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Ever been in a car crash?

ScummyMan

Driving back to college this evening, narrow enough road between Tipp Town and Limerick with bends everywhere. Got caught behind a Corsa going slow enough, not crazy slow mind you, around 70km/h. Some lunatic stuck behind me decides to overtake both me and the Corsa, coming towards a bend on a solid white line.

Of course just as he was passing me a car comes round the corner towards him. He had nowhere to go it looked like there was a head on at speed coming. I slammed on the brakes and he managed to squeeze in between me and the Corsa and skid into the hard shoulder, but there was literally inches in it.

Not going to lie it shook me up a bit, I'm not driving long and that's the closest I've come to a crash. I can only imagine how terrifying an actual crash is, anyone have any similar stories?

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kirving

I've been rear-ended twice. I wasn't driving in either incident, but the second one this year left me with bad whiplash for about a week, and still have the odd pain in my back that I put down to that. Had the potential to be far more serious as we were nearly pushed into the path of an oncoming car. That crash influenced me into buying a Volvo, but I've yet to test their safety marketing hype.

Gyalist

Yes, in 1983 right outside the Angostura Bitters factory in Trinidad. I was the front seat passenger and not wearing a seatbelt. It was about 5:00 a.m. and we were hit head on by a drunk idiot driving on the wrong side of the road.

Because I wasn't wearing a seatbelt my face hit the metal support to the left of the windscreen and I suffered some serious cuts which required reconstructive plastic surgery to repair, and also fractured my left ankle.

smcgiff

ScummyMan wrote: »

between Tipp Town and Limerick with bends everywhere.

Probably the worst driving I've seen has been on that road. There are dips, bends and straight roads where the boy racers try to overtake in 1.0 litre cars.

Driving in town when a 4X4 went through a gap in the stationary traffic on my right into my side. Car was an insurance w/o - only had it a month. I got out of it with zero injuries. Sore neck for a couple of days but nothing else.

Didn't put in a personal claim and got a cheque for replacement car within two months.

Irishcrx

Yep, once and it was my fault when I was 18. Had consumed I'd say a jug of vodka and proceded to drive home, mounted a curb coming around a bend and send the car up into the air, even done a mid air turn over but luckily came back down on the wheels and smashed into a barriers which started to slow the car down and stopped just in front of a large tree had I hit the tree I was in serious trouble.

Very very lucky to get out with minor injuries , managed to get out of the car via the roof as the doors were ****ed and then collapsed outside the car and was taken to hospital when services arrived. Guards didn't prosectute me as I wasn't conscious to be tested for drink driving but I should have been.

I remember just thinking when car went into the flip '****' that's all I had time to think of and then brace yourself for death, I remember the noise , the sparks of the car coming along the railings and checking myself inside the car afterwards that all body parts where still there.

I learned from it and never ever ever contemplate doing something so stupid again, It haunted me for a long time afterwards not the fact that I could have died I made that choice to get into the car but had I have killed someone that night who was walking home , a child ,a mother , a father...I couldn't live with that I really couldn't.

razorblunt

smcgiff wrote: »

Probably the worst driving I've seen has been on that road. There are dips, bends and straight roads where the boy racers try to overtake in 1.0 litre cars.

Driving in town when a 4X4 went through a gap in the stationary traffic on my right into my side. Car was an insurance w/o - only had it a month. I got out of it with zero injuries. Sore neck for a couple of days but nothing else.

Didn't put in a personal claim and got a cheque for replacement car within two months.

How did you get around for 2 months? Who covered the cost of that?

3 Pages in and it's already been proved, wear your bloody seatbelt!

Generic Dreadhead

I've been in several, some more serious than others

Mozzeltoff

Graces7 wrote: »

Twice just since moving to Kerry.

Since moving to Kerry myself my eyes have being opened as to how bad people are at driving down here.

Last year: Myself and OH were heading home from Killorglin one night. We were heading out the Iveragh road. We were driving along and before I know it there's a Taxi ploughed into the front left wing of our car. The guy was coming up to a junction and never laid eyes on us and by the time he did see us it was too late. A week before Christmas and it was all we needed. Luckily no one was hurt.

Two Years ago: This isn't an accident so much but thought I would tell the story. I was driving home from Cahirciveen. I was heading back towards Glenbeigh. Anyway was after coming onto the Coast road by mountain stage. As I turn the bend I can see up ahead that there's a woman driving a car down my side of the road. I slow down but she keeps driving towards me, no notion of getting back onto her side of the road until the last few seconds. Turns out she was French and forgot where she was.

Was driving into Killarney one day and just as I was leaving Fossa a woman swerves to the wrong side of the road. She nearly takes me only I swerved to avoid her.

OH and myself are heading to Limerick one evening. There was a white jeep in front of us since Abbeyfeale. Now the guy was driving pretty erratically and one stage we passed him outside Rathkeale but he passed us again, speeding with all of hells fury. Anyway we get to the start of the motorway at the other side of Adare. The guy in the white jeep slows down and pulls into the hard shoulder. But just as we're passing him, out he pulls again and damn near slammed into the side of us. OH followed him until the guy pulled in. Apparently he was having a screaming match with his girlfriend and that gave him the excuse to drive like a total **** around the road.

Ciaran_B

Summer wind wrote: »

I've been rear ended 3 times while sitting in traffic at the lights. One fella said he was lighting a cig on approach to the lights and didn't realise they were red! It has made me nervous you never know when it's going to happen again.

I'm always totally para if I'm the last car stopped at a traffic light that I'm get smashed into.

Remmy

Kinda but not on the road. In my teens a friend had a farm and a "field car". Ever see those Saudi Arabian drifting videos ? At the time that seemed like a great thing to recreate. While sideways it popped up on two wheels as if in slow motion and then hit a divot and then kinda hopped sideways . Luckily it didn't flip. We were not wearing belts or anything prudent like that. That scared me straight from ever acting the maggot on the roads.

blacklilly

I've been in 5.
3 of which were minor.

One was when my ex was driving out from the avenue entrance to my home house, there's a bend to the left and right of the entrance so you have to take extra care when turning right in particular. Anyway, on this day, the sun was very strong and it impaired his vision somewhat, he pulled out just as a car came around the bend to the right and it collided with the front of his car, it did a a 180 turn and ended up on it's roof in the ditch.
It was terrifying to watch, car was occupied by a mum and 2 kids, thank God, none were hurt but it could have been so bad.

The last one, was nearly 5 years ago, I was a passanger, my mum was driving on the Dunboyne to Maynooth road, those of you who know it will know that there are some pretty dodgy bends on the road. We approcahed one these bends and an oncoming car took the bend far too quickly, lost control and hit us head on, sending our car in a solid brick wall.

As we saw the car approach us, we both said "fu*k" at the same time and for weeks after I kept thinking that that could have been my last word/thought.

My mum has permanant nerve damage to her right arm and will probably require surgery in time on her back as some of the upper discs were damaged.

I have been left with compressed discs in my lower back. Both cars were completely destroyed. We were all so lucky to get away with what we did.

Hoop66

I was driving from Leamington Spa towards Banbury/M40. An American guy in a layby pulls out and drives on the wrong side of the road. The woman in front of me slams on and goes right, I slam on but there's nowhere to go so I hit him. Car written off, but no injuries. He admitted full liability, as well he might, and my company car insurance sorted everything.

Despite all this, his insurance company sent me forms to describe the accident 3 times. I asked my company solicitor about it and he told me to ignore them - he reckoned they were just trying to get me to make a mistake so they could call into question the whole accident scenario and deny the claim.

OldNotWIse

Yes, my parents were nearly wiped out by "boyracers" a number of years ago. Thankfully my Dad was going slow at the time. Mam ended up in hospital for months. No sympathy when these f.uckers go out and smear themselves on the road, but I feel sorry for the people coming towards them.

OldNotWIse

bear1 wrote: »

I've been in a total of 4 crashes. 1 my fault.
Biggest one was when myself and 3 other lads were celebrating my 18th birthday and we stupidly decided to go and drink on a hill under the windmills.
I had a pile of ****e Tempra with 4 funcitoning gears - 1st/2nd/4th and 5th. No insurance/ no licence and no brain.
In we get and the smartest thing we did that night was put our seatbelts on.
Away we go and the lads are drinking like the world is about to end. We get to the narrow country road which leads up to the windmills and we barrel on down the road.
Met a corner and I must have taken the corner too wide as the rear tire starting kicking out which then led to me over correcting it, next thing we know we are in a tank slapper situation.
The lads pissed out of their heads thought I was doing it on purpose until the car started heading straight for a wall.
Smashed into the wall which then caused the car to flip over twice and land (engine still running) in an Italian Job type situation - Half hanging over the wall with a river underneath us and the rear tires on the road.
Few cuts and bruises but the front pillar on my side had collapsed to such an extent that if I were 1cm or so taller I'd have had the pillar go straight into my head.

At least your story has a happy ending...that is...there was nobody else involved.

Graces7

Summer wind wrote: »

I've been rear ended 3 times while sitting in traffic at the lights. One fella said he was lighting a cig on approach to the lights and didn't realise they were red! It has made me nervous you never know when it's going to happen again.

Ive noticed in towns and at road works that the car that has stopped ahead of me switches his hazard warning lights on and it makes sense so I do this now. Now I know why from reading your post... thanks

bear1

OldNotWIse wrote: »

At least your story has a happy ending...that is...there was nobody else involved.

And Thank God for that. Utterly stupid carry on by myself.

iDave

When I was 10ish. Some eejit came round a corner and edged over the white line and hit the side of our car. Had about 7 kids in his car, 2 in the front seat. Laughably tired to claim my Dad who was driving actually went onto the wrong side of road. The judge saw it differently.

Graces7

razorblunt wrote: »

How did you get around for 2 months? Who covered the cost of that?

3 Pages in and it's already been proved, wear your bloody seatbelt!

I know but one of my family got trapped in a crash because she was wearing her seat belt,..

Graces7

blacklilly wrote: »

I've been in 5.
3 of which were minor.

One was when my ex was driving out from the avenue entrance to my home house, there's a bend to the left and right of the entrance so you have to take extra care when turning right in particular. Anyway, on this day, the sun was very strong and it impaired his vision somewhat, he pulled out just as a car came around the bend to the right and it collided with the front of his car, it did a a 180 turn and ended up on it's roof in the ditch.
It was terrifying to watch, car was occupied by a mum and 2 kids, thank God, none were hurt but it could have been so bad.

The last one, was nearly 5 years ago, I was a passanger, my mum was driving on the Dunboyne to Maynooth road, those of you who know it will know that there are some pretty dodgy bends on the road. We approcahed one these bends and an oncoming car took the bend far too quickly, lost control and hit us head on, sending our car in a solid brick wall.

As we saw the car approach us, we both said "fu*k" at the same time and for weeks after I kept thinking that that could have been my last word/thought.

My mum has permanant nerve damage to her right arm and will probably require surgery in time on her back as some of the upper discs were damaged.

I have been left with compressed discs in my lower back. Both cars were completely destroyed. We were all so lucky to get away with what we did.

It amazed me that both times I was rammed by a youngster the only term I couLd get out was "STUPID! YOU ARE STUPID!"

Kevin McCloud

Alot of people getting rammed in the rear.

Graces7

Hoop66 wrote: »

I was driving from Leamington Spa towards Banbury/M40. An American guy in a layby pulls out and drives on the wrong side of the road. The woman in front of me slams on and goes right, I slam on but there's nowhere to go so I hit him. Car written off, but no injuries. He admitted full liability, as well he might, and my company car insurance sorted everything.

Despite all this, his insurance company sent me forms to describe the accident 3 times. I asked my company solicitor about it and he told me to ignore them - he reckoned they were just trying to get me to make a mistake so they could call into question the whole accident scenario and deny the claim.

Sounds about right. Thankfully I never heard from the Italian hire car insurance but he had taken full responsibility.

Lost count of the number of close shaves with tour buses on the Killarney to Moll's Gap road... one was so close it moved my wing mirror. On another occasion I saw two buses coming way ahead of me and stopped in a small lay by to let them pass... and waited and waited.. there was a sheerrock face blocking visibility.. finally edged round and the tour buses had also edged off to wait for me.. I know many of them now from the markets.. we all waved.

gidget

Almost in one when I was a passenger with my dad driving just after the Red Cow driving towards the ring road there, three lanes of busy traffic driving away when these two young fools in a BMW driving along one of the outer lanes suddenly tear across the three lanes of traffic in front of us causing all three cars to break hard. Thankfully no accidents but could have led to a disastrous pile up nonetheless.

westernfrenzy

Not me. My dad and my brother were in one just over a year ago.

They were driving back from his house to drop my brother home. My dad noticed this other car speeding and driving recklessly, he slowed down and the other car crashed into them almost head-on. My dad broke his sternum and my brother had several minor cuts to his legs as he was in the back. The two guys in the other car then ran off somewhere and they still haven't been found yet. Think they were drunk too cos drink bottles were found in their car.

I wasn't in the car because I was recovering from major spinal surgery I had 6 weeks before the crash. I shudder thinking about what would've happened to me if I was in the car at the time.

chopperbyrne

One, which I was the cause of on the N7 about two and a half years ago.

Coming up to Newlands Cross everything was green lights ahead and I changed from the middle lane to the left lane behind a lorry because I wanted to take the M50 North after the junction.

Lights went orange when I went behind the lorry and I didn't brake in time.

Thankfully I only had some scratches and internal bruising and nobody else was injured. My car was about a foot shorter though.

Ilyana 2.0

I was driving my mother's car, with my dad in the passenger seat. I was on a little mickey-mouse roundabout when a big van crashed into the left hand side of the car. We went spinning off to the other side of the road, turns out he hit the left back wheel, twisting the axis and writing the car off. Had he hit us a second sooner, my dad could have been really badly hurt. We were also lucky that there were no cars coming when we span off.

The driver tried to claim I was bombing it through the roundabout, which was a lie, I stopped because it's a desperate roundabout and I was only in second gear. The gardai were really good to me about it; it was clear he hadn't been paying any attention. With his wife and baby in the van, too.

I was only a learner, it put the fear of god into me ever since.

smcgiff

razorblunt wrote: »

How did you get around for 2 months? Who covered the cost of that?

3 Pages in and it's already been proved, wear your bloody seatbelt!

I got a rental car for a short period on the insurance. I bought a Toyota Carina for €3k and sold it on for a couple of hundred less.

I was given the price of a new car and was allowed keep the write off.

The One Doctor

Minor tips, one idiot slapped into my rear because she saw a Mayo flag. Left the car an inch shorter and her €550 poorer. The other was a rear tip, nothing damaged, but I got pissed off as it was the second time someone had hit me from behind. Most cars aren't designed to be hit from behind - they're not crash tested for that type of impact.

I notice a few idiots on this thread not wearing their seatbelts. WTF? Only a moron drives with no seatbelt on. It's the equivalent of consciously jumping off a wall to land on your head. With no helmet.

zl1whqvjs75cdy

One serious one. Totally my fault.I was a young lad, 19 and had been out the night before. I went playing football the day after and was knackered getting back into the car after it. Stupidly agreed to drop some of the lads home. Out the country roads we go and we get to a junction. Me being 19, knackered and thinking I am the best driver since cars were invented, pulled straight out without looking. I remember the guy in my passenger seat screaming "O **** watch out" followed by an almighty bang. I had t boned a car driving along the road I had pulled into. He stopped, I stopped. No major damage to either car, mine was definitely worse off and no body hurt. If I had arrived literally 2 seconds earlier he would have t boned me at 80 km/hr. My passenger would almost certainly have died. Still scares the absolute ****e out of me to this day. I never drive tired or hungover now.

CrazyRabbit

Aged 5, I was standing in the back of a van in the gap between the two front seats. In those days seatbelts were not commonly used. We were hit by a small lorry and I was thrown forward. I hit the (now thankfully) cracked windscreen and went through a little. I ended up slouched over the dashboard unconscious.

I woke up in the hospital while stitches were being placed in my upper lip and forehead (I still have the scars today). Getting the stitches was far more traumatic for me....well that and seeing blood all over myself. By some miracle, nothing was broken. My dad bought a Ford Cortina after that which I loved as it instinctively felt safer, especially with the seatbelts.

About 3 years ago I was in a taxi on the way to St James's hospital. We were stopped at red lights for a few seconds and this car smashed into the back of us. No injuries thankfully.

And a few months ago I was in another accident, but don't really want to talk about that here.

Mr. CooL ICE

Luckily, no. Been a few close ones though.

I did witness two separate rear-endings in the space of about 15 seconds. I was passenger in a taxi and there was a road accident in the right lane on the dual carriageway. Traffic was being detoured through the exit before the crash, so all traffic was naturally merging into the left lane with an empty right lane. Tailback of no more than 200 yards. Some smartass decided to try overtaking the entire lane and to cut into traffic just before the exit, but it was moving so slowly that there was no room, so he stopped in the lane, indicating. Another guy came around the bend, screeched his tyres and hit him. Another driver did the exact same thing and hit the 2nd driver.

If there are tailbacks and flashing blue lights in the distance, be fcuking patient.

John T Carroll

This makes for "sober reading"
http://www.rsa.ie/en/Utility/News/2014/1-in-5-Drivers-and-Passengers-Not-Wearing-Seatbelt-at-Time-of-Collision/