Insurance claim - excessive? Does it matter?

GotToChange

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Not nit picking OP, but do the IAM not suggest reversing into a parking space if possible, it's good common sense practice and they do use a lot of common sense in their methods, means not having to break the law by reversing into a road too.

The claim seems entirely reasonable so far, but could get nasty if the other party develop some mysterious pains further down the no win no fee vulture road.

I wouldn't be seeking to change insurance companies just yet, maybe stay with them another year to get this episode finished and dusted off.

Feel free to nitpick - I don't mind. You will see that I said that I don't usually drive into a space - unless clear to drive straight out, but I was in a rush. It all backfired on me a little.:o

I do find nowadays though that there is usually someone up your behind (esp. in a supermarket carpark) "not realising" that you need to pull forward beyond the space to reverse in and thinking (it would seem) that you have your indicator on just for the hell of it. (Victoria Meldrew rant ends here.)

As for it being an IAM teaching - probably is (I did my instruction and test in 1989!) but it was really just something my good old Grandpa drummed into me.

GotToChange

Wireless wrote: »

I did a Rospa Gold many moons ago, I decided I didn't want to do an IAM because I didn't want to label myself as 'Advanced', I just consider myself a little more aware is all.

I actually quite like the label and am proud of the achievment and of (some) skills that I use every day - reversing cleanly out of parking spaces not being one of them.
But I take your point - and rarely mention it (why would I?) - as on one occasion, after "bragging" about my IAM membership and status, I was taken on a driving assessment for East Midlands Ambulance Service (in Derby [never been] in some weird old minibus/campervan type vehicle) and at the end of it, the Instructor said, "Well, to say you're an advanced driver, you're rubbish." Pride, fall and all that.
(I was offered the job though.)
Strangely though, I had also taken a 15-seater minibus test for the Council and they rang my boss to say I was the best they had seen.
(No money changed hands.)

Seriously though, I think that there is a real need for road awareness, car sympathy, courtesy and observation nowadays and if Advanced Driving skills help any of that, I am happy to be labelled.

Wireless_2

Interesting.

I retired from the Ambulance Service in 1997, I was driving Fast Response at the time, as I turned down the option of working on the Air 5 Helicopter unless I could drive it....well not exactly, but on examining the aircraft on the few occasions I requested it, it seemed a bit flimsy.

I did my Rospa Gold in 1989 I think, it was an addition to in-Service Training at the time, because one of our Instructors was a Rospa Examiner, I'd already been away to Bolton for my Ambulance Driving Course, so it was a doddle, and I was assessed for the Gold while driving a 3 litre V6 Transit Ambulance on actual Emergency Journeys at the time.

Prior to the Ambulance Service I'd completed a HGV Combat Driving Course with the Army a few months previously, it was the Army that put me through my HGV.

I gave up the HGV Licence about 18 months ago, when I hit 45, I couldn't see me using it again, especially as I wouldn't be able to get into the cab of a truck these days.

My driving is not perfect, it's never going to be as good as it was, there's no possibility of my doing an Emergency Journey of 135mph around Ludlow on the A49 again, but that doesn't prevent the awareness still being there at 56mph.

Are you a member of GEM? All Rospa Members were invited to join the Guild back in the day, and as their mantra was Care, Courtesy, and Consideration, while behind the wheel, I joined and am still a member today. Their Recovery Insurance is cheap.

robbies_gal

doesnt seem too bad i just scuffed a car while parking and the bill was 900-i couldnt believe it at the time but apparently thats the norm