Been in an accident? - Any lessons learnt?

[Necropolis]

Always assume everyone around you is an idiot and you will, mostly, be fine.

 

[Cicero]

the third one is disturbing

He was only insured for 3rd party. They won't pay to fix any of his damage regardless of whose fault it was.

Yeah agree re retreads. Avoid. Also when buying new keep safety in mind. I always get tyres with good road holding.

True, however they can usually help you get money from the person who caused the accident. Its also in their interest because they would lose premiums otherwise - be it 3rd party premiums.

But, if the other driver has the same insurance company, the insurance is losing either way. Minimise the damage to them they just declare equal fault, and only pay for what they have to.

 

[chromedome]

I learnt the hard way. Always drive defensively i.e anticipate what others might do especially at intersections and passing other vehicles. As others have mentioned rain is not your friend, mist is also a problem for me as I tend to get tunnel vision.

 

[randomgamer]

I almost turned left into another car on a highway, now check my left blind spot, a lesson I needed to learn.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Go do an Advanced Driving course.

If you think you are the best driver in the world and don't need it...you are exactly the kind of person who should go.

Riding a motorcycle significantly changes/changed my driving habits for the better and it scares me how "normal" people don't have any clue that they are driving heavy machinery and should respect it as such.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Simple rule of thumb I learned after my first accident, which was entirely my fault but still.

Treat everyone else on the road as a complete retard that will do everything that they shouldn't. That at least has you prepared for the eventuality.

 

[Bona Botse]

Lesson from first accident: Focus! Anything can happen and it happens too quickly for you to be focusing on your radio or conversation or phone call in additional to driving.

Lesson from second accident: DUI is bad, m'kay?

Lessons from close calls/others' accidents: Check tyre pressure often; following distance saves lives; don't fscking rubber neck; green light doesn't guarantee safe passage; check your rear often.

 

[Alton Turner Blackwood]

Never caused an accident - I hate driving with a passion so you'll always see me in the slow lane

A few years ago some idiot drove my car into a wall. Lesson, make sure the guy has a license and a job to fix your car before he gets behind the wheel.

A friend of mine is currently in hospital since Freedom Day after having been in an accident. Bit off his tongue, dislocated his jaw, broke his pelvis, shattered his left leg, broke his right leg and was in a coma for 3 days.

Lesson, don't assume when there's blue lights behind you that the police are chasing you and try to run away, when in fact they are on their way to an accident scene...you'll crash into the exact same accident they're speeding toward.
Lesson, wear your seat belt!
Lesson, rather sleep over where you are at that time...don't drink and drive!

 

[zululami]

Drive for all the ****ers on the road! Anticipate their stupidity and act 5 seconds ahead!

 

[PsYTraNc3]

Was involved in an accident in 2010

Was on the N1 during peak hour traffic.
Out of 4 lanes, the one I was in was flowing freely. The 2 to my left were almost at a standstill.
Cars in the lanes to my left started slowing down even further and that's when someone driving a ten ton truck decided into my lane less than 10m infront of me.
Started hotting and slammed the breaks as soon as I saw him starting to move over but it was too late.
With me doing +-70kmph and him doing almost nothing, I did not have enough time to stop and hit him on the back right corner since he was not completely in my lane yet.

I was luckily wearing a seat belt which I'm pretty sure saved my life. The impact of the seat belt holding me back was strong enough to damage some ribs so I would not want to know what would have happened without it.

The logistics company ended up trying to put the blame on me for not being observant enough. I think what saved me is that he was not in my lane completely and from 70-0, tyre marks proved that I was not speeding.
That lost that insurance battle.

Lessons learnt:
- Continue wearing a seat belt at all times
- Be more vigilant.
Even though I reacted quickly, If I was more aware of my surroundings, I might have found a way out in the lane to my right.
It all happened so quickly though :O

I now make sure that I am completely aware of everything around me and make sure I can avoid something similar happening in future.

 

[MickZA]

Avoid closely following behind trucks like the plague.

I've lost 2 windscreens to them throwing up stones and I had one reverse into me at a intersection in a turn left only lane when the driver tried to go straight and the cop directing traffic showed him via intriguing hand signals that he shouldn't.

 

[Bobbin]

Only accident where I was at fault I was turning right at a traffic light with oncoming cars turning in and obstructing my view. I crept forward to see if anything was coming down the further of the 2 lanes. I saw nothing, started going then realized I was wrong. I stopped again but not in time to avoid the other car going right through and clipping the front of my car. Everyone was okay, just let the insurance handle it. Even though I'm not sure if the other car changed lanes at the last second but the lesson is to always assume the worst when you can't see far enough ahead and just remain patient even if the people behind you seem less so.

If you are taking hairpin turns, changing lanes, turning, whatever! ALWAYS assume there is a dangerous obstruction or oncoming car where you cannot see until you have 100% visual confirmation. Shouldn't matter how long that takes.

As I've said before, the biggest killer on our roads is impatience. This equates to speeding, aggressive driving, taking chances, avoiding safe distances etc... all amounts to whether you are a patient person or not.

 

[adinfinitum]

I agree. Impatience is a major factor in most accidents!

 

[Bobbin]

I've also had 4 accidents where I was not at fault and the lessons there are:

1. Say as little as possible. Just ask if the other driver is okay.
2. Take as many pics as possible, relentlessly.
3. If the other driver acts aggressively just be apologetic and call the cops and keep your distance physically.
4. Do whatever you can to get as much info about the other driver as possible and take as much time as you need. License plate, ID or drivers license details, car make & model, contact and insurance details. Check his/her car license stickers as well.

And pro tip, if that car was ever involved in an incident before a detective at SAPs can give you all the info about that driver they have on record if they are dodging you or hit&run.

 

[adinfinitum]

Oh since there is advice on what to do at the time of an accident... Does anybody know what you do in the case of a multiple car accident? I may be wrong but I think I got screwed by my insurance company due to this.

 

[MickZA]

Knew a guy involved in a 5 car rear ending during rush hour on the M2 in Jo'Burg. He was car 3 and and this resulted in two claims:

1) Car 3 into car 2, car 3 at fault - incorrect following distance.

2) Car 4 into car 3, car 4 at fault - incorrect following distance.

AFAIK insurance eventually covered both claims excluding excess but I'm guessing he waved goodbye to his no-claims bonus for a few years

 

[adinfinitum]

I only took details of car that went into me and in my statement only referred to this person. Insurance company said this person claimed the car that went into them caused them to go into me and because I didn't include them in my statement they couldn't reimburse my excess.

 

[JCM]

N1 south at R21, Starline bus rammed me from behind while moving slowly in peak traffic. Lesson learnt: don't move lanes infront of trucks/busses if you see traffic standing still a bit further up. Most likely they have ****ty/no breaks.

 

[adinfinitum]

I can actually add to that for you. It's not necessarily crap brakes. Understand that this is a big and heavy vehicle. With their momentum it takes them longer to break going at the same speed as you. Don't ever push in front of a truck or bus like you would a car. Never!

 

[GhostSixFour]

Closest call I had was on N3 coming back from Durbs.

Cruising behind a fortuner, doing about 120km/h, look down to check the time and figure out what time we'll be home.
Look up, just in time to see a vehicle doing about 30km/h in front of me - swerved, into oncoming traffic, swerved back out - car drifted a bit(need for speed saves live) and manged to get it back.

Ever since, I will moan more at people driving slowly than people going faster.