Bye Bye No-Claims

Dup · 28 Mar 2006 at 18:46

Thanks to "Anti-Skid" surface, ABS and the fact its been raining all day I've just lost my no claims.

I was heading towards a junction with intent to got straight across. There was nothing coming from my right and on the left there were cars waiting behind the parked cars for the guy in the BMW to come past. I wanted to pull out behind the cars to my left so I could see and wait for any traffic. Sadly the ABS kicked in and slid me in front of him instead. I was only moving between 10-15mph and this is the first time I've had ABS kick in on me.

Frankly, what a load of rubbish it is. Now it's going to cost me £570 excess. £220 normal excess PLUS £350 for being a young driver under 21. 3 months off my 21st too.

It looks like the hubs snapped, the airbox has broken, the wing and bonnet and passenger door are all damaged and whatever else inside.

No matter how you look at it. He had right of way and I pulled out on him. My only claim is that he hit me at a fair pace for a 30mph zone in which he should have been driving a little more cautiously, but it's my word against his and the hassle is just too much.

I can't even afford the excess and can't say how much it'll cost to get the damages repaired independantly if it isn't already seen as a write off.

Oh well

TripleT · 28 Mar 2006 at 18:51

Unlucky mate

Can't really blame the abs though...

Looks like a compact too - hate those!

L0rdMike · 28 Mar 2006 at 18:51

Never had a problem with ABS before, saved me a few times in fact.

Firestar_3x · 28 Mar 2006 at 18:53

L0rdMike said:
Never had a problem with ABS before, saved me a few times in fact.

Yea me 2, saved my hire car the day after i crashed the saxo, glad i don't drive like a tool no more.

Bad luck dup hope it all gets sorted out you will learn from this eveyone crashes at some point.

Enfield · 28 Mar 2006 at 18:53

That's a new one.

g0th2000 · 28 Mar 2006 at 18:53

Well, we live and learn.

Thankfully you're ok.

As for the excess, if it's a write-off and it might be it's a fair old whack, they'll just pay you out the value minus the excess. ie you don't 'pay' it as such.

Firestar_3x · 28 Mar 2006 at 18:54

g0th2000 said:
ie you don't 'pay' it as such.

Kinda of a strange way of looking at it, means you don't have to dig deep to find the money so i suppose.

Trickle · 28 Mar 2006 at 18:55

Edit: I think I see what you say happened. You were pulling up to the left hand side of cars at a junction queuing to turn right. Approached way too fast, couldnt stop and ended up >1m past the line in the line of fire of oncoming traffic.

[TW]Fox · 28 Mar 2006 at 18:56

Dup said:
Thanks to "Anti-Skid" surface, ABS and the fact its been raining all day I've just lost my no claims.

Nothing to do with your driving then?

Can't really see how you can blame ABS for sliding you in front of him. If you had ABS activation you braked harshly and would have locked your wheels up and slid even further had you not had it.

Ev0 · 28 Mar 2006 at 18:57

Er ABS making you skid/slip, that's a new one on me

As said, if it kicked in then it means your wheels were about to lock up and make you skid even more.

Sorry to say it sounds like not enough room given before braking/braking too harsh for the conditions.

Hope it all works out ok!

ShakenNstirred · 28 Mar 2006 at 18:59

sounds more like a fault with the ABS
if it stopped you stopping at just 10-15mph

Ev0 · 28 Mar 2006 at 19:00

ShakenNstirred said:
sounds more like a fault with the ABS
if it stopped you stopping at just 10-15mph

It can kick in at that speed no problem if you stamp hard enough.

thebrasso · 28 Mar 2006 at 19:01

Hope you get things sorted.

I'm not sure about the whole ABS thing, I know roughly what it does but I can't see how by its application you could be slid in front of anything.

Sirrel Squirrel · 28 Mar 2006 at 19:02

I still can't work out how you managed to do that and how abs kicked in making you skid even further but anyways unlucky mate, hopefully the insurance won't sting you too much

g0th2000 · 28 Mar 2006 at 19:06

<OCUK crash investigation team>
Maybe:
Driver brakes a bit heavily.
ABS kicks in.
Driver 'surprised' by unfamiliar thing.
Driver lifts foot off brake momentarily.
Car takes a couple of metres further to stop.
BMW collects driver.
</OCUK crash investigation team>

Definately one to chalk down to experience. And if you have a car with ABS and never had it kick in, find somewhere safe to test it and try it out so you know what to expect.

Dup · 28 Mar 2006 at 19:08

The thing is I hardly touched the brake. I really cannot explain it to be honest. It's like as soon as my foot started to push the pedal it started juddering. I was going for the gentle approach and the car wouldn't let me stop. It had its MOT in Jan too.

[TW]Fox · 28 Mar 2006 at 19:12

Dup said:
the car wouldn't let me stop.

Why is it always somebody elses fault when someone on here has a fault accident? I mean come on, is it so hard to say 'I cocked up, damn, I'm going to learn from that'?

Freefaller · 28 Mar 2006 at 19:13

I doubt ABS would have caused you to slow down any less quickly. Still sorry to hear about that, it sucks

Hope it turns out well.

Saw a crunch here in Palma the other day similar to yours, but it's hot and dry here, how he skidded I can't imagine, or dread to think.

Nozzer · 28 Mar 2006 at 19:14

[TW]Fox said:
Why is it always somebody elses fault when someone on here has a fault accident? I mean come on, is it so hard to say 'I cocked up, damn, I'm going to learn from that'?

Because that'd mean being wrong!

Like the lad who had 'brake fade' on his driveway when he reversed into a wall.

Dup · 28 Mar 2006 at 19:15

[TW]Fox said:
Why is it always somebody elses fault when someone on here has a fault accident? I mean come on, is it so hard to say 'I cocked up, damn, I'm going to learn from that'?

Didn't I just say in my first post it was my fault? I'm just out of the loop as to why it happened when I have made the same approach every day for months without a problem. Never felt ABS before.