Hi All
The accident happened few months back. I couldn't share the same on forum that time as I joined team BHP recently.
I and my friend were travelling in my Figo from Hinjewadi towards Pune. It was a long weekend, evening time and roads were crowded as usual. I was going to drop my friend at Pune station. We were on the Wakad bridge; chatting usual stuff.
I don't remember the exact car speed but must be around 40 kmph. Suddenly my friend showed me a big hoarding on the beneath highway and I turned my neck, my eyes went off the road ahead. It was that moment when car gained speed as it was on the slope; 1 second's distraction. When I again looked ahead through windshield, it was too late. I rammed into an Alto. I didn't get time to slam brakes. I and my friend were terrified, awestruck with what happened withing fraction of seconds. It was right in between the road on the bridge. I started my warning lights and pulled over while Figo's engine was still running. To my surprise I had damaged two cars. The Alto in front had rammed into the Dzire ahead of it. All 3 cars stopped in between the road, causing traffic jam. The Alto guy started shouting and creating a scene. I apologized multiple times. We were politely requesting him to take our cars out of the way and stop a little ahead to the road side. But he was not listening. He started clicking pictures of the car and asking me my details. While the Dzire guy was just saying one thing, give me my money. After some time finally Alto guy agreed to stop at the roadside ahead. Traffic was cleared.
Damages: By God's grace no person was injured as expected. My Figo's damages were minimum. Front number plate broke into 4-5 pieces, bonnet was bent a little, front bumper deformed. Alto was damaged badly. Rear bumper, boot lid, tail lights, front bumper, bonnet, front lights were totaled, engine oil leakage. Dzire's rear bumper broke off and tail pipe bent, started hanging. The inside chassis like frame part pierced through the bumper.
When we started discussing the ultra hyper Alto guy started shouting and was in no mood of discussing. He was asking to repair his Alto in my car's insurance! While I was truing to tell them, we all have insurances, you claim your car's insurance towards damages and I will pay the part which you have to pay through your pocket. Both of them were insane like why I should waste my insurance, You have to fix it using your insurance. They had all kinds of arguments like we never caused any accidents, why we should claim the insurance etc. Alto guy started saying "Lets call Police". I was trying to convince him calling Police won't help and they will confiscate our cars and I am ready to pay for damages.
After heated arguments they agreed to claim the damages in their insurance. But again demanded I have to pay towards their NCB also! This was it. I lost my cool and said now call Police only. I was in no mood to discuss with these morons. Alto guy called Police. Police came and we all drove to nearby Police station in our cars which was hardly 200 mtr away.
Meanwhile I had called Ford 24x7 helpline and requested for a towing truck. But later I examined my car for any leakages and found none. Hence again called their helpline and cancelled the towing vehicle. I also called up ICICI Lombard and registered the accident details. I have zero depreciation insurance on my Figo.
In the Police station, police suggested settle it amicably else FIR will be filed etc. Now I put forward my case and said I accept my mistake and I am ready to pay for uncovered insurance. But I will not pay their NCBs. Police was surprised a bit to know that they were asking for NCBs from me. Police passed the judgement; NCB can't be asked and just take the uncovered insurance money. They made us wrote our details in the register and asked me to stay back. They asked me for Rs 5000 bribe to leave me without FIR. I showed them my wallet. Luckily I didn't had much cash. I was having only 500 in my wallet. They took 500 and I was asked to leave.
Dzire guy had called his family and had found out some senior inspector's contact details in the police station. That inspector did pressurize me for giving NCB to them but I didn't budge. The other police inspectors also didn't agree for this.
When I came out of Police station; we took Alto and Dzire to MyCar Wakad and left it there. I could have left straight away but the Dzire guy's family started saying how we will go back, it has caused a lot of inconvenience to them etc.
I decided to drop them in my car. While their cars were badly damaged, My Figo was up and running! That was the only solace I had in the situation. Sitting in my car they were discussing how the hell my car is not damaged much and their cars are damaged so much.
It was the first time in my life I was offering a lift to such bunch of idiots and was being so courteous to them. Through out the road they kept me telling stories of their relatives; how they met with an accident and the other party had to arrange for a temporary car till their car gets repaired!
I dropped them. It was 11 PM in the night. With all the stress and agony I had go through just because I took eyes off the road for a second.
Next day I went to Ford service center and they estimated the damage repairing amount to Rs 80000! Front bumper, bonnet, fog lamps, radiator assembly etc all were replaced. I had to pay just Rs 2000 towards the processing fee. Thank God i had opted for zero depreciation insurance! Else I would have to shell out at least Rs 20000 from my pocket.
I got my Figo back after 4 days. The new bonnet didn't carry the same paint finish as the stock one (mine is panther black Figo). Soon I settled Alto's and Dzire's bill also. I came to know the Alto guy who was creating so much fuss on NCB had already met 2 accidents in the same year! He was not eligible for NCB next year anyways. And for that NCB we went to police. When confronted he replied he had forgotten those 2 accidents. People stoop to such low levels for 2000-3000 bucks. Pathetic! I could have straight away denied Dzire's bill as Alto had hit the Dzire. But inside somewhere I knew it's my fault. But by this time I had started feeling I was being nice with wrong people.
Lessons learnt: - No matter what, don't take eyes off the road even for a second particularly on a crowded road or when you are doing high speeds.
- Don't be nice to not so nice people. Give them the treatment they deserve.
- Always Wear seat belts and never buy a Maruti car! (no offense meant)
- keep the cool. You can save on lot of things and hassle in future.
- Never be intimidated by Police or whatsoever if you are not at fault