Incident with an ambulance...

NathanE · 7 Sep 2006 at 20:40

Hi,

Coming home from work in Cambridge today. Just after this dual carriage way at Horseheath I'm tootling along at about 65-70. There's a slight right bend in the road and I see a HGV coming towards me... No problems yet. Next second I see an ambulance overtaking the HGV (blind corner) on my side of the road and he must have been doing a similar speed to me. So basically I'm forced to do the heaviest braking my car has ever done since I bought it (even felt the ABS tickling my foot on the pedal) and had to swerve left to avoid an accident. Mounted the angled "\" curb and some grass/stones at about 35-40.

Obviously being an ambulance on call he didn't stop.

Now my car "seems" fine but obviously I'm worried this has knocked out the suspension or caused some other damage I can't see.

What is the procedure (if any) for 'reporting' an incident like this? It was very reckless driving, especially for an emergency services driver.

Secondly, should I get the car checked out or are Clio's tough little cookies for this sort of thing?

Ta!

Matt82 · 7 Sep 2006 at 20:43

who would you report it to?

your insurer maybe? you drove into the curb, sorry.

NathanE · 7 Sep 2006 at 20:44

Dunno that's why I'm asking. And mate, it was either a curb or a head on with a 5 ton ambulance...

Dogbreath · 7 Sep 2006 at 20:44

Matt82 said:
who would you report it to?

your insurer maybe? you drove into the curb, sorry.

Who do you normaly report incidents of reckless driving to? Police perchance?

I know if it was a memebr of my family in the ambulance that I'd want them to get to hospital ASAP, but I wouldn't want the drivers actions risking both the occupants and other road users lives on the way.

Matt82 · 7 Sep 2006 at 20:46

i promise you, you will get no where.

you simply drove into a curb, there is no one else you will be able to shift blame on to

Broadbandplacey · 7 Sep 2006 at 20:52

lol @ the replies already!

if you were forced off the road by an ambulance id report it to the ambulance service, there has to be procedures for that kind of thing

either that or write it off as one of those things

Noxis · 7 Sep 2006 at 20:54

I'd hope a ambulance driver is a decent sort of bloke/bird. If you report it they they may just say "yes I remember that".

Although if he was over taking on a blind corner at speed when he shouldnt have been......

Third Opinion · 7 Sep 2006 at 20:59

I heard somewhere that if the sirens are on with either the police, ambulance and fire service allclaims must go through them.

Might be complete rubbish, probably pub talk.

Fr0dders · 7 Sep 2006 at 21:03

not sure where you'd get claiming on your insurance or trying to issue proceedings against the ambulance driver

i think your far better making a polite complaint to your local ambulance service.

which looking at your location, appears to be the East Anglian Ambulance service

id either ring the complaints number or write to them in the address on the link below.

http://www.eastanglianambulance.com/content/contact_us/byphone.asp

either way, ambulance drivers are trained better than to take risks by overtaking on blind bends.

Matt82 · 7 Sep 2006 at 21:09

ive got one going to a hearing tommorow. happened in bristol on a residential road with cars parked all along one side.

my client's driver is passing the line of parked vehicles and approached a right hand bend in the road. she sees a Rover approach too quickly for the small residential road in question. she can see there wont be enough space to pass etc but she notices a couple empty parking spaces.

she is only travelling slowly so attempted to stop in the spaces. she misses the oncoming rover (who didnt even lift off the gas). in her attempt to get into the spaces she hits a parked car (scrapes it)

the insurer wanted to continue disputing liability even though i told them it was undefendable as far back as April. when i briefed the barrister he called to check if i was sure i was correct in telling him to deny liability. i had to appologise because it is embarrasing to send someone along on cases like this.

in the end the insurer listened to the barrister (they do get paid £200+ per hour lol) so now we are only trying to reduce the hire claim.

basically, there is no link the chain of causation. my client drove into the parked car due to the rover, but the rover did not make her do it. it was her own action that made her collide with the stationary vehicle... hence no dispute on liability, hence the OP's "reporting" will get him no where

do you even know the reg plate of the ambulance?

Tesla · 7 Sep 2006 at 21:18

All this talk of claiming, what are you actually claiming for?

NathanE · 7 Sep 2006 at 21:20

Matt82 said:
do you even know the reg plate of the ambulance?

Oh yeah. I wrote it down whilst I was doing everything else....

And I don't see how that little Rover story has much relevance?

PS: You seem to think I want to gain something out of this, I don't. I merely want to report the incident so the ambulance service can do what it may need to do.

MrLOL said:
snip

That's a good starting point, cheers

All this talk of claiming, what are you actually claiming for?

I dunno. This Matt82 guy seems to think I should claim for something. But then, he does appear to be a lawyer

Entai · 7 Sep 2006 at 21:24

NathanE said:
Oh yeah. I wrote it down whilst I was doing everything else....

And I don't see how that little Rover story has much relevance?

PS: You seem to think I want to gain something out of this, I don't. I merely want to report the incident so the ambulance service can do what it may need to do.

That's a good starting point, cheers

I dunno. This Matt82 guy seems to think I should claim for something. But then, he does appear to be a lawyer

Matt82 is just saying that, ok you can report what you think is bad driving but that is all, just let the ambulance service know you think it was bad driving, nothing else will come of it.

If there is damage to your car, and yes you should get it checked out in case, then you will have to pay for any repairs yourself as there is no one else to blame except you driving up the kerb.

Tesla · 7 Sep 2006 at 21:28

NathanE said:
I dunno. This Matt82 guy seems to think I should claim for something. But then, he does appear to be a lawyer

Oh right, I have him blocked so that explains that one.

At the end of the day, if it was your borther, sister, mum or Dad in the back of that ambulance and they needed to get to the hospital asap I can assure you that you would not care if oncoming traffic had to brake incredibly hard and maybe run off the road slightly - if it meant your loved one lived.

NathanE · 7 Sep 2006 at 21:32

Entai said:
then you will have to pay for any repairs yourself as there is no one else to blame except you driving up the kerb.

I'm not an idiot... I realise this 100%.

At the end of the day, if it was your borther, sister, mum or Dad in the back of that ambulance and they needed to get to the hospital asap I can assure you that you would not care if oncoming traffic had to brake incredibly hard and maybe run off the road slightly - if it meant your loved one lived.

Totally. I have no particular grievance here. My only concern is that this driver may do it again or maybe has already done it before. It is up to the ambulance service to decide what to do. If it just goes on file then that's fine.

chipperhead · 7 Sep 2006 at 22:05

Contact the local health authority and ask them their complaints procedure.
The driver obviously needs more training.

Memphis · 7 Sep 2006 at 22:11

NathanE said:
But then, he does appear to be a lawyer

Explains a lot tbh

.

And it's nice to see the usual Motors tone in this thread. Such a friendly place.

L0rdMike · 7 Sep 2006 at 22:14

Tesla said:
Oh right, I have him blocked so that explains that one.

At the end of the day, if it was your borther, sister, mum or Dad in the back of that ambulance and they needed to get to the hospital asap I can assure you that you would not care if oncoming traffic had to brake incredibly hard and maybe run off the road slightly - if it meant your loved one lived.

I would rather they got there in one piece then do silly overtakes on blind bends and not get there at all.

Malachy · 7 Sep 2006 at 22:26

Dogbreath said:
Who do you normaly report incidents of reckless driving to? Police perchance?

I know if it was a memebr of my family in the ambulance that I'd want them to get to hospital ASAP, but I wouldn't want the drivers actions risking both the occupants and other road users lives on the way.

i kinda agreebut i also think that when a vehiclehas great big flashy lights and noisy sirens , you should notice it a little before its on top of you.
i agree with the german and most of europe way on this, and thats if there is any accident envolving any emergency vehicle its your fault for not getting out the way

chipperhead · 7 Sep 2006 at 22:33

Malachy said:
i agree with the german and most of europe way on this, and thats if there is any accident envolving any emergency vehicle its your fault for not getting out the way

I can't really agree with that, just because you're driving an emergency vehicle, you still need to drive in a safe manner and also expect people to do the unenexpected as some people panic when they see and here them.