My 205 Involved In An Accident

[CaptainK 11]

Hello all, I've not been on here in a while. Just been busy with work and life. I hope you are all well.

 

I come back to you with bad news. Late thursday evening last week my 205 was involved in a head on collision with a lorry who was driving the wrong way down Telepgraph Hill on the A380 in Devon. More specifically it turned out of a junction heading the wrong way right in front of me, giving me nowhere else to go but slam into it. You'll be pleased to know that my 205 did a surprisingly good job of standing up to a lorry head on - I too was surprised that such an old, small and lightweight car would hold up so well. However, its probably definately a write off.

 

You might have seen the incident on the news, and in the news websites:

www.thisisdevon.co.uk/Lorry-drives-wrong-way-carriageway-driver/story-15122356-detail/story.html

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-16868787

 

Unfortunately I don't have any photos of the car as my digital camera broke a while back and it was too dark to realistically use my camera phone.

 

Currently I'm going through the insurance "hoops and loops", which thankfulyl should be fairly easy considering the lorry driver has admitted it all and he was drunk. He's being charged with drunk driving and dangerous driving.

 

Anyways, I'm not entirely sure what is going to happen to the 205 afterwards (I'm assuming it'll be written off). However, it had a rather nice engine in it that would be a shame to lose as I spent so much money on it. So I'm wondering if anyone is interested here in the engine, make a list and I'll keep an eye on things and hopefully get the engine saved from it. You will of course have to pick up the wreck from Heathfield in Devon where it is currently located if you do want it.

 

Engine spec:

2L GTi6 engine from a 1998 306 GTi6. Completely rebuilt a few years back (about 18k miles ago) by Dan Taylor and QEP I think to the value of about £3k total bill.

Fitted with ITBs from Sandy and Colin.

Engine was completely "sweet" and ran well prior to the accident and I think made around 190bhp (setup more for low end grunt rather than top end max power).

 

205 spec:

1993 originally a 1.9 GTi and allegedly the 14th to last 205 GTi made over here so I've been told. It also has a custom exhaust with a sports cat fitted too and a front strut brace.

 

The bad news is that the ITB trumpet / air filter mount bracket on the extreme passenger side is a little bent from the accident. I'd guess its possible to bend it back. The air filter is destroyed though. I don't know if the engine currently runs after the accident (it won't start at the moment as the mapped ECU has been removed). I'm just mentioning the engine here in case anyone is interested.

 

As for the rest of the car, anything rearwards of the front windscreen has been undamaged. So if you want it for spares, then also put your name on the list and I'll see what the insurers say.

[luggy 13]

Glad to hear your OK, shame about the 205 and good luck with the insurance company.

[welshpug 1,657]

Personally I would go and get the car from the recovery company ASAP regardless of what is decided by the insurance company.

 

Glad to hear it stood up well, sounds like its potentially salageable, grab some pics!

 

I'd be interested in the ITB setup

[kyepan 291]

Firstly - gutted for you - hope you can reshell.

 

bagsy on the itbs setup also.

Edited February 7, 2012 by kyepan

[Sandy 191]

Glad you're ok, never imagined it would be you when I saw the news.

[luggy 13]

Personally I would go and get the car from the recovery company ASAP regardless of what is decided by the insurance company.

 

 

Id agree from experience, salvage retention is a lot easier when your in possession of the vehicle especially if its a potential cat b write off

[Wes 86 1 Cars]

if i were you i would get a friend with a trailer and go and collect your car asap, i doubt you will ever see it again once the insurance company get involved.

Edited February 7, 2012 by wes205mi

[Anthony 1,003]

Firstly, glad you're OK.

 

Secondly, if you've anywhere to keep the car, get it back ASAP.

 

Thirdly, since the second half reads much more like a for sale / breaking and replies look to be going down that route, can you please submit it formally with prices as you would normally? This thread will be removed or heavily edited if it goes down that route.

[jackherer 543]

I've had someone drive towards me the wrong way on a dual carraigeway and it scared the hell out of me, that was just a car, I can't imagine what it is like having an unexpected lorry heading towards you.

[maturin23 10]

Bloody hell - sounds like a lucky escape.

 

Makes you realise you can be doing everything right and still be unable to avoid a serious accident. Drunk in charge of a lorry should be a custodial offence.

[lemmingzappa 75 1 Cars]

Sorry to hear about this! I would also recommend getting the car back into your own hands otherwise they will do as they please with it.

[jeremy_spoke_in 2]

I have had a car coming towards me on a motorway, but managed to dodge them somehow, that was bad enough.

 

Glad to hear you're ok.

[CaptainK 11]

Secondly, if you've anywhere to keep the car, get it back ASAP.

I did think about that, but to be honest I've not really got anywhere to put it. And even if I did get it and store it, I wouldn't really be able to do anything as I can't fix it and it'd have to be taken elsewhere to be fixed. At the moment its sat in a Police Force recovery centre in Heathfield, Devon. So not controlled by the insurance company.

 

Thirdly, since the second half reads much more like a for sale / breaking and replies look to be going down that route, can you please submit it formally with prices as you would normally? This thread will be removed or heavily edited if it goes down that route.

Apologies if my post went towards "for sale". At the moment this post is mainly looking to see if anyone is interested in salvaging the car if I'm allowed to keep it, or salvaging various parts from it, again if I am allowed to keep it - that way I can see if its worth the hassle of trying to keep the car etc. I dont see why not as its not my fault and the third party's insurance company shouldnt be able to take it from me. If I do get access to it, then yes of course I'll create proper for sale posts etc etc.

Edited February 8, 2012 by CaptainK

[GLPoomobile 958]

Bloody hell!

 

Anyone remember the very same thing happening last year? There was a video on Youtube. Lorry came down the slip road the wrong way and took out a Corsa (IIRC). Think that was in Devon too!

[Pileopants 0]

I did think about that, but to be honest I've not really got anywhere to put it. And even if I did get it and store it, I wouldn't really be able to do anything as I can't fix it and it'd have to be taken elsewhere to be fixed. At the moment its sat in a Police Force recovery centre in Heathfield, Devon. So not controlled by the insurance company.

 

 

Apologies if my post went towards "for sale". At the moment this post is mainly looking to see if anyone is interested in salvaging the car if I'm allowed to keep it, or salvaging various parts from it, again if I am allowed to keep it - that way I can see if its worth the hassle of trying to keep the car etc. I dont see why not as its not my fault and the third party's insurance company shouldnt be able to take it from me. If I do get access to it, then yes of course I'll create proper for sale posts etc etc.

 

Sounds like a lucky escape! Glad to hear that nobody was hurt.

 

Out of interest have you been contacted by the third party insurer? Or is your insurance company dealing with the claim? If not claiming on your own insurance then you should be better placed to keep the car if it is written off. Is anyone arranging to inspect the car?

 

One thing to watch out for is if the storage is being charged. This is the reason why people find their cars being moved and then not being able to get them back, although generally when dealing with their own insurer. It would be good to check this out if nobody has said anything about this.

 

Good luck with sorting things out, get on the phone if things aren't moving. Hopefully you have a car at the moment?

[CaptainK 11]

Out of interest have you been contacted by the third party insurer? Or is your insurance company dealing with the claim? If not claiming on your own insurance then you should be better placed to keep the car if it is written off. Is anyone arranging to inspect the car?

My insurance company is aware of the accident, but I'm claiming directly off the third party's insurance. Unfortunately its a "Fleet Policy" and that department is only open 9-5 weekdays. So it limits the time I can pester them considering most days I don't have a car - car sharing my other car currently with the missus which she has a higher priority on due to her working various early and late shifts and no public transport to where she needs to go. Annoyingly this happened as we were looking for a car for the missus. I'm hoping a hire car will be sorted out soon as the lawyers have stepped in to get that part going quicker. Long story, involving the uselessness of the third party's insurance company and they won't do anything to help me until they have heard from their client - despite me giving them all the Police details and the fact he's admitted it and is being charged with drunk driving and dangerous driving etc.

 

As for how the claim is going, currently I don't know - haven't had chance to ring them due to working whilst they are open and no transport to get me home in time to ring them before they shut.

 

p.s. public transport sucks. Yesterday I checked the internet timetable of a bus and got to a bus stop 10 minutes beforehand. Turns out the schedule had changed and the bus left 20 mins earlier than on the internet. Doh ! So I had to take a very slow alternate route bus back home which took 1.5 hours to do what I do in a car in 20 mins (direct route is all dual carriageway). That bus journey made me feel so ill and didn't help my neck injuries at all !

[Pileopants 0]

Not good, sounds like you could ask for compensation for loss of use so that might make up for some of the inconvenience. Hope things get sorted soon.

[M@tt 77]

bad news mate

 

I'd be demanding a hire car! my missus got rear ended by some bint and i was straight on the phone to the other persons insurers to get a hire car straight away. It theirs isn't playing then have a word with your insurance company and either get them to provide one or get the other insurers to provide one pronto!!

[Toddy 7]

Times like this when the third part insurance is messing you around you may as well use an accident management Co. to avoid any further stress or hassle. Contact http://www.europaconsultants.co.uk/ they will chase the third party tenaciously to admit liability, sort hire car v quick and cash settlement for the car. if you genuinely have whiplash then they will put you onto Hargreave Lansdown Solicitors who will also sort any out of pocket expenses.

 

Presently you still own the car, if you want to retain the salvage you need to inform Europa and the assessor that this is your intention, cost me 25% of settlement figure.

 

 

Did you have agreed value?

[Anulfo 22]

Bloody hell - sounds like a lucky escape.

 

Makes you realise you can be doing everything right and still be unable to avoid a serious accident. Drunk in charge of a lorry should be a custodial offence.

And i'm guessing this should be the same for being drunk in charge of a car/van/moped/motorcycle,etc??

[CaptainK 11]

Heya folks, a little update now. After being messed around by the third party's insurance (Groupama) by them playing the game of "pass me between departments and leave me on hold" I finally gave up and asked my insurance company to do the claim for me. So its sped up a bit now as they've recovered my vehicle and are assessing it.

 

I've also heard back from my lawyer people and the hire car company and I've been issued a brand new BMW 120d M Sport as my hire car. Its a nice car, and seems to go well, but from a driving perspective it FEELS massively slow compared to my 205.

 

I'm now just awaiting the outcome of the insurance assessment and the inevitable fight with the insurance to get a reasonable figure for my 205, bearing in mind the money I've spent on it etc. Normally I wouldn't be too fussed if it was my fault I killed my 205, but as I'm totally not to blame at all I'd like to get back as much as possible for my "investment" in my 205 to ensure it'd be reliable and quick for many years to come.

[Anulfo 22]

Least you have got the salvage as you said and hopefully you can break it and try to make some of your money back that way.

[CaptainK 11]

Least you have got the salvage as you said

Huh? I do apologise if in my comments above have given the implication of this, but i DON'T have the salvage. This thread was set up to let you all know that my 205 was involved in an accident and to see if anyone wanted anything off it - in which case I'd try and get it back afterwards to get the bits off it.

 

Oh and a quick update - I think some motoring Devil is after me. Almost 2 weeks after the accident with the lorry, at pretty much EXACTLY the same place I had the accident some pillock in a white van tried to ram me off as I was overtaking him on the dually. Thankfully avoided it by slamming on the brakes and ducking back away from him. But seriously, have I got a huge "come hit my vehicle" car magnet sign on me or summat ?

[Anulfo 22]

Oh right,i read your original post as a 'parts for sale' manifest,didn't realise that you don't have the salvage.So have the insurance company written off your car?If so do you know what category they have placed it in?......blimey i'd be at the pound or yard wherever it is with a flatbed truck or car trailer demanding my car back!!The components you have described would be worth a fair bit and should sell easily and soften the blow of losing a car you have spent a lot of time and money on.

[P_Monty 2]

Am I the only one that feels enormous rage in situations like this ? In my book, if someone else wrecks your car, then, they/their insurance ought to pay to fix it, regardless of whether or not it costs more than the car's worth ...