General Had an accident!

Melanabb · Dec 13, 2011

Had an accident tonight on A33 from Reading towards Basingstoke. An absolute idiot was stationary with hazards on slow lane on dual carriageway on a half blind bend under the flyover. Luckily I was doing only 60 as I know about that half blind bend and how hard its to see far in front. Had to brake very hard to avoid hitting the moron, who then turned the car on and fled. I didn't make the car or the reg number as I was a bit shaken. ABS saved the day and I managed not to plow into him. Not so lucky from be behing as the girl in T-reg Punto didn't stop in time and hit me. Luckily she was perfectly fine. Imagine, no air bags and no ABS - like driving in a coffin! I think her car is a goner but hoping mine is not as I managed to drive it home. The rear bumper poped out and the hatch is a bit bent but boot still works! Calling Direct line in the morning. Will post pics then. Fortunately no one was injured but I might not make the NF meet

I just wish I got the b****rds reg no!

loveshandbags · Dec 13, 2011

Melanabb said:
Had an accident tonight an A33 from Reading towards Basingstoke. An absolute idiot was stationary with hazards on slow lane on dual carriageway on a half blind bend under the flyover. Luckily I was doing 60 as I know about that half blind bend and how hard its to see far in front. Had to brake very hard to avoid hitting the moron. ABS saved the day and I manage not to plow into him. Not so lucky from be behing as the girl in T-reg Punto didn't stop in time and hit me. Luckily she was perfectly fine. Imagine, no air bags and no ABS - like driving in a coffin! I think her car is a goner but hoping mine is not as I managed to drive it home. The rear bumper poped out and the hatch is a bit bent but boot still works! Calling Direct line in the morning. Will post pics then. Fortunately no one was injured but I might not make the NF meet

Really sorry to hear about the accident Melanabb. TG everyone was OK and the girl in the Punto is OK. It really is worth it having a decent car with all the safety bits. Be careful on the insurance update and rehearse exactly what you're going to say. The less you say the better.

306maxi · Dec 13, 2011

Doh

You're alright which is the most important thing.

If you want to see whether the car is OK I'd have a look under the back and see what condition the floor is in. By the sounds of it you didn't have airbags go off so it might be alright, but you'd be surprised at how easily even some new cars get written off.

One thing I would advise is to not let it get trailered off and taken somewhere to be looked at. You'd be amazed at the cost per day of the car sitting in one of those accident specialist type depots.

Plus, once it's in one of these depots and gets written off then you'll have a fight on your hands if you wanted to get the car back.

Gap insurance?

Andy Monty · Dec 13, 2011

Melanabb said:
I just wish I got the b****rds reg no!

To be fair it wasn't that drivers fault their car could have cut out (not his fault) or had another problem (or was talking on the mobile or stopped for a call of nature which does happen .....) :bang: Likewise there could have been a pile up and you managed to safely stop....

Which yes he could be seen as been an idiot But the fault ultimately lies with the Girl behind you as she had failed to leave a large enough stopping distance/ had a lapse of concentration/ was texting..........

Silly question i know but does your 500 have hazard warning lights activation on hard braking?

Regardless of what had happened in front, You managed to stop safely in the distance you could see to be clear, Unlike the car behind you

Just hope that it all gets sorted swiftly and with minimal hassle just watch the insurance company vultures as they will pester you with stiff neck questions (granted you might be sore in the morning) but they are a wretched menace i was pursued by the ambulance chasing insurance wing for 3 years...

Can you get the spare wheel out of the well?

Least your ok go and get a nice big glass of wine

:hug:

If you can get back there and find a safe place to park get some photos or get someone to drive you back through the area with a camera and get some snaps...

Screen prints of Google earth/ Street view

Stick to the facts

You came round a restricted view (blind) bend at 60mph due to the bend been blind so that you could pull up in the distance you could see was clear / the road surface been wet/it was dark etc there was a Stationary car with hazards on in your lane and you couldn't move over into lane 2 due to passing traffic, you stopped and the Punto run up your back end

Don't waffle be concise to the point and clear

Melanabb · Dec 13, 2011

Thanks guys. No gap insurance Maxi, but I had the car now for year and a half if that makes any difference. As the insurance goes, the girl in Punto didn't see anything (apart from the back of my car

) and I don't have any witnesses that there WAS a stationary car in front of me. Not quite sure how that is gonna pan out... I even asked the policeman about any possible cameras on the flyover, but no such luck

The back looks a bit bowed in, but as far as I can tell in the dark it might only need a new bumper and a hatch...

Venters · Dec 13, 2011

Ouch. Fingers crossed for you the car is sorted.

I'm with Andy though, as much as an idiot the car in front might have been, it's the responsibly of the car behind to leave enough space to the car in front. So to stop safely without crashing into the car in front of them.

Not that it makes much difference after the act.

yellowluigi · Dec 13, 2011

Melanabb said:
Thanks guys. No gap insurance Maxi, but I had the car now for year and a half if that makes any difference. As the insurance goes, the girl in Punto didn't see anything (apart from the back of my car) and I don't have any witnesses that there WAS a stationary car in front of me. Not quite sure how that is gonna pan out... I even asked the policeman about any possible cameras on the flyover, but no such luck The back looks a bit bowed in, but as far as I can tell in the dark it might only need a new bumper and a hatch...

Good to hear that you are ok xx

loveshandbags · Dec 13, 2011

Melanabb said:
...I just wish I got the b****rds reg no!

I've taken the liberty of saying as little as possible...

I was driving along the A33 from Reading to Basingstoke. As I came around a bend in the dual carriageway there was a guy stopped on the road in front of me. I braked hard and managed to avoid rear-ending ‘him’. Then I was hit me from behind. The car stopped in front of me sped off.

Not too sure how it works in the UK but here if anyone rear ends you, they are always in the wrong.

Andy Monty · Dec 13, 2011

http://www.7dayshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=777_1&products_id=111548

if you want any more advice on in car cameras mell get in touch when your ready

wigit · Dec 13, 2011

hope you are ok melanabb, will probably take a few days for this to sink in, as stated it is the car that is behind that is at fault, I have been rear ended twice and in reality both cars escaped with minor damage, in reality you'll probably have some whiplash injury so neck may ache in the next few days

driving conditions have been horrible around that area the last few days given my wife has been working that way

Melanabb · Dec 13, 2011

Thanks Venters. Just to make clear, the car in front (might have even been a Toyota

) was stationary on the half-blind bend on a 60 dual carriageway - there was no chance that I could have anticipated that! Anyway I DID manage to stop, Punto with no ABS and no Brembos behind me didn't. Its a shame that it happened but I feel in no way responsible as I didn't hit anyone! All I'm saying that I wished I got the reg no of the guy who was responsible for the shunt as he has caused it, and he should be held to account. Obviously nothing wrong with his car as he fled the scene :bang:

dave · Dec 13, 2011

dont call direc line, call fiat accident care first http://www.fiat.co.uk/ownership/fiat-accident-aftercare/

loveshandbags · Dec 13, 2011

Melanabb said:
.. there was no chance that I could have anticipated that! Anyway I DID manage to stop...

I had something a little similar. I stopped in time avoiding rear-ending an idiot who decided to turn right at the last minute. I was in a Golf with a tow bar on the back. Looked in the rear mirror and saw a guy out of control in a Sierra skidding and then he plunges into me. And as usual everyone disappears when there's an accident not wanting to get involved. Had a stiff neck the following week but only claimed for car damage. Neck is always prone to flaring up if I ride in dodgems. You'll be tired tomorrow from the shock of it all. Think in terms of taking it easy.

Venters · Dec 13, 2011

Melanabb said:
Thanks Venters. Just to make clear, the car in front (might have even been a Toyota ) was stationary on the half-blind bend on a 60 dual carriageway - there was no chance that I could have anticipated that! Anyway I DID manage to stop, Punto with no ABS and no Brembos behind me didn't. Its a shame that it happened but I feel in no way responsible as I didn't hit anyone! All I'm saying that I wished I got the reg no of the guy who was responsible for the shunt as he has caused it, and he should be held to account. Obviously nothing wrong with his car as he fled the scene :bang:

Oh I'm not in anyway saying the guy stopped in the road isn't a tool. But you managed to stop before hitting a stationery object.

Unfortunately the girl behind you didn't manged to stop before hitting you despite you being a slowing object I presume with the brakelights light fully and the hazards flashing as a result of the abs kicking in. Course at 60mph even looking to the radio to change station can have you cover a big distance without your attention being on the road. Anyone who claims to have never lapsed their concentration for even a second whilst driving is a big fat liar.

But I wasn't there so to be honest my opinion counts for very little.

I'm just glad everyone is ok. As Wigit says watch your neck for a few days. Whiplash has a habit of creeping up on people. Never had it myself, but hear if it does develop it can be very painful.

306maxi · Dec 13, 2011

Andy Monty said:
Which yes he could be seen as been an idiot But the fault ultimately lies with the Girl behind you as she had failed to leave a large enough stopping distance/ had a lapse of concentration/ was texting..........

Whilst I agree that the girl behind is to blame. The sad reality is that if the person in front hadn't chosen to stop then the accident never would have happened. Pity Melanabb doesn't have a camera as the Police could have tracked said fool down and had a little chat with him/her.

Andy Monty · Dec 13, 2011

Dont know your personal circumstances but if the car is on finance check your contract small print they might also want to be notified

oh one more thing if they are going to replace the tail gate make sure you copy all the info down off this label (pant code number) if ever you need any paint work doing in the future (hope not) or a touch up kit you will need the code if not ordering via fiat..

https://www.fiatforum.com/500/288388-paint-code-location.html?p=2915151

jrkitching · Dec 13, 2011

Melanabb said:
Had an accident tonight...

So very sorry to hear about this - as everyone is saying, the most important thing is that no one has been hurt, but you still have every right to be <unprintable word> annoyed at having to deal with the aftermath of an accident which was absolutely not your fault. Bothersome at the best of times and even more so with Christmas just around the corner.

I'd suggest you make every effort to do all the things you would have done, regardless - you can't undo what has happened, but you can choose not to let it mess up your life.

Stay chilled & come back & sound off any time you need to.

ahmett · Dec 13, 2011

Hi sorry to hear about an accident that was not your fault. From what you say the car is probably ok there arent many important parts in the rear of the car to be honest and if the boot opens there cant be that much damage. Have it checked out! In these types of accident its always the car that hit the other car that is worse off and frequently totaled.

T Reg Punto? That doesnt sound too good i cant imagine it has good brakes. They should ban cars without ABS from the roads, simple as that. Make them all MOT failures.

I agree with the above saying as little as possible, whilst making the point that it wasnt your fault at all. Since the person rear ended you it sounds good for your case as it is their fault for sure. Did you get a police report to give to the insurance? When I had accidents I made sure I called the police so that the insurance cant say anything to me about not doing my duty after an accident!

306maxi · Dec 13, 2011

ahmett said:
T Reg Punto? That doesnt sound too good i cant imagine it has good brakes. They should ban cars without ABS from the roads, simple as that. Make them all MOT failures.

How's about no.

grimwau · Dec 13, 2011

Hi Mel, just got your link from the other thread and so glad to hear that you are OK. Luckily you have an AGP, not sure how the 500 would have stood up to that sort of impact so I forgive you now for not getting an A500.

As has been pointed out it might be a good idea to phone "Call Fiat First" and let them deal with everything and take advantage of the free courtesy car for the duration of the repair.

We will miss you at the meeting but there will be loads more and remember, you are not getting off the hook that easily regarding the "blonde" story of losing your car in the multistorey car park. :devil:

Take care and keep in touch and keep us up to date as to how you are getting on.

General Had an accident!

Currently reading: General Had an accident!

STOP! Hammer time!

Moderator

bairns, not bombs.

I Love my car

Moderator

Member

******

bairns, not bombs.

STOP! Hammer time!

Moderator

Moderator

Prominent member

STOP! Hammer time!

aka tony

Similar threads

Currently reading:
General Had an accident!