I think we all think we can see things coming. Up until the impact I had no inkling that a gentle drive to the doctor’s, to collect a prescription, would result in near death, if not for me but four others.

I approached a cross roads half a mile from home at around 5pm on a sunny dry day and as I gently pulled up to the white lines to check the road was clear in both directions I was hit, relatively gently, on the passenger side by an old Fiat on the wrong side of the road and in considerable disrepair.

Its caved in side was the result of having driven across the cross road and being hit side on by a BMW X3 probably driving at 50mph. (The speed limit was 60mph.) The BMW deployed its airbags, crumpled the front and came to rest. Two people staggered out. Their immediate concern was the toddler strapped into the back. The driver was fuming and shocked. Frankly he should have been grateful that he and his family were alive. Rightly he was urging his wife to get clear of the smouldering wreck in case of fire. As he’s shouting and looking bewildered the Fiat driver got of her car, again in one piece, and was hysterical. She sought out the driver to repeat through tears and distress “I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry”…

I drove my car away 15 yards from the scene, not least to unblock one of the roads off the junction. Sadly it was not properly drivable and creaked onto the verge. This busy road was now blocked or impassable and rush hour traffic was piling up at either end of the crash site. However, folk appeared from nowhere to try and calm the Fiat driver, brush up the broken car debris and direct the traffic. I handed my mobile to the mother of the toddler who rang the emergency services. In what seemed a very short period of time we had two fire engines, two ambulances and four or five police cars there.

In the ambulances the two car’s occupants were checked out. All seemed in one piece and, maybe, whiplash might be an issue and bruising later. I was asked if I was hurt but frankly I was fine if not a little shocked. If the impact might have happened a few feet more up the road I might have been badly injured or worse as the out of control missiles/cars hit me. The Police shut all four roads and the traffic abated as it turned around or avoided the cross roads. I gave three sets of the same details to three different Police Officers. One was a statement for being involved in the crash and I was asked to blow into a breathalyser! Obviously this read ‘zero’ but having a drink later was certainly on my mind. The Police did a thorough job but three sets of details to three Officers, was it the best process? They’d come from two separate stations as well.

The senior Police Officer, after telling me he used to be our postman, advised that as there were no witnesses and no serious injuries that the Fiat driver would likely escape points on her licence and, simply, have to take a course as the punishment. I think the minimum might have been an eye test, medical and another driving test. Also was the car legal? However, he said it would all be reviewed but as ‘the courts were busy’ a prosecution was improbable. Her admission of being responsible from the ‘get go’ was helpful (and obvious) plus it took away any further future debate.

A neighbour collected me sometime after 7pm. (However, the Police did offer to drop me home but when that offer was made I was on the phone and couldn’t accept.) In the neighbour’s car and at home I embarked on reporting the accident to Aviva. Forty one minutes later I ended that phone call. The person I dealt with had a thorough process that took all the details and gave us re-assurance that we would not incur any cost or lose our no claims bonus. They also arranged for the car to be collected from the verge and be taken to a repair shop. That was less slick and the truck didn’t arrive until just past midnight. The recovery driver looked at the Ford and said “it won’t be a write off”. I laughed at his comment but he was serious saying that writing off was a serious consideration by the insurers. I’m still wondering whether he was loopy or knew something I didn’t.

During the evening I received texts and emails from Aviva and more curiously texts from the Fiat driver’s insurer – Hastings. Hastings also rang me before 9am the next morning offering £250 to let them repair the car. There was also some other deal about a courtesy car as well (which we had, in any case.) I heard him out and declined before he advised that, in fact, he could increase the offer to £300. It seems that the costs that Aviva would seek from Hastings were inflated and that Hastings and probably other ‘guilty’ insurers pursued the claimants to incentivise them to switch garages. I was irritated by this but I can imagine the traumatised BMW driver would be furious at this call, although maybe his car was a write off and that wouldn’t suffer the mark up?

The administrative slog wasn’t yet over as we had to find our way to a car rental company to pick up a courtesy car the next day. Anna didn’t like the attractive Mazda SUV – “can’t park it at Waitrose…” and so the assistant disappeared back inside the office to get the keys to a Fiat 500. However, she reappeared with a Mercedes key fob. Cooking on gas I thought! However, Anna had decided, that despite being unwashed, the Fiat 500 would be excellent in supermarket car parks and it was more than acceptable grubby or sparkling. 

I was now contacted by the Aviva garage after being asked to send photos of the damage. By this stage I’m wondering whether I’m being ‘courted’ because Aviva might be worried I was tempted by Hastings. Anyway the texts and emails have kept coming. Lastly, the prescription wasn’t ready for collection and had I been able to get through to the surgery on the phone (“you are fourth in the queue”) I would never have gone out and/or picked Anna’s car that was blocking my own in. I’m off to Texas now. We hope the Focus will be restored on our return and I hate the Fiat 500.

Stay lucky.