My First major accident - In the U.S. and I wasn't driving

TrueDreamer · 25th May 2008, 08:09

Thats a nasty accident. Glad you guys are safe.

benbsb29 · 26th May 2008, 12:38

Lambo, thank God you are fine, and the same for your friends.

What i dont understand is, why claim for total loss on the car? I dont think its in that bad a shape. Beats me.

ramie2400 · 26th May 2008, 14:01

Thats a pretty bad crash taken by the accord,happy that you all are fit and fine,came out of the disaster unscratched.Is the accord considered total loss or still its going to be repaired and re-sold???

RX135 · 26th May 2008, 14:56

Good that you are safe, Lambo.

The car doesn't look like a complete write-off. What all is damaged other than cosmetics? As everyone said, your friend is most likely booked for not maintaining distance.

lamborghini · 11th June 2008, 10:36

Hey guys,
The car is a total write off. My friend says that the engine and chassis and all was damaged.
He is planning on something like a Civic given todays oil prices. Lets see what happens though.
My friend was actually booked for swerving on to the breakdown lane and not about distance. It wasn't that we weren't keeping distance, it was just that he was going to change lanes when this happened. He is a pretty safe driver.
As for keeping stuff in the back, we had no other option. It was the day we were supposed to shift and we had to take all our belongings with us.

hellstar · 11th June 2008, 10:59

Hi Lambo, the important part is that everybody is safe and sound... sorry about teh car though ... and do take care

svsantosh · 11th June 2008, 11:05

write off... 4-5 lacs and in Whitefield honda or any Indian dealer would love to put that back on roads... Pity that such a less damaged car is going to the crusher!!!

mobike008 · 11th June 2008, 11:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by svsantosh

write off... 4-5 lacs and in Whitefield honda or any Indian dealer would love to put that back on roads... Pity that such a less damaged car is going to the crusher!!!

I agree. Well, thats the difference between a developed and developing economy

Jokes apart, the chassis and engine it seems is badly hit. So the crusher has the pleasure of this car

The Matrix · 11th June 2008, 11:50

Quote:

Well, thats the difference between a developed and developing economy

My friend's SX4 was so badly damaged but the Insurance guys just did't agree for a write off.

revvedup · 11th June 2008, 16:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Matrix

My friend's SX4 was so badly damaged but the Insurance guys just did't agree for a write off.

But man is that SX4 a safe car, see the passenger compartment looks completely unscathed

@ lambo why did the SUV in front of you suddenly brake and then why did it swerve into the breakdown lane ?

DirtyDan · 11th June 2008, 17:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by revvedup

But man is that SX4 a safe car, see the passenger compartment looks completely unscathed

@ lambo why did the SUV in front of you suddenly brake and then why did it swerve into the breakdown lane ?

He probably was trying to avoid rear ending the guy in front of him.

Nice crumple, probably saved major injury. I think I see the face of Jesus Christ on the bonnet. Could be a sign. A little touch up paint and a new bumper and it will be back on the road.

mohit · 11th June 2008, 17:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by svsantosh

write off... 4-5 lacs and in Whitefield honda or any Indian dealer would love to put that back on roads... Pity that such a less damaged car is going to the crusher!!!

Nah not the crusher... it'll be sold off by the insurance company and some dealer/shop specializing in salvaged cars would bring it back to life.

That SX4 looks fit for the crusher though!

1100D · 11th June 2008, 20:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by lamborghini

My friend was actually booked for swerving on to the breakdown lane and not about distance. It wasn't that we weren't keeping distance, it was just that he was going to change lanes when this happened. He is a pretty safe driver.

Quite logical. He used the breakdown lane to avoid tailing the SUV in front. If he had tailkissed the SUV, he would have been charged for failure to keep safe distance. The "Breakdown" lane is for emergency/service vehicle use. In this case, this lane was used as an additional lane due to the failure to use the driving lane safely. It gets a little tricky, but atleast this is still better than ramming into the SUV. The fine is a small price to pay in comparison to whatever possibilities incidents like these can invite.

Why did the front - passenger even take off his seatbelts for a moment, even to fetch his lighter?

Deziboy · 11th June 2008, 20:40

Glad to know everyone is ok after that accident.

From the pictures provided, it seems to me writing off the vehicle as "totaled" was unreasonable.

I understand if airbags were deployed, fixing those can be quite costly and thus cost more to fix than the actual worth of the car.

However, in this case, none of the airbags have seem to been deployed and the majority of the damages is done to the sides...I was wondering if you were able to start the car after the accident and moved it to the side or whether the car would not start at all?

It may also be worth it to try and defend your argument in court and challenge the ticket presented to your friend. Although lawyer costs may be a few hundred bucks, it may save your friends thousands of dollars in insurance costs since your friend tried not to rear end the car in front of him....

Take care,
-Deziboy

lamborghini · 11th June 2008, 22:59

@1100D - I have no idea. The front passenger was an Indian and only the driver was an American. From what I have seen is that very few indians understand the concept of the seatbelt and even if they know the purpose, they don't care. that mentality is carried over here as well and even though i have told them to wear it, I cant make them wear it.
I guess it is because of the mentality that he removed his seatbelt. But it was only for a minute and was put back on promptly.

25th May 2008, 08:09	#16
TrueDreamer BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 276 Thanked: 16 Times	Thats a nasty accident. Glad you guys are safe.
	() Thanks

26th May 2008, 12:38	#17
benbsb29 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 9,969 Thanked: 13,228 Times View My Garage	Lambo, thank God you are fine, and the same for your friends. What i dont understand is, why claim for total loss on the car? I dont think its in that bad a shape. Beats me.
	() Thanks

26th May 2008, 14:01	#18
ramie2400 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,903 Thanked: 66 Times View My Garage	Thats a pretty bad crash taken by the accord,happy that you all are fit and fine,came out of the disaster unscratched.Is the accord considered total loss or still its going to be repaired and re-sold???
	() Thanks

26th May 2008, 14:56	#19
RX135 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: pune Posts: 2,106 Thanked: 75 Times	Good that you are safe, Lambo. The car doesn't look like a complete write-off. What all is damaged other than cosmetics? As everyone said, your friend is most likely booked for not maintaining distance.
	() Thanks

11th June 2008, 10:36	#20
lamborghini Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 6,113 Thanked: 5,761 Times View My Garage	Hey guys, The car is a total write off. My friend says that the engine and chassis and all was damaged. He is planning on something like a Civic given todays oil prices. Lets see what happens though. My friend was actually booked for swerving on to the breakdown lane and not about distance. It wasn't that we weren't keeping distance, it was just that he was going to change lanes when this happened. He is a pretty safe driver. As for keeping stuff in the back, we had no other option. It was the day we were supposed to shift and we had to take all our belongings with us.
	() Thanks

11th June 2008, 10:59	#21
hellstar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,072 Thanked: 44 Times	Hi Lambo, the important part is that everybody is safe and sound... sorry about teh car though ... and do take care
	() Thanks

11th June 2008, 11:05	#22
svsantosh Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Dubai Posts: 4,005 Thanked: 6,345 Times View My Garage	write off... 4-5 lacs and in Whitefield honda or any Indian dealer would love to put that back on roads... Pity that such a less damaged car is going to the crusher!!!
	() Thanks

11th June 2008, 20:40	#29
Deziboy Newbie Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: PA, USA Posts: 23 Thanked: 5 Times	Glad to know everyone is ok after that accident. From the pictures provided, it seems to me writing off the vehicle as "totaled" was unreasonable. I understand if airbags were deployed, fixing those can be quite costly and thus cost more to fix than the actual worth of the car. However, in this case, none of the airbags have seem to been deployed and the majority of the damages is done to the sides...I was wondering if you were able to start the car after the accident and moved it to the side or whether the car would not start at all? It may also be worth it to try and defend your argument in court and challenge the ticket presented to your friend. Although lawyer costs may be a few hundred bucks, it may save your friends thousands of dollars in insurance costs since your friend tried not to rear end the car in front of him.... Take care, -Deziboy
	() Thanks

11th June 2008, 22:59	#30
lamborghini Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 6,113 Thanked: 5,761 Times View My Garage	@1100D - I have no idea. The front passenger was an Indian and only the driver was an American. From what I have seen is that very few indians understand the concept of the seatbelt and even if they know the purpose, they don't care. that mentality is carried over here as well and even though i have told them to wear it, I cant make them wear it. I guess it is because of the mentality that he removed his seatbelt. But it was only for a minute and was put back on promptly.
	() Thanks