Is It A Write Off??

[nick mercedes]

Kind of following on from this thread…

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=37183

Tracy went to take her documents down to the Police station for the producer she got for Friday nights incident. When someone slowed and was signalling to turn left just at the end of our road she pulled out and he drove straight into her. He got out after driving off up the road first he was a bit confused I think anyway he didn't know where he lived or his insurance company so Tracy called the Police the Police turned up and got some details off him by phoning his nursing home , the Police still said it was technically Tracy's fault as she should have waited for him to turn off…

I wasn't there but it was only 300 yards from the house so I went up there the guy was at least 75+ and should never have been driving, the women behind said he was slowing down at every junction and that she would be a witness but I don't know if that will help...

Well we have spoke to the insurance company today the car should be picked up in the next 24 hours and they are going for 50/50 trouble is the excess is £500 I thought it was £250 but then I read the small print under 25 blah, blah etc.etc. Any way see the pic do we think it’s a write off??

What a weekend

Speak to the assessor and propose a £1000 contract repair, that way you'll end up with your car back and £500, £300 should be ample to repair it...

 

[Carrotchomper]

No, stuff it all. Find the little git in the white Polo and make him pay for the lot... "I didn't cause that much damage"... "You didn't stop!"... "Shall we discuss further or do you fancy accompanying me to the cashpoint"

I'm so glad this isn't PistonHeads, someone by now would have blamed the police for making her drive her documents down to the station..."Write to the inspector, sue, sue..."

 

[fredfloggle]

Oh dear, oh dear, what grumpiness . If you wish to drive on the roads expecting people not to make mistakes etc, by all means do. I'll use a more defensive approach, thank you very much.

Far from grumpiness - I had expected that it was reasonable to expect someone in possession of a driving license to be able to exercise reasonable judgement - if a driver cannot operate a simple switch to denote their intentions , then may I suggest that they shouldn't be driving ?

Driving isn't about sitting at a junction waiting for everyone to turn , and for there to be no cars in sight , that is as dangerous as pulling out without looking - back to "doddering" again

 

[fredfloggle]

Oh dear, oh dear, what grumpiness . If you wish to drive on the roads expecting people not to make mistakes etc, by all means do. I'll use a more defensive approach, thank you very much.

Not grumpiness - doddering around waiting for a completely clear road is just as dangerous as pulling out without looking .
Driving is a collection of calculated risks - yes , minimize the risks , but to be too hesitant is just as bad as being impulsive .

 

[glojo]

I ask again , why fit indicators if we can't expect them to be used properly ( and I am not refering to someone approaching at 70 mph with the winker going - I don't expect them to make the turn) - let's disconnect the brake lights as well while we are at it -

TV this evening should be interesting - watch Jo Brand and see what you think .

Hi Fred,
I'll ask again,
Do you use your indicators correctly EVERYTIME on a roundabout? If you do, then I take my hat off to you, because you will be the first.

Some geezer once said, "Let he who is innocent, lob the first japati."

Insurance companies are in the business of making a profit for their shareholders. To do this they need to attract customers. Would you agree that insurance companies might think that younger drivers are more of a risk than the elder section?

I totally accept that some elderly drivers should not be on the road, but ignorant driving, or using indicators incorrectly is not monopolised by one section of road user?

John the old non driving grump


John

 

[crockers]

Panel damage looks repairable. Any damage to the front suspension or steering? Does it drive OK--maybe not possible to test this at the moment sorry.Decision will probably depend on their market value assessment of the cars worth V pukka insurance repair cost. Watch for the" BETTERMENT "CLAUSE!

I had the Pru try a "betterment clause" way back on an old Renault 16...as old wing had some rust on it -- I replied just put a replacement wing on with the same amount of rust and i will be satisfied....they rescinded...lol:bannana:

God a Renault 16 ....now we are going back in time......lovely seats....

 

[glojo]

Just for old times sake I will bung in the old traffic light example.

Green does NOT mean close your eyes and proceed no matter what! With the greatest of respect it takes no time at all to 'clear' the junction as you negotiate this hazard' Green means proceed IF IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. We are all a long time dead. Pulling out without being 100% sure it is safe is like playing Russian Roulette, but obviously with greater odds. I have never been involved in an accident whilst going through a traffic light controlled junction, but I know plenty of folks that have confessed to completely missing or not seeing the RED traffic light (NONE were old ) Pulling out of a side junction involves driving skills. How did we manage before indicators were invented? What if the self cancelling fails, what if......... Live and let live. Life is far too valuable to gamble on what a driver MIGHT do.

If we are sure an oncoming driver has seen us, if we also see the indicator switch on and the vehicle slow down, then obviously common sense will prevail.

I am not an old ogre, and the written word is black and white common sense must always be applied

Happy motoring
John

 

[fredfloggle]

Now carrotchompers idea really appeals to me......

And John , no , you don't offend - it takes much more than that , and I agree with you that we should only proceed where safe - if a driver doesn't give a signal , say when approaching a roundabout , then we should assume nothing and not proceed (though I do in the Mitsubishi , just to see them kiss the windscreen) - but we can't always wait for someone to commit to a turn before proceeding , the country would stop ! we have to apply our judgement , the signal lamp is indicated , the vehicle is positioned on the road in preparation for the turn , and the speed is consistent with an upcoming turn , if we can't proceed in these circumstances , then it is not worth while bothering with turn signal indicators in the first place .

And this is also not a rant at senior drivers , but rather at Lord Dodder of Doddage who thinks he can wobble around the countryside with his travelling rug on the rear parcel shelf causing mayhem.

Don't mess about , contact his insurer - ask how they plan on dealing with it , if you are sure of your facts , tell them that he was driving without due care etc , and if they don't want to weigh you in , tell them that you will issue a summons against him , that the issue of loss of chattle and (I don't know if applicable) personal injury , hire car , tow charges , you name it , lump it on there . I certainly wouldn't agree a 50/50 basis , can you still request "no indemnity" in such cases where there is no personal injury ?

 

[DieselE]

Now carrotchompers idea really appeals to me......

And John , no , you don't offend - it takes much more than that , and I agree with you that we should only proceed where safe - if a driver doesn't give a signal , say when approaching a roundabout , then we should assume nothing and not proceed (though I do in the Mitsubishi , just to see them kiss the windscreen) - but we can't always wait for someone to commit to a turn before proceeding , the country would stop ! we have to apply our judgement , the signal lamp is indicated , the vehicle is positioned on the road in preparation for the turn , and the speed is consistent with an upcoming turn , if we can't proceed in these circumstances , then it is not worth while bothering with turn signal indicators in the first place .

And this is also not a rant at senior drivers , but rather at Lord Dodder of Doddage who thinks he can wobble around the countryside with his travelling rug on the rear parcel shelf causing mayhem.

You say that we can't always wait until someone commits to the turn. I've highlighted in red your later statement because that is a pretty fair definition of committing to the turn.

In the instance posted by ADY1983, his partner seems to have acted on indicator and driving slowly. Only Tracy knows what she actually saw and even she probably has a blurred memory of it now.

I'm not going to be an armchair critic because like a number of posters I've acted on what I thought was signal and commitment and from then on luck takes over as to whether you get away with it.

The driver's age here seems irrelevant. He could just have been lost.

 

[MBManInKen]

It is NOT an age thing and I guarantee that we all at some stage, make whopsee's with our indicators when negotiating these hazards. So Fred I will respectfully suggest that YES; we should ONLY PROCEED IF IT IS SAFE TO DO SO.

I agree with John, I see plenty of idiots on the roads, dawdling, blabbering on their mobile phones, cruising in the middle lane at 55mph from Wales to London, etc, and while some of them are elderly, a lot of them aren't. And we never comment on all those excellent elderly drivers out there - it's easy to focus on the one idiot and then stereotype everyone.

Assuming someone will turn because they put their indicators on is playing with fire. I'm not exactly the dawdling type, but I would not pull out unless the other car was making their turn and had left the roads clear.

Something my defensive driving instructor told me 20 years ago.

Amazing how many idiots there are cruising happily along with their indicator lights on. I was behind one last weekend on the M4. As he was doing 70mph as well, I was behind him for many miles, all the time happily right-indicating.

I tried to get his attention by using my lights, but he seemed to think I was some nutter .

In the end, he went off the motorway still indicating right turn and, no suprise, happily turning left.

 

[fredfloggle]

No, stuff it all. Find the little git in the white Polo and make him pay for the lot... "I didn't cause that much damage"... "You didn't stop!"... "Shall we discuss further or do you fancy accompanying me to the cashpoint"

I'm so glad this isn't PistonHeads, someone by now would have blamed the police for making her drive her documents down to the station..."Write to the inspector, sue, sue..."

The money you lot get paid , you should go around and collect them !

I thought that in this day and age , this requirement would be nearly superfluous anyway , or is it so that the camera behind the desk Sergeant can get a good snap for ID purposes ?

 

[fredfloggle]

I agree with John, I see plenty of idiots on the roads, dawdling, blabbering on their mobile phones, cruising in the middle lane at 55mph from Wales to London, etc, and while some of them are elderly, a lot of them aren't. And we never comment on all those excellent elderly drivers out there - it's easy to focus on the one idiot and then stereotype everyone.

Assuming someone will turn because they put their indicators on is playing with fire. I'm not exactly the dawdling type, but I would not pull out unless the other car was making their turn and had left the roads clear.

Something my defensive driving instructor told me 20 years ago.

Amazing how many idiots there are cruising happily along with their indicator lights on. I was behind one last weekend on the M4. As he was doing 70mph as well, I was behind him for many miles, all the time happily right-indicating.

I tried to get his attention by using my lights, but he seemed to think I was some nutter .

In the end, he went off the motorway still indicating right turn and, no suprise, happily turning left.

I ask again , why fit indicators if we can't expect them to be used properly ( and I am not refering to someone approaching at 70 mph with the winker going - I don't expect them to make the turn) - let's disconnect the brake lights as well while we are at it -

TV this evening should be interesting - watch Jo Brand and see what you think .

 

[fredfloggle]

You say that we can't always wait until someone commits to the turn. I've highlighted in red your later statement because that is a pretty fair definition of committing to the turn.

In the instance posted by ADY1983, his partner seems to have acted on indicator and driving slowly. Only Tracy knows what she actually saw and even she probably has a blurred memory of it now.

I'm not going to be an armchair critic because like a number of posters I've acted on what I thought was signal and commitment and from then on luck takes over as to whether you get away with it.

The driver's age here seems irrelevant. He could just have been lost.

"committing " actually going for it - Most people take the indicator lamp as meaning that the driver intends to make the turn - if we waited until the car actually turned , it would fairly much guarantee a car in your boot before long . In a sedate situation , we can drive like this - try it in any big city , and you will die of old age before you get far .

It isn't difficult , just a matter of discipline .

I am not sure I agree about the drivers age not being relevent - wasn't there some comment about "care home" ? I am not sure how someone who cannot look after themselves at home is capable of giving the necessary care to driving a car .

 

[MBManInKen]

I ask again , why fit indicators if we can't expect them to be used properly ( and I am not refering to someone approaching at 70 mph with the winker going - I don't expect them to make the turn) - let's disconnect the brake lights as well while we are at it.

Oh dear, oh dear, what grumpiness . If you wish to drive on the roads expecting people not to make mistakes etc, by all means do. I'll use a more defensive approach, thank you very much.

 

[DieselE]

"committing " actually going for it - Most people take the indicator lamp as meaning that the driver intends to make the turn - if we waited until the car actually turned , it would fairly much guarantee a car in your boot before long . In a sedate situation , we can drive like this - try it in any big city , and you will die of old age before you get far .

It isn't difficult , just a matter of discipline .

I am not sure I agree about the drivers age not being relevent - wasn't there some comment about "care home" ? I am not sure how someone who cannot look after themselves at home is capable of giving the necessary care to driving a car .

In London and other big cities you can take the indicator being on as meaning the driver intends to make the turn. In small towns and villages the only thing you actually know is that it is turned on and working.

The reason I said age is irrelevant is that people of all ages seem to leave their indicator on.

It isn't difficult , just a matter of discipline .

I agree with that philosophy. I just think it too risky to rely on others working to it.

 

[Carrotchomper]

The money you lot get paid , you should go around and collect them !

[Yawn][/risetobait]
£26.5K plus overtime is a reasonable wage, admitted, however how many other jobs require the daily mental trauma, physical risk at work, and constant fear of attack from keyboard warriors away from work?

And given the role and responsiblities I usually perform, a decent degree and all of my other hidden talents I'm sure I could be earning double that in the private sector. But I like it... [/risetobait]

 

[ADY1983]

The only reason Tracy made the turn although it is a small town, it is a 40mph limit road she was pulling onto and this chap had slowed down as if to make the turn, the only reason I brought his age up is he could not give us his address or insurance details he reminded me of my Grandad he was 93...

 

[fredfloggle]

The only reason Tracy made the turn although it is a small town, it is a 40mph limit road she was pulling onto and this chap had slowed down as if to make the turn, the only reason I brought his age up is he could not give us his address or insurance details he reminded me of my Grandad he was 93...

He obviously has oldtimers disease.

 

[MBManInKen]

doddering around waiting for a completely clear road is just as dangerous as pulling out without looking .

Oooh, wonderfully changed what I was saying.
Reminds me of this:

 

[fredfloggle]

[Yawn][/risetobait]
£26.5K plus overtime is a reasonable wage, admitted, however how many other jobs require the daily mental trauma, physical risk at work, and constant fear of attack from keyboard warriors away from work?

And given the role and responsiblities I usually perform, a decent degree and all of my other hidden talents I'm sure I could be earning double that in the private sector. But I like it... [/risetobait]

You break my heart !

As you mention , everyone has a free choice - I know that my cousin did very well from the Met , retired at 52 with a Police house that he bought for next to nothing , and I suppose he must have enjoyed it too - his brother joined the Met after years with the LAS becuase of the money , and the fact that he could transfer his service .