Tuesday, June 14, 2011 - 08:33 pm, by: Gregg Holden(Xzotic)
Ok, so I got rear ended on the Mitchell Freeway today coming home from the office.
Luckily it seems that the Fiberglass of the rear bar was quite flexible and managed to take the impact with what looks to be only minor fibreglass damage and loss of some paint.
I was stationary at the time in traffic and the hit came out of the blue as the roads were wet so there were no brakes to be heard. From the force of the hit I thought the worst. I was expecting to get out to see the whole back pushed in, boot buckled and lights broken. Fortunately that wasn't the case. Quite strange because I was quite severely thrown forward. Neck took a bit of a trip but hopefully it will be ok.
The young girl was visibly distressed. I noticed she was actually in the emergency lane prior to the crash. I had passed her and she had got in the lane behind me. She said that she was in the emergency lane because she had skidded in the wet moments earlier. She said she hit into the back of me because she was too worried that she was going to skid again by braking too hard and subsequently didn't brake enough.
Unfortunately she was also not insured although she did say she will pay herself for the damage.
I was actually more worried about her. Clearly she was inexperienced and very shaken up. She had already had a near miss and it seemed that had contributed to her state of mind and poor judgement before running into the back of me.
We have exchanged details and hopefully the bill won't be too much. Should be just some fibreglass patching and paint. I checked the boot and it opens and closes ok so nothing seems to be buckled.
Obviously it would be good if drivers can have appropriate experience to drive in the wet and also handle their emotions under near miss conditions. However I can appreciate that those things do develop over time behind the wheel.
I also appreciate that some people can't afford a lot and so insurance is often overlooked. But at least get 3rd party insurance if you are on the road. It doesn't cost much for piece of mind.
She is a young girl and very upset and I was genuinely concerned for her that she wouldn't get home safely. I suggested to perhaps get off the freeway and take Marmion instead. I also called her later to make sure she got home safely which she did.
At the end of the day accidents do happen so no point getting angry about it. Hopefully she learns from the experience and gets some insurance and hopefully more focussed judgement when driving in the wet.
Tuesday, June 14, 2011 - 09:25 pm, by: Stuart Thompson(Xpimp)
Shame that happened mate. Very unfortunate, sounds like things have worked out as good as they can in that situation though.
The reo would have protected it from being pushed too far to break the bumper right off & if your boot lid still lines up and the welds haven't opened up at the seam on each side, that's a lucky escape.
I have had similar experiences (luckily not in my Soarer) and fortunately with the stock bars + reo Toyota's seem to take a lot of brunt (abs plastic more so than fibreglass as it flexes).
People tailgating or on phones normally end-up doing this.... Not saying that was the case, as it sounds like other factors - but just my opinion from what I see on the road. Anyway the last thing anyone wants is a car up the back of them.
Dan McColl Goo Roo Victoria (The Nazi State) Pretty Red Thing and The Black Beast
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 - 03:49 am, by: Gregg Holden(Xzotic)
Dan/Ali - I've forgotten what it's like to have raging hormones....I must be getting old....!
But with due respect to her I can't really answer that.
Ali/Stuart - Yeah the damage doesn't look that bad (Felt much worse than the damage shows). Could have been a lot worse as far as rear enders go so I'm not complaining. The rear reo definitely did its job...
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 - 03:31 pm, by: Lloyd Roberts(Lloydulation)
Since the topic is about being rear ended I thought i'd share my story too!
This morning I was rear ended by 2 cars in quite a spectacular incident on the M4. I had to stop due to heavy traffic. The car behind ran into me and kind of swerved out of the way. The one behind it ran straight into me hard.
Luckily I wasn't driving my 'special car' but rather my every day old honda civic. I'd say it's a write off. Have a look!
Yang Gao Tinkerer Western Australia Soarer UZZ31 V8
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 - 04:50 pm, by: Rowan McMahon(Mr_eps)
gregg!!!!
how bizzare!!! yesterday my friend that works at an automechanic north of the river said to me that he saw a "soarer parked in the drive way" just yesterday!!!
that had: brown paint fat wheels bodykit roof spoiler VIP grill and the plate "xzotic"
:p :p
was this before or after the accident?
anyway - honestly i'm an uninsured driver myself, Gregg - it's easy to throw stones when you live in a glass house!
I'm 25 - drive a 1997 vvti soarer, clean record, suffered a loss of license in 2008/early 2009 for driving in a buslane on double demerit weekend (Six de-merit points)
my insurance quote???
$3,200 /year with shannons $2,400 /year with justcar
insurance is a joke!!!
but the up shot is, Gregg... she has no insurance...
so - invoice her for a new rear bar, dent panel work.. and paint...
the work will get done in a matter of weeks if you have a friend - which knowing you i'm sure you do! if not, i can help...
as opposed to ringing insurance companies, getting claim numbers, having their people call your people and vice versa, visit from assessor after assessor after assesor... then MAYBE after 6 weeks you'll get an appointement with a panel shop to "take your car in" with a "week turn around"
...then in novemeber getn your car back covered in overspray and dust
Mark Pattel TryHard Queensland RT142 with a 1jz and R154 5 speed
Wednesday, June 15, 2011 - 05:08 pm, by: Mark Pattel (Mark1414)
Yeah Rowan $2,600+ is a joke on a car like a soarer, you're right. However, get third party property is not very expensive. Lucky this time its only small damage on a soarer (no offense to you or your car Gregg!) However, If she wrote off a Ferrari she would be in trouble.. Their is really NO excuse for not having third party property.
Thursday, June 16, 2011 - 11:15 am, by: Vincent Chan(Vincent191)
They should make 3rd party property damage complusory just like the CTP. Driving around with no insurance is a big risk, you can find yourself with a big debt.
I have got the debt colletor chasing the guy who ran up the rear of my Magna. That idiot, he is uninsured and I tried to help him out and did most of the work myself with second hand parts. Total cost about $900, half of that was for the exhaust which I couldn't do myself.
That fool refuse to answer my calls and hangs up on me. I am going to get judgement against him and his credit ratings will be shot to bits for a lousy $900. And with costs it is going to cost him more in the end.
Dan McColl Goo Roo Victoria (The Nazi State) Pretty Red Thing and The Black Beast
Thursday, June 16, 2011 - 08:04 pm, by: Dan McColl(Hoon)
I had a similar thing, Vincent, though I just called my insurance company and let them deal with it.
I have neither the time nor the inclination to try and do favours to self-insured idiots who damage my car.
BTW, you shouldn't say un-insured, you should say self-insured.
It's a choice that people make to self insure, rather than have an insurance company insure them. They are also choosing to deal with the consequences of this choice should the matter arise.
I have no sympathy for people who self insure, and then cry poor and try to get out of paying up when they do damage.
If you can't afford insurance then you certainly can't afford to not have insurance, and should not be driving on the road.
Thursday, June 16, 2011 - 08:31 pm, by: Vincent Chan(Vincent191)
Dan I have to do the chasing because my son has only got 3rd party property insurance. The other young chap is a fool, one day he will need to borrow money to buy a house or a car, he is going to find it hard when there is a judgement recorded against you.
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