It could have been worse!

A few nights ago, late evening, we had an unexpected and unwelcome guest park their car on our driveway, taking the unusual route of driving through the wall! The guy had “lost control” of his car (wasn‘t looking at the road) and not straightened up on a slight bend of the busy trunk road we live on, took a straight line across the oncoming lane, and across a pavement, and through the wall. It‘s a 30 zone which 8/10 drivers ignore. Thankfully no other cars were involved, and no pedestrians were about (both minor miracles for our busy road), and the driver got away with a sore hand. The other miracle is that our pride and joy was parked around 5m from where the car was halted - it was held back by a tree and two log stores which are all pretty much destroyed) and only 1m from flying bricks which impaled the log stores and garage wall. Only a few light scratches on the van bodywork from ricocheting bricks and mortar which covered the garden and drive.

Now for the tidy up, and haggling with his insurance company - one I’ve never previously heard of even on comparison sites - so that’s going to be fun.

It has prompted me to wonder though, if others have had similar close calls, avoiding near disasters happening to their Cali?

Another thought / observation - what a lot of plastic is built into the front end of cars these days! I’ve picked literally thousands of bits of black plastic, headlight plastic, plastic underbody parts, all strewn as far as 15m from the crash site.

A lot worse. You think it would be safe on your drive.

Seems like there is someone has a thing in for Cali's recently.
Could have been a lot worse.

Glad no one was injured except a wall and a wood store.

Corradobrit said:

Seems like there is someone has a thing in for Cali's recently.
Could have been a lot worse.

Took delivery, new Ocean

Hi everyone, been absent for a few years, but took delivery from Swansway VW Liverpool an Ascot Grey Ocean Friday 22nd Dec. Waited approx 2 months but worth it. Good service from Oscar and recommend them. Can’t wait for spring now.

vwcaliforniaclub.com

Glad no one was injured except a wall and a wood store.

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Yes I saw that post, unbelievable wasn‘t it !

You could make a note of how long it takes to clear all the debris and add that to the insurance bill

Meoncoast said:

A lot worse. You think it would be safe on your drive.

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Watch what your insurance company (house I assume) does - they are not your friend and won’t be acting in your interests!!!

derek_j_buchanan said:

Watch what your insurance company (house I assume) does - they are not your friend and won’t be acting in your interests!!!

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So far, it’s the drivers insurer who’s dealing with the claim. They’ve appointed a property company to liaise with us. I did also inform our home insurer, as an information-only notification, just in case we need to fall back on this. I’m told that an information-only notification doesn’t impact upon premiums or NCD.

An update. We’ve had the damage to our van repaired, and just collected it. Nice and shiny paintwork, like nothing has ever happened! If anyone needs the services of a bodywork shop in the Derby area I can thoroughly recommend Car Cosmetics Derby Ltd on the West Meadows Industrial Estate. Great service.

The rest of the repairs are booked in with a contractor, including walls, damaged bricks on our garage, replacing log stores, new hedging and a new tree (managed to pick one out at the weekend from Chew Valley Trees). The only issue is the wait, probably early May to complete.

To recap, no apology from the driver who’d just demolished our walls, just a comment ‘it’s alright mate, my insurance will sort it all out’. I won’t add my feelings about this, I think you all can guess.