My XJ-S is no more !!

[Gordon@1962]

My Jaguar is no more!!!!!!!!!!

On Friday night (8th Feb) I was involved in a horrendous accident and to be honest I think the fact I was driving a Jaguar was the reason I walked away without a scratch.

I was travelling along the A63 over Myton Bridge on the inside lane and a large chemical lorry was moving at the same speed alongside of me in the outside lane.

All of a sudden I saw out of the corner of my eye the wagon moving into my lane!
In a split second with no time to react he hit the front of my car, there was an almighty bang and a shudder as it sent me into a spin.
I immediately grabbed the steering wheel tightly and locked out my arms and shut my eyes and prayed thinking “oh s**t my time is up”
I felt the car spin round and round through 360 degrees several times bumping, banging and crashing into things.

I finally came to a stand still and opened my eyes to find myself in the outside lane close to where I’d hit the central reservation crash barrier.
Jesus! I was in one piece.
I looked out of my side window and there were people looking in at me.
I opened the car door and just climbed out no worse for the ordeal.

I soon realised what had happened when I saw the lorry involved parked further down the road and the polish driver stood next to me asking me if was ok.
He said he could not see me in his mirrors and thought the inside lane was clear and decided to pull in to it..

I stood back looking at my pride and joy and straight away realised there was little chance of this car ever being driven again.
There was damage to both rear wings, the boot and bumper.
Both the front wings were well crumpled in and you could see the inner wings underneath in the same state.
The bonnet was well gone and everything else in between the headlights as far back as the front suspension.

The police were soon on the scene followed by the paramedics which thank fully I didn’t need. I’m positive if I’d been driving a smaller/lighter vehicle things would have been different.

I tired to take some photos with my mobile phone but unfortunately they haven’t come out very well.

http://www.razey.karoo.net/images/crash.JPG

Everything is now in the hands of the insurance company.
I’m going to miss that car and would dearly love another XJ-S but at the moment until finances are settled that thought will have to wait.

[poprivet]

Blimey Gordon, at least you're ok.
Sounds like it is the end of you xjs, although don't be downhearted, prices are keen at the moment so maybe you'll pick up another?
Pop

[att]

Glad you are here to tell the tale, sorry for your XJ-S though

[dhdove]

GORDON

So sorry to hear your news, so glad you're all in one piece
I know your car meant a lot to you. It did at least see you right when it mattered.......which is as much as you can ask I guess.

You may wish to visit the "Honest John" pages in the Daily Telegraph Motoring Section on-line or buy Saturdays paper. He has been running a campaign for a year or so to force foreign lorries to fit "near lane" mirrors for UK use.
You are not alone, there are hundreds of accidents like yours every year and in many cases people do not walk away from them............
I'm sure he would like to hear from you and add your case to his file and campaign.

I do hope your insurance company can sort things out quickly and as Pop says there are definately some bargains to be had at present.

NB Is your MoT due soon? Don't forget to transfer your number plate onto retention

V Best Wishes

DH Dove

[Gordon@1962]

You may wish to visit the "Honest John" pages in the Daily Telegraph Motoring Section on-line or buy Saturdays paper. He has been running a campaign for a year or so to force foreign lorries to fit "near lane" mirrors for UK use.
You are not alone, there are hundreds of accidents like yours every year and in many cases people do not walk away from them............
I'm sure he would like to hear from you and add your case to his file and campaign.


Had a look on the web site for the campaign, but couldn't find it.
However I'll keep looking.
I'm certainly up for a bit of letter writing !!!

[dhdove]

Gordon

Hi, sorry didn't check the website myself, just assumed there would be a reference on there to the campaign.
I'm sure an e-mail will get a response and may feature in the paper.

Try Here, tho' it's an old article
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/mai ... truk27.xml

Also here

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/item.htm?id=4127

Also, thinking about it, if you were on his left hand side, that's actually the overtaking side for a left hand drive truck so he should have a full set of mirrors. If you were actually alongside the cab and the mirrors looked over the top of the XJS then he didn't look out of his window............I wonder how many hours he had on his tacho - if he had one?........

DH Dove

[keithbaker]

Wow, Gordon!

So sorry to hear about this! You're absolutely right, though - your cat may well have saved your life. My 1994 convertible was written off by a (British) jaggernaught in 2004, and although I still need regular visits to the osteopath for my neck, I'm convinced I would have been worse off in a lesser car. The insurance company was brilliant ( I was insured through Footman James at the time). It was an agreed value policy, so there was no argument whatsoever. The DVLA, on the other hand, was a real pain regarding the transfer of the registration number. They wanted me to retain the wreckage for 6 weeks in case they wanted to inspect it, and obviously the insurance company couldn't pay out until that matter was settled. I hope you don't experience the same hassle! If you do, let me know, as I discovered there was a way around it if you put enough pressure on them.

[Gordon@1962]

Thanks for the links DH

I found this statement on one of the pages
All trucks have a blind spot alongside the cab on their passenger side, which can cause cars alongside to disappear from the driver's view.

The lorry was actually right hand drive and as he was in the outside lane that meant if I was in the inside lane along side his passenger side I would be in his blind spot.
Guess where I was?

Yep, alongside the cab on his passenger side!

[dhdove]

Gordon

Aha - that explains it........Polish truck driver but RHD truck, you know what they say - never assume anything!

All the Best
DH Dove

[Gordon@1962]

I managed to get down to the car recovery place today and take some photos of the damage.
Not a pretty sight

http://www.razey.karoo.net/car_accident.htm

[ptjs1]

Gordon,

I'm really pleased to hear that you are safe and sound - cars can be replaced....

Notwithstanding that you're here to tell the tale, I'm sure you must be feeling gutted about the car. And I guess there's the insurance aggro to deal with. I do hope that it gets sorted to your satisfaction. I can't remember who you're insured with, but be a real pain and stick out for a reasonable settlement. Unless you've got agreed value, the fluctuating market conditions mean that it's a buyers market and that can be a pain for getting decent recompense if it's only "market value". Use all the means that you've got at your disposal - all your photos, examples of good quality cars in the JEC classifieds, proof of all your service history and loving care you've exercised on the car, copy of your recent JEC magazine article etc etc. Compile a whole pack and submit it to the insurers with a figure that you're prepared to accept. Also, consider the write-off for a knock-down price. If you've got the space, you might be able to make some good money on the parts (or keep them for your next XJS...!). Also have a think about taking off the LPG equipment and selling that separately - after all, it's virtually brand new!

I really wish you the best of luck with the insurance settlement. Do please let us all know how you get on.

Good luck

Paul

[Gordon@1962]

Yep, I'll keep you all up to date on my progress.

I'm with Footman James and it's on an agreed value.
Up to now they have been very good, so I'm hoping it will continue.

The policy didn't have a courtesy car but as it was not my fault they have now provided me with vehicle.
I got home today and it was parked on my drive.
A bl**dy great Cadillac!

http://z.about.com/d/cars/1/7/Q/l/cadil ... _china.jpg

[dhdove]

Gordon

AWESOME...........keep the Caddy and forget about the XJS addiction

DH Dove

[poprivet]

Just looked at your photos Gordon. That indeed looks terminal.

Does your agreed valuation cover the LPG conversion?, when my Volcane was written off (flood water in engine), I had hoped to buy the wreck and replace the engine myself but the insurance company wouldn't let me and in fact I had an awful job just getting access to the car to retrieve my personal belongings. They stated that the moment a claim goes in, the car and everything in it becomes their property? I lost out financially big time as I was only paid a (low) market value even after much argument, although the car was superb.

Anyway, now I cheered you up lets hope you get a successful outcome.
Pop

[Gordon@1962]

Does your agreed valuation cover the LPG conversion?,

the insurance company wouldn't let me and in fact I had an awful job just getting access to the car to retrieve my personal belongings. They stated that the moment a claim goes in, the car and everything in it becomes their property?


Just so happens last June was the evaluation period so I increased the valuation to take into consideration the LPG.

Also my car was recovered by a contractor who I visited yesterday and I asked if I could collect my remaining possessions.
They said yes, so I took everything I could carry including the XJ-S tool kit.