What are these people thinking!

[BobL]

Yesterday I was driving along minding my own business on a quiet straight 30 kph zone road when this honda sedan heading towards me starts wandering over to my side of the road. The driver looked like he was looking down at his feet and I thought, he'll look up in a second and see me and move back over. Nope - he was asleep at the wheel and headed straight for me - it was gonna be a head on crash. I slammed on the brakes and sounded the horn - he wokeup and tried to swerve away but he collected the driver side corner of my van and fairly clobber his own car. he was not scratched, I got a couple of scratches and a bump on the top of the head
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I'm fully insured but he wasn't - My Toyota van has been written off (I'd just had the wheel alignment and service done last week) and now he wants me to falsify the date of the accident because today he took out the insurance.

It turns out he works nights and looks after his 2 little kids during the day while his wife works. He admitted he didn't see me and fell asleep in front of two witnesses and I have their written statement to that effect.

What's wrong with these people ??

[fubar]

Glad no one was hurt. short answer dont do it

[jimbur]

Glad no one was hurt. short answer dont do it

Fully agree. These things have a habit of coming out (two witnesses you said) and conspiracy to defraud is not a pleasant thing to have on your cv.
Jim

[Woodwould]

That's very bad luck. He's obviously struggling, but his circumstances are entirely of his own fabrication. In this situation you must look out for yourself and proceed accordingly.

[jimbur]

That's very bad luck. He's obviously struggling, but his circumstances are entirely of his own fabrication. In this situation you must look out for yourself and proceed accordingly.

I do feel sorry for the bloke in that situation but his 'solution' is no solution at all and probably would see him in far worse trouble. He's obviously so frazzled that he's grasping at straws.
cheers,
Jim

[Pops]

Hi Bob,

Blimey mate that was close. Just as well you had braked when you did. It could have been a whole lot worse.

Did you call the police to attend?

Cheers
Pops

[Phil Spencer]

The only thing you can do is tell the truth and put the whole lot in the hands of your insurer, if you falsify the date of the accident, you are committing a crime and it may cost you dearly.

[BobL]

Yeah the guy is clearly struggling but what if he had fallen asleep at 100 kphr with his kids in the car, not to mention anyone else in his path.

Hi Bob,
Blimey mate that was close. Just as well you had braked when you did. It could have been a whole lot worse.

Yep - had the whole life thing flashing before my eyes moment.

Did you call the police to attend?

We phoned the cops but they did not come. Campus security attended because it blocked a major access road and they wrote a very nice report (Which I got a copy of) including documented statements from the other driver saying "I didn't see him because I was asleep"!

[mic-d]

What the others said. Glad you're alright Bob.

Cheers
Michael

[Bob38S]

Got to agree with all of the above - keep it short, stick to the facts [truthfully] and be thankful that it was not worse.

The major problem with all of the vans is that there is not much thin metal between the front of the van and your legs - the way that they are built today bull bars etc would perhaps be worse.

Go buy a lottery ticket.

Regards,
Bob

[BobL]

Got to agree with all of the above - keep it short, stick to the facts [truthfully] and be thankful that it was not worse.

The major problem with all of the vans is that there is not much thin metal between the front of the van and your legs - the way that they are built today bull bars etc would perhaps be worse.

I agree there's not much between the driver and the other vehicle

The one advantage of a van is that being higher they can ride up over most sedans - but don't come off so well against 4WDs etc.


It's hard to see in that mess but he managed to hit the substantial chassis of the van which is why he has so much damage. The suspension of the van is also significantly bent.

[Christos]

You have your answer and that is do not lie. It could have been worst. You just have to solve this problem and move onto the next.

[Pops]

Hi Bob,

Still makes me cringe when I see those photos, you have got some lucky legs.

Similar thing happened to me years ago just after dusk, driver fell asleep in a big Statesman at 90kph, (also fullof booze), me in little Mazda, hit brakes as I went bush but he kept coming and sideswiped me from head lights to tail lights. So just missed a head on.

Point is, it was out of town and no mobile phones those days so no cops, but the insurance company would not pay as I did not have a police report and said I had to chase his insurance company. End result, I paid to fix the little Mazda, several weeks wages then.

So make sure your insurance company is going to cough up with just the campus security report.

All the best with the next lottory ticket you buy mate.

Cheers,
Pops

[munruben]

Lucky you weren't seriously hurt, could have been heaps worse. Just stick to the truth and don't be party to making false statements. Hope you get paid out quickly for your van.

[martrix]

crikey bob, you got out of that one nicely. My van was also recently written off. Currently looking at a new used Merc Vito, airbags plus the motor is out front.