guys, i've been in more accidents than i care to mention. I can assure you that most of them weren't my fault.
i've been hit before by speeding cars and i was in the right, but couldn't prove the other party was speeding so i was hit with the cold hard arm of the law.
(speeding was required to prove that the other party entered the round-a-bout before me, determining who had right of way. unfortunately there were no skid marks as the tar was fairly fresh and very dark.)[edit: forgot to mention, the other party admitted fault at the scene of the accident, but denied that to the insurance company]

In another instance i was hit when i turned right by an oncoming car which had it's lights off, again, couldn't prove that the lights weren't on, so i was considered at fault. (it ws the middle of the night, and they were in an unlit street, i was in a brightly lit street)

In another case i pulled up to an intersection and checked to see if anyone was coming, entered the intersection to hear screeching brakes. a car slid for over 30 metres and hit my car. The car was out of sight when i checked, and the skidding would indicate that they were travelling considerably over the 50km/hr speed limit. i accepted blame because i was on my P's and only had one point, there was minimal damage (no insurance claim required) so i paid him cash to avoid the possibility of losing my license.
(knowing that i would cop the blame if it was left to the cops, and i'd be issued a neg driving charge)

infact the only accident i've been in which wasn't someone else's fault was when i hit a big patch of oil on the road and couldn't stop the car. which was entirely out of my control (i was only doing 30km/hr and had PLENTY of room) but obviously someone had to accept fault and i couldn't blame the driver of a stationary car, and good luck trying to find whoever dumped the oil on the road....

I'm 22, I drive an almost stock mirage (as modified as NRMA will allow) and the lowest insurance premium I can get is over $2200 a year and my excess is $1800.
this is all due to the fact that i've had the blame pinned on me, even though i was in the right.

Right about now, you will understand why i would take any tactic to assist proving that the other party was in the wrong, of course i would only do this if i was in the right, but couldn't prove it.

i retract it as advice, and i will say that it is probably what i would do.
i don't believe that stating that you "thought they were drunk" or "could smell alcohol" is illegal, as it is an opinion and isn't stated that it was a fact.
infact the police would probably ask for evidence and refuse to count it unless it was proven.

it seems drivers these days are required to know when people are going to come from a blind spot at triple the speed limit, when we pull out from a driveway or intersection.
it's sad that people can't admit when they are at fault, and i'm fed up with copping the blame when i haven't done anything wrong. So if bending the truth helps to bring justice into balance, then i'm all for it.

I will assert, however, that i would NEVER do this if i thought it was possible that I was in the wrong.

[ June 18, 2003, 17:23: Message edited by: Mr_Bob ]

oh, and i believe a police report is required if there is more than $250 damage done, or someone is injured, or public property is damaged (like a telegraph pole, or signpost)
well in NSW anyways.

The police have still not come to see me, we informed them last night i would be at home all day.

The driver had to of been speeding, ive taken photographs of the skidmarks and everything and its like 12 metres long and he still was going fast enough to smash my car.

Them leaving before the police arrived means they may have something to hide, whether speeding or alcohol. I still have no information whether they have been visited by the police.

Audio gear is in perfect condition...as its on my bedroom floor waiting to be installed today but of course now thats not happening.

Just had a mechanic look at the car earlier tonight. shes a write off. my baby is heading for the gravehead and ive only had it a month.

Ill post some photos below so you guys can see.

BEFORE

back right

right side

rear

AFTER

rear corner

side

side again

SKIDMARKS
Apologize for quality of these scans. in the actual photos the skidmarks and distances are much easier to make out.

skidmarks

skidmarks 2

[ June 18, 2003, 17:43: Message edited by: zeggie ]

damn man... that looks bad... hope everything works out alrite...
hey this exa looks like the one that was for sale on the exaclub forum not long ago...nice rims..
and i hope ur system is still in good knick,

It was the exa for sale on exaclub forums. bought it a month ago.

How long did the cops take to get there? When I had my accident afew years ago, the cops got there before the towies did hahahaha, im stuck in the car in pain, cant get out and the cops 1st question, "is this your car" im like wat da **** get me a doctor hahaha.

Well with the skid marks they should be able to determine if the other driver was indeed speeding.
Goodluck and keep us updated.

Oooh didnt see the pics, just a note, that if this had happened in NSW, you would be at fault.

HDT, its comments like that and opinions like that, that really pull this site down

We all know hes joking

Are you saying you're stupid enough to take him seriously?

If i spilled hot coffee on myself is it my own fault or is it the companies for making it hot. I know which is right.... do you?

The police rung me and are fining me for failing to give way. They say they have a "witness" that says i was driving fast out of the tiny little court. first of all how anyone can get over 20km/h in such a small stretch of road is amazing, and strange how i mentioned i had door knocked and found an old man who was gardening and saw me stop before pulling out. very strange how they say that their witness is the very same person.

They dont give a damn about the photos of the skidmarks or checking them out. they "investigated" the scene and are satisfied with the other drivers claim that he was stuck right on 50km/h.

Cancelling my 3rd party insurance to pay for the tow, and probably selling all my car audio gear. Now im left with a loan ill have to majorly pay off from the wreck and selling parts (its like 75% perfect) and be working to pay it off. Such is life, guess im lucky im not dead.

grrr
death to all suburban 4WDing pricks.
I swear we need some device to **** land destroyers up with :X

Yeah I think you'd have trouble having skidmarks taken into consideration due to the fact that roads are covered in skid marks and he can probably say nope not mine...

craps you when people don't admit to their own errors - I was recently in a crash (well bingle, no major damage) and I readilly admitted fault even though I could made up some bs story due to the fact there were no witnesses, hopefully what goes around comes around to these people!

Its very obvious that they're his skidmarks. they abruptly stop and big sideways skidmarks from my car are there from where i was thrown across the road on impact.

Still dealing with the cops about this bs fine, should go in my favour due to them stuffing up the details. Other driver wont be fined for leaving the scene of the accident as he turned up at the cop shop later in the day, even tho the tow truck driver was witness and said the other driver said he would f*** off quickly cause he wasnt needed and didnt want to deal with the cops.

I've been going on lots of walks with the dog to try and sort my brain out as all my plans and hopes etc are dead and gone. I'll be in debt for at least the rest of this year. I'm thinking of buying a tiny little hatch and installing all my car audio gear into it as its lucky its all alright due to being a day off installation.

Things like this really make you wake up. If it was less than a metre the other way, he would of plowed straight through my drivers door and who knows how i would of ended up. Yesterday i quit smoking and changed my shifts at work so ill be working nearly twice as much so ill have to see how it all ends up.