Another claim against me in 4 months! Help!

Phlik

DirectDebacle wrote: »

The Op has not described what type of skid he was in. I simply stated that there are types of skid that cannot be controlled.

I never commented on your statement that some types skid that cannot be controlled, so not sure why you mentioned it again.
But since you have, I disagree on that too . All types of skid can be corrected, the issue is not having enough space to do it in before you hit something solid, splitting hairs I know, but true .

Until the type of skid and other relevant factors e.g. the distance between the vehicles at the point the skid occurred, are known then your assumptions, though interesting, are rather pointless.

Where have i assumed anything about the crash? the OP stated they turned against the skid, so obviously not skidding in a straight line. The ONLY way to recover is to release the brakes, turn into the skid until the wheels are rolling again.

Phlik

Phlik

lisyloo wrote: »

When the snow and ice were around, my husband walked to the train station and got on a train. I worked from home.

Guess what - we never had any accidents or claims.

Just a thought.

Best way.

Whilst everyone was throwing their cars in hedges and ditches I managed to ride my motorcycle to work and back through ice, sleet and upto 8" of snow (got some funny looks when trundling past people who were stuck), without a slip or a slide. i guess some people are just incompetent .

Phlik

tbs152

Ok, I didn't mean to start a flame war! Everybody needs to calm down..

Ok, so what happened was, I was travelling at ~15mph behind two cars. The car two ahead of me put his brakes on suddenly. The car in front of me followed suit, as did I. This was on a narrow village street in a 30mph limit. I braked as a matter of instinct, then let go when the wheels locked and I felt the skid take hold. Knowing I wouldn't be able to stop, I had to choose to either turn my wheel right and try to 'glance' the other car. Or try to overtake it whilst skidding (with oncoming traffic). I chose the former.

This all happened within the space of roughly 3 seconds mind you, I don't think I could've done anything differently and I was in no way driving carelessly.

Oh and when I got out of the car to exchange details it was like a bloomin ice rink! I kid you not, I basically glided over to her car. Madness!

Also, I have to drive to get to work regardless of conditions!

tbs152's top tip - ALWAYS CARRY A TUB OF SAXA

Inactive

tbs152 wrote: »

This all happened within the space of roughly 3 seconds mind you, I don't think I could've done anything differently and I was in no way driving carelessly.

You could try leaving a bigger gap between your car and the one you are following next time.

Phlik

tbs152 wrote: »

Ok, I didn't mean to start a flame war! Everybody needs to calm down..

:huh:

What flame war?

This all happened within the space of roughly 3 seconds mind you, I don't think I could've done anything differently and I was in no way driving carelessly.

You were, if you cannot stop in the distance you can see to be clear, then you are travelling too fast or too close to the vehicle infront, or both. You have to make extra allowances for the conditions too.

Phlik

lisyloo

This all happened within the space of roughly 3 seconds mind you

3 seconds is nowhere near enough a big enough gap in those icy conditions.

Cars in front may brake at any time for any reason, and you need to allow much more time than this.
I would suggest you study the breaking distances and thinking distances in the highway code and recommend you leave MUCH bigger in poor conditions.

tbs152

I take your various points, and you are right, 3 seconds is not enough.

In my defence, not that it matters, we are talking about black ice. I had no idea it was icy, the stuff was totally invisible, I had driven 45 minutes from my home to where I work, and conditions were fine there and not at all icy. And I hit the other car at between 1 and 5 mph tops.

So it was quite a surprise when it happened, I can assure you.

It's sorted now anyway, I've informed Direct Line and that's all I can do.

neilmcl

DirectDebacle wrote: »

I said there are types of skid which you can't control. That means you have tried to control it but you can't.

How about not getting into a position where you'll skid in the first place. Its called driving to the conditions!

lisyloo

I had no idea it was icy

The temperature can be used as a CLUE :j

Anyway going through the insurers should mean no stress for you and you are very lucky to get a decent quote, so glad it's worked out not so bad.

A lot of the people here aren't so perfect and only learnt stuff through making their own mistakes.

Phlik

lisyloo wrote: »

A lot of the people here aren't so perfect and only learnt stuff through making their own mistakes.

Very true. Thrown myself in a few hedges in my earlier days

I slid off the road my very first winter after passing my test, ice on a bend from an overflowing stream. got a right telling off from my Dad, going too fast yadda yadda, icy conditons blah blah. He promptly slid off in exactly the same place the next morning :rotfl:

Phlik