R.i.p. S2 :-(

[Jon441cc]

I had my car towed to my dads place after my crash. I had to pay for this but due to previous dealings with insurance companies it was my choice to make, not theirs. It's your car, not theirs.
An insurance assessor(sp) is duty bound to view the vehicle wherever it is.
As for keeping it, it depends on what class the insurance company place on it if it's written off, which to be honest sounds like they will (they just can't be bothered to repair older cars)
If it's dropped into a class that means it can be repaired (sorry, can't remember classifications) then you'll need to barter this out with your insurance company. They usually make you an offer on the car, then minus an amount for you to keep it.
"Whatever you do" do not let said insurance company baffle you with bu11sh*t. Until you accept an offer they give you, it "your" car. Don't let them tell you that you can't keep it.
Follow all correspondance on the phone with written letters, even to the point of sending them letters that they have to sign for at their end.

Of course, you can always not claim, if the neighbour wants his wall put back up, then he'll have to claim against you. If you're fully comp, then your insurance will cover it. You'll only have to pay your excess if you claim for youself.

Don't forget, it's your car, by insuring you, it doesn't mean they own it.

Jas..

Very well put Jas, it can often be the insurance companys who are the real bad guys in cases like this, this is what insurance companys are paid for, just incase something like this happens and when you need there advice or services they try to confuse you with technical babble to try and get the best deal for themselves.
Just remember its your car, knowone was hurt and bricklaying isnt that difficult

Cheers Jon.

[Corey]

Ross,

let me know if we can help? You are welcome to have her towed here and any report you need we will do.
Glad you are ok though, the car no mater how good can be replaced

[s2driveruk]

shocked to read that mate, glad you are ok - where did it happen exactly?

Hope you get everything sorted out and shout if I can do anything.

David

[Jeffer]

Sorry to hear that ross, I really hope everythingd works out not to bad
Good luck with it.

[rs2315]

Ross, Keep your chin up your still in the land of the living, that's the main thing.
If you are going to go off, may as well do it in style, sounds like you did!
Nice to see offers of advice and help coming in from forum members.
Keep us all in touch with how things go.
Cheers.
rs2315.

[BRY]

Really ***** news Ross, very sorry to hear it.
Hope you get it sorted out.

[Paulgo]

Hi Ross- bloody hell mate!! - just to echo what been said already & whatever you might think right now, that the car is replaceble - you are not! Been there with the 2.3e 10v I bought from Paul (Armo750) via his bro Jas11n and which was probably the best car I'll ever own - I would never ever have sold that car. It represented everything I ever wanted in a motor. It was my fault - I pulled out turning right with my sight lines obscured by twa*ts of posties badly parked, and some wife in a Saxo took the front end off. But I'll never forget that feeling when I had to realise that I'd lost the car and there was simply nothing I could feasibly do to get it back on the road. Take care - chill, recover, and im sure things will sort themselves! There is another S2 out there waiting for you.

cheers

Paul

[Keeper of The Kitten]

Ross I am gutted for you.

Keep the faith dude!

--M-D-C--

[dan_b]

Ross - first thing, glad to hear you're ok, that's the main thing. Second, don't try and lie to the police, or the insurance company, that'll only end up in tears.
Third - absoloutely get your car towed to a known garage - I suggest you take up Corey's offer. Fourth - make sure that you don't agree to the insruance company taking the car off you, even if they write it off.

As to why the car stepped out - have you checked things like:
road condition (I had a similar situation in my mum's car a few years back, hit a patch of diesel mid-bend: the fireman noticed it when they came to clear up the wreckage and it went on the insurance report and it ended up as a no-fault accident!)
your brakes - had something broken?
your tires - had you got a puncture?
small animals - are there any dead cats on the side of the road?

If you had your accident in a 60zone, no matter what your neighbour might say, I doubt they could prove your accident was as a result of exceeding the speed limit as you were trying to turn in to your own drive way?

And just re-reading Jas's post above, everything he says there is spot on. Ultimately, you might want to decide if you even need to make a claim if you think there's going to be too much baggage associated with this. I'm not 100% sure on the legal issue, but as you didn't injure any third party, can the police actually prosecute you with anything?

[Coxy]

It would be hard for the Police to prosecute and time consuming (which ultimately comes down to money). They'll be a claim made by your neighbour for his wall I presume.
I'd have thought he would have to go through his buildings insurance anyway to claim and they contact you direct unless you agree to deal with that part of it seperately.
So, depending on the damage to car is dependant on whether you want to go through the insurance or not. You could cut your losses and strip the car for spares, or you could get the insurance involved which could be time consuming and a complete ballache.
If you haven't declared your mods, then cut yer losses.
Have you been to see if there is any diesel on the road yet?
Always worth taking one of those black jerry cans with you if you do go and revisit the spot, if you know what I mean!

[Fat Audi 80]

Hi Ross,

Saw your sad post last night but did not have time to respond.

I am gutted for you mate but glad to hear that you are in one piece. Don't worry about the car now, save it for later.

I can only echo the all of the sensible comments so far.

Check the roundabout again, and your car if you can.
I would deffo tell the police the truth, which from what you said sounds like, yes you were speeding past the BMW but slowed for the roundabout and lost it.
Everyone makes mistakes and the reality is you have broken YOUR car and someone elses wall. That it all.

Explain it honestly and logically to the police and you should be fine. I have a friend that is a traffic cop in Thames Valley and can have word with him regarding the legal implications if you want me to.

Once again really pleased to hear that you are okay, sorry to hear about your beloved S2.

Once the dust has settled the S2Forum can rebuild him!

All the best

Steve.

[Ducky]

Very sad mate but as mentioned before glad to hear you're ok. Hopefully the S2 isn't so bad that you can't repair/salvage your parts ok.

Best of luck with sorting out the coppers/insurance.

[nip]

sorry to hear that ross, if theres anything i can do please do not hesitate to ask me mate, glad to hear ur ok tho matey

[Al Wyn]

s2 r.i.p

Hi Ross, havent met or corresponded with you before but read the bad news about the car matey. A couple of days have past now and im sure you now have things a little more in perspective now. A car can always be replaced but you cant! My Dad worked in the motor trade as a panel beater for many years and some of the cars that i thought would never see the road again came back better than before. ( good excuse for a respray ) Take up Corey on the storrage offer as if it is gonna hit the road again its in the best place. Not to far away from you im in West Sussex if i can help you out i will try to help, dont be afraid to ask. Oh yeh i work with the plod quite a bit and being truthfull is the best policy( but that does mean being economical with it.) Dont lie or be offish with them tell them what the car meant to you and how you bought it because of the safety of the 4 wd system and build quality etc and they might look at it a bit more lightly. Send your neighbours some flowers/chocs whatever to sweeten them up. If there are any solicitors/lawyers on here hope theyve been on to you via your pm. Keep your chin up matey. Alan.

[Jaap]

None

Sorry to hear from you like this...

Greetz Jaap

Hope everting become's ok...