So there I was minding my own business walking back to my car when I heard a loud 'bang'.
Looked round and an ancient Corsa is buried in the back of a not quite so ancient Punto. Both car drivers had been leaving the doctors.
Wait at my car to see the aftermath - I hadn't actually seen the accident, but hung around anyway.
Young guy steps out of Corsa, elderly female steps out of Punto.
Young guy immediately starts effing and blinding 'why did you ****** (my stars!) stop, I thought you'd ******* gone. That's your ******* fault.
The woman held it together for a few seconds protesting her innocence and trying to calm things down, but she lost it at which point I walked over.
I managed to calm them both down and suggested the guy walk away and finish his cigarette while I dealt with the old lady who was by now suffering from shock and was in a right state. Called her daughter who rang her husband.
Details eventually exchanged, but the woman was devastated, the guy did calm down and apologised for his outburst. Neither of them had a pen or a piece of paper for such eventualities.
I took some pics on the phone have done a witness statement just in case, but I expect it to be sorted out quickly. The Punto was an 02 reg and will probably be a right off as rear bumper, tailgate, rear cross member and boot floor were all bent, the Corsa definately will be as the nearside front end was bent and there was fluid dripping - could have been washer fluid as there wasn't much.
It looked like the Punto was turning left and went part way out as there were cars parked near the junction on the right, but then became aware of a car coming from the left who was across the middle of the road as they were overtaking cars parked on the left and the driver thought better and stopped to let them pass. Corsa thought Punto had gone, didn't check and bang.
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Corsa's fault, no argument. I'm very glad there are people like you out there prepared to help out like this. Hope the lady in question recovers quickly and gets back on the road.
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Of course the Corsa driver is 100% to blame. That's the way it is with rear-enders, and in this case the Corsa driver had every reason to expect something of the sort from daveyjp's description of the place.
At least he apologised for his rudeness, which can't have helped the innocent lady driver's composure.
You do seem to have taken charge in a most professional manner daveyjp. Are you really a JP?
(By the way, I am often without a pen and clean bit of paper myself although I must count as one trained in bureaucratic skills. On paper that is).
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I would like to add that I am innocent :). Also I am not that young anymore :).
I don't a pen and paper ready either but I will put some in my glovebox but I do have a phone which I can use for such things.
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Rattle there's no way you would have purchased this Corsa, for a start it was a diesel and I don't know if it was pillar box or rust red!
TBH the prang was probably a good thing as it will get it off the road.
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Remember to keep a pencil in the car - ballpoints tend to dry up when you most need them!
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And a disposable camera - digital camera images cannot be used for evidence can they?
Edited by rtj70 on 30/03/2009 at 18:04
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... digital camera images cannot be used for evidence can they? >>
Although below refers to CCTV, I believe the Lords report referenced therein covers all digital media.
Last update: Tuesday, September 19, 2006
www.crimereduction.homeoffice.gov.uk/cctv/cctv27.h...m
" ... use of digital imaging and the issues surrounding the suitability of digital images for use as evidence. ... "
Edited by jbif on 30/03/2009 at 18:54
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It's not very difficult to manipulate an image digitally, and then to transfer it onto film, is it?
Most people don't fancy a trip to court for wasting police time/perjury etc.
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Digital photos I took in a drunk drive case were used in court. In fact, I'd given the officer who took my statement poor quality printouts of them, which were used by the prosecution in court. The magistrates complained about the quality, and ended up with my laptop on the bench having a look at the originals (had it with me as had an appointment afterwards).
Voracity was not questioned by anyone on either side.
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Even if digital photos weren't considered admissible as evidence in a court of law,might they not be useful in proving one's case with an insurance company? Might make the difference between payout and no payout.
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Digital photos made all the difference in an insurance claim I made.
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I was thinking in case of need in court. So I have kept a disposable camera in the boot for years (replaced periodically).
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Just had a call from the woman. She's OK and the other drvier was in his father's car, insurance cover all OK. Needless to say the lad's father had had a few words with him!
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pedant's note
voracity = extreme gluttony
veracity = truthfulness
:-)
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nice to see there are still people willing to help others
i saw an accident last year and a female was in a flap,i calmed the other driver down who was ranting and it was his fault,i got my throwaway camera out of my car rolled the film and gave it to the female along with my witness details,she never thanked me then or since and i had to replace the camera at my expense so unfortunately i will think twice next time
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