nowhereboy Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 (edited) On my way into work this afternoon and the wind must have blew a massive roadwork sign into the middle of the motorway. It was lying flat but big enough to block both lanes. I didn't notice it in time to slow down, from a distance it blended in with the road due to really bad visibility and heavy rain. By the time I was close enough to see it properly it was already to late to stop and impossible to avoid due to the shear size of the thing. I wasn't speeding but I hit it hard at about 50mph, it somehow sent the car into a fishtail and I very nearly lost control. Had it not been for recent drifting and car control lessons I'm pretty sure I'd have span out but thankfully I caught it. I haven't had time to inspect the damage properly but from what I can see I need a new front bumper, their's a big chunk missing out of the front and it's not sitting quite right now either. I have a new front lip ready to fit after Christmas and now I'm unsure if theirs any point in paying to repair/replace the stock bumper and fit the front lip or just cough up for a v2 replica or something. Rubbish situation as the front lip is a present from my other half for christmas. Pretty angry about the whole thing to be honest, it happened on the A1 motorway and that road is a complete joke at the minute, constant traffic, roadworks and delays and now this because someone clearly hasn't secured a roadwork properly, no point claiming on my insurance due to the lack of a third party so I'm going to have to cough up for it. Sh*t happens eh? :rant: Edit - I'll get a pic of the damage up later. Edited November 13, 2015 by nowhereboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brillomaster Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 (edited) That sucks... last thing you expect to see on the road is metal signage. I'd perhaps have a word with whoever is responsible for the signs, clearly they aren't doing their job well enough if they're coming loose and blowing across the carriageway. In a way you're lucky it was on the ground rather than in the air, could easily decapitate a driver if it went through the windscreen. Edited November 13, 2015 by brillomaster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veeg33 Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 Sorry to hear about this mate. Feel for you!!.......I'm not expert in this matter, but can you not put a claim against the road works for not securing the signage properly? Good news it only damages your front bumper and no one was hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nowhereboy Posted November 13, 2015 Author Share Posted November 13, 2015 (edited) I work in insurance and know what a massive ball ache it would be trying to claim for something like this, it's just not worth the bother. Even if I managed to claim as "no fault" it's still likely to mess with my premiums anyway. In hindsight it could have been a lot worse, I do feel like it might be worth calling the people responsible for the roadworks. If that hasn't caused a massive accident by now I'd be surprised, the car behind me went straight into it also. Edited November 13, 2015 by nowhereboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendy Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 That must have been scary, glad you are OK. I would ring re the roadworks sign, people manage to claim for pot holes so who knows you may get yours repair costs paid- fingers crossed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bamdc2 Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 Log it with the council mate. Cant see it being any different to hitting a massive pothole in the road they haven't repaired. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nowhereboy Posted November 13, 2015 Author Share Posted November 13, 2015 Yea just noticed on the direct gov website I can claim for this outside of my insurance. I'll log it with them today, pay for the damages myself and hopefully they will reimburse me. You know those weeks when absolutely nothing goes your way? yea, I'm having one of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimmy.farrow7 Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 Glad your ok bud, as i was reading i was imagining the sign blowing up towards you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreenLandy Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 Sounds pretty awful and a pretty scary experience. Did you ring the police to report it? Would hope someone would to get the thing removed from the road Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nowhereboy Posted November 13, 2015 Author Share Posted November 13, 2015 I haven't reported it to be honest, I'd imagine loads of people have ran into it already so hopefully it's been moved now. In hindsight I probably should have but I was very busy with work etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne370Z Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 I would think it will be the Highways Agency who will be liable/responsible. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veilside z Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 So sorry to hear this and glad your ok, cars can be repaired as much as it hurts to say ... I would still fit the lip from you partner as its special. Will the lip cover the damage or not ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nowhereboy Posted November 13, 2015 Author Share Posted November 13, 2015 Thanks veilside, it might actually if I'm lucky. It's damaged towards the passenger side, well I say damaged, there's literally a chunk missing It doesn't go all the way to the edge so the lip may still attach securely. Maybe a bodyshop can work some magic with it.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Kay Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 You got lucky. A friend of mine had the exact same issue in his zed, only, the leg of the sign was sticking up and it punched a hole in his engine as well as other damage. Car was a write-off. It was reported through to the highways agency who eventually paid out the value of the car. Idiots tries it on at one point by arguing that it must have been his fault for hitting something else. Luckily there is more than one idiot in that organisation as someone from a different department sent him a bill for the cost of the sign he had smashed. They made a u-turn after my friend pointed out that it was clearly their sign that did the damage and returned them the bill for it, they couldn't fight it after that. Make a claim and see it through. Their tardy workmanship shouldn't end up costing you money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martybhoy Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 Wow that's unfortunate. At least no injury to yourself.. Well except the to the wallet. I'd get a replacement front bumper. If you can find a local scrapyard/breaker with the same colour standard bumpers are relatively cheap. So would save about £200 plus cost of a respray and means you get no hassle for unused gifts lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonty88 Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 Sorry to here this mate, could have been so much worse though, glad it wasnt a chunk out of you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
350zedd Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 I'm glad you're ok and no injuries suffered The bumper can be replaced....you can't Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nowhereboy Posted November 13, 2015 Author Share Posted November 13, 2015 Thanks folks. It will get sorted, frustratingly I can't do anything until after Christmas because I've already spent a small fortune for presents etc for the family. It's gonna drive me bonkers looking at it and seeing that big chunk out the front of it every day for the next month As you say at least I'm not hurt, I easily could have been. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exec Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 Could have been worse as others say, let's hope next week picks up for you! I can imagine one of those signs being difficult spot lying flat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebized Posted November 13, 2015 Share Posted November 13, 2015 Hope this helps you: https://www.gov.uk/claim-for-damage-to-your-vehicle Feel for you and reckon you should make the point that there was a very chance of a serious road traffic accident if, unlike you, a driver swerved to avoid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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