Accident during Ayrshire Run, 29/07/2007 - Story and Pics
Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:47 pm
I think most of the regular SE'rs I'm in touch with now know about the accident I was involved in during the Ayrshire run on Sunday 29th July. I've not posted at all since the accident as I needed to get my head sorted and was thinking about leaving it until the insurance is sorted. However, that'll no doubt take a while, and SE has been really good to me, so I didn't want to stop being a part of the forum and decided it was time to get posting again.
So, here's a brief account of my story below, along with some pics. I'll be leaving the insurance company to sort things out and will post more once I know the outcome, so have just put a short account below.
Firstly, though, I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has helped me out on the day and since. I'm honestly overwhelmed by the messages, phonecalls, offers of cars and generally amazing SE spirit I've witnessed during this past week. I can't say thank you enough for all the kind words! You're an amazing bunch of kind, helpful people!
So, the story . . .
After our lunch and fuel stop during the Ayrshire run, I ended up at the back of the group I was in, just due to the order in which we left the petrol station. We headed out of New Galloway towards Newton Stewart on the A712. About half a mile down that road, I was approaching a reasonably tight left hand corner (it had a warning triangle for the bend). I was doing a reasonable pace on the straight, but on seeing the warning triangle, obviously eased off and braked for the corner, and proceeded round the left hand bend at a completely appropriate speed for the conditions.
When about half way round the bend, the next thing I knew I was thinking (in a split second) "that silver car's really close to me" then all of a sudden there was a massive bang/crack noise (I still can't get it out of my head) as the other car collided with me on the corner. The impact itself is a bit of a blur, but I know for certain that I was on my own side of the white lines, doing an appropriate speed for the corner and conditions (warm and dry) and I'm certain I was not in a sideways skid of any type.
The next thing I knew, the car was scraping along my side of the road towards a layby, which was luckily situated in a handy place for the car to roll into. I immediately got the engine off and jumped out of the car.
I was in complete shock at the time and that lasted most of Sunday and Monday. I realised I was thankfully in one piece and had no obvious physical injuries at the time. I couldn't quite take in what had happened but the car was a mess. The driver/passenger in the other car (VW Passat) were an older couple. An ambulance and the police were called by people in a car behind the Passat. Ken came back to see if I was okay and I gave Shug a call.
The impact was so strong, it ripped my drivers rear wheel from the car with the wishbone and toelinks still attached. Rear clam in bits and some damage further up the side of the car. I'm very luck the other car didn't hit me further up near my door! I got away with pretty bad shock and I've got bilateral whiplash. I think my CG lock helped to stop me moving to much to the side, as it was mainly a side impact. No matter what people say about the safety of Elises, it's a tough little bugger and kept me in one piece!
Although the impact is a bit of a blur, from my photos and the fact that there are no skid marks from my car on the other side of the road, I believe that what's happened is that the other car has cut the corner (he was curving to the right) and crossed the white lines and turned into me. The only way the impact to my car could have been as shown in the photos below is if I was going sideways, and I'm absolutely certain I was not. It was a bone dry day and I would know if I was going sideways and would admit it if I was. If I had been on the wrong side of the road on a left hand bend, the impact would have been to the front of both cars involved.
I had to ask to be checked out the ambulance crew and the police also left me on my own for ages. The older couple in the other car were taken to hospital for shock. No physical injuries. Police interviewed everyone (witnesses in 2 cars behind the Passat) and eventually interviewed me. Supposedly, the witnesses are claiming I was on the wrong side of the road, but I know I was not and there is no evidence to indicate I was. Even though a serious accident had just happened, they came f'ing and b'ing down the road straight after the accident, probably just because they think a bunch of Loti drivers must obviously be nutters. I think I'm a victim of unfortunate stereotypes of sports car drivers. I also do not think they could have seen where mine and the other car were on the bend, unless they were driving dangerously close the Passat.
However, I'm going to simply leave it to the insurance companies to sort out. Neither I, nor the other driver, were charged with anything. Simply police statements. I will let the insurance companies battle it out, but have some pretty good evidence in my favour. It looks like the car is probably a write-off, but it's now been picked up by the insurance company and will be assessed early next week, so I should know fairly soon if it's going to be written-off.
Whiplash is getting better and I'm back at work now. Shock has eased off, but I'm still a bit up and down. I'm trying to get "back on the horse" as soon as possible. Everyone, including my doctor, said that's the best thing to do. It's my first ever accident in the car and it'll take a while to fully get my confidence back. If it's written-off, I hope to get another Lotus.
I've currently got a Fiat Punto courtesy car, but have had some amazingly kind offers from several SE people, offering their 2nd car to me as a loan when the courtesy car goes back in 2 weeks. Thanks so much for this guys!
So much for this being a "short" account of my story!
I'll just finish by saying a huge thanks to everyone who has called/emailed/PM'd me, and would like to say a particularly special thanks to:
- VXJon, for giving me a lift home after the accident.
- ExigeKen, for speaking to me every day since the accident, being really supportive, and offering a shot in his Exige to get me "back on the horse".
- Blaque, for his extremely helpful advice today from his own experiences in a similar situation.
- GregR, for his time and advice earlier in the week.
- Dominic, ExigeKen and Steve_Weegie, all for offering me a loan car for when my courtesy car runs out.
And everyone else for being so supportive. Thanks!
Here's some pics below. I'll not post any pics of the road/other car/etc until I've sent them away as evidence to the insurance company.
If anyone thinks any of the above is not appropriate for a public forum, let me know, or if you think this would be better in a section like Meets, then let me know and I'll ask a moderator to move it.
Cheers,
D
So, here's a brief account of my story below, along with some pics. I'll be leaving the insurance company to sort things out and will post more once I know the outcome, so have just put a short account below.
Firstly, though, I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who has helped me out on the day and since. I'm honestly overwhelmed by the messages, phonecalls, offers of cars and generally amazing SE spirit I've witnessed during this past week. I can't say thank you enough for all the kind words! You're an amazing bunch of kind, helpful people!
So, the story . . .
After our lunch and fuel stop during the Ayrshire run, I ended up at the back of the group I was in, just due to the order in which we left the petrol station. We headed out of New Galloway towards Newton Stewart on the A712. About half a mile down that road, I was approaching a reasonably tight left hand corner (it had a warning triangle for the bend). I was doing a reasonable pace on the straight, but on seeing the warning triangle, obviously eased off and braked for the corner, and proceeded round the left hand bend at a completely appropriate speed for the conditions.
When about half way round the bend, the next thing I knew I was thinking (in a split second) "that silver car's really close to me" then all of a sudden there was a massive bang/crack noise (I still can't get it out of my head) as the other car collided with me on the corner. The impact itself is a bit of a blur, but I know for certain that I was on my own side of the white lines, doing an appropriate speed for the corner and conditions (warm and dry) and I'm certain I was not in a sideways skid of any type.
The next thing I knew, the car was scraping along my side of the road towards a layby, which was luckily situated in a handy place for the car to roll into. I immediately got the engine off and jumped out of the car.
I was in complete shock at the time and that lasted most of Sunday and Monday. I realised I was thankfully in one piece and had no obvious physical injuries at the time. I couldn't quite take in what had happened but the car was a mess. The driver/passenger in the other car (VW Passat) were an older couple. An ambulance and the police were called by people in a car behind the Passat. Ken came back to see if I was okay and I gave Shug a call.
The impact was so strong, it ripped my drivers rear wheel from the car with the wishbone and toelinks still attached. Rear clam in bits and some damage further up the side of the car. I'm very luck the other car didn't hit me further up near my door! I got away with pretty bad shock and I've got bilateral whiplash. I think my CG lock helped to stop me moving to much to the side, as it was mainly a side impact. No matter what people say about the safety of Elises, it's a tough little bugger and kept me in one piece!
Although the impact is a bit of a blur, from my photos and the fact that there are no skid marks from my car on the other side of the road, I believe that what's happened is that the other car has cut the corner (he was curving to the right) and crossed the white lines and turned into me. The only way the impact to my car could have been as shown in the photos below is if I was going sideways, and I'm absolutely certain I was not. It was a bone dry day and I would know if I was going sideways and would admit it if I was. If I had been on the wrong side of the road on a left hand bend, the impact would have been to the front of both cars involved.
I had to ask to be checked out the ambulance crew and the police also left me on my own for ages. The older couple in the other car were taken to hospital for shock. No physical injuries. Police interviewed everyone (witnesses in 2 cars behind the Passat) and eventually interviewed me. Supposedly, the witnesses are claiming I was on the wrong side of the road, but I know I was not and there is no evidence to indicate I was. Even though a serious accident had just happened, they came f'ing and b'ing down the road straight after the accident, probably just because they think a bunch of Loti drivers must obviously be nutters. I think I'm a victim of unfortunate stereotypes of sports car drivers. I also do not think they could have seen where mine and the other car were on the bend, unless they were driving dangerously close the Passat.
However, I'm going to simply leave it to the insurance companies to sort out. Neither I, nor the other driver, were charged with anything. Simply police statements. I will let the insurance companies battle it out, but have some pretty good evidence in my favour. It looks like the car is probably a write-off, but it's now been picked up by the insurance company and will be assessed early next week, so I should know fairly soon if it's going to be written-off.
Whiplash is getting better and I'm back at work now. Shock has eased off, but I'm still a bit up and down. I'm trying to get "back on the horse" as soon as possible. Everyone, including my doctor, said that's the best thing to do. It's my first ever accident in the car and it'll take a while to fully get my confidence back. If it's written-off, I hope to get another Lotus.
I've currently got a Fiat Punto courtesy car, but have had some amazingly kind offers from several SE people, offering their 2nd car to me as a loan when the courtesy car goes back in 2 weeks. Thanks so much for this guys!
So much for this being a "short" account of my story!
I'll just finish by saying a huge thanks to everyone who has called/emailed/PM'd me, and would like to say a particularly special thanks to:- VXJon, for giving me a lift home after the accident.
- ExigeKen, for speaking to me every day since the accident, being really supportive, and offering a shot in his Exige to get me "back on the horse".
- Blaque, for his extremely helpful advice today from his own experiences in a similar situation.
- GregR, for his time and advice earlier in the week.
- Dominic, ExigeKen and Steve_Weegie, all for offering me a loan car for when my courtesy car runs out.
And everyone else for being so supportive. Thanks!
Here's some pics below. I'll not post any pics of the road/other car/etc until I've sent them away as evidence to the insurance company.
If anyone thinks any of the above is not appropriate for a public forum, let me know, or if you think this would be better in a section like Meets, then let me know and I'll ask a moderator to move it.
Cheers,
D
. Hope you get it all sorted.
, ..but glad to hear you are okay. 
These Elises are strong wee cars, your photos reminded me of the time ExigeKen, Neil.G and I witnessed Del roll his old Elise and walk away completely unharmed.
