[News] Last night I cheated death

[A mex eyecan]

You don't roll a car twice doing 30mph. Quite why he has shared that on here is beyond me.

are you qualified in road accidents, the causes and outcomes or just making an assumption?

 

[Originunknown]

You don't roll a car twice doing 30mph. Quite why he has shared that on here is beyond me.

Physics would not agree with you.

You could roll a car at even slower speeds if the centre of mass was shifted sufficiently.

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

I've had a very similar experience to the OP. I was 18 years old. On the evening of 17th November 1993, I remember the date as I was driving home trying to get back in time for the start of the England vs San Marino World Cup qualifier. It was on what was then the new stretch of A27 heading away from Falmer towards the bit where it goes over Coldean Lane. This all took place 1 day short of a month after I'd passed my driving test.

A car rear ended me on that stretch of road, I was probably doing around 55-60mph, pretty much all my beloved classic Ford Popular 100E could do and the car just didn't see me. It rolled me a few times, more a head over heels roll than a barrel roll you associate with most car crashes. When the car stopped rolling I was somehow sat on the door sill, my back arched up and over the drivers seat, my legs underneath the car and the seatbelt that was holding me in the car around my neck. Had the car flipped once more I'd have either had my legs crushed or surely been thrown from the wreckage. I actually escaped with very minor bruising, some whiplash, bruising around my neck and some cuts and bruises. I walked into the ambulance, my mum was called and went with my Grandad to RSCH where they were told I was walking wounded, they were then shocked when I was wheeled into the hospital on a stretcher but this was more because of shock than anything else and the fact that despite the minor injuries I was starting to feel very stiff and obviously my neck hurt.

Took months and months of legal wrangling to sort out the insurance, counter claims etc, solicitors involved. It very nearly ended up in court but we got an offer from the other party about a week before court hearings were due and decided to accept. Overall it was well over a year before I drove again, for this to happen so close to passing my test I was rather apprehensive about driving again and obviously the legal wranglings meant it was a while before I could afford to replace the car.

The real sickening thing was I'd helped my Dad and Uncle restore that car as a kid and it was always promised to me when I passed my test. Sure it wasn't the car most 18 years old in the early 90s would have but when you grow up a fan of classic cars/hot rods you are always going to end up with something a bit different.

 

[JamesAndTheGiantHead]

Glad you’re okay!

Had a similar experience in icy conditions whilst on holiday in France when me and my brother were kids - dad was driving and skidded off the road over the side of a fairly steep hill, doing a few rolls and ending up on the roof.

My brother, being obsessed with Grand Theft Auto at the time, assumed the car would shortly burst into flames and explode. He promptly undid his seatbelt and legged it, leaving us all to die.

We laugh about it now.

 

[Durlston]

Well wishes to you and a speedy recovery. Don't wait too long to get back behind the wheel, put those demons to bed.

Was it on the Balcombe road? By Penland road would be a 30mph into Haywards Heath, did you hit the verge or something?

I live in Penland Road so I was almost home. They say that most accidents happen within five miles of your home. I just want to recover both physically and mentally as soon as possible. It's been a very eventful start to the year - both good and bad in very different ways.

I've had another health scare recently but that's unconnected to the accident.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Glad you're ok Durlston.

I flipped my car on a single track country lane. I was driving slowly but hit a blind verge. Nothing as dramatic as your incident but the car was totalled and everything seemed to happen in slow motion. No one was injured. Apparently other drivers had done the same thing. I suffered from shock for a couple of days. I made sure the first trip in my new car was along the country lane where I had the incident. Something to learn from.

 

[Deportivo Seagull]

I live in Penland Road so I was almost home. They say that most accidents happen within five miles of your home. I just want to recover both physically and mentally as soon as possible. It's been a very eventful start to the year - both good and bad in very different ways.

I've had another health scare recently but that's unconnected to the accident.

glad you are ok. I’m just up the road from you.

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

Glad you're ok.

 

[Deportivo Seagull]

Physics would not agree with you.

You could roll a car at even slower speeds if the centre of mass was shifted sufficiently.

Yep. It‘s a steep hill so will be easier to roll than on the flat regardless of speed.

 

[Durlston]

So you were at fault then. Harsh, probably.

It's an ongoing investigation. I've spoken to the police, nurses, paramedics etc.

I know you want to draw conclusions but sorting out insurance can be stressful and very long drawn-out.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

You don't roll a car twice doing 30mph. Quite why he has shared that on here is beyond me.

Did you not read my post? It is possible, however unlikely you might think.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

You don't roll a car twice doing 30mph. Quite why he has shared that on here is beyond me.

What's that got to do with seemingly accusing someone of drink-driving?

 

[Deportivo Seagull]

You don't roll a car twice doing 30mph. Quite why he has shared that on here is beyond me.

And you would be wrong.

 

[StonehamPark]

Take time to rest and recover, especially mentally.

For those who don’t understand physics or assume you must be excessively speeding to roll a car - I’ll inform you that it can be done from as low as 10mph.
Most likely front quarter collided with a parked car or high curb, in combination with a quick turn on the steering wheel can roll you. It’s not too rare.

Source: worked in motor vehicle accidents and claims for >10 years.

 

[Sheebo]

Glad you’re ok @Durlston that’s all that matters - take no notice of the blame culture of picking holes! Always had it in my head you were based in Barnet? Was that right originally?

 

[Barham's tash]

Firstly I’m so glad you’re here today to write about it, I truly believe with experiences like this sharing is incredibly cathartic.

It’s never happened to me but it did happen to my dad about 50 years ago. He was coming down Coledean Lane where the bypass bridge now goes over the top there used to be a slight hump in the road.

An off duty and over the limit copper steamed up and over the hump without breaking and was over the centre line hitting my dad head on but such was the discrepancy between the two cars (he was driving a Mini Cooper and the copper a Volvo) it basically ramped the mini off his bonnet at an angle.

Based on investigation the mini rolled at least five times coming to rest on the grass verge. He got away with cuts, bruises and a cracked rib. So lucky.

Police closed ranks and the other driver got away with six points and a suspended loss of licence.

 

[LennyTee]

are you qualified in road accidents, the causes and outcomes or just making an assumption?

No just mouthing off as usual. Was the insurance bit that set my cynical tentacles going.

 

[studio150]

Blimey - sounds horrific.

I was coming home on the A6 some years back in the dark. It had been raining in the morning, but had stopped at lunchtime. I knew the road very well and was doing about 50 or so..

Anyway, coming down a hill, my left wheels hit standing water, where there had never been water before, and it was pretty much invisible with the lie of the road and so on. What amazes me is the speed of your mind and how it works at moments like that. I veered sharply left, in my mind was the big stone wall, so tried to straighten - but bounced off the kerb, and headed straight to the other side of the road. Without any real vision (no street lights / dark) I knew full well there was quite a drop on that side, so wrestled with the wheel - got slightly straighter and bounced off the kerb on that side - and so on. Ended up facing backwards, and on the verge on my side of the road.

I still don't really know quite how the mind works in situations like that. But, like others, my main thought was 'thank god there was nothing coming the other way).

It's amazing how dangerous standing water is when traveling at speed. If you haven't experienced it you probably think there will just be a large splash as you drive through the water and nothing else. But on a main road you can easily be bounced into the next lane, either to the left or right. If you are lucky there are no vehicles in the other lanes or coming towards you, and you can get the vehicle back under control if you don't panic.
Once you have experienced this most people will reduce their speed in wet conditions particularly at night, where you may not see the standing water.

 

[LennyTee]

What's that got to do with seemingly accusing someone of drink-driving?

I haven't accused anyone of that. So talking about reading posts....

 

[A mex eyecan]

Take time to rest and recover, especially mentally.

For those who don’t understand physics or assume you must be excessively speeding to roll a car - I’ll inform you that it can be done from as low as 10mph.
Most likely front quarter collided with a parked car or high curb, in combination with a quick turn on the steering wheel can roll you. It’s not too rare.

Source: worked in motor vehicle accidents and claims for >10 years.

No just mouthing off as usual. Was the insurance bit that set my cynical tentacles going.

oh ….