Had a small-ish accident
Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 3:19 pmHi everyone. I'd like to share my most recent accident story with fellow Libertarians, in the hopes that someone will be able to guide me in the right direction. In the least, someone will have something funny to say which should (I hope) put me in a good mood. Thinking about this situation is driving me nuts.
But briefly put, here's the issue at hand:
A few days ago, whilst driving in to work around 7am on Carlingford Road (heading towards Epping), I ran into the back of the vehicle in front.
When I got out of my car, I found that he'd run into the car in front of him. And the car in front of him had run into the car in front of that.
Here's a diagram:
Me --> Car 3 --> Car 2 --> Car 1
Car 1 was stopped in the middle of the road, giving way to a truck that apparently was backing out onto the street.
I really don't know what happened. All I know is that car 3 was at one moment driving along at a normal pace and then the next moment I was in contact car 3's rear end. It happened instantaneously.
Here's the damage situation:
My car's front: Almost no sign of damage. Slight hint of paint transfer from car 3. Bent front rego plate. Washed the car and most of the paint transfer's gone. No sign of an accident, except for the rego plate.
Car 3's rear: Almost no damage. A bit of paint transfer from my car.
Car 3's front: Total destruction. Bonnet crumpled. Engine fluids on ground (oil and coolant). Car needed to be towed. A write-off I'd say considering the car was an old 90's Corolla.
Car 2's rear: Damaged. Not too bad though. Holden Astras seem to have strong rear ends.
Car 2's front. Not too bad. Bent front bumper. Main damage was in the engine bay. Coolant leaked out onto the ground. Car needed a tow.
Car 1's rear: Almost no sign of damage. Late model Camry. Looked unharmed by the incident.
==================
The police and fire crew were called to the scene (by someone... we don't know who called them). Fire crew cleaned up the engine oil and coolant from the street. Police took statements from everyone.
Here's what I told the officer:
1. Judging from the fact (I have pictures to corroborate... taken with my new iPhone) that my front and car 3's rear have almost no sign of damage, there couldn't have been much energy transfer between our two cars.
2. Judging from the fact that car 3's front and car 2's rear end had lots of damage, this to me means that they were in collision with each other in a major way.
3. Since, from point 1 above, it is established that there was very little energy involved in the collision between my car and car 3, this means that I did not shunt car 3 into car 2. Car 3 must already have collided with car 2 due to the driver in car 3 not paying attention to the road in front on him, thus causing it to come to an instant stop. As a result, I did not have time to stop and I ended up hitting his rear.
The officer seemed to agree with what I was saying. He had me sign in his notebook that what he'd written was what I'd said. Since I was the first person he spoke to, after gathering my statement, he told me that I was free to go.
I left the scene and came to work.
After two hours the same officer called me back. Told me that I was getting a $300 ticket for negligent driving. Said I was following too close to car 3. Ok, fair enough. Didn't really contest that.
What upsets me quite a lot, however, is that after I left, the guy in car 3 started telling the office that he felt a push from behind and that caused him to get shunted into car 2. The officer told me that, since he couldn't validate whether what he was saying was a lie or not, car 3's driver would NOT be getting the same $300 ticket.
My worry now is that car 3's driver will contact his insurer and will try to pin something on me. The guy's obviously keen on lying.
Oh... and to add to the problem. The mobile number I gave to all parties on the day of the accident changed the next day. I forgot that I had arranged with Optus to have my number changed. So, I ended up giving everyone my old number. The next day my number changed. Wondering if anyone's been trying to get a hold of me. Hmmm...
Anyways... thoughts/advice on the above situation is highly appreciated.
But briefly put, here's the issue at hand:
A few days ago, whilst driving in to work around 7am on Carlingford Road (heading towards Epping), I ran into the back of the vehicle in front.
When I got out of my car, I found that he'd run into the car in front of him. And the car in front of him had run into the car in front of that.
Here's a diagram:
Me --> Car 3 --> Car 2 --> Car 1
Car 1 was stopped in the middle of the road, giving way to a truck that apparently was backing out onto the street.
I really don't know what happened. All I know is that car 3 was at one moment driving along at a normal pace and then the next moment I was in contact car 3's rear end. It happened instantaneously.
Here's the damage situation:
My car's front: Almost no sign of damage. Slight hint of paint transfer from car 3. Bent front rego plate. Washed the car and most of the paint transfer's gone. No sign of an accident, except for the rego plate.
Car 3's rear: Almost no damage. A bit of paint transfer from my car.
Car 3's front: Total destruction. Bonnet crumpled. Engine fluids on ground (oil and coolant). Car needed to be towed. A write-off I'd say considering the car was an old 90's Corolla.
Car 2's rear: Damaged. Not too bad though. Holden Astras seem to have strong rear ends.
Car 2's front. Not too bad. Bent front bumper. Main damage was in the engine bay. Coolant leaked out onto the ground. Car needed a tow.
Car 1's rear: Almost no sign of damage. Late model Camry. Looked unharmed by the incident.
==================
The police and fire crew were called to the scene (by someone... we don't know who called them). Fire crew cleaned up the engine oil and coolant from the street. Police took statements from everyone.
Here's what I told the officer:
1. Judging from the fact (I have pictures to corroborate... taken with my new iPhone) that my front and car 3's rear have almost no sign of damage, there couldn't have been much energy transfer between our two cars.
2. Judging from the fact that car 3's front and car 2's rear end had lots of damage, this to me means that they were in collision with each other in a major way.
3. Since, from point 1 above, it is established that there was very little energy involved in the collision between my car and car 3, this means that I did not shunt car 3 into car 2. Car 3 must already have collided with car 2 due to the driver in car 3 not paying attention to the road in front on him, thus causing it to come to an instant stop. As a result, I did not have time to stop and I ended up hitting his rear.
The officer seemed to agree with what I was saying. He had me sign in his notebook that what he'd written was what I'd said. Since I was the first person he spoke to, after gathering my statement, he told me that I was free to go.
I left the scene and came to work.
After two hours the same officer called me back. Told me that I was getting a $300 ticket for negligent driving. Said I was following too close to car 3. Ok, fair enough. Didn't really contest that.
What upsets me quite a lot, however, is that after I left, the guy in car 3 started telling the office that he felt a push from behind and that caused him to get shunted into car 2. The officer told me that, since he couldn't validate whether what he was saying was a lie or not, car 3's driver would NOT be getting the same $300 ticket.
My worry now is that car 3's driver will contact his insurer and will try to pin something on me. The guy's obviously keen on lying.
Oh... and to add to the problem. The mobile number I gave to all parties on the day of the accident changed the next day. I forgot that I had arranged with Optus to have my number changed. So, I ended up giving everyone my old number. The next day my number changed. Wondering if anyone's been trying to get a hold of me. Hmmm...
Anyways... thoughts/advice on the above situation is highly appreciated.
