Rear Ended is Right !!!!

hallstatt

Driving along minding my own when car in front of me slams on his brakes and i ended up rear ending him.Some woman had Drove straight through a red light straight across in front of him causing the whole accident.then she just slowed down, had a look and drove on....yea thanks.....:mad::mad:
Because I rear ended him I get fleeced by insurance, ive only 3rd party insurance so im left with no transport and what is possibly a write off.I gave her reg to the guards have I any comeback . I know the usual rear end story... but really if someone causes an accident surely they have as much a part to play ... It wouldnt have happened if she hadnt broke the law by running a red light

Anan1

She didn't cause the accident, she ran a red light. You caused the accident by driving into the back of the car in front. Sorry, but that's how it is.

Holsten

Jesus hard luck.

Turner

Aye, you should have left enough distance between you and car in front in case this sort of thing happened.

Its annoying but its just one of those things.

hallstatt

People all the time say the same crap about "oh you should have kept your distance". But lets face it in reality I was driving the exact same distance as you or I and as every other road user does every other day of the week. Its complete bull%**t.

Anan1

hallstatt wrote: »

People all the time say the same crap about "oh you should have kept your distance". But lets face it in reality I was driving the exact same distance as you or I and as every other road user does every other day of the week. Its complete bull%**t.

I'm not trying to be a bollox here, but if you hadn't been too close to stop then you wouldn't have hit her! Whether or not the rest of the population tailgates is not the point (although you're right, most do). Still, you can't turn the clock back - just learn from it and move on.

L-M

Aye OP, that's just the way it is i'm afraid. When you rear end someone you have no come back. I'm sure if we can be of any help sources parts/leading to in the right direction getting your own car sorted etc. do give let me know.

hallstatt

Limerick-man wrote: »

Aye OP, that's just the way it is i'm afraid. When you rear end someone you have no come back. I'm sure if we can be of any help sources parts/leading to in the right direction getting your own car sorted etc. do give let me know.

Cheers fella

hallstatt

Anan1 wrote: »

I'm not trying to be a bollox here, but if you hadn't been too close to stop then you wouldn't have hit her! Whether or not the rest of the population tailgates is not the point (although you're right, most do). Still, you can't turn the clock back - just learn from it and move on.

Its wasnt "tailgainting" that would be drivin up their arse.I dont think the general public tailgate. If people were to leave enough room between cars to absolutely make complete sure you couldnt hit the one in front the roads would be some some craic. 30,40,50 meters between each car.See how long that could last for.

timmywex

Even though the light breaker is somewhat at fault, you smashed into the back of the car, thats the story, i fail to see how the car could be a rightoff if you were keeping your distance!

Anan1

hallstatt wrote: »

Its wasnt "tailgainting" that would be drivin up their arse.I dont think the general public tailgate. If people were to leave enough room between cars to absolutely make complete sure you couldnt hit the one in front the roads would be some some craic. 30,40,50 meters between each car.See how long that could last for.

Assuming your brakes/tyres were the same as those of the car in front, all you needed was enough space to cover your reaction time. Even less if you could see the car running the red light too.

Berty

I stopped at a badly placed zebra crossing right after a roundabout before and the truck driver didnt notice until too late that I had stopped. He stopped and the car behind ran into the back of him. I didnt notice this at first but on moving on, I moved into the right hand lane and noticed in the rear view he had got out of the cab so went to the next roundabout and came back to give them my story and my contact details.

I got bollocked by the truck driver for stopping without signalling I was going to stop. Ummm brake lights

Long story short it was all put down on the driver who rear ended the truck.

Not much the old woman could have done but apologise.

Bobo78

timmywex wrote: »

Even though the light breaker is somewhat at fault, you smashed into the back of the car, thats the story, i fail to see how the car could be a rightoff if you were keeping your distance!

It s probably an economic write off.

hallstatt

timmywex wrote: »

Even though the light breaker is somewhat at fault, you smashed into the back of the car, thats the story, i fail to see how the car could be a rightoff if you were keeping your distance!

I know.... without getting silly into it and making excuses the guy i hit was driving an extremely expensive well known brand of sports car well in excess of 100,000 euro which im sure can stop fairly lively. while im driving a heavy bmw which is not the most agile of cars and yes my brakes are 100% as car had just passed nct a few weeks ago which adds to the heartache.

Anan1

hallstatt wrote: »

I know.... without getting silly into it and making excuses the guy i hit was driving an extremely expensive well known brand of sports car well in excess of 100,000 euro which im sure can stop fairly lively. while im driving a heavy bmw which is not the most agile of cars and yes my brakes are 100% as car had just passed nct a few weeks ago which adds to the heartache.

I feel for you, it's a sh1t break. Look on the bright side - at least you had insurance to cover the other car! Maybe give Kieran a call in Crofton, I found him very sound and pretty reasonable on price.

pipeliner

the same thing kinda happened of years ago when some knob end decided to pass about 5 cars on a country road and pull in in front of some one when a car was coming the other way. This lead to 5 cars jamming on and me ploughing into the car in front. I was deemed to be at fault for what i did but i feel for u. It is a horrible feeling. especially when some idiot caused the accident.

BostonB

Its bad luck, and it can happen to the best of us. But the reality as Anan1 says is the majority of people do drive too close to the car in front, and/or are not paying enough attention. You see it on every car journey. You see it F1 for that matter. If someone manages to over take 5 cars, you have to see that coming. Why then was everyone still so close that 5 cars run into each other?

hallstatt

BostonB wrote: »

Its bad luck, and it can happen to the best of us. But the reality as Anan1 says is the majority of people do drive too close to the car in front, and/or are not paying enough attention. You see it on every car journey. You see it F1 for that matter. If someone manages to over take 5 cars, you have to see that coming. Why then was everyone still so close that 5 cars run into each other?

well as i said try driving 30 or more meters or whatever behind all the cars in the world and see how far everyone gets. im a realist and live in the real world. I guarantee you drive the same as do about 99% of people in the world. i dont tailgate and i drive just like everyone else keeping a good distance. I just hope it never happens to you. Im driving 14 years on 4 different contenents and never had an accident. if people would start living in reality and stop livin in the "you rear ended me,its your fault world" and look at the big picture.If the guy I rear ended had have hit her shed be at fault as she rightly is in my eyes. But because we still live in the you rear ended me wold its my fault.I drive the same every day and If im breaking the law every day why dont the police stop me....because im driving the same as everyone else thats why. Im not the clown that can tell the difference between green and red lights...its her that broke the law running a red light.....

Cuddlesworth

Anan1 wrote: »

Assuming your brakes/tyres were the same as those of the car in front, all you needed was enough space to cover your reaction time. Even less if you could see the car running the red light too.

Thats a big assumption though. I'm pretty certain that if a proper sports car jammed on in front of my Punto like this fellow I would in most cases end up going into the back of him as I really don't have the same grip and stopping power. It's something I really have to be aware of all the time.

pred racer

Bad luck mate. I feel your pain, I had something similar a good few years ago came around a bend on a wide main road to see farmer joe bringing his cattle across the road, no signs or warning, car right in front of me managed to stop And I didnt:o Guard gave the farmer a right bolliking but as he said to me "the guy in front managed to stop so you should have been able to" I felt hard done by at the time but there is bugger all you can do.

Anan1

hallstatt wrote: »

well as i said try driving 30 or more meters or whatever behind all the cars in the world and see how far everyone gets. im a realist and live in the real world. I guarantee you drive the same as do about 99% of people in the world. i dont tailgate and i drive just like everyone else keeping a good distance. I just hope it never happens to you. Im driving 14 years on 4 different contenents and never had an accident. if people would start living in reality and stop livin in the "you rear ended me,its your fault world" and look at the big picture.If the guy I rear ended had have hit her shed be at fault as she rightly is in my eyes. But because we still live in the you rear ended me wold its my fault.I drive the same every day and If im breaking the law every day why dont the police stop me....because im driving the same as everyone else thats why. Im not the clown that can tell the difference between green and red lights...its her that broke the law running a red light.....

What does it matter what everyone else does? You didn't leave enough room to stop, so you crashed. That's the real world.

pred racer

pred racer wrote: »

Bad luck mate. I feel your pain, I had something similar a good few years ago came around a bend on a wide main road to see farmer joe bringing his cattle across the road, no signs or warning, car right in front of me managed to stop And I didnt:o Guard gave the farmer a right bolliking but as he said to me "the guy in front managed to stop so you should have been able to" I felt hard done by at the time but there is bugger all you can do.

did it increase your insurance much if ya don't mind me asking?

always worried about what a crash would do to premium.. (apart from no-claims bonus)

sudo911

hallstatt wrote: »

Driving along minding my own when car in front of me slams on his brakes and i ended up rear ending him.Some woman had Drove straight through a red light straight across in front of him causing the whole accident.then she just slowed down, had a look and drove on....yea thanks.....:mad::mad:
Because I rear ended him I get fleeced by insurance, ive only 3rd party insurance so im left with no transport and what is possibly a write off.I gave her reg to the guards have I any comeback . I know the usual rear end story... but really if someone causes an accident surely they have as much a part to play ... It wouldnt have happened if she hadnt broke the law by running a red light

Man, sorry to hear your bad luck..... and this (near identical situation) happened to me a few years back.... fortunately for me it was in a company car at the time, but I know the company insurance was hit - she put in a claim, went to court and she walked away a lot richer while my company had to pay the hike in premiums.

hallstatt

Anan1 wrote: »

What does it matter what everyone else does? You didn't leave enough room to stop, so you crashed. That's the real world.

we'll agree to disagree.I live in the real world. it could happen to you in the morning, god forbid. and youd see where im comming from.

Keith186

It's a bitch but...

Have to echo what everyone else is saying, it's kinda your fault for not stopping in time.

If you were at a junction you shouldn't be carrying too much speed into it anyway especially (I'm assuming the bitch braking the lights just broke them by a few seconds) if the lights are just after turning green and therefore you wouldn't even need that much space if you were going slow enough.

As they say, expect the unexpected.

hallstatt

Keith186 wrote: »

It's a bitch but...

Have to echo what everyone else is saying, it's kinda your fault for not stopping in time.

If you were at a junction you shouldn't be carrying too much speed into it anyway especially (I'm assuming the bitch braking the lights just broke them by a few seconds) if the lights are just after turning green and therefore you wouldn't even need that much space if you were going slow enough.

As they say, expect the unexpected.

No the lights had been green for some time which pisses me off more:mad:

Keith186

Yeah it's really unexpected then...

Well if you got her reg and the Guards can get her, you and Ferrari boy can testify against her, hopefully a dangerous driving endorsement will raise her insurance premium if she's going around causing accidents!

pred racer

Deleted User wrote: »

did it increase your insurance much if ya don't mind me asking?

always worried about what a crash would do to premium.. (apart from no-claims bonus)

I paid for it myself, I was lucky, i hit an avis rental car (fiesta) driven by 2 guys from analog in limerick, by the time analog's and avis's insurance companies were finished fighting it only cost 175 quid( I was gobsmacked as I hit it hard and it was brand new) my car cost the 500 quid I had saved to go to the rugby world cup in south africa:(

pred racer

Keith186 wrote: »

Yeah it's really unexpected then...

Well if you got her reg and the Guards can get her, you and Ferrari boy can testify against her, hopefully a dangerous driving endorsement will raise her insurance premium if she's going around causing accidents!

+1 get her to share the pain!!!!

hallstatt

pred racer wrote: »

I paid for it myself, I was lucky, i hit an avis rental car (fiesta) driven by 2 guys from analog in limerick, by the time analog's and avis's insurance companies were finished fighting it only cost 175 quid( I was gobsmacked as I hit it hard and it was brand new) my car cost the 500 quid I had saved to go to the rugby world cup in south africa:(

sorry to hear that mate... was there much damage to your car for the 500.ive no idea yet about the car been written off or fixed. the front is smashed up usual bent and grill f**ked,lights ect.car seems to drive 100%fine other than a clattering noise when i start it for litterly 1 or 2 seconds and dissappears.but i cant get the bonnet open to see.plus im strpped for cash cause the time of year so its going to have to sit for a while.

Pete67

Sorry to hear of your trouble, but I'm finding it hard to be all that sympathetic. In 25 years of driving, I've had to really slam on 6 times, and I remember every one of them. Generally it was because some clown shot across a junction against the lights, in one case a child ran across the road. I stopped each time without hitting anything or anyone. On two of those occasions I was rearended by a muppet behind me who was driving to close to stop. Do you think I commended the drivers for living in the real world and tailgating 'cos everyone else does it'? Get a grip!

FruitLover

hallstatt wrote: »

its going to have to sit for a while.

Maybe you can spend the time thinking about how to improve your driving.

hallstatt

FruitLover wrote: »

Maybe you can spend the time thinking about how to improve your driving.

doesnt really matter what you have to say.in 14 years over 4 continents its my only accident.and once i know myself im not the clown.ive drove rigs for a living in several countries and spent years driving across the states for a living. certain other fools have difficulty differentiating between the colour green and red.

hallstatt

Pete67 wrote: »

Sorry to hear of your trouble, but I'm finding it hard to be all that sympathetic. In 25 years of driving, I've had to really slam on 6 times, and I remember every one of them. Generally it was because some clown shot across a junction against the lights, in one case a child ran across the road. I stopped each time without hitting anything or anyone. On two of those occasions I was rearended by a muppet behind me who was driving to close to stop. Do you think I commended the drivers for living in the real world and tailgating 'cos everyone else does it'? Get a grip!

yes ive had my close calls to and recall them but mark my words the day will come when you wont be able to stop in time just like me. you'll see. im sure there are some clowns who drive right up your hole but im not one of them.

Pete67

hallstatt wrote: »

yes ive had my close calls to and recall them but mark my words the day will come when you wont be able to stop in time just like me. you'll see. im sure there are some clowns who drive right up your hole but im not one of them.

Possibly, but not because someone in front of me slams on.

Biro

hallstatt wrote: »

well as i said try driving 30 or more meters or whatever behind all the cars in the world and see how far everyone gets. im a realist and live in the real world. I guarantee you drive the same as do about 99% of people in the world. i dont tailgate and i drive just like everyone else keeping a good distance. I just hope it never happens to you. Im driving 14 years on 4 different contenents and never had an accident. if people would start living in reality and stop livin in the "you rear ended me,its your fault world" and look at the big picture.If the guy I rear ended had have hit her shed be at fault as she rightly is in my eyes. But because we still live in the you rear ended me wold its my fault.I drive the same every day and If im breaking the law every day why dont the police stop me....because im driving the same as everyone else thats why. Im not the clown that can tell the difference between green and red lights...its her that broke the law running a red light.....

I was feeling sorry for you up to this post, but this sums up your attitude and signs from this post are that it'll happen you again in the future. ONLY A FOOL BREAKS THE 2 SECOND RULE. Granted no one sticks to that 100% of the time, we make mistakes, but your above post suggests that you think it's a farce of a rule that'll get no one anywhere. You made a mistake, no big deal. Your attitude that keeping 2 seconds from the car in front is a joke is the problem here. Good tyres and 2 seconds are the answer to doing everything possible to avoid rear ending.
The woman was a clown, you paid for your mistake which was initially caused by her, learn from it.

hallstatt

Biro wrote: »

I was feeling sorry for you up to this post, but this sums up your attitude and signs from this post are that it'll happen you again in the future. ONLY A FOOL BREAKS THE 2 SECOND RULE. Granted no one sticks to that 100% of the time, we make mistakes, but your above post suggests that you think it's a farce of a rule that'll get no one anywhere. You made a mistake, no big deal. Your attitude that keeping 2 seconds from the car in front is a joke is the problem here. Good tyres and 2 seconds are the answer to doing everything possible to avoid rear ending.
The woman was a clown, you paid for your mistake which was initially caused by her, learn from it.

yes i have heard of the 2 second rule and its complete rubbish as i couls possibly have counted double that !!!

Anan1

hallstatt wrote: »

yes i have heard of the 2 second rule and its complete rubbish as i couls possibly have counted double that !!!

So why couldn't you stop, if you were four seconds behind the car in front?

Biro

hallstatt wrote: »

yes i have heard of the 2 second rule and its complete rubbish as i couls possibly have counted double that !!!

If you were 4 seconds behind a car and couldn't avoid it when it braked then sonny you have a lot more than red light runners to worry about.

hallstatt

Anan1 wrote: »

So why couldn't you stop, if you were four seconds behind the car in front?

im really not being smart and dnt be offended but next time your out drivin try the 2 second rule and you'll see its not near long enough. and thats whats in the theory test in ireland.I know that as there was no exchange for my licence when i returned to ireland so i sat the thery test and all.so the theory test is sayin 2 seconds is enough and thats teachin you how to drive correctly in accordance with the rsa and government.so try it tomorro youself and see.

Pete67

yes i have heard of the 2 second rule and its complete rubbish as i couls possibly have counted double that !!!

I don't think you understand the 2 second rule. It means that you leave a distance between you and the vehicle in front which is equivalent to the distance that you travel in 2 seconds at your current speed. At 40 km/h that is 22m, at 120km/h that is 66m.

It's purpose is to allow for your reaction time - the time it takes for your brain to process that fact that the car in front is stopping, move you foot onto the brake pedal and apply the brakes.

It's not complete rubbish, which is more than I can say for your attitude.

hallstatt

Pete67 wrote: »

I don't think you understand the 2 second rule. It means that you leave a distance between you and the vehicle in front which is equivalent to the distance that you travel in 2 seconds at your current speed. At 40 km/h that is 22m, at 120km/h that is 66m.

It's purpose is to allow for your reaction time - the time it takes for your brain to process that fact that the car in from is stopping, move you foot onto the brake pedal and apply the brakes.

It's not complete rubbish, which is more than I can say for your attitude.

I fully understand the 2 second rule and probably a lot more other rules that ive had to leard to get my full e licence.

unkel

I am really sorry for your trouble, hallstatt. Some posters here sound harsh, but if you think about it, for technical and insurance reasons, there was only one party to blame. You. I've been driving for well over 20 years and the only accident I have ever been involved in was a few months ago when I was rear-ended in a minor low-speed crash. I would like to think that I'll drive for another 50 years without ever causing an accident, but I'm the first to suggest sh1t happens. Maybe tomorrow I'll rear-end someone, but I obviously hope I won't. Safe driving everyone

Biro

hallstatt wrote: »

im really not being smart and dnt be offended but next time your out drivin try the 2 second rule and you'll see its not near long enough. and thats whats in the theory test in ireland.I know that as there was no exchange for my licence when i returned to ireland so i sat the thery test and all.so the theory test is sayin 2 seconds is enough and thats teachin you how to drive correctly in accordance with the rsa and government.so try it tomorro youself and see.

2 seconds is plenty. I use it every day. Good set of tyres too, good grip, not hard compound muck. You must count too fast.

Biro

hallstatt wrote: »

I fully understand the 2 second rule and probably a lot more other rules that ive had to leard to get my full e licence.

Ya, you've mentioned the truck thing a few times. Doesn't mean you're any better a driver than anyone else.

hallstatt

Biro wrote: »

Ya, you've mentioned the truck thing a few times. Doesn't mean you're any better a driver than anyone else.

I never said it does biro but when im being told i dont understand the 2 second rule let me tell you i had to learn a lot more than the average car
driver and learned to have a lot more responsibility. But as things are people always will go with the easy option and blame and real easy to say you were driving too fast.i'll leave it at that but next time it happens to someone reading this post you might then understand.its not always to do with driving to fast and not leaving enough space.

hallstatt

I just find it disgraceful that the woman caused everthing.admired her work and drove off knowing right well what she had caused, which i wouldnt dream of dissappearing like that myself.

Biro

hallstatt wrote: »

I just find it disgraceful that the woman caused everthing.admired her work and drove off knowing right well what she had caused, which i wouldnt dream of dissappearing like that myself.

I agree with you, she's a pleb. I still think the 2 second rule is plenty to avoid rear ending in almost all normal situations where the car in front brakes hard to a halt, and I never said you were driving too fast.

i57dwun4yb1pt8

you need to to track that bitch down with the other witness and have her
prosecuted man , instead of fretting about it on here = tahts where i would be focussing the pian - maybe you can sue her for it.

BostonB

I'm not saying anyones perfect, and anyone can be caught out.

You're meant to have enough distance to be able to stop if the vehicle in front does an emergency stop. You didn't. Doesn't matter if it was dog in the road, a child, or the guy in front dropping their mobile phone. If the guy in front had hit her, and you'd still hit him, you'd still be at fault for rear ending him.

Did you check if theres CCTV around that might have seen what happened? Your insuruance company might be able to sue her from something. Not sure what though. I'd say only the police could go after her for dangerous driving.

astrofool

Why didn't you have comprehensive insurance? Or is your own car not worth insuring?