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-   -   What would you do if a vehicle hits you/you hit a vehicle! (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/street-experiences/81387-what-would-you-do-if-vehicle-hits-you-you-hit-vehicle.html)

Hey Guys

I was wondering, what do we actually do when the situations as described below occurs.

a.You have stopped at a signal and a bike guy tries to squueze in and move ahead even when there is no where he can go and he causes a scrach in your car.Invariably he would zoom away as soon as the signal turns green and you are stuck with the stratch.

b.A state owned bus bullies you into veering away from the lane he wants to overtake you from and the bus makes a deep gash on your car.What do we do?The driver knows any complaint etc is of no avail, so do we just think its our bad luck and move on?

c.Share autos/call taxis hit you and say that they are have nothing wrong but its our fault that we were driving too slow/too cautiously for their liking.

The whole point here is that as much as we try to keep the car scratchless -- we invariably lose cool, make our BPs go up and feel totally helpless when it does happen even when we know we are at no fault.

Is there any way at all to teach a lesson to these guys?The flip around is when you hit someone then the whole picture changes- they could take your keys away and tell to pay up.Auto guys will create a ruckus and even if you have just touched their bumper they want 100 rs else the whole street stops to see what happened.

Why are we so dignified and act with a 'it happens attitude'.I really want to know is there anything at all we can do else just go on with life ignoring what happens on the road but if we do the same we might end up paying!

The ideal scenario after a dent or a scratch on your car would be for the guilty to own up and pay partial / full repair cost.

Of the three examples you have mentioned, there is a remote possibility that the bike owner might pay up. It is absolutely useless to argue with drivers of buses/ taxis / autos. Either they would abuse you with filthy language or site reasons such as “I am a daily wage worker, how on earth can I afford to compensate you”. You are now left with filing a police complaint. And we all know where that would take us!!

I just follow this. I either leave enough place for a biker to go comfortably, or leave inches that he can't squeeze in when at a signal. Sometime beyond all this, I see bikers hitting my OVRMs and there's nothing I can do about it than ignore. Once a biker had the audacity to close my OVRM so that he can move ahead. I honked, called him and asked him to help reopen it (as it was in the left side and I can't reach it from inside).
With a bus, I make it a point never to stop besides one. Even if it's a bus stop, I pass the bus only if there's enough space. Else I don't mind stopping behind the bus at all times and wait for that to move. Wastes time, but saves from being scratched/ dented.

I have the experience of my OVRM (left) being grazed by a two wheeler. Nothing much can be done except a honk. I know he does not care for the honk, but still.
However I try to pay back the bus drivers. In Mysore Road (I travel on Mysore Road almost daily) usually there is the phenomenon of a bus travelling at 42Kmph trying to overtake a bus travelling at 40 Kmph. Inspite of repeated honking or flashing headlights, they do not give way. What I do is overtake them as soon I get some space. Then bring my vehicle in front of them and slow down, forcing them almost to stop (or change to second gear at least). On ensuring they have slowed down, just acclerate and speed away.

I guess we are discussing about what we do after someone hits you. How much ever you try avoiding such a mishap, it happens, given the congested state our city roads are in.

I would have to second Rupa on this. I guess its of no use arguing with rick and bus drivers. Add to that, the time we loose going behind all that. It really is a heart burn, but I guess we have to live with it.

I got my first taste of it within hours after taking my car from the showroom. Swiped a bus near Mahabalipuram and the a fender got dented...I guess I am going OT...

But if anyone has any experience in going the whole hog and getting the issue solved, it would be great to know.

I had my share of being rear-ended, while I was in Dubai. Its narrated here.

Oh. Almost perfect thread for my 15 May 2010 mishapp/accident? :Frustrati

Looking objectively, I feel that:
- We are hardly in a position to control unscrupulous behavior.
- There is a chance they will hurl abuses at you. Beat them in their own game, use bigger expletives (if it helps)
- Drivers of commercial vehicles do not care a penny about the scratches on their vehicles, hence they take more risks when making their own way in the traffic.

1. To make them pay, you need to have a strong clout.
2. To get any compensation from their insurance company (if vehicles are insured), you need to be willing to put your resources so that claiming compensation becomes the prime objective of life
3. Getting your scratch repaired and treating the incident as a fallout of bad luck seems to be the most pragmatic and cost effective option (which most of us do, irrespective of the dignity considerations).

Unfortunately, we do not live in an ideal world; we have to live with all elements...this is India!!

I had a similar experience of a drunkard hitting my rear bumper at Gudalur. It happened infront of 3 police folks. I thrashed the guy and demanded 5K bucks on the spot. Police asked me to file a case or get money from the guy. I demand to get as much money as possible and leave as i was with my family.

Got back 2k after 1hr of pestering and left. My car was just 2months old. Got it repaired by paying another 2k. No insurance claim. Thats it.

I was with a friend of mine in his alto standing in a jam on a red light. Suddenly a private operator's interstate bus kissed the alto from behind resulting in a broken tail light. We got out and created a little scene and even called on 100#. Later i took the bus driver and the conductor on one side and asked him to pay the damages there itself else his bus would be impounded and would result in greater loss. My little knowledge and use of Haryanvi language helped and they coughed up Rs 400 ( we demanded 1000).

I know this is one of a case but one can surely get something out of these private operators. On the other hand DTC buses, MCD trucks etc have nothing to lose, they are happy to get their vehicles impounded.

I was you, i would just ignore it and let my insurance take care of it, trust me i have been through road rage situation and have seen if the worst some really sticky situations
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/street...road-rage.html

If you have a good ICE in your car listen to a song that cools you down. After all have a street fight for a sctrach(however big it may be) is simply not worth, your time is more important than standing on the street talking to an irresponsible guy giving him free gyan.

Justr keep your mind cool, if it helps, roll down your window and yell thank you :D, That should put some shame in the mind of a sensible person and if a good guy he might volunteer to pay up, who knows?

Pramod

for me, it depends on my mood and the nature of hit. I had only one incident, where I was driving my friend's car and a Truck reversed straight into the bonnet of the car, damaging the bonnet completely.

I got out and the first thing I did was to beat the truck driver up who was already apologizing. this will be interesting to those who have seen me - luckily the truck driver was also equally skinny :D

Not passing any judgement here. But you thrashed a drunkard in front of 3 cops and your family?
Reminds me of a scene from the movie Monster's inc. When James P. Sullivan screams at the robotic kid, the expression in the face of Boo is very noteworthy!
I'd never let my temper go out of control in front of family in a road. And as a practice, I don't let tempers flay even when they are not around, unless some moronic driver poses a threat to my life!
Just my 1.45 cents (as per latest conversion rate).

Not always this works. Here's an incident that happened to my friend. A doctor in a qualis rear ended my friend who's car suffered a lot of damage as due to impact, it hit another vehicle in front.
The doctor pleaded my friend not to file an FIR as it would impact and agreed to pay up. Police came and it was "amicably" settled that the doctor pays up, so my friend made the mistake of not filing an FIR. I admonished my friend for the same. Now my friend says that the doctor is trying to wash off his hand. He's refusing to pay and says that the mistake is not his. Friend has put an FIR after almost 2 - 3 weeks of the incident. Doctor says that he will proceed legally stating that friend is harassing for no fault of his.
My friend feels that the case will lead nowhere. Using loop holes that guy might escape. The doctor is now trying to negotiate on how much he will pay.
So if the guy volunteers to pay, get a post dated cheque signed by him (if he carries a cheque book), or escort him to the nearest ATM rightaway.

Agreed, but what is your intention? is it to get money out? If you read my previous post i said let the insurance take care of this. Lodging an FIR will not solve the case there are already 1000s of case with the motor vehicle tribunal, all you have to do is inform your insurance company by calling them and let the surveyer take a call on how much money you need to pay. If you register a case every thing slows down, your insurance company will wait till the case is over, which again is a loss for you.

Do not try to solve the issue at the spot if you want peace of mind. if a guy volenteers to pay ask him to give you his name and number,if he pays well and good, if he doesent pay then keep your cool, after all its just money, your peace of mind is more important. If the guy who ramed your car is under the influence of substances call the police and let them take care of him. ultimately all you need to do is inform your insurance.

Pramod

Err...this may not work sometimes @MX6. If I'm not in hurry, I would get a written statement infront of the cops that he's liable for the damages OR he would pay me.

If I'm at fault, I wouldn't leave the spot unless it is resolved; because I don't know how the other person would react after going home.

Very very true; especially the ones marked in bold