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Eventful Return: Start of the journey, my brother was at the wheel. Driving slowly and steadily, cruising around 60-80 km/hr speed, except some small town and villages enroute. We wanted to have a late lunch on the way so started searching for one post 1:30 PM. There was nothing to be seen and even small shops seems closed due to the festival. Slowly we started to feel the hunger and desperately searching for one hotel. At one point we saw a board of a restaurant 8 KM away on another road and even thought of taking that route just to eat. However continued on our route and found one MGM resorts @ Ranipet, went in straight and had lunch. There was no meals available somehow, we went for rotis and some veg curry. Food was tasty, however expensive to the standards. The place is neat and clean. However on exiting the place saw a handful of other restaurants immediately one after the other (typically happens with us). It was almost 3:30 PM by then.
Post lunch from MGM, I was at the wheel, and started driving. Started cruising slowly, all of a sudden, from the right, a guy wearing a white shirt and riding a motor bike, came crossing the road. I could see that he is looking at the scorpio, but not giving any signals. I slowed down, and moved towards left and he quickly move there as well. I apply breaks but couldn't stop hitting him, and making him fall down. All these happens in flash of seconds. This was my first accident from the last 10 plus years of driving.
For a moment, I couldnt see the guy and my first thought was what-if he has gone under the wheel? Was just praying, in no time a crowd gathers and I come out of the car. My brother was on the passenger seat, 2 ladies and 2 kids on the middle row seat. Kids started crying seeing the accident for the first time and seeing the crowd. I started speaking in Tamil, thanks to my college days in TN, luckily there was no panic reaction from the crowd. One guy (with the cap in the picture) came and asked where are you going, I said Bangalore, he took the car key and went. I looked at the bike, it was lying in front of my scorpio. Searched for the bike-guy, he was no where to be seen. People were blocking my movement, trying to talk to me something or the other, the bike-guy was not to be seen. The cap-guy who took the key, came back saying you cant go anywhere. I said I am not going anywhere. Suddenly saw the bike-guy was sitting in front of the shop, looking at the scratches on his hand. He stood up, and started cleaning the wounds with a cloth, it was - BIG RELIEF for me! Nothing major has happened to him, except a few scratches on his both hands and elbows. I asked him can I take to the hospital, he was not in a mood to talk to me. He was moving away from me.
By this time, majority of the crowd started saying that it was not my fault and the fault was from the bike rider. A bit of commotion took place between the guy who took my keys and some other who were trying to take our side. Then this guy returns the keys and ask me to leave. I said, I am not going without a proper consent from the guy who was riding the bike. This guy seems annoyed, took back the key and moved away.
One new guy suddenly comes and shows me some documents and say the bike belong to him. I said I don't want to see his papers, but want to talk to the guy who met with the accident and take him to hospital first. One another person says police has been called.
Within few minutes, 2 policemen arrives, I told them that I was the driver of scorpio. They look at me speaking in Tamil, and they talk to the bike guy also. Then people started telling the policemen that it was the bike rider's fault, and not mine. Police tells me that I need to go the police station to sort out the matter. I said I am coming there. One cop gets inside the car and we take the vehicle. People move the fallen bike from the front and move away. Another Big relief for me, no commotion and fatalities, luckily. This cop started talking to me, asking what happened. I said I was driving, starting from MGM resorts, some less than 5 minutes before, the bike rider was riding on the right side of the road, suddenly crossed the road and I couldn't stop my car before hitting the bike. He said that is what he heard from the crowd also, and I need to explain this to the SI at the police station. I said, I can. And my word, "sir I can show you the video of the incident also" was the final relief from the cop saying, then there wont be any issues we will close the matter quickly.
Even though I had not cross verified the video of this particular incident in my dashcam, I was familiar with the dashcam and I was 100% sure that the video would have been recorded, even though the guy took away the key from the car abruptly. My dashcam has Wifi feature, enable me to transfer the video to my cell phone through an App, however due to the time pressure and nervousness, we took away the camera itself to the police station. Switched on the cam (it comes with additional battery power) and searched for the video, which was the last one in the memory. Video was about starting the drive from the MGM resorts and the journey less than 4 minutes before this incident. It was clearly evident the guy crossed all of a sudden and what I have done was the best possible in this situation. Showed it to the police men at the station, who clearly mention that it is his fault. 2 people who came to support the bike guy also didn't have any contention.
Tip to the dashcam owners: Do verify that the dashcam can record the video in crucial times also when power shutdown happens abruptly. It should be able to save the current video and shut down gracefully. Also there must be some provision to retrieve the video and show it to others. Do practice it few times with your Dashcam to ensure that you are covered, even after having a Dashcam in your car.
While we were going to the station, the bike guy along with the friend had gone to the nearby clinic, as per the advice from the police and they had dressed his wounds/scratches and came to the station with his 2 friends. He started talking saying he agrees that it was his fault, that was the reason he was not talking at the time of the incident. Also the crowd gathered were mostly drunk and there was no point in talking. He said however the bike belonged to his friend, and he will need to repair it and incur some expenses for that. Others also said the same thing to pay off some amount and settle the matter there itself.
Me and my brother had a quick talk. Firstly, we were relieved that nothing major had happened to his guy. Otherwise things could have been more worse. Then the issue has not gone beyond a level, no hitting us or damaging the car etc. And finally if any other route is taken, it will be difficult for us. We agreed to pay some amount for his bike repair and paid. We paid a bit less than what he asked for, first he was not agreeing, then finally he agreed. We paid, went back to the station and the policemen gave us a copy of the letter written by the bike rider that he is amicably settling the matter of the accident and there are no complaints. however the letter is written is Tamil and I cant read Tamil so am not fully sure about it. But it was a statements the policemen was telling the guy to write, clearly telling him to write that he crossed the road causing the accident. After we paid, the guys along with him talked to us nicely and all dispersed off. We resumed our journey, thanking god, and our stars.
Rest of the journey was uneventful, we didnt stop anywhere, and reached home by 8 PM, some 2 hours late than planned. Everyone was slowly getting back to normal, from the event that shook us all of a sudden. I have saved the videos in my phone and laptop, since it will be overwritten in my dashcam.
Scorpio has some minor bruises on the front right side of the bumper. It also has a slight bent, just a little. Using a paint polish solution with a mild cloth, 80% os the scratch went away on my first attempt after reaching home. I will need to take to my friendly garage for inspection and assess any further damages inside and check wheel alignment issues, if any. We didnt observe any issues on the drive back, however just to be doubly sure.
Lesson Learnt:
> Accidents can happen, even when you are driving slowly/how much careful we are
> When it happens, do not run away, face it. CALMLY
> Find out the local police contact number and call the local police for help, immediately
> If possible, talk the local language (my mother tongue is Not Tamil, but I can manage speaking). Try to be soft. Egos and body language may hurt at this point.
> If possible, try your best to offer medical aid to the victim. They may not agree. But TRY, it is needed.
> Travelling with family and Kids had some influence on this accident. People's reaction changed when they saw kids crying
> Having a Dashcam helped me big time. There was no dispute about your fault vs mine. Ensure you disclose about your dashcam to the right people at the right time.
Posting some random pics from Pondicherry.
And Some pics from the Accident.
Last edited by GTO : 7th September 2016 at 09:41.
Reason: Typo
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6th September 2016, 16:55
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Thanks
