Crash

Stonehead · Post: # 73366Post **Stonehead** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 1:20 pm

Well, it happened again this morning. Another car going too fast for the conditions on the bad bend in front of our place and - crash!

Another victim to be helped while we wait for the emergency services and another traumatic day for us and our neighbours.

When will people learn?

Oh, and when I contacted our insurance company and asked about having the safety of the damaged building checked, I was told I would have to wait until an assessor gets out here in a week or two. In the mean time, I have to keep people away from it - a bit hard to do when it's a couple of feet away from the road with vehicles roaring past all the time.

red · Post: # 73367Post **red** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 1:49 pm

crikey. just as well you were there to help

mrsflibble · Thu Oct 04, 2007 1:52 pm

bloody hell! she's lucky you were about!

womble · Post: # 73373Post **womble** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 2:43 pm

thank goodness you were there and that you weren't hurt, fingers crossed that the woman will be okay

xx

Annpan · Post: # 73379Post **Annpan** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 3:40 pm

Let all hope that she will make a full recovery, good for you guys for helping. Lucky you were up already and on the scene within seconds.

Thomzo · Post: # 73399Post **Thomzo** » Thu Oct 04, 2007 8:07 pm

If it's any help we have at least one near fatal crash a year on the stretch of road outside my house. There is no bend, it's a 30 limit and only a few yards from a roundabout. The last one happened when we had a millimeter of snow last winter. The car went straight through the wall in front of my neighbours' bungalow and ended up about 18 inches from their bedroom wall.

As you say, when will people learn?

Sorry to hear about the wall of the croft though. That is a nuisance for you. Does it inconvenience you or can you still use the building?

Zoe

Stonehead · Fri Oct 05, 2007 11:41 am

We use the building as a storeroom and brooder. When I was clearing things out of there yesterday, stones fell from the inside wall when trucks and big tractors went past - so no, not useable.

The walls are built of granite and are two-feet thick. The rear wall has daylight visible at the top, huge chunks have collpased on the inside and it's cracked for at least ten feet; the gable wall is cracked to the chimney and buckled about three inches out of line. And don't forget, the car hit the gable wall end on so there was 20-feet of stone taking the force at that point.

It's going to be a major job to repair it and I have a strong suspicion the insurance companies are going to wrangle over this. I can't touch anything until the insurance assessor has been out (up to a fortnight), so in the meantime I have to hope more of the wall doesn't collapse or that the gable doesn't collapse onto the road (two yards away).

When another driver wrote off a section of fence last year, we ended up forking out the money for repairs ourselves as the insurance company wanted three quotes from reputable fencing companies. One, there are few fencing companies around here as most farmers do the work themselves (as we do) and, two, the few fencing contractors only do large jobs (not 20m of smashed fence).

We couldn't even get the money for the materials from the insurers - much less my the money for my time. We were told that if we had a problem, we could take them to court - which they knew we couldn't afford to do.

ina · Post: # 73436Post **ina** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 12:22 pm

B****s! And everybody pities that poor woman - does anybody remember it was her who went to fast round the bend?

red · Post: # 73448Post **red** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 2:43 pm

fight for it stoney - I hate insurance companies gettng away with not paying!

I'm sure you have thought of it.. but take photos.. in case more falls down etc..

Stonehead · Post: # 73453Post **Stonehead** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 3:37 pm

The lady who was driving the car has just phoned to thank us for helping her. To her amazement - and ours - she has nothing worse than severe bruising and a lot of pain. She should be very glad she was driving a very solidly built Volkswagen!

As for taking photos, yes, I'm doing that every morning. Unfortunately, insurance companies have much deeper pockets than the likes of us so they tend to get their way.

pskipper · Post: # 73457Post **pskipper** » Fri Oct 05, 2007 4:11 pm

Hopefully the insurance company will do the right thing, if not there are always the regulatory bodies,

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/

This should be the right one.

ina · Post: # 73501Post **ina** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 5:38 am

And if all else fails - your friend the press might help... But you know that anyway.

At least the woman knows how lucky she was, and did the decent thing.

Wombat · Post: # 73511Post **Wombat** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 9:19 am

Onya mate!

Insurance companies - a necessary evil, but no less evil for being necessary!

Nev

womble · Post: # 73520Post **womble** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 9:42 am

Sorry to hear you can't use your building, if the insurance doesn't pay out then sue the woman as it's her fault for reckless driving. Glad she's okay but what a stupid mare for driving too fast around country lanes, when will these people learn!

xx

Martin · Post: # 73527Post **Martin** » Sat Oct 06, 2007 10:02 am

many moons ago, I had a similar problem, and was getting nowhere fast through the insurance companies, so I "went over their heads"

The insurers indemnify the person - the "person" is liable for the damage caused - get two estimates from reputable local builders, and send them direct to her, with a demand for 14 or 28 day settlement in full, or you'll sue!
(worked for me!)