pass a people carrier that was stationary against the left hand side of the road, indicating left. As I was about 3 cars lengths from it, it simultaneously indicated right, and started to perform a U-Turn in front of me. There was no-where to go, I scrubbed off some speed, but it was wet, and I T-boned her drivers door with the front left corner of my car.

Everyone was OK.

Her door took most of the impact and the door glass shattered and her side airbag went off. I cut my finger removing the remaining glass from her window for her.

The front left corner of 'whitey' is crushed in, with the bumper, bonnet and front wing past repair and some light damage to the passenger door. Supprisingly, the radiator is OK

The car is now back home (ish, it's on the main road as the AA blokes truck was too big to get down the estate, and the car's not drivable with the wing cutting into the tyre).

I'm sure it'll be a write off, but I'm not sure what to do with it. Other than the front corner damage, it's a good car, arches are pretty solid and only 88k miles. Thing is, it's winter, and I really don't want to take on the task of repairing it. Guess it'll go to the insurance company and I'll start again, again. I'd just had a new windscreen and fitted new T-bar rubbers too

Oh well, be ware of people in people carriers who don't look in their mirrors before performing a U-turn on a busy road.

Bet I get stung on insurance now, even though it was clearly her fault, 33 year old male in a sports car vs 50+ year old woman in a people carrier.... I've lost already.

Cheers,
Jon

[jb007]

that rotten luck mate, sorry to hear it. Did she admit liability? Sounds like she knew it was her fault, she should pay out!

jon

[jrleech]

No, she didn't, but even if she did it wouldn't be worth anything unless she signed a statement. She was rather shocked and supprised...

If I'd been a truck, she'd have been dead. Lucky for her it was a low fronted Mk1 vs a high up Renault Scenic.....

Cheers,
Jon

[un1eash]

Bad luck mate, i know hoe you feel though. In july a woman went into the rear of my car, she cut across 2 lanes and hit my car behind the drivers rear wheel.

Ive lot out big time because of it as my insurance are saying its a 50/50 because its my word against hers so i now have a fault claim on my insurance. Lucky it doesnt affect my classic policy but the premiums on my girlfriends insurance still went up because i'm a named driver.

[SuperRedMR2]

Really sorry to hear about that

Regarding the damage; all those bits may not cost you too much if you get to keep the car or buy it back off the insurance. My damage on my mk1a was comparable to yours now, when I went into the back of a VW Polo. Wing, bonnet, valance, bumper cover, bumper bar were all damaged. The bumper cover can be fibreglassed and filled, the bar made straight. The wing is the only real thing that needs to be replaced. The bonnet can be put right.

Put some pictures up of the damage.

I am not looking forward to the wet weather I hate this time of year with my car

[S A Watt]

Jon

Really sorry to hear of your bad luck their. I know how you are about the cars.

Regarding the insurance all is not lost there mate.

Get yourself back to the scene and take some photos of the location. Also position the cars where you and the third part was if you can.

I would also look to see if there is any brake marks (might no be cos damp).

I would send the photos to your insurers with a copy of the photos and also point out the damage on her car (Side impact). You have not hit the back of her car but the side. From the accident scene they should be able to see that your story of the u turn makes sense and the damage on your car also lends to the story. How else would you hit the side of her car.

If you are doing a u turn you have to check first clear behind and i suspect you would have been in a blind spot on her vehicle. These people carriers are bad for that.

So you should not lose your no claims bonus if you get your insurers to help you or you do it yourself. They should write to the woman holding her responsible.

Not sure about the damage to your car as i know how you are. Are you on a classic Policy and do you have an agreed value on her.

Jon i am in the Insurance game as you know and if you do want some help or advice just give me a PM and i will try to help out.

Shane

[christiantimms]

Bad luck Jon - the important thing is that you two are ok!

On the plus side too... good job it was the old "runaround" car and not the mk2!

[jrleech]

Thanks guys...

I got some pics at the scene from my mobile, plus with some multimap aerial pics I created a description of the events.... The red car is a witness, not that he saw much though



The road, same orientation as my multi-map run-through (looking back up it, the offending vehicle was parked facing us, by that garage). She attempted the U-turn into the road I took the photo from.


Damage to Whitey:



Damage to her car:


I'm with Zurich, on a normal policy.... will have to see what comes of it. I paid £1500 for it a few months ago, and have spent a bit on it since, going to lose out, but will wait and see what the offer is. I really don't fancy spending the next set of weekends bending metal.... I'll think about it once I've slept.

No brake marks, as it was wet and slippy. I have drafted a letter to the insurance company already (can't speak to them until tomorrow when they're in), but I've stated that I will fight any outcome that isn't 100% her fault. I've got 3 cars to insure, plus I'm on my girfriends car too, I can't afford to have it rocket due to this!

Shane, thanks for the offer, I may quiz you later

Chris, quite right... if it had been Boosty, then I'd be a tad more upset!

Cheers,
Jon

[S A Watt]

Jon

You are on the ball with the Photos.

Im afraid that the white one is a goner as far as Zurich will be concerned. At garage prices and parts its over the purhase value.

Are you Comp cover on it. Have you a purchase receipt from the guy you bought it form and the receipts for things you have done. Normal service things dont really count im afraid.

See what Zurich say but if they are not going to work for you then lets just sort it out ourselves with the Womans insurers.

We are quite capable of doing it ourselves.

In my experience sometimes the Insurers just sit back and dont try hard enought so as a broker i do it myself.

You could start by claiming direct from her insurance company which will keep your Insurers out of it all together. This would involve getting a garage to confirm total loss and sending this with photos to her Insurers and asking them to make us an offer once she accepts liability. Can take longer if she does not accept

Other option is to claim from Zurich our damage and we chase the TP Insurers to recover your excess on the Policy. If we do this then we tell Zurich and your bonus wont be affected.

All depends on the weird and wonderfull story the woman cooks up. I seen some great ones.

Shane

[jrleech]

Thanks Shane, some great advice there.. I'll read it again tomorrow

Yes, I'm fully comp. Wondering whether to see if I can get the free courtesy car they promise....

I have a receipt from when I bought the car, plus receipts for windscreen, brake discs, pads and new T-bar rubbers. Doubt any of that will add any value though.

I guess my only bartering stance is 'how much can I buy another rust free, 88,000 mile Mk1 T-bar for ?'

I'll start doing some market research....

[Lauren]

Jon, really sorry to hear about that.

That really is terrible bad luck. I'm taking it this woman hadn't heard of looking in her mirror?

Fingers crossed she'll admit liability. Damage may be repairable but it'll cost. I've got a front wing you can have if that helps?

[Firestick]

That's pretty poo.

Just a word of warning to everyone out there that the conditions have changed. When I was driving about today on the saturated roads I noticed both grip and braking were affected. Trouble is not everyone realises this and they carry on as they were and more often than not these people are in your typical family buses.

Be careful out there everyone.

[Ben]

Very true... and for god's sake watch out for country lanes covered in leafy mulch! I was spinning at the rears in 3rd... in a standard mk1

[Rossi]

Unlucky with the accident,

I read an about accident similar to this a while ago on a forum and the conclusion was that the car at the side of the road was at fault as you should always check mirrors and blindspots before pulling away from a stationary position. You done nothing wrong.

[bburn13]

Jon,
sorry to hear that,
not much I can say that hasn`t already been said.
Glad your ok though

Dave

[jrleech]

Thanks for the comments

Lauren, I may take you up on a wing if I decide to rebuild it, thanks.

As a couple have said, watch out at the moment, everywhere is quite slippy.... not that it would have made much difference if it was dry in my case though.

[Neil_turbo]

Jon

thats gutting mate, glad your both ok.

This is dreadfully reminiscent of my first crash, when a guy pulled in at the side of the road did exactly the same to me, only fractionally later so he hit my passenger door. I went through a fair amount of grief with insurance aswell, 19yr old male in sports car vs. 50 year old, but won eventually. I will see if i can dig out any stuff, but basically did what you have already done with the diagram!

[Icsunonove]

Jon, really sorry to hear about this

With the diagrams you have done I fail to see what you could have done differently and therefore it has got to be her fault and therefore should not effect your insurance at all.

If they do write it off I really hope you will buy back the car and fix it / get it fixed. A lot of the stuff is bolt on and I really don't think it will be a massive deal to fix it.

[MartG]

Sorry to hear about this Jon

Hope you decide to fix it - it would be sad to see a Mk1 in such good condition ( apart from the crash damage ) scrapped

[waynestoyotamr2]

Jon, that really is rotten luck - the main thing is everyone is safe and ok however.

ps. No way are you 33!!